girlpower
More Than
Just a Game
Georgia Mustangs fast pitch softball players learn the importance of giving back to their community
By CANDY WAYLOCK
[email protected]
I
n the sports-crazed world of metro Atlanta, the Georgia Mustangs fastpitch softball organization has made giant strides since its founding five years ago. Beginning as a “light travel” team for girls looking for an opportunity beyond traditional recreational teams, the program now has five teams from ages 10 to 16 playing at the highest levels of girls’ softball. Coach Donna Allen, whose daughter plays with the Georgia Mustangs, says the organization gives female youths in the area an opportunity to improve their athletic skills and build their self-esteem.
The Mustangs recently added three new female coaches, all of whom played softball at the college level. “We felt it was important for the girls to have good female role models and see what they can accomplish if they work hard and have a goal,” said Allen. The Georgia Mustangs 16U team is coached by longtime softball coach Tim Todd, assisted by his daughter, Holly, who played softball for Milton High School and Berry College and returned to lend a hand in coaching duties. “Softball is not my full-time job, although it seems like it,” laughed Holly. “I balance nursing school, softball practice, tournaments, softball lessons and a patient care technician job I recently accepted for
Front Row Starting bottom left to right Jensen Cheshire, Kelly Bostwick, Ashley Shore, Lindsey Smith, Amelia Milender, Anna Allen. Back Row Coach Tim Todd, Becca Cleypool, Hope Llewellyn, Lauren Crowe, Rachel Skinner, Kyrstyn Fisher, Sophie Kleid, Abigail Mclain, Coach Donna Allen. Last Row Back: Coach Jerry Allen
a local hospital.” But time management and commitment to task is a responsibility Holly and her dad require not only of themselves, but of the players selected to play for the Georgia Mustangs. “Fastpitch softball in Georgia is very competitive, so many of our girls are committed [to becoming better by] working out, practicing pitching or hitting nearly every day on their own when they
are not practicing with the team,” said Holly. The dedication has paid off, with Georgia Mustangs teams routinely placing among the top girls’ softball teams in the area. In addition, the girls are asked to serve on committees in leadership roles to assist with their team’s public relations,
► See GIRL POWER, Page 28
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2014 Graduates
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1. Anna Allen. 2. Lauren Crowe. 3. Sophie Kleid
▼ GIRL POWER, Continued from Page 26 website, Facebook page and fundraising, giving the players a sense of accomplishment and pride for their organization. Giving back to the community is also stressed, with many players participating in various local 5K races for charity and working on projects to improve the condition of their own playing fields and facilities. In June, the 14U team won the ASA U16 Breast Cancer Invitational travel tournament in Chatsworth. The team won five of seven en route to the title, including a nohitter by Kelly Bostwick and a two-hitter by Ashley Shore in the 9-0 championship game. Holly said no trophies were handed out for the champions. Instead, the proceeds were donated to the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund. “Our teams wanted to participate in a tournament where they could give something back to the community,”
said Holly. “[We] played in support of a player whose mom had breast cancer. Parents donated pink jerseys and put the mother’s initials on the pink ribbon.” Amy Smith, whose daughter Lindsey played on the 14U team, said, “What a wonderful lesson and gift for the girls to be a part of – to know their earned competitive win on the field will help women in their battle off the field.” Playing in tournaments with a charity focus is important to the players, said Holly. Plans are already in the works to hold a round robin tournament where canned goods will be collected instead of a gate fee. As the daughter of a softball coach, a player for most of her life and now working with the next generation of softball players, Holly says she has seen the benefits of softball in the development of girls at every level. “Players learn friendship, teamwork, along with organization and time management,” said Holly. “Leadership is another skill [since] every team needs people to step up at any moment to push the team forward or lead them through tough situations. I love the team aspect of softball.” ■
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Father-daughter coaching duo Tim Todd and Holly Todd
