
* Note - Last names have been taken from this page due to privacy matters *
St. Petersburg Times
" Older Outlaws set to gang up again"
By STEVE LEE
Be on the lookout for Harvey Cassell's band of outlaws. They soon might be barnstorming through your town.
The Suncoast Outlaws are about to begin their second season as a touring girl's softball team. The goal is to groom ball players for high school teams in West Pasco.
Cassell, who formerly coached girls teams in the Dixie Softball League, formed the Outlaws last season. The fast-pitch team traveled throughout the state playing in National Softball Associtaion Tournaments.
The 14-and-under team obviously forgot it wore an expansion label. Unlike most first-year ballclubs that struggle to compete with established teams, the Outlaws won right from the start. Suncoast finished with an immpressive 29-16 record and reached four tournament championship games.
" I think we overacheived because we had no previous tournament experience, " Cassell said.
But he did have five players - his daughter Amy, Courtney K., Missy U., Supriya K., and Nikki P. - who reached the DSL State finals in 1996 with the West Pasco National All-Stars.
This year, the Outlaws will take the field as a 16-and-under team, primarily, Cassell said, " to keep the girls together. When they get in high school and college they will play three or four years together."
One year into the program and it already is earning a reputation for developing talent. Seven player's from last years squad made junior varsity rosters at Gulf, Hudson, River Ridge, and Ridgewood this season.
Courtney and Supriya, both of whom also catch and have played field, are the teams top pitchers, but the coach, citing the number of games played, said more help is needed on the mound.
In a tournament at Lake City last summer, the Outlaws played seven games in three days and finished fourth. Winning the title would have meant playing nine games!
Courtney, who led the team in hitting last year with a .560 average, catches or plays first base. Amy, a slap hitter with a steady glove, is at second base. The team's best athlete, Nikki, is at shortstop. Missy, a fearless fielder, plays third base. Lisa catches and plays infield.
The outfielders are Krystal, who also backs up Nikki, Sneha, Meghan, Denise, Miranda, and Bijal, who also pitches.
" Softball, baseball, basketball, football ; they are team sports. " Cassell said." I tell the kids day in and day out, I don't care how good you think you personally are, you're only as good as your teammates. Team chemistry is there. Nobody gets down on nobody"