NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

9-7-06

The Cullman Crushers Softball Organization will help kick off the Fall Travel Softball Season this weekend in Cullman with it's presentation of the Cullman Crusher's NSA Tournament. This Saturday September 9th and Sunday will, no doubt, be filled with some outstanding softball competition with at least 35 teams scheduled to participate--ages 8 & under's, 10U, 12U, 14U, and 16/18U's represented. Most of the action will be at Heritage Park, but the 8U competition along with the 16/18U's will use the fields at West Elementary. All the action is set to start at 9am on Saturday morning. We'd like to invite everyone out to the park this weekend to watch some of the areas top notch softball teams in action--including many of our local teams. The Crushers affiliates will be doing our best to provide a positive Cullman hospitality experience for all that will be participating and visiting this weekend. Please come help support us. ...Thanks, Rodney Jenkins

RESULTS:
8U - 1st Diamond Divas, 2nd Red Storm,
10U - 1st Cullman Crushers, 2nd NA Cats,
12U - 1st Huntsville Comets '94, 2nd Sparks '94,
14U - 1st Sparks '92, 2nd Cullman Crushers Orange,
16/18U 1st Cullman Crushers, 2nd Vipers 91.
The Cullman Crushers appreciate everyone involved and our hats are off to the excellent teams, players, coaches, and families! ...Sincerely, The Cullman Crushers

9-1-06

Organizational Fundraiser tournaments this Fall: (NSA)
September 9,10 “Cullman Crushers” @Heritage Park in Cullman
October 28 "Cullman Crushers Fall Bash” @Heritage Park

Additional tournaments scheduled for Heritage Park this Fall:
September 16,17 “Rocket City Fall Touch-down” @Heritage Park in Cullman
October 14,15 “Wallace State Fall Fest” (NSA) @Heritage Park
November 11,12 “Fall Championships” (NSA) @Heritage Park

8-18-06

Among all the bickering statements between parents, ball teams and coaches, I clipped this message off the softball communication forum today, it's worth reading:

My daughter started playing 8U travel ball in 1996 and has played ever since. She just graduated from high school and got a softball scholarship. We moved her out the other day into her dorm. Her room sits here empty. Though I am so proud of her and her many accomplishments I miss her terribly. I am going to miss travel ball too. It has been such a part of our lives for so long. I don't know what I'll do with myself next summer. I don't know what I'll do with myself now without her - I miss her so much. I wish we could start over and do it all again.
Enjoy every minute of it folks - it will all be over before you know it. Make some friends and have a blast along the way - and don't take yourself so seriously.
...by sballfever, 8/17/06 19:23 ET post #4972

8-14-06

The first Saturday planned for the Crushers tryouts turned out great, but the 2nd Saturday was rained out and postponed. The postponed portion of the tryouts is now planned for Saturday August 19 12noon til 3pm. All involved should contact Michael Lopez [205-790-0883] because certain teams are already meeting for practice this week and they may prefer you to attend the practice instead of the tryout session.

7-28-06

As a fundraising effort, the Cullman Crushers will host two NSA softball tournaments again this Fall at Cullman's Heritage Park. The "Cullman Crushers Tournament" on the weekend of September 9-10th, and the "Cullman Crushers Fall Bash" on Saturday October 28th. For additional information see NSA, or contact us.

7-21-06

Hurricane Crushers! ...Michael Lopez put together a group of the 12U/'93 girls to compete this past week in the "NSA B World Series Tournament" held in the Birmingham area. Since half the team was made up of the girls from Delane Kelley's N.A. Hurricanes team and the other half were players from the Crushers '93, I thought it fitting to label them the Hurricane Crushers. Their outstanding effort captured fifth place out of some twenty-six teams competing who had traveled in from several surrounding states. Congratualations girls on this outstanding accomplishment. A team photo link is included in the paragraph above.

7-17-06

The Cullman Crushers will conduct OPEN TRYOUTS on Saturdays August 5th & 12th for our 8 teams ranging from age 8 & unders to age 16 & unders. Efforts will support creating teams of age specific according to birth year: '90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95, '96, and '97-'98. Those interested in becoming a "Crusher fast-pitch softball player" and playing travel ball in the Fall and Spring of next season, please contact us. We will use the corner field at West Elementary which is located via Hwy. 278 just east of the Interstate 65 intersection in Cullman. Specific tryout times are for the 8U's '97 @10:00 - 12:00 PM, the 10U '96 @12:00 - 2:00 PM, the 12U '95 @1:00 - 3:00 PM. For all others including the '94, '93, '92, '91, '90 teams @3:00 - 5:00 pm. If you can't make the dates or times above, we will be happy to schedule a tryout at another time at Triple Play Sports Academy.
Thank you! ...The Cullman Crushers

7-16-06

Our Crushers '94 finished the season this past weekend competing in Athens where we captured a 2nd place finish losing the final to "Rock Solid" of Hartselle. The Rock Solid team has been our nemesis this year defeating us every single time we met them and in some very close games. On a up-note, we were able to finally beat the "Rock Solid" this weekend during pool play earlier in the day but was not able to hold them off in the final championship game. Congratualations to the team on another outstanding tournament finish and a great softball season.

6-19-06

Crushers '94 welcomes two new players to our team, Ashley Kelley & Tabitha Gaines, both are players from our origional sister team "The North Alabama Hurricanes" where coach Delane Kelley recently decided to disolve the team and somewhat merge with the Crushers. Several other players from the "N.A. Hurricanes" will be playing with the Crushers '93 also.

6-2-06

We will have an enclosed trailer that we can load all of our ball equipment in for the trip to the Panama City tournament. I recommend everybody bring all of their ball equipment to practice next Tuesday and put it into the trailer. That way maybe nothing will get lost or forgotten. Just make sure that everything needed is in your players ball bag; cleats, helmet, gloves, bats, towels, or anything else that you normally take to the ball field. ...Chris

5-22-06

The Crushers '94 played a great weekend of softball this weekend finishing tied for 3rd place at the "May Madness" tournament in Madison. Erin Lopez hit her first-ever LONG-BALL!, it traveled probably 240 ft. straight over the centerfield fence. The hit helped us win a pool game against the "N.A. Hurricanes" on Saturday. Congratulations Erin, we hope you have many more to follow in the very near future. Go--Crusher--Go!!

5-18-06

The Cullman Crushers appreciates everyone that supported our May 13th Golf Tournament! A special thanks goes out to the 17 Teams that played and the 30 sponsors that supported this initiative.
The Cullman Crushers will use the funds raised to support our six teams of players this summer and during the fall.
...The Cullman Crushers

5-16-06

Barrry Hampton pointed out that we have six Crushers playing in the AHSSA State Tournament this weekend! Congratulations to: Brittany Hampton, Lana Marks, Kara Blanton, Mona Mason, Hannah Pendley, and Dana Maxwell. ...Jeff Cagle

5-5-06

Calling all Crushers! Please e-mail back with any time you can help Saturday with the yard sale at Heritage Park, and please bring any donations. We need helpers and Donations, please help.
Next weekend is our GOLF TOURNAMENT and WE NEED TEAMS AND SPONSORS.
We need a team effort here folks, this is our target oportunities to create the funds needed for so many to play softball this season---CALLING ALL CRUSHERS!!
...Michael E Lopez

5-1-06

Now that the Spring portion of our tournament schedule is over, several team members will be moving on, or moving to the Crushers '93 team. Good luck to: Courtney Hallmark/[29.5kb] ...Selina Naylor/[79.6kb] [230kb] [35kb] ...Rachel Fisher/[31kb] [83kb] ...Kendall Elam/[20.3kb] [52.6kb] [51.5kb] [51.7kb] [7.7kb].

4-13-06

The Crushers Organization will have a meeting at the Cullman Civic Center on Tuesday April 18th. We will start at 6:30pm and will cover the following:
Golf tournament at Cullman Municipal Golf Course held on May 13 (This will fund our summer). We need a list of teams and sponsors turned in, also to meet budget we will need at least 36 teams, please do your best.
Yard sale May 6 at Day in the park, we will need items to be collected or stored, drop off point.
Next, team rosters and uniform sizes, numbers and nicknames, we will have all teams playing travel ball in 30 days.
Florida trip and who has not reserved a room, and who does not need one.
Please talk to all Crushers and let them know about the meeting and if they can not come, have some one come for them. We are down to the 11th hour; it is show time, so help me; help the Crushers Organization. ...Michael Lopez

4-10-06

Congratulations to the Crushers '94 for capturing the 1st place win during the tournament at "Sparkman High School" in Huntsville this past Saturday April 8th. We'd like to thank the "Sparks Organization" and all who helped put this tournament together, it was a valuable experience for our team and we appreciate the outstanding sportsmanship displayed by all those we encountered. ...Rodney

4-5-06

We will be having a PARENT’S MEETING on Thursday night (4-6-06) at the beginning of practice (6:30). I need at least 1 parent from each family to attend. ...Chris

3-15-06

Scrambled Eggs! A mother was making a breakfast with fried eggs for her teenage daughter.Suddenly the girl bursts into the kitchen. She screams "Careful! CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my goodness! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful! ... CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!"
The mother stared at her. "What's wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?
The daughter calmly replied, "I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm trying to play softball."
Someone posted this on a softball discussion forum.

3-14-06

About practice, I had thought about giving the parents & players a day off, but after talking to all our coaches, we realized that would not be what the players need. We all knew when we signed up for travel ball that we would be making bigger concessions in our lives than we would if we had stayed in Park & Rec. Also, I need to get everybody some info on the Florida trip that Michael Lopez needs ASAP. ...Chris

3-10-06

I have been asked about the golf tournament prizes. So, here is the breakdown as follows:
1st will be 400.00 cash---5th will be 200.00 cash---8th will be 180.00 cash---Closets to the pins on par 3---and Longest drive.
Just an update: the Crushers 94 team played in Moody this past Saturday and represented the Crushers Org. well. They will play this Saturday in Decatur @Morgan Wilson Park 10:00am and 1:30pm, if you get a chance drop by. The Crushers 94 team is an awesome young team. They have been predicted to do well in this tournament on Al.com. Thanks in advance; for your help.
...Michael E. Lopez
President of the Crushers Organization

2-23-06

The Cullman Crushers will present a 4-MAN SRAMBLE GOLF TOURNAMENT to be held at the "Cullman Golf Course" on Saturday May 13th, 2006. All proceeds to benefit the Cullman Crushers Softball Organization.
~ 12:00 Lunch ~ 1:00 Shotgun Start ~
Cost: $75 per player ($300 per team) - Sponsorships: $100
Prizes include: Tournament payout to 1st, 5th, and 12th place. Closest to the pin on all par 3's. Longest drive competition and lot's of door prizes to be distributed.
For additional information please contact us, we'd love your support. The Organization is promoting six girls softball teams for tournament competition in 2006. Teams include more than 60 outstanding and ambitous youth softball players from the Cullman and North Alabama area. Teams are of varying age divisions including: age 8 & under, 10 & under, two 12U's, 14U, and age 16 & under. We appreciate your support and/or donations.
...Thank you.

Let's get busy! All Crusher team members are incouraged to recruit at least one team participating in the golf tournament along with at least $100 in sponsorship and/or donations. Any sponsorships, and/or donations of a value of $100 or more will qualify for a recognition sign displayed somewhere on the golf course during the day of the golf tournament. Crushers should get busy immediately trying to forfill their requirement and get it turned in so that the wheels can begin rolling for this major fundraising effort. Please let us know if you need registration forms.
...Happy fundraising

2-23-06

Saturday May 6th is "Day in the Park" festivities at Heritage Park in Cullman. At this event, the Crushers Organization will be presenting a collective "yard sale" as a fundraising effort. For anyone interested in helping us with this effort, we'll be accepting donated items. Anyone with anything lying around the house in which they'd like to be rid of, we'd possibly be interested in your stuff for our yard sale. Please contact us anytime between now and the yard sale and we'll make arrangements to collect items at your convenience.

2-23-06

The Crushers Organization will attempt to create 10&under and 8&under teams for possibly summer or fall competition. Tryouts for the 10&under team is scheduled for Saturday March 25th at 1pm @West Elementary practice field.

2-6-06

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7:00, the SOFTBALL WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS, MICHIGAN WOLVERINES, will play the Auburn Tigers in Auburn. I know that some of you will not be interested in going to Auburn, especially on a Tuesday night, but it is a chance to see the defending Champs that all our kids seen on TV. In the pre-season polls, Michigan is again ranked #1 with Auburn coming in at 17th. I don’t know what the team up the road in Tuscaloosa is ranked. ...Chris

2-5-06

Our first '06 outdoor practice is scheduled for Thursday Feb. 9th from 6:30 till 8:00pm ***Cancelled!*** on the corner field at West Elementary School which is located off Hwy. 278 approx. 1 mile east of Interstate 65. The practice field is directly across the street from a "Jet Pep" gas station. If the temparature happens to be below freezing, coach may contact you and cancel; otherwise, come dressed warmly. Players who have not turned in their players application distributed by coach should bring it at this time.

1-30-06

There is another "Crushers organizational" meeting planned for Thursday February 23rd at the Cullman Civic Center and 6:00 pm. Additional discussion about fundraising efforts and the duties that will be expected of parents and players coming together on these projects, parents should attend if possible.

1-19-06

We will be having a meeting next Thursday at 7:30 at Cullman Civic Center. This is an organizational meeting for all Crusher players and parents to discuss schedules, fundraising, an overview of the budget, etc………..
...Chris

1-16-06

A parent, or parents, might want to be present at the opening of our practice on this coming Sunday(22nd), Chris plans to discuss some matters that might be of interest ...Rodney

1-9-06

Our softball team will begin practicing this Sunday January 15th at TPSA at 2:00. We will be practicing every Sunday thru Jan. & Feb. Bill Martin will be working with our team on several aspects, especially hitting. There will be no cost to any of the parents, but participation is mandatory because it is not free. I know it is very early to start softball practice, but we are only looking at 7 practices before our 1st tournament in early March, unless we can get lucky with the weather and get a couple of outdoor practices.
... Chris

12-14-05

I know everybody is extra busy this time of year, so this is just a reminder about our team party. It's Friday December 16th, 6pm at my house. Remember also, we will be having snacks and playing "Dirty Santa".
Hope to see everyone ... Chris

11-22-05

For those interested, I just found the extra long knee pads in an orange color. The different colored ones were hard to find and I will be ordering a pair for Tori. Just in case others are interested, I found them at: www.softballjunkcom ... Chris

10-9-05

Tori and I will be attending a softball seminar at Auburn, I'd like to envite anyone interested to join us on Sunday December 11th. Let me know and I'll instruct you on how to get registered. ... Chris

PICTURE INDEX

• Pictured receiving the game plan at a Athens tournament.(58KB), (60KB), The team finished 2nd place. (47KB)
• Chris & Jimmy discuss strategy.(59KB), Tammy Howard keeps the books. (101KB), Roger keeps up with stats. (43KB), (45KB),
• Crushers 94 at Panama City Beach.(66KB), Team in the pool. (45KB), (70KB), (65KB), (66KB), (33KB)
  Crusher coaches displaying dominance (52KB), Mr. Cullman Crushers himself---or "Bahama Bob" (202KB),
• Team picture during the Grissom High Memorial Day Classic in Huntsville.(283KB), Rain delay. (61KB), (85KB), (67KB)
• Erin Lopez, Sabrina, and Shelby relaxing between games at the "May Madness" tournament in Madison 5-19-06.(77kb)
• Olivia, Claire, and Mary Ellen pictured helping during the golf tournament fundraiser.(48.6kb)
• Team members pictured while relaxing between games of a tournament in Madison.(58.6kb) Another look. (54.4KB)
• Rachel and Shelby shown ready to chase fly balls during practice.(1.06MB)
• Jennifer's little sister, Claire Jenkins.(31KB), (34KB), 8U Diamond Diva's. (922KB), (88), (77), (40), (46), (81), (66), (69)
• Team photo with 1st place trophy finish after Sparkman High School tournament.(363kb) Another look. (46KB)
• Players pictured having fun on the bleachers while waiting to compete during Huntsville tournament.(395kb)
• Olivia, Kendall, and Lauren shown getting ready for batting practice prior to a tournament game.(59KB) Another look. (75KB)
• A large picture of the Crushers '94 after practice.(1.23MB)
• A capture of Tori Howard, Jennifer Jenkins & Sabrina Russell after a practice.(56KB)
• Annie Holcomb, Tori Howard and Jennifer Jenkins pictured after practice at TPSA.(61KB)
• A group picture of the team at our Christmas party. (64KB)
• Coach Chris Howard is pictured with "Super Sampson" at the Christmas party. (61KB)
• Jennifer & Tori while participating in a softball clinic at Auburn (83KB)

ABOUT OUR TEAM

The team is made up of team members primarily of Cullman County but with a few from various surrounding areas of North Alabama. Referred to as the '94 team due to the fact that most were born in the year 1994 and the fact that the Crushers Org. has another 12U team made up of girls approximately a year the older. As of Spring this 2006, most team members are new to the Crushers Organization but not new to softball and softball competition.
... continued from top of page:
The core group of players along with head coach Chris Howard have played together for several years earning the Cullman County "Park & Rec" Championships in 2003 as 8 & unders and then again in 2005 as 10 & unders. They have played tournament ball in North Alabama three years including a 8U World Series. They have been a outstanding and very competitive team competing in "Park & Rec" as the Fairveiw Chicks and in tournament ball as the X-treme. During this past summer(2005) the team played four 10U tournaments in North Alabama placing 3rd twice and 2nd twice.
Following the summer 2005 experience a group of coaches, including Chris Howard, decided to form a new tournament team for 12U competition in the Spring of 2006 --the North Alabama Hurricanes. Meanwhile, the Cullman Crushers organization, already established in the Cullman area, invited our team to merge with their organization and we excepted. We are very excited and anxious to compete in 2006 as the Cullman Crushers '94 and are looking forward to competition with all the quality teams and great softball people of North Alabama.

The "X-treme" - July 2005

• The X-treme in the dugout nearing the end of a tough weekend of softball tournament competition in Decatur. (61KB)
• The X-treme meets on the mound for a team meeting just before the last out that put them in the tournament final. (61KB)
• The X-treme captures 2nd place in a very tough tournament in Decatur Alabama. (61KB) Another look. (163KB)
• Additional photos of the X-treme team: (88KB), (120KB)
• Jennifer is pictured as a Huntsville Comet for the final Fall 2005 tournament @Liberty Park. (61KB) Another look. (44KB)
• Fairveiw Chicks. A link to additional photos of these girls playing 8U

This particular page is presently embedded within the Southern Foosball Program website. Direct your questions and/or comments about this site to Rodney Jenkins (256) 734-6349, or email: jenkins@hiwaay.net. If you have information you'd like considered to be included, please feel free to submit.