GOLD

2010 ASA Gold Region 10 Champions!!

2008 NAFA National Champions!!

For the elite player looking for the best competition or exposure opportunities. This team will compete in the ASA Gold division, sector qualifiers and attend several national exposure tournaments during the Fall and Summer.

If you want to step up a whole level from "A" ball, demonstrate to college coaches you are a difference maker when compared to athletes from around the country or prepare for collegiate play, then... ASA Gold is for you!!

Why Choose to Play ASA Gold?

1. You want to compete against the best players in the country.
2. Highest level of College Recruiting. Ever wonder why you don't see very many coaches at the local qualifier tournaments, because they are at the Gold
     Qualifier Tournaments. These tournaments are highly attended by College Coaches.
3. You love playing softball and are a tough competitor, and want to push yourself to your potential and play with teammates who have the same goals.
4. Remember why you made the jump from "Rec" ball to Travel, and the difference it made in your skills and abilities... well, this is similar. You will learn to play the game
    much faster, you will compete against better pitching, defense, hitters and coaches. The result is, you will become a better player! That will make you more recruitable, and
    better prepared to make a contribution to your college team, even as a freshman.

We are looking for:

1. The very best high school players who want to play at the highest level and have the opportunity for the best college exposure in the country.
2. If you are a High School Senior looking to prepare for Collegiate play.
3. Players who want to prove that some of the best players in the country come from the midwest. Be a part of a team that wants to bring a
GOLD National Championsip to the Midwest and Chicago area!!!

Why Play Lightning Gold?

1. You will improve significantly as a player... you will be challenged to be your very best!
2. We play the best exposure schedule in the midwest, including the Louisville Independence Day tournament (which is the very best recruiting tournament in the country), the Batbuster's Fall tournament in California, the DeMarini Invitational, Sparks Fall Invitational, St. Louis College Exposure, Rising Stars and other selected tournaments based on where our players desire to attend school.
3. Colleges consistently recognize the Lightning for being great fundamental teams... we actually train and teach our players!! We have been complimented many times over within the college community and are told by coaches that when they attend a tournament and see a Lightning team on the list, they always circle it to attend a game.
4. We have an extensive network of College Coach contacts and personal relationships. So no matter where you would like to play from the PAC 10, Big 10, ACC, Big 12, SEC, to the MAC, MVC, IVY, GLVC we can call a coach and talk about our players with them.

2010/2011 Exposure Tournaments

1. Louisville Independence Day Tournament (Boulder)
2. Batbuster's Fall Tournament (Ca)
3. Sparks Pumpkinfest
4. St. Louis College Exposure
4. Hawks Exposure Tournament
5. Rising Stars
and others

Myths

1. Many of the 18U teams in the area claim that it is too expensive to play Gold. We had 4 travel trips during the 2010 & 2009 Summer and 3 trips during the 2008 Summer. Look at any of the better 18U A teams and you will see that they also travel 3 or 4 times each year. The fact is, teams must go wherever the ASA qualifier tournaments are being held, and in some years that is more travel than in others. Additionally, because the Lightning is a bargain when compared to the fees charged by others, overall, you are very likely to pay less to play for the Lightning. In fact, because of the way we structure our program, fees and fundraisers, it is possible to play for any of the Lightning teams at no cost.

2. Some will have players and parents believe that there is little difference in the college exposure between 18A and Gold. We have teams playing both, and we can tell you objectively, the exposure for the Gold players is many times greater than for 18A players. These same teams will point to their college recruits, but what they are not telling you is that after their top 2, 3 or 4 players who are recruited, the rest are left to fend for themselves. At the Lightning, we work on getting every player in our program, from our 16U, 18U and Gold teams recruited. To date, we have placed 100% of our athletes on scholarship (or for our DIII players, aid package).

If you are interested in playing GOLD, please contact Jim Abbott (708) 805-5195