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How does a travel ball team get to be nationally competitive?
Frequently, it begins with a group of young players that grow up together and other pieces are added to build a stronger group which can take years to accomplish, but in the case of the Carolina Elite – Herring/Bulla team, it’s been an impressively small amount of time.
Co-Head Coach Andy Herring explains that the team came together as the organization was looking to field a nationally strong 14U squad:
“As this team was formed by basically word of mouth,” he begins, “we have not needed to have tryouts. Our team has attracted players who were seeking a high level of instruction and are willing to work hard. Usually, our practices last about five to six hours so this isn’t a fit for just anyone.”
For those who are on the team, however, they are playing in some of the most reputable showcase and tournaments across the country.
We got the insights from Coach Herring who gives us the rundown on why this Carolina Elite team is one to watch this summer and beyond!
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How many teams are there in the organization?
There are 20-plus teams in the Carolina Elite Organization ranging from 8U to 18U with five national teams (one in 14U, one in 16U and three in 18U).
When did the team/program start and how /why did it come to be?
After growing a very successful national level program at the 16U and 18u levels, we really wanted to build out a national level team at the 14U level to compete against the best across the country as we had a gap in that age group for our national level program.
It was started in the Summer of 2020 with Shane Kennedy, a long time Carolina Cardinals coach, who has coached for many years at all age levels, and Rod Orick, an assistant coach with Monte Sherill’s very successful Pfeiffer program.
As word of mouth spread, Coach Orick contacted Dave Maddaluna, president of the Carolina Elite organization and he had a position for us in his program. We wanted to play for Carolina Elite because the long track record of success the teams enjoyed, and the high numbers of players that were going through to the next level.
This past Fall saw the team begin to grow into their national level schedule by competing in PGF events, the T-Bolts 5 Star Showcase and Scenic City. They also placed second in the TCS Nationals.
Due to work, family and the demands of others having to focus on college schedules and operations, we have turned to Thomas Bulla along with myself to continue the progress that was made over the past year.
Where are you based? Where do your athletes come from?
We are largely based out of central North Carolina, and have players from Eastern North Carolina as well, and are drawing interest from players across North and South Carolina.
What was the purpose of creating the team? Was it to primarily showcase players, win titles, develop skills or something else?
The Carolina Elite organization, and this team as well, was founded on the principles of really establishing a strong understanding of the game, preparing them physically and mentally to compete against the best competition they can, and ultimately prepare them to play at the next level.
What we enjoy the most is when our young ladies make it to college, and compete for playing time as Freshman, and get feedback from college coaches how prepared and coachable our players are – this has really helped our reputation with many college programs. We certainly play to win in competitive tournaments, but at the end of the day, we put more emphasis on developing young ladies to be the best versions of themselves so they can be confident in their skills and help them prepare to have opportunities in college.
What have been some of your top successes in terms of winning or placing at events?
We had a second-place finish in multiple PGF events this past year as well as in TCS Nationals. As a new team we became competitive very quickly, which is rare. Some of our players were able to guest play with older 16U teams in top showcases and they performed very well despite being two-to-three years younger than the competition. In fact, despite being 14U eligible, we plan to mostly play at the 16U level all Summer and Fall of 2021.
What, in your opinion, makes the organization unique?
The Carolina Elite organization is one of the best groups that I have coached with. Dave is there to help and work with the coaches but will stay out of the teams’ business. I like his philosophy of getting good coaches and letting them do their work. They also have a strong track record of getting girls recruited by colleges (180-plus to date). He has a strong and growing network of college coaches at all levels and really devotes a lot of time helping coaches and players navigate the recruiting process.
What is your softball background and how did you get to the point of leading the team?
Our story is like many other coaches’ beginnings. Thomas and I both had daughters who played softball, so it was inevitable that we would get involved and coach. We started out with 8U teams and have coached at all levels and wanted to ensure this program and the 14u National team continued the progress made in Year 1.
I started coaching my own 8U team with the Lady Tigers organization back in 2011 which was Dave Maddaluna’s organization before he took over Carolina Elite NC. From there I went on to coach 8U through 16U and an assistant with 18u. Lady Tigers 12u (Herring) team was one the strongest in the Southeast in 2015 and, from there, I took off a year to watch my youngest kid Caylin (KK) play, but I ended up coaching that team in the spring and fall of 2018.
We have seen everything from 8U thru the college recruiting events, coaching in the biggest of tournaments you can imagine. I helped coach our 14U and 16U national team to Top 10 finishes (5th and 9th) in JO Cup two years in a row; also, my 12U team was second in the USSSA Nationals in Florida in 2015.
Thomas has been involved in the girls fastpitch softball community and coaching for over eight years as well. He has attended college-sponsored coaching pitching clinics during his tenure and is focused on the development and mechanics of each player. I am excited to be working with Thomas and the knowledge he has of the game.
Has there been a key moment or a defining experience in the team’s history?
With the team only being together for a year, the entire transformation of the team in a short time has been momentous. However, one experience that stands out was during a recent tournament. We did not play to our potential either day of the weekend. Every game that we played, we had to grind the game out and come from behind to win. We were runner-up for the championship which was a great indicator of just how good the girls are that we could play that rough and still achieve so much.
The best takeaway from that tournament was how the girls had to deal with a crippling amount of pressure every game and they pushed through. Since that tournament, we could see a big difference in the team’s softball maturity. I think that weekend did more for our team’s chemistry than any other to date.
What is your teams primary focus or goal with this team?
Obviously, we want the girls to learn the game. We want them to always be a student of the game and to respect the level of competition they play. Of course, the goal is to see them all play at the college level but along the way, they must learn to be accountable to themselves, their team, and the game. I want their college coach to understand that they are getting a Student Athlete that has a great work ethic, integrity, and the kind of character that they would be proud to coach.
What do you think are the strengths of the team?
As this team was formed by basically word of mouth, we have not needed to have tryouts. Our team has attracted players who were seeking a high level of instruction and are willing to work hard. Usually, our practices last about five to six hours so this isn’t a fit for just anyone. The girls on the team found what they were looking for with like-minded players who were seeking the focus of learning and increasing their skill set. As their softball knowledge increased so did their respect for each other. All the athletes are challenged and are pulling for the team’s success no matter how small or large the task.
If there is one thing you would say that separates you from other club programs, what would it be?
I believe our girls are more focused on the details and taking care of the little things at a younger age than most teams I have been involved with. They still have fun, but their idea of fun has changed as their knowledge of the game has increased. They get joy out of executing a pick-off play perfectly, hitting behind a runner to the opposite field, etc. What I find we hear a lot at showcases is how well prepared our teams are, how exciting they are to watch and how many invites our team and players get to attend camps. I think people see how good we are at all the little details that add up that are not always evident on a box score.
Finally, how cohesive would you say this team is and how are they supported by the parents?
The bond that the team has is a great reflection of the parents. I have had a chance to coach many teams and the parents on this team are the best I have been around. Some parents travel for hours to bring their daughter to practice on a Saturday and sit through five or six-hour practices without ever a word. They are always eager to help with any cookouts on the road and we never fail to eat together as a team when we’re at tournaments.
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Here is a look at each player with comments by Coach Herring…