Connecting with Charters: Cruising with the Cruisers

The Cruisers located in Stuart, Florida are an under 11 travel softball team who were visited by the USSSA Pride Ashley Charters. Two of the girls on the team were guest bat girls at last years USSSA Pride’s Vero Beach doubleheader. They still to this day speak of how welcoming and genuinely friendly all the Pride players were during the game. At the end of practice the Cruisers had the opportunity to ask Charters about playing softball in the NPF and what its like to be a professional softball player. Despite the Cruisers youth there was no shortage of inquisitive questions or attention to hear every answer given by Charters. Before the team convened their practice the girls wanted to play some sort of a game and were on board when Charters came up with one of her own to teach the team. At this age its definitely important to have fun and keep things simple at such a young age. There is no greater way to connect with the future of softball than at this level because in the end the joy of playing is what fuels the love for the game in the end.

Following the practice coach Marc and wife Shelley Turull invited Charters out to a dinner with some of the girls on the Cruisers and their families. The girls immediately loved the ability to hang out with someone who they’ve looked up to as a role model. The immense hospitality shown by the parents and families of this Cruisers’ travel organization couldn’t be more appreciated.