Tri-Valley Hones Skills
At Disney World

By Rob Potter
GRAHAMSVILLE — May 2, 2000 -- As television commercials in recent years have shown, the athletes from championship sports teams often visit Disney World after helping their team win the big game.
But a recent trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida helped the Tri-Valley Lady Bears win important games following their trip to the Magic Kingdom.
Nineteen members of the T-V softball squad, accompanied by coaches and chaperones, attended Disney’s softball spring training at the Wide World of Sports Complex from April 15 to April 22. The team started planning for the trip in March 1998 and raised funds through pizza sales, recycling and donations from the community. In all, nearly $23,000 was raised for the trip.
At the clinic, the Lady Bears competed in five scrimmages and two games against high school teams from Maine, Massachusetts and Ohio. (None of the games, however, counted in any of the teams’ official season records.)
“There was some real stiff competition,” noted T-V coach Mary Feusner. “We played one game against a team from Maine that had only 125 kids K through 12 and another game against a team that had a [grades] 9 to 12 student population of 4,000. Our competition ran the gamut.”
While the team members enjoyed a three-day park pass to Disney World, a day at the water park and a trip to SeaWorld, they also learned a great deal about softball. And that knowledge paid off in the first two games the Lady Bears played since returning to the county. T-V beat Liberty 11-7 and Monticello 11-10 in nine innings in the Sullivan County Officials Softball Tournament Friday.
“I learned how to place the ball better and to go after bigger hitters,” said senior pitcher Mia Kawauchi.
“It was a great experience,” added sophomore catcher Alesia Rexford. “We learned different strategies on [throwing out] base runners and how to be more heads up when they’re ready to go.”
Senior first baseman Rachel Altbach noted that other strategies helped her.
“We did a lot of base running,” she commented. “I have a lot more confidence on the bases now.”
Hitting and bunting tips were also covered in lessons at the clinic.
There’s no doubt the Lady Bears had plenty of sun and fun as well as time to hone their softball talents.
And it’s a safe bet they would love to go back.
“It was definitely a good experience,” Kawauchi said.
“The trip was worth the fundraising,” Altbach added.