Connecting with Charters : Down by the River

Connecting with Charters
4/4/12
“Down by the River”

Today the USSSA Pride found itself in Port St. Lucie Florida at Indian River State College, who is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Many of the students attending Indian River take the opportunity to start their college careers by gaining academic and athletic experience while pursuing a future of their choice.

The Indian River State College (IRSC) softball team is lead by Dale Adkinson now in his 13th season as head coach. His program boasts a rich history of Junior College Accolades and championships. The school’s mascot known as “The River” merged with the USSSA Pride today in an attempt to reach out into the surrounding Florida community. Second year veteran, Ashley Charters was able to represent the USSSA Pride as a guest in the River’s daily practice. Charters was able to meet with the girls at the beginning of practice introduce herself while speaking on various topics such as: her experience in college, the value of hard work and teamwork, and her current career playing in the National Pro Fastpitch League. The practice progressed with the normal set of hitting and fielding drills with the goal in mind toward the preparation for the next game. There was ample opportunity for the River girls to ask questions throughout the practice ranging from hitting, slapping, and fielding.

Following the practice, Coach Adkinson invited Ashley Charters and the girls to have dinner together which as Charters said, “…was the best part the whole day since I was able to speak to the girls more on a one on one level , and talk about some of the valuable experiences I’ve had since leaving college and currently in the NPF.”  The experience of getting out there and working with softball players at all levels is what helps fuel the game of softball, and more specifically the opportunities of playing professionally in the NPF.

Whats next on Ashley Charter’s list?  The the opportunity to watch “The River” take on the Brevard Titans on Thursday’s double header at Brevard Community College.

If you are a Florida team and would like to have a Pride player attend one of your practices or games, please contact the Pride office at [email protected]