G2 Heat Fastpitch Academy

Happy Birthday to Alana Robinson Heat 18 Willis. Have a great day celebrating!!

We will go over the new NCAA Aged based eligibility rules in our recruiting meeting coming up. Lots of changes in the recruiting scene. We got you covered!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Shaw (2029 Graduate), Heat 16 Garcia, on earning her College Recruit shirt after getting invited to her 1st College Camp on campus by the Head Coach last weekend.

Our recruiting program does more than just take our players to College Showcases and hope they get seen. We help our families and players navigate the recruiting process and teach them how to market themselves and build relationships with college coaches early in their recruiting career. It's why we are at 7 years in a row with 100% of our Seniors who want to play at the next level are able to. And, 140 of our athletes have gone on to play at EVERY LEVEL in college.

Happy Birthday to Avery Nisly, Heat 18 Willis, make it a great one!

Happy Birthday to Madelyn Jorn, Heat 18 Willis, enjoy your day!

Picking A Club Team - By Sean Hall.

*I posed my PSA about picking the right team or club a few weeks back. Sean just posted one himself. I couldn't share his post directly, so I copied it and posted it here. Sean is a friend of ours who runs a well know and respected organization in MN who has been putting his athletes into ALL levels of college for years and is also a HS Coach.

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With so many softball programs available today, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Parents and players should do their homework before making a decision. Fortunately, there are many outstanding programs throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The key is finding the one that best fits your daughter—not simply the one with the biggest name.

Here are some of the things I believe families should consider.
1. Club Team or Community Team?
Many people assume that club softball automatically means a higher level of talent. In reality, that's not always true. There are club teams that struggle to compete, and there are community programs—especially at the younger ages—that can compete with almost anyone.
To me, the biggest difference is commitment to year-round development.
Community programs often offer:
Lower costs
Shorter travel times
Playing with school friends
Strong high school chemistry later on
Club programs often provide:
Year-round training
Non-parent coaches
More competitive tournament schedules
Teammates with similar commitment and goals
Opportunities to compete against top teams from other states
Some community organizations also operate club-level teams, giving families the benefits of both worlds. They often have lower field costs while still offering year-round development. One potential downside is that community boards are usually run by parents, which can occasionally create conflicts of interest.
There isn't a right or wrong answer—only the right fit for your family.

2. How Many Sports Does Your Daughter Play?
This is one of the biggest factors when choosing a program.
If your daughter is a three-sport athlete, look for a team that understands those commitments. Many excellent teams practice just once a week during the winter, allowing athletes to continue developing without burning out.
Two-sport athletes generally have the most flexibility. Many club programs fully support high school sports and allow athletes to prioritize those seasons.
If softball is your daughter's primary sport, I would recommend finding a program that offers development opportunities throughout the year. More quality repetitions usually lead to more improvement.
That said, I still encourage athletes to play another sport for fun whenever possible. Different sports develop different athletic skills and help prevent burnout.

3. How Important Is College Exposure?
This is one of the biggest differences between club programs.
Nearly every organization says they provide college exposure, but families should ask for proof.
Questions to ask:
Where have former players gone to college?
How many athletes have played college softball?
What tournaments does the team attend?
What recruiting assistance does the organization provide?
Great players will eventually get noticed, but the right schedule can make that process much easier.
If your daughter's goal is Division I softball, expect costs to increase. National-level schedules require more travel, more showcases, more coach travel expenses, and often paid non-parent coaches.
Even colleges within Minnesota want to see players competing against strong competition on a regular basis.

4. Does the Program Develop Players?
This may be the most important question of all.
Ask yourself:
Who is doing the training?
Are the instructors experienced and proven?
Do players noticeably improve after joining the program?
How often can athletes train?
What facilities are available?
Every program talks about development. The programs that consistently produce better players are the ones worth paying attention to.

5. Where Is the Program Located?
Time has value.
Driving across the Twin Cities multiple times each week adds up quickly.
Some organizations train from one central location, while others offer multiple training sites throughout the metro.
Larger organizations often draw players from a wider area, giving them access to a larger talent pool. Smaller local programs may offer greater convenience.
Again, there isn't a right answer—only what works best for your family.

6. Where Does Your Daughter Fit on the Team?
Every parent wants the perfect situation.
Most want their daughter playing every inning while also having enough talent around her to make the team successful.
The reality is that players can grow in almost any role.
If your daughter spends one year as the 13th player on a roster, I would encourage finding a team the following year where she can play a bigger role and continue developing.
On the other hand, if she's clearly the best player on her current team, it may be time to challenge herself against stronger competition.
Growth usually happens when players are pushed—but still have opportunities to contribute.

7. Parent Coach or Non-Parent Coach?
Many families consider this one of the biggest decisions.
Non-parent coaches often have an easier time remaining objective because they don't have a child on the team.
Parent coaches can significantly reduce costs and, in many cases, do an outstanding job.
The key isn't whether the coach is a parent.
The key is whether the coach treats every player fairly.
If a coach's daughter earns her spot, that's great. If she's batting third and playing shortstop simply because she's the coach's daughter, families will notice.
8. Does Your Daughter Fit the Coach?
Every player responds differently.
Some athletes thrive with demanding coaches who push them every day.
Others perform their best with coaches who teach through encouragement and positivity.
Neither style is automatically better.
Try to learn about the coach beyond tryouts. Watch games if possible. Talk to former players and parents. Finding a coach whose personality matches your daughter's can make a tremendous difference in her experience.

9. What Are You Getting for the Cost?
Price alone shouldn't determine your decision.
Instead, ask what you're receiving for that investment.
Higher costs often reflect:
Better facilities
More training opportunities
Paid coaches
Travel schedules
Stronger competition
College exposure opportunities
If your only goal is earning a college scholarship, remember that the financial return rarely equals the amount many families spend on travel softball.
The real value comes from the life lessons athletes learn—hard work, teamwork, leadership, resilience, accountability, and friendships that often last a lifetime.

10. Integrity Matters
This may be the most important point on the list.
Unfortunately, some coaches, parents, and even players will exaggerate—or outright lie—to convince families to join their team.
If someone spends more time criticizing other organizations than explaining why their own program is great, I would consider that a major red flag.
Programs built on integrity don't need to tear others down.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of outstanding softball programs throughout Minnesota and the surrounding states.
The best program isn't necessarily the biggest, the cheapest, or the one with the most national exposure. It's the one that best fits your daughter's goals, personality, commitment level, and family situation.

Take your time. Ask questions. Do your homework.
Most importantly, remember that nearly every coach in our sport is volunteering countless hours because they genuinely care about helping young athletes grow. Coaching is demanding, often thankless work, and I have tremendous respect for the coaches who dedicate so much of themselves to helping these young women become better players—and even better people.

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HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS … things may get crazy for a week !!!
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Your High Energy Player of the Game, VALERIE VANZANT! Valerie VanZant

Here it is Heat Fam! We broke last year's Homerun record by 2 Homeruns. 111 for the 2026 season and 109 last year. A lot of these Homeruns came during College Showcase tournaments out of state against some higher level pitching!

Proud of all of our ladies who hit bombs this year. And we are just as proud of all of our hitters who ended the season with great batting averages. That is what we truly train for, high percentage hitters who get on base and move runners to score! We don't train to hit homeruns, but they are a by-product of our hitting system.