RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
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ABOUT
 Head Coach Sammy Fernandez can easily get the attention of her Team Long Island 16U players when she reflects back to her four years of record-setting college softball as the starting shortstop for Syracuse from 2014 to 2018.
Her TLI team is coming off a strong second year of 14U in 2019 and tells us what makes this team special as one of the best 16U’s from the Empire State and the East Coast including two commits already and a lot of talent up-and 0oming…
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When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?
Team Long Island / BPA Fastpitch was founded in 1999 and the TLI Organization has a rich history of producing highly skilled, fundamentally sound student-athletes, which is widely considered by collegiate evaluators among the most respected travel organizations in the East Coast.
We have a proven track record and our young players will have the chance to grow in an organization focusing on sportsmanship, fundamentals, skill work, and mental preparation. The TLI program will provide numerous opportunities to compete in various exposure events, collegiate orientation opportunities, and featured enrollment into many of the “invitation only” college showcases and tournaments in the nation.
Our players will be more than prepared as they enter their college careers.
Where are you based and where do your athletes come from? Are they all local or do some come from out of state?
Our team organization is based out of Hicksville, New York as we train at Baseball Plus. Most of our athletes come from all over with three from Westchester/Putnam County, two from Albany, one from New Jersey and the rest from Queens through Long Island.
What was the purpose of creating the team? Was it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
Our main purpose is to expose these girls to college coaches at showcases and the biggest and best tournaments throughout the summer and fall season.
What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
Last Summer we were 2019 USSSA Eastern National Champions for 14U. To prepare for that, all summer long we train as a team and play in mostly 16u and 18u tournaments to play better competition.
In 2019, our second year at 14U, our overall season record was 59-14-2 with our record being 34-3-1 versus 14U teams; 15-9-1 versus 16U teams and 10-2 versus 18U teams.
How about recruiting?
We have a lot of college coaches that follow TLI very closely. In a top showcase, we will average 30 to 40 collages watching us throughout the weekend. We have great support from the ACC, Big Ten and almost every Northeast school.
We had two players commit, one in the 7thand one in the  8th grade, before the new NCAA rule went into effect. Mandy Fernandez verbally committed to Syracuse University as a 7th grader and Alanna Morse verbally committed to Hofstra University as an 8th grader.
Both of these players still love the school they verballed to, but as the new rule changed and with both schools getting new coaches, these players are allowed to look elsewhere as well, per the new recruiting rule, but they both love their first chosen schools.
We currently have two pitchers throwing 62 mph and one pitcher throwing 60. Our defense is amazing with a very deep hitting line-up.
What makes the organization unique?
Our organization is run by Angel Mangual and his style of training makes this program and team so unique and talented. We focus on defense and situations. Our team specifically focuses a lot on the mental part of the game and team chemistry.
Most colleges in the Northeast and some further, know about TLI. We have a very good reputation as an organization.
What’s your softball background and those of the coaching staff?
I am one of three coaches. Tim Fernandez and John Rama are the other two assistants who have been coaching this team since the girls were 10Uu. The three coaches together make a great team because we all specialize in something different, but all know the game to the highest level.
I played at Syracuse University from 2014-2018, was the starting shortstop for four years and hold the all-time hits record and all-time single season hit record at ‘Cuse. I have experience playing in the ACC against the best players in the country which is a help to this team.
Angel Mangual is the head of the program as the organization’s Director of Operations and Player Development. Angel also trains every team in the organization.
How many teams are there in the organization overall?
We have 12 total teams in the organization starting at 10U up to 18U Gold.
What have been some of the key moments in the team’s history?
Winning Nationals has been the girls and coaches’ goal since 10U and we have done well recently.  As a second-year 14U team last spring, we won the USSSA 14U Eastern Nationals and finished 5th out of 144 teams in the Gold Bracket at the Triple Crown Jr. Sparkler last year.
We also played some 16U tournaments a year ago and took first at the Stop DWI Tournament of Champions, 2nd at the NJ Nightmare and 5th at the Team NJ Invitational playing in the 16U power pool.
What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
As a coach, I tend to focus a ton on confidence and the mental part of the game. Our players are so strong mentally and they continue to learn and get better mentally.
Our other goals are winning, having fun and keeping this a positive team. We also want every player to get recruited to the school of their choice.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
Strengths of this team are a lot, humbly. We have some crazy fast players, insane power hitters, great pitchers and solid defense.
Going a little further, we are mentally strong, strategically smart and know the game at a high level already as 15-16-year-olds.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
Our defense. We have some of the sharpest and smoothest players you can find. Our technique is something we take seriously and we practice it religiously. I give the kids homework, they are always studying the game and reading articles on confidence and mental toughness.
How are you doing during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
During this virus and quarantine, we do five virtual workouts a week as a team. We have guest speakers talk about the mental part of the game as well me taking the players through game-like scenarios. I work on the mental part of the game weekly with the girls and they continue to do team bonding.
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Here’s a player-by-player look at Team Long Island 16U with comments from Coach Fernandez:
SS/2B Mandy Fernandez #17 (2023, verbally committed to Syracuse)
Mandy is one of the best defensive players on this team. She brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the dugout with her cheering. Mandy is a lefty slapper that focuses on making contact and putting the ball in play forcing the defense to make a play. Her speed makes her one of the best baserunners as well. She is usually our 2-batter in the line-up, you would not want to miss her playing.
3B/1B Alanna Morse #55 (2022, verbally committed to Hofstra)
Alanna is the most clutch hitter on our team. She is our 3-batter with power, speed and knows how to situational hit very well. She is one of our best defensive players as not much gets by her and the third base line. Alanna is verbally committed to Hofstra, but that was before the recruiting rule. She is by far the biggest leader on this team and is very vocal on the field with non-stop telling her teammates how many outs and where the ball is going. Alanna is also a very encouraging teammate.
1B/3B Angie Rama #5 (2022, uncommitted)
Along with Alanna, Angie is our other leader on this team. She is always talking on the field and pumps the team up in group huddles. Angie is clutch in her at-bats as a righty hitter with power and has some of the best glove work on defense you can find. She is usually our 5-hitter.
SS/2B Nicole Henke #13 (2022, uncommitted)
Nicole is another 4/5 hitter with insane college-like power. She hits balls that never land with a swing that attracts so many college coaches. This is a kid you do not want to miss playing as she is overall one of the best players in the Northeast, easily. Her glove work as a middle infielder is awesome and her overhand arm speed allows her to make outs many won’t.
OF Keira Corrigan # 11 (2022, uncommitted)
Keira is one of the smartest kids on our team with her great grades. She is a speedy lefty slapper that drives defenses nuts and a quick outfielder that is very strategically smart. Usually a 9-hitter for us as she turns the lineup over!
C Maisie Dawson #10 (2023, uncommitted)
Maisie is one of the best catchers out there as she has a great pop time and can block any ball coming her way. She is aggressive and not afraid to throw down for a pick off. Maisie’s  strength gives her great power off her bat and she is a great clutch hitter on our team.
UT/MIF Brenna Jahn #25 (2023, uncommitted)
Brenna is small but strong! She’s a great utility player as we rotate her around the outfield and middle infield. Brenna is not our fastest kid, but by far our best base runner as she is very aggressive. She has crazy power and comes up very clutch for us as she usually bats 7th.
OF Kate Katsetos #7 (2022, uncommitted)
Kate is a lefty hitter with great power and comes up clutch as well. She can slap and bunt after reading the defense. Kate is a quick outfielder with great reads and is a super positive kid with a great mindset and work ethic.
1B/OF Julia Renny #30 (2022, uncommitted)
Julia is our smartest hitter on the team and knows the swing better than anyone else. Her power is insane, she has a more powerful swing than a lot of college players. Her at-bats as a 4-hitter and swing attracts coaches a ton. She also is a great first baseman as she is strategically smart.
P/1B Maya Servedio #20 (2022, uncommitted) P, 1B
Mary is a tall pitcher throwing about 62 mph with a nasty curve and drop. She is smart with counts and really knows how to keep hitters off-balance. Maya rotates between the 1 and 2 pitcher for us. She also can hit and tends to be big in crucial situations. Maya has super great grades and is the smartest on the team.
P Juliana Sabatino #1 (2022, uncommitted)
Juliana is a strong pitcher throwing consistently 60-61 mph with a sick rise and screw. She racks up strike outs and can really hit her spots. She’s been such a great addition to our team.