About six years ago, Ray Brosius branched out from coaching recreational softball to coaching fast-pitch travel softball.
The results so far have been mixed, but the dividends are inevitable.
Introducing the Boro Blaze, which fielded two teams – 12U and 18U. Most of the players on the roster of both teams are from Waynesboro.
Waynesboro girls on the 12U team are Lylah Shacreaw (outfield), Olivia Shockey (pitcher/outfield), Elena Cooper (first base), Mackenzie Speipler (third base), Morgan Jones (outfield), Alyson Virden (shortstop/catcher), Sierra Brosius (outfield/pitcher), Macey Cason (pitcher/second base) and Hartley Smetzer (outfield).
Rilynn Schlusser (pitcher/second base/outfield) and Alaina Roberts (catcher/outfield) live in the Newville area.
“I’ve coached in the Waynesboro area for years and years and years,” said Brosius, whose team was 4-0 at a tournament in Glen Burnie, Maryland last weekend. “Part of our passion for starting Boro Blaze was to give the girls more experience and work on their skill sets. I decided to start younger than we did the first time with the 12U team.
“We started a team with kids predominantly from Waynesboro. In the world of travel all, it’s kind of rare to have that many kids from one location.”
Brosius spent four years coaching recreation softball. He was an assistant coach for an 18U team and is in his first year as a head coach for a travel team.
Brosius is assisted by Shane Stiffler and Chelsey Schlusser.
Matt Bricker is the head coach for the 18U squad.
The season is unconventional in terms of the typical spring into summer tournament season. It begins in September and ends in July.
“After July, everyone resets their rosters in August,” Brosius explained. “There are fall tournaments that take place in September, October and November. We have actually played games indoors.”
We’re getting ready for tryouts,” Brosius said. “Half have to move up to 14U and the other half can stay. We are working on fielding 12U and 14U teams this year.”
In the meantime, Boro Blaze plays practically every weekend. The team went 4-0 in Glen Burnie and were playing Delaware Heart in the championship game before the rains came and the game was discontinued.
Olivia Shockey hit a grand slam against Forest Hill Heart. Rylinn Schlusser pitched a no-hitter (it was a three-inning game).
Boro Blaze beat Spirit 12U, 8-6; Forest Hill, 12-1; Maryland Fever, 4-3; and HCYP Liberty, 13-0.
“Games have time limits, from an hour to an hour and a half,” Brosius said. “Most are an hour and twenty minutes for pool play and an hour and a half for bracket play.”
Boro Blaze played in the Andrea Gantt Memorial NIT at Norlo Park in Chambersburg on Saturday and Sunday. After losing twice on Saturday, Boro Blaze was leading PA Lady Steel 8-4 on Sunday before the game was rained out.
Boro Blaze will play in Quakertown next weekend.
“We’ve had kind of a rough season this year because most of these girls have never played travel travel ball,” Brosius said. “They’ve been pushed this far. Up until last weekend we’ve had moderate success.
“Looking at the season from a non-wins-and-losses perspective, we have had a very good season. They have made tremendous strides from where they were at the beginning.”
Boro Blaze has played in seven tournaments. Two have been rained out.
“Our goal was to play in 10 tournaments this year,” Brosius said. “The new season starts in September, so the new one is getting ready to start.”
