As part of our Throwback Thursday, we go ALL the way back to Dec. 6, 2018 to spotlight one of the top 16U teams in the country, the Finesse team out of Michigan.
Coached by Donny Dreher and Alec Lesko, this talented squad will be a stronger contender for one of the top spots in the Extra Elite Eighty 16U Club Rankings which we announced early today will start Feb. 11, 2019!
The Finesse organization has been around for an amazing 32 years and has produced top players like Amanda Chidester and developed elite recruits who have gone to every Power 5 Conference, especially to the Big Ten and schools like Michigan and Michigan State.
In 1992, Donny Dreher–who had played college baseball and then modified fastpitch–was connected with the Finesse organization and after starting as an 18U assistant, has coached elite 18U and 16U teams.
With about two dozen teams of all ages drawing on players primarily from Michigan and Ohio, Dreher is excited about his 16U team that he will coach with assistant Alec Lesko.
“This is a Top 50 team nationally,” Dreher says. “Last summer the team finished tied for 5th at the Triple Crown Fourth of July Power Pool, also tied for 5th at the USA Softball JO Cup and had a good showing at PGF Nationals.”
“This year’s team has some key returners in addition to the top players from our Finesse 14U-Nieto team which finished tied for 5th at the JO Cup.”
“The strength of this year’s team is in the circle as our pitching and great defense allows us to compete with anyone in the country.”
The team is comprised primarily of 2020’s and ‘21’s including several who will be in our 2021 Extra Elite 100 rankings coming up soon!
Also, coming in January 2019: our Extra Elite 50 Club Rankings at all age divisions. To submit player and team info, email: info@extrainningsoftball.com
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Here is a look at the team player-by-player with comments by Coach Donny Dreher…
