June 2017(Booklet)

From left to right. Cheyenne Bosch, Kayla Gonzalez, Emily Moldonado, Lauren Westerfeld, Morgan Laidler, Mackenzie Wolfe,
Erin Love, Charlotte Laidler, Hailey Vasquez, Bella Bertorelli, Emilie Spence, Jordan Aldrich.
By Joyce Laidler
The Coral Springs Panthers 12U Hoyt/Thompson
Fastpitch Softball team underwent a makeover in the
Fall Season of 2016 but it didn’t involve any make up
except, of course, eye black. At the start of the season
the team hired coaches Ron Hoyt and Mike Thompson.
These coaches are no strangers to softball with Hoyt
coaching the West Boca High School Bulls, Thompson
coaching the Pine Crest Panthers, and both coaching
the 18U Alley Cats for several seasons. Last fall, the
coaching duo decided to return to 12U ball where they
felt they could teach fundamental skills to developing
players and lead the team through their teen years.
The Panthers enjoyed some success in their first season
under Hoyt/Thompson finishing with a 20-5-1
record, including a First Place win in the Santa Slugfest
Tournament that ended the season. Gearing up for the
busier spring season, the Panthers continued to fine
tune basic skills and work on more advanced game
play. The advantage of having professional coaches
experienced with older players means these girls are
learning skills beyond their age group. After only four
tournaments this season, the girls have taken Second
Place in the Boca March Madness, First Place in the
Angels4Autism, and First Place in the Thunder in the
Pines tournaments. The team is off to Ft. Myers this
weekend to try for a three-peat in the Grab the Bats
tournament.
These girls train together and individually on their specific
positions six days a week. In the off season, many
of the girls participated in a speed and agility program
to further develop base running skills and endurance.
They are quickly making a name for themselves and
the town of Coral Springs as a force to be reckoned
with. As important as their success on the field, is the
story of comradery and true friendship. They support
each other through thick and thin as the team has truly
become family.
As a parent, watching our girls play every game is a
thrill but some events are more meaningful than others.
Participating in the inaugural Angels4Autism tournament
in Lake Lytal was a privilege. It raised funds and
awareness for Autism with every player, coach, family,
and friend in attendance. Honorees with Autism started
the games by throwing out the first pitch. Aside from
taking home First Place in the upper bracket with an 8-
0 win, we were treated to the team’s first out of the park
home run by Erin Love. It was a beautiful shot, but the
real memory is the way the team met her at the plate
as she came home. Pure elation. That’s what makes
this team special. There’s no place they’d rather be
than with their Panther Family.
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