The Texas Shock 10U squad have solved the equation with a three word motto: Attitude + Effort = Success.


By Dave Utnik North Richland Hills, TX. --- It all comes down to


simple math really. For Texas Shock, winning championships are about heart and hustle. And the players on the 10U squad have solved the equation with a three word motto: Attitude + Effort = Success. Head coach Melodie Hukill believes there is no


better way to earn a first-place trophy or, more importantly, respect. The entire Texas Shock organization practices and


plays with the same approach and the results are hard to ignore as the 10U team captured the VTD World Series with a perfect 7-0 record in July. "We talk a lot about respect and earning respect,


not only with parents and coaches, but with fellow players and teams. I think they have definitely earned some respect with the way they play on the field," said Hukill, after the 10U and 8U squads claimed VTD World Series titles." "Texas Shock is a relatively small organization.


However, the organization has the biggest heart and soul of any program around the area. The girls realize that we can only be successful as a team instead of individually." The World Series championship was three years in


the making for a team that began playing together as 8-year-olds. After rebounding from a bracket play loss to reach the finals a year ago, Texas Shock spent the entire summer preparing to win it all in 2011. "They set their goal last year and they worked


all year to achieve it," Hukill said. "The core of this team has been together for three years and we are looking forward to keeping the family together for a very long time."


Behind phenomenal hitting performances from Tatum Sorrels (.600), Paxton Scheurer (.583) and Caitlin Rothell (.571), Texas Shock scored 66 runs in seven games to edge out runner-up Centex Buzz and Hotshotz for the 10U title. "We have strong hitters top to bottom.


However, they all know that bunting can win a game too," Hukill said. "We had struggled with our hitting the tournament before the VTD World Series, so I challenged them in their last 10U tournament to go out with a bang." Hukill and her assistant coaches -- Vince Aguilar,


Larry Scheurer and Jeffrey Sorrels -- took a rather non- traditional approach in putting together a batting order, opting to bat the power-hitting Scheurer in the leadoff spot. Speedster Jayda Coleman hit second followed by Sorrels at No. 3. "It seemed to work since we scored at least one


run in the first inning in almost every game," Hukill said. "This team was built on the fundamentals of the game and each girl had a role for this tournament, with either hitting, fielding, pitching or catching." Madison Munoz and Coleman, for example, were asked


to get on base so the team could take advantage of their quickness, while Kate Tovar and Courtney Taylor were responsible for moving runners. Briana Clark, who was hurt most of the season, became a clutch pinch-hitter, while McKenzie Griffin was recruited from the North Texas Lady Horns because of her versatility. "That is what makes this team so special, they rely on


each other to get the job done," Hukill said. "Our power hitters have been asked several time to lay down a bunt just to move the runner and they will gladly do it because they know the next batter will do their job to score the run they set up to score." Throughout the tournament, Shelby Noah, Camryn


Aguilar, and Jaycee Cook each had game-winning hits as Texas Shock wrapped up a remarkable summer that featured first-place finishes in six VTD competitions. The crowning achievement was the VTD World Series,


where Scheurer also dominated in the pitcher's circle -- earning two shutouts and allowing three total hits. Noah and Caitlin Rothell also excelled as the Texas Shock earned wins over the Royals (11-0), Freeze (8-0), Sha-Bang (16- 0), Ft. Worth Batbusters (11-4), Texas Shock 9U (10-1), Hot shotz (3-1) and Centex Buzz (7-3). "This team was built on the premise of learning the game


the way it was meant to be played -- fun mixed with fundamentals, respect, hard work and dedication. We always say that we may not have the most talented players on the field, but we do have the most talented team," Hukill said. "The girls will tell you that just because you are placing first in tournaments does not mean that you get to quit working hard because they know that the target is on their back for the many other area teams to aim for. "The metroplex has so many competitive teams and


18 Texas Shock earned a perfect 7-0 record on their way to capturing 10U VTD World Series.


players in this age group so each tournament could end up with a different result," she said. "That is what makes us stronger. As we get ready to play 12U, the girls are learning how to respect the older teams and hopefully they will learn something from each game we play -- win or lose."


Softball Today • August 2011


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