The Alabama Thunderbolts 2023 team led by Team Manager and Recruiter Chris Sherman is one of the fastest rising 16U teams in the country.
Joining the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization this summer after spending a year and a half as a Georgia Impact team, Alabama Thunderbolts 2023-Sherman has great success on the field already including winning the PGF Fastpitch Classic back in May playing up in the HS Division and going 7-1-1 with a win over Georgia Impact Sampson in the finale.
The squad then surprised many when it took first place in the Triple Crown Colorado Sparkler (Open Division), running through the competition on its way to a perfect 10-0 record while outscoring their opponents 83-18 behind 21 homers on the week.
In their latest outing, the Atlanta Legacy Invitation at Lost Mountain Park in Georgia, the team went 4-2 with a Top 8 finish against some of the top 16U teams in the country to improve to 26-5-2 this summer.
Next up: the Bolts will be playing in the Triple Crown East Coast Nationals to finish the season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“It’s been a great summer for our kids and team,” Sherman said. “This team has been competing with some of the top teams in the country for years and all the hard work has paid off as the athletes are beginning to get the recognition they deserve from college coaches and all the major softball publications.”
“This is just the beginning. Our goal by next summer is to be one of the top teams in the country,” Sherman added.
Note: the Alabama Thunderbolts – Sherman team is having tryouts next Sunday, July 25th at the Birmingham Bolts Facility in Irondale, Alabama.
Says Sherman: “We have a few roster spots available due to some kids aging up although the majority of our roster returns. We are specifically looking to add a pitcher, middle infielder, catcher and some slappers. But we will look at any position.”
If interested, email alabamabolts2023@gmail.com. Also, see the flyer below for more details
Here is more info on the team per our conversation with Coach Sherman…
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When did the team/program start and how/why did it come to be?
This team has been around for a long time now, but has continued to add to its main core of kids over the last few years to get to the level we are now. We joined the Georgia Impact Organization in 2020 as Alabama Impact 2023 after originally being Mobile Thrillers 05 from 2015-2020. We had a lot of success on the field as an Impact team and respect Will Tomasello and the Impact group very much. But COVID hit and we lost a year of recruiting just like everyone else. And with our distance from Tomasello and the other Impact teams we had to look at what options we’re out there to help get our kids the most exposure we could.
Then Jay Roberson with the Bolts called and mentioned the possibility of making a switch to the Thunderbolts. It was really a no-brainer for us. One, Jay and I are friends and both live in South Alabama. So he is able to see our team more and help with recruiting. And secondly, if you are from Alabama and play softball, most of the kids come up dreaming of playing for the Bolts organization. So we are thankful to both Will Tomasello, and Jay Roberson and Richard Shea from the Bolts for giving our kids great organizations to play for.
Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from?
Right now, we are mostly based out of Alabama and Florida with the bulk of our kids being from south Alabama, but we are looking to expand the roster a little bit in the fall with several out of state kids already reaching out to us about roster spots.
What was the purpose of creating the team? Was it to showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
We started this team to teach the game of softball the right way and prepare these kids for what they are going to be exposed to in college. And, of course, get them recruited by playing all of the top showcases and national tournaments.
What have been some of your successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
This team has only been playing together a few months now, but out of three tournaments so far this summer, they have won two major ones. Winning the PGF Atlanta Fastpitch Classic in the High School Division back in May, we went 7-1-1 with our only loss to 18U Team North Carolina Eaton. We also went 2-0 in the T-Bolt 5 Start Showcase with wins over Fury Platinum Brown and Ohio Hawks before ending early due to the weather. Then, we went 10-0 at the Colorado Sparkler to win the Open Division championship and outscored our opponents 83-18 as we hit 21 homers in 10 games and our pitching staff struck out 87!
What makes the organization unique?
The Birmingham Thunderbolts that we’re now part of is one of the top clubs in the country and has been for a long time.
What’s your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
I started the team and am now the manager and lead recruiter for the team, handling all recruiting aspects of the program, from dealing with college coaches to recruiting prospects to join the team. I also coach the pitchers and calls pitches for the team. Taryn Gray handles most of the other coaching responsibilities including game day lineups, outfield and third base coach on offense. She was a D1 volunteer assistant at the University of South Alabama for five years where she was the outfield coach and in charge of baserunning as well as assisting in slapping and short-game development. She also assisted Head Coach Becky Clark with game-day strategy and player development. As a player, Gray started 167 games for the Auburn Tigers as an outfielder from 2006-2009. Chris Gavin coaches the infield and first base.
Has there been a key moment or defining experience in the team’s history?
Hiring Taryn Gray after she left the University of South Alabama was probably the team’s biggest moment off the field. She has really helped with player development and is a such a huge asset for the team. The biggest moment so far on the field for the team has been going 10-0 and dominating the competition at the Colorado Sparkler.
What is your primary focus or goal with this team?
Our primary focus is player development. Which in return will put them in position to get college scholarships.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
The strength of the team is, no doubt, the pitching. We have Ryley Harrison (6-foot) who we believe is one of the top pitchers in the 2023 class and a for-sure D1 prospect. She has great velocity (mid 60’s) as well as spin and control. When she is on her game, most teams we face have very little success against her. Then you throw in Sydney Simpson (6-foot-1) who throws mid 60s consistently and has the potential to be a D1 player.
And Savannah Money (5-foot-8) who throws in the low 60s along with Makaley Boswell who can come in and change speeds and it’s an all-around great staff. We couple that with a power-hitting lineup that has banged out 34 homers on the season through 27 games with leadoff Edy Gavin (5-foot-10) leading the way with 10 followed by Alayna Lowery and Boswell with five each. We have had nine kids on the team hit home runs.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
We have all the elements. We have pitching, power, and speed so we have a complete team all the way around from top to bottom.
Anything else to add about the Alabama Bolts?
We think our team can compete with any team in the country on any giving day. We are 23-3-2 on the season and have played a very competitive schedule.
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Scroll down to read a bio of all of the team’s players with comments from Coach Sherman…
