Wednesday, July 9, 2014

BEACH LEAGUE PLANNING











The Beach League, Myrtle Beach, SC
Nina Marcano prepares for
3+ weeks of summer softball

It all begins 48 hours from now. 

That's when Wesley Wolverine catcher Nina Marcano departs for the College Summer League for Softball (Myrtle Beach, SC), AKA “The Beach League”, early on Friday morning, July 11. She will drive there from her Townsend, DE, home, sharing the wheel with her mother Ivelisse and brother Carlos. Sign-in for Nina is “no later than” 4:00 PM that evening.

UNIFORM

Nike Dri Fit Loose Tee Jersey
The Beach League has kept in touch.

“They asked me what number I wanted,” Nina said. She requested “18”, same as her Wolverine uniform.

She will receive two Nike uniform t-shirts, black pants, socks, belt, and a black batting helmet once she arrives. Of course, she brings her own bat(s) and glove(s).


 BEST OF BEST

Nina will be tested on the softball field. The Beach League attracts the best of the best. Topnotch players from the major DI conferences of the northeast certainly will challenge her.

“There will be high quality players which will allow me to work on hitting,” Nina stated.

“I will see faster pitching and more spins so when I return and play the top DIII teams in the country I will be able to identify the pitch and have more success,” she added.

Wesley College really does face the best in the nation amongst DIII schools during their regular season. Nina is hardly exaggerating.

For example, in the Capitol Athletic Conference (CAC), where Wesley plays, the Wolverines every spring take on the Salisbury Sea Gulls, ranked #2 in the nation by the NFCA Division III poll, as well as the Christopher Newport Captains, who, not only won the CAC championship last year, but ended up with a #6 rank nationally by NFCA at the season's close. 

Last year, Wesley was scheduled to play – a game ultimately rained out – the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins, who currently enjoy a NFCA #11 ranking.


In 2013, six players from the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (pictured above) attended the camp. CLICK HERE for their video titled “St. Bonaventure Softball takes on Beach League.

 COACHES

Nina and her 
Beach League teammates also will be exposed to various coaching styles.

“Our coaches rotate daily among the staff that was hired,” Nina explained. “The Keystone College Head Coach Renee Barrows is one of the coaches who will be in attendance.”

Wolverine Head Coach Juli Greep is a p
ast Keystone head coach and Wolverine Assistant Coach Abby Cohen was a standout player for her there.

The Beach League Softball Field: Waccamaw High School, 2412 Kings River Road, Pawleys Island, SC. Field information: Bullpen, dugouts, concession stands, restrooms, clubhouse, locker room, press box, l-screens, field screens, soft toss net.













ROSTERS

The Beach League team rosters are slated to be shuffled every morning.


"There will be approximately 40+ young women and teams will be drafted each day so everyone will get a chance to play with one another,” Nina said.

It will get very competitive for sure, especially as the final week nears. “Toward the end of the league we will be placed onto teams and have a tournament type event,” she noted.

It's practice and play, then practice and play again. “I believe we have about an hour of practice prior to our games each day” Nina said.

 BEACH TIME

Myrtle Beach State Park
It's not all dirt and grass every day, however. There's the Myrtle Beach seaside with downtime exploring to do, too.

“We will play one game a day with one or two days off here and there,” Nina said.


“There is nothing specific planned, but I’m assuming we will spend a lot of time on the beach.”

Nina is known to prefer surf and sand second only to a softball field.


HOUSING

There may be demanding play for Nina, whether batting or catching between the circle and home plate, but the living and relaxing at end of day should be spectacular.

Nina will be staying in a three bedroom condo at the True Blue Resort on Myrtle Beach's Pawley Island, which is described as being famous for its unspoiled natural beauty and “arrogantly shabby” way of life. It's advertising promises: “Southern charm, comfort and coastal beauty.”

“The resort is located less than a mile from the fields where we will be playing at” said Nina. The Pawley Island is connected to Myrtle Beach by two bridges, which appear to cross both ocean and river water.


 ROOMMATES

“I will have 5 roommates none of whom I know yet,” said Nina. “Roommates have not been announced.”


True Blue Golf Plantation
It should not be crowded living conditions with plenty of space within the condo including a large living and dining room, and two beds per bedroom, each with its own bathroom.

The condos feature multiple TV’s, washer/dryer units, full-service kitchens, high speed Internet and screened-in porches. Nearby are BBQ areas, tennis courts, outdoor pool with jacuzzi and, all around, as it is promoted, “the breathtaking natural splendor” of the True Blue Golf Plantation.


 GOOD TIMES

All in all, it is a nice summer assignment: play the best of college USA players daily while residing in first-class resort accommodations of vacation town Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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