As the sport of fast pitch softball winds down here in Knoxville, the Knoxville Explosion Organization reflects on 2014 as another benchmark year for our organization.  We stand for and are about the on and off the field development of our players.  Amazingly enough, over 80% of our players are honor roll students.  Many of our players also received numerous citizenship, spelling bee and 4H essay awards throughout 2014.  In addition, 100% of our players were selected to participate in their various middle school and high school teams!  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

On the field, it was an equaly amazing year for our organization!  The organization Spring and Fall 2014 Season combined team statistics were as follows:

129 Tournaments Participated

(44) 1st Place Finishes - Including 14u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 12u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 10u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 8u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 10u ASA Class B Tennessee State Champions, and 8u SEAA Open World Series Championship

(32) 2nd Place Finishes - Including 14u ASA/USA Eastern Elite Alabama Showcase Runner-up, 12u ASA Class B Tennessee State Runner-up, 14u ASA Class B Tennessee State Runner-up, 16u Big Orange Fall Showcase Runnerup

(9) 3rd Place Finishes

Statistical Insight: Of the tournaments played in 2014, the Knoxville Explosion Softball Teams either won, showed or placed in 65.8% of all tournaments played!  This list of tournaments include major showcases, Tennessee State Touranments, World Series and Large tournaments throughout the Southeastern U.S.  WOW!

Wins & Losses

Wins - 452

Losses - 198

Ties - 5

Statistical Insight: Overall organization winning percentage of .695!  WOW!

Our organization also added a 8u team for the Fall 2014/Spring 2015, bringing our organizational roster to a total of 10 teams, welcomed 2 new head coaches and 135 players from all over Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky!

The numbers don't tell the whole story though!  Our players got significantly better as our teams traveled to 10 different states and played teams from 35 different states and made some great friends along the way.  The competitive spirit exhibited on the field coupled with the smiles and laughter, as well as the blood, sweat and tears that our players endured throughout the year is a testiment to the dedication forged by the Knoxville Explosion Coaches and tireless support of their parents!  As appropriate, in this month of giving thanks, the Knoxville Explosion Softball Organization would like to give thanks and honor our competitors, tournament directors, umpires and countless other supporters that make the sport of fast pitch softball everything it can be!  To you we give thanks for a great 2014 and look forward to an even more exciting 2015!   All prospective players and families, we would love for you to join us and our quest to develop the best fast pitch softball players on and off the field!

Congratulations to all of our Explosion Players who finished the 2013-2014 School Year on the A or A/B Honor Roll!  We are exceptionally proud of your academic achievements!  Overall, here are the statistics for our players this year:

109 Players

54 Players achieved all A Honor Roll (49.54%)

34 Players achieved A/B Honor Roll (31.19%)

88 out of 109 Players achieved honor roll overall – 80.73%!!!

In addition, several of our players received individual academic and social accolades, we celebrate and honor their achievements!

- Kelsey Birchfield - Most Fluent Spanish

- Sydney Birchfield - President's Physical Fitness Award, Spanish Award

- Emilee Fowler - A honor roll, Peer Buddy Award, Language Arts award, Duke Tip award, Hero Award for working with special needs children

- Haveyn Stooksbury - Perfect Attendance

- Jada Reeves - Most Academic in Math

- Kesney Brown - Beta Club, Student of the month, All Advanced in TCAPs, Most Outstanding Math Student

- Lexi Fugatt - Presidential Award for Academics, Principal's Award

- Brooklin Richardson - FCA Officer

- Makayla Alvey - "PRIDE" Award for academics, sports, & helping others

- Cameron Young - Presidential Award for Academics, Admiral Citizenship Award

- Heather "Deuce" LaForce - captain of NX36T - a two time TN State championship FIRST FLL Robotics team

- Abby Johnston - Character Counts Award, Top AR reader in her class.

- Lauren Brakovec - Citizenship award the last two years.  Made Safety for upcoming Fifth grade;  Made ""superior"" rating past two years in the National Federation of Music Clubs, National Federation Junior Festivals for piano solo.

- Tyrah White - Honors club, student of the month, 3rd place in the Modern Woodmen speech contest

- Emma Blankenship - received an award for perseverance, was inducted into the hall of fame for character and academics

- Sarah Burton - She was the only student in the entire school (500 students) to be awarded the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.  

- Kendal Pitts - perfect attendance

- Jodie Spangler - honored as Chess master for the school chess club

- Mackenzie Babb - Sterchi Elem PE Athlete of the Year

- Avery Flatford - Admiral Spirit Award

- Avery Perkins - only 4 from each grade were chosen to go to Washington DC based on grades & behavior

- Jaci Drinnon - National Physical Fitness Award

- Kourtney Clevenger - Perfect Attendance, National Physical Fitness Award

- Bradynn Belcher - First Honors award

- MaKenzie Henderson - English / Language Arts award, National Physical Fitness Award

- Bailey Wilder - Science award

- Chloe Lackey - Star Testing Math Award for 2nd Grade, Exceptional Accomplishment Reading  Log Award for reading 2686 minutes

- Madi Jones - perfect attendance

- Ella Janish - class spelling bee winner

- Brooklyn Copley -  Certificate of Scholarship for Superior work in all Academic Subjects, Writing Award, Math Award, Reading Award, Social Studies Award, Science Award, Language Arts Award, Spelling Award, Accelerated Reader Program Certificate

- Addison Oliver - 2nd Place School Spelling Bee

- Emily (Bug) Buskey - junior national honor society, link up mentor in the recycling group, band excellence award, selected first chair flute in Knox County honors band, karns middle school jazz band, selected East Tennessee Honors Band

Great job everyone!!! It all starts and ends with your education!

Parents and players often ask, why do we want to play for the Knoxville Explosion?  Here are the top 10 reasons to join the Knoxville Explosion Fast Pitch Softball Organization David Letterman Style!

1. Commitment to the fundamentals.  Our coaches are hand-picked due to their extensive knowledge of the game.  Many have not only coached travel softball for an extended period of time but many of them are former players giving them key insight into the strategy of the game! 
2. Reputation.  The Knoxville Explosion Organization has an excellent reputation with many coaches, organizations, sanctioning bodies, players, parents and umpires.  We have a reputation of turning out well-coached teams that compete but are also great kids off of the field.
3. Coaches.  There are many excellent fast pitch softball coaches throughout the various age groups in the Knoxville softball communities.  We are blessed to have excellent coaches that understand the game, are certified Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) double goal coaches who are volunteer coaches.  Off of the field, our coaches are doctors, lawyers, CEOs, firemen, policemen, environmental professionals, lawyers, business owners, high school sport coaches and a hundred other professions, meaning your player will learn responsibility and how to act from leaders in our very own community!
4. Low Player Turn Over.  We enjoy an astounding 90% player retention rate across the organization!  While not for everyone, our organization is run like a family with family values!
5. Training.  The Knoxville Explosion Player Development Program is a one of a kind program that focuses on all of the fundamental areas of game play, especially mental development.  This includes situational game awareness.  This is extremely important in the proper development of players!  We also have a physical training program with Johnny Long Training Academy so our players develop quickness and strength as they mature.
6. Technology.  We utilize the latest in softball training technology whether it be batting and fielding tools to use of video equipment and computer statistical analysis.  This analysis is extremely important to identify flaws in player mechanics!
7. Production.  We measure success by the development of each player.  Players are better after they have completed our program than when we first encountered them.  The results on the field are also impressive, our teams have posted 12 Tennessee State Championships in ISA, ASA, SEAA in the 8u, 10u, 12u and 14u age groups from 2011-2014.  We have won back to back SEAA 10u and 8u World Series titles.  In addition, our teams have also performed well out of state winning several tournaments in Spartanburg, SC, finishing runner-up in the 2014 14u USA/ASA Alabama Heartland Elite Showcase, runner-up in the 12u NSA Historic Triangle Battle in Williamsburg VA, runner-up in the 12 uUSSSA Gold North Florida State Championship in Jacksonville, FL, in addition to a slew of East Tennessee Regional Championships!
8. Academic Excellence.  The Knoxville Explosion prides itself on upholding the academic excellence within its organization.  We expect our players to all be honor roll students and have an academic incentive and recognition program for our players.
9. Community Service.  Understanding how blessed we actually are, The Knoxville Explosion undertakes a variety of community service projects to help those in the community less fortunate than us.  The players actively participate in the community service projects that have included, but not been limited to hosting Christmas at the Smokey Mountain Children’s Home and Locks of Love Hair Donation Drives.
10. Stability.  We are the largest Fastpitch softball organization in Knoxville and are continuing to experience explosive growth.  The advantage that this affords our players is that they have the option to remain within the organization if they are an older or younger player playing on the various Explosion teams.  So worry not, your player will have every opportunity to stay with the organization without the worry of “what will we do next year” late season blues!  Also many startup teams form and breakup within 8 months of forming, its a fact.  Established in 2005, our organization has steadily formed a solid, stable foundation to support our teams and develop future teams.  So, when considering a new home for your player, consider this important point.....will the team you are considering still be around next season or 5 years from now.

 Please visit or call all of our sponsors as they have helped our players focus on their school work and softball skills development without the worry of financial burden.  Thank you sponsors for your investment in our players future!

Please visit these sponsors websites:

1) www.en-graphics.com

2) www.camelcanvas.com

3) www.cedarbluffanimalclinic.com

4) www.gotpotholes.com

5) www.ondeckoutdoor.com

6) www.shaferinsurance.com

7) www.smokyhhc.com

8) www.universitysurgicaloncology.com

9) www.janiceannsfashions.com

10) www.richardtalleylaw.com

11) www.jacksonjackson.com

12) www.franklinrealty.com

Please call these sponsors directly at

1) Rainwater, Drinnon, & Churchwell, PLLC Attorneys at Law /  865-397-3939

2) Brown Construction Consolidated, Inc./ Powell, Tn / 865-388-0488

3) High Praises Church / Maryville, Tn./ 865-681-9031

4) Treehouse Learning Center / 865-922-3735

5) A & B Enterprises (Dandridge Pennzoil & Maintenance Center, Inc.) 865-397-5990

6) Sam & Andy's West / 865-675-4242

7) Dr. Dale M. Bryant, DDS. / Dandridge, Tn. / 865-397-7884

8) The Home Team Real Estate / www.thehometeamtn.com / 865-397-7123 

9) Wartburg Speedway / www.wartburgspeedway.net / 423-346-6750

10) University Surgical Oncology / www.universitysurgicaloncology.com

11) Gary Briggs Electrical / (865) 397-7522

12) Janice Anns Fashions / www.janiceannsfashions.com

13) Mountain Mist Carwash (Dandridge TN)

14) Richard Talley Law / www.richardtalleylaw.com

15) Jackson Real Estate / www.jacksonjackson.com

16) Franklin Realty / www.franklinrealty.com

17) Jeremy Faison State Representative

 Thank You Sponsors for helping our girls become the players they were born to be!

Take small steps. Improvement is sometimes a slow process so don't get discouraged.  Many times, we've seen a player struggle throughout an entire year only to come back the next and be a different player.

·        Learn the game - practice matters.

·         Hustle - how you practice is how you play

·        Be competitive - play to win.

·         Respect and support each other – the golden rule

·        Respect yourself - no foul language or Personal remarks.

·        Play with poise - the game DOES start over with every pitch

·        Enjoy the game - and have fun being a part of it.

·        Take pride in what you do - never be content with mediocrity

·        Softball is a team sport but demands individual online bingo font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">effort

 Become a student of the game. There is always more to learn.

Have fun. Softball is a game.

There is no reason you can't improve while having fun.

Abe was right about study and preparation. Become as knowledgeable as you possibly can about the game of softball-There are a lot of half-truths and well meaning but inadequate coaching instruction at the youth level. A coach would do well to become a student of the game. As a player if you have dreams and not wishes, go to work on your dream. And then work some more. Work separates the great from the average. If there are two players of equal talent, the one who studies and works harder will always win in the long run.  There is no magical substitute for work, no instant drill to make you succeed, no one piece of advice that will put it all together.

One other suggestion: Be patient.

Take small steps. Improvement is sometimes a slow process so don't get discouraged. Many times, we've seen a player struggle throughout an entire year only to come back the next and be a different player.