About the Lightning

Mission Statement

The mission of the New Lenox Lightning Girls Fastpitch Softball Program, is to teach our student-athletes the fundamental way to play fastpitch softball at an elite level, while emphasizing high values, as well as, developing personal growth and character of all our student-athletes.

The New Lenox Lightning Girls Fastpitch Softball Program encourages attitudes of self discipline, group loyalty, good sportsmanship and personal integrity.  Along with an appreciation for goal oriented hard work, motivation, a feeling of pride in personal achievement, along with respect for all individuals.

The New Lenox Lightning Girls Fastpitch Softball Program also encourages a sense of personal pride in each student-athlete becoming the best student they can be. There is a reason why our players are student-athletes rather than athlete-students. EDUCATION is the number one priority of this organization!

Info and History

The Lightning teams practice and compete year round.  Our home fields are at Providence High School and Lincoln-Way schools in New Lenox.  Additionally, we have our own beautiful indoor practice facility with a full field and 2 batting cages for year round practice.  The Lightning seek to compete at the highest levels of competition, and compete in the most prestigious tournaments across the country, including the Batbusters's Fall Showcase in Huntington Beach, CA and the elite Independence Day Tournament in Boulder, CO.  We are committed to developing student-athletes who will play for their high school teams and prepare our players to be recruited and play at the collegiate level.  The Lightning are very proud that we have placed 100% of our players at universities across the country on athletic and academic scholarships.  There is no other organization that works as hard to get you recruited and signed.  We will guide you in the recruiting process from the time you enter high school and work with you throughout your travel career.  We have had this success because we have excellent relationships with coaches across the country, in any conference and at all levels.  Additionally, college coaches look for Lightning players and teams because they know that they are trained with excellent fundamentals and knowledge of the game.  To accomplish this, the Lightning organization has excellent coaches and works with some of the finest instructors available, including professional baseball and softball players, Olympians, college coaches and certified instructors; for hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, speed and agility training.

The New Lenox Lightning was started by Bob Schaper in 1992, as a means to provide female athletes the opportunity to play at a more competitive level.  Steve Hackett took over as the director of the Lightning from 1999 through 2005.  Jim Abbott is the current director of the organization.