18 & Under Sellersville Belles Gold

After several weeks of workouts, humid workouts, rain outs, and even workouts in the rain, the Sellersville Belles Gold have named the players and coaches for the upcoming 2018-2019 season.  This is a team that features experienced players and new players; old and young; fast and those working on getting faster; but all with an enthusiasm and passion for the game that "marked them" as Belles from the start.

The coaching staff will also see some changes as the year progresses as Associate Head Coach Kelsey Detweiler(Coach KD) takes charge of this team of talented young ladies.  Coach K will still be involved, but more as GM than as head coach, Josh Moyer will also stay involved with college liason responsibilities, and Gary Koenig with catching training and coaching.  Joining her as well, is her "best softball friend that she ever had," Christine Scherr.  Both were raised Belles, and bring to this new team both a respect for the heritage that is "Belles Ball" and a flair of their own.

This will be an exciting season to watch and be a Belle.  Come on out and see this team in action.

... to all of the players who came to our workouts this year in an effort to become a Sellersville Belle.  We are always flattered by the number of players who would like to don the purple and teal of the Belles.  There are many players for whom there are not rosters spots on the Belles; however, there are many teams with opportunities for those young ladies to play.  We wish you all the best of luck for the coming season.  I am sure we will see you all on a softball field somewhere as an opponent.

 To the new Belles - congratulations!  To the returning Belles, you set a tone during our workouts to welcome prospects and set the standard by which we work.  To the new Belles, you showed both your abilities and skills, but more importantly showed a passion for the game that for the Belles in some cases is just as important as skills and talent.  Welcome to all. 

"Coach K" will be entering his 26th season with the Sellersville Belles in the 2018-2019 season. He and his wife Debbie started the Sellersville Belles 25 years ago as a 16 and Under team. He coached the Belles a total of 5 years at 16 & Under and 20 years at the 18 & Under level.  The 2019 season will be an exciting one as it will be the first year with a new associate head coach, Kelsey Detweiler.  This will move Coach K into the position as General Manager.  

Coach K takes on almost all of the responsibilities of running the Belles, from organizing and lining up fields and gyms, to ordering equipment and uniforms, to organizing the two tournaments that the Belles host each year, to trying to handle the pitching staff.  This season will also involve the transition to Coach KD running all onfield activities for the Belles.  A great group of assistant coaches will also help him in this transition.  Also, Belles parents are a huge help with every aspect of running the tournaments effectively.  The Belles Organization is just that, hard working parents.

The Belles have always been a "family affair" with oldest daughter Andria and second child Brianna both playing successful careers as Belles. Andria was a pitcher and went on to have a successful career as a pitcher at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.  Brianna played catcher for her career as a Belle and in high school. Son Cameron served several years with the Belles as "Bat Guy." 

Now the Koehler Family has added another chapter, when daughter Andria and her husband Galen will adopt a newborn baby girl at the end of August 2018, giving Coach K his third grandaughter!!  This soon to be gift from God will join her cousins Sailor and Surry!!  Who knows, maybe a future pitcher or catcher!?!?  Right now, Surrey tends to want to throw things with her left hand - a left handed pitcher?!?!  Time will tell.  Coach K also has a great grandson Knox Braddock, brother to Surrey and Sailor.

Coach K has a passion for the game of fastpitch. "I think it is an amazing game and I am always amazed by the young ladies who play this game. They make it look so easy. My coaching philosophy is that we need to insist on working the fundamentals and teaching the game the way it should be played. The thing I always try to keep in focus is that softball is still a game, and therefore it must be enjoyed. So if we teach fundamentals and have fun, winning will take care of itself." 

Greetings everyone from Sellersville and the 21st Annual Fall Classic. For the past decade the Fall Classic has done something to benefit the local community beyond softball. For the past two years monies have gone to the MPS Society. This year will be no different from the past two. We are supporting the MPS Society – a nation wide but little known organization. The reason for this support is that this hits very close to home for Sellersville Belles Gold Manager and Fall Classic Tournament Director Paul Koehler and his family. Coach K lost his nephew Ryan Mask to Sanfilippo Syndrome (one of 9 MPS/ML disorders) on January 12, 2008. Ryan was an avid baseball and softball fan, and he would frequently attend and cheer for the Sellersville Belles. It is maybe no coincidence that the MPS Society displays a PURPLE RIBBON.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) is a rare, degenerative genetic disorder caused by the body’s inability to produce specific enzymes. Normally, the body uses enzymes to break down and recycle materials in cells. In individuals with MPS and related diseases, the missing or insufficient enzyme prevents the proper recycling process, resulting in the storage of materials in virtually every cell of the body. As a result, cells do not perform properly and may cause progressive damage throughout the body, including the heart, bones, joints, respiratory system and central nervous system. While the disease may not be apparent at birth, signs and symptoms develop with age as more cells become damaged by the accumulation of cell materials. The average life expectance is early adolescence.

Although there is currently no cure for MPS or related diseases, research is making great strides. Carrier detection, the development of replacement enzymes, and the possibility of gene therapy, are among today’s research themes and treatment options. Bone marrow transplantation has been considered successful for many, though relatively few individuals qualify for this high-risk procedure. We’ve made major advancements in research thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Society and its members. Since 1975 the Society has supported individuals and families affected with MPS and related diseases. We are governed by a member-elected volunteer Board of Directors, many of whom are parents of children with MPS and related diseases. We benefit from the expertise of a Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of world-class physicians, researchers and medical professionals throughout the world. We need your support in helping us teach our mission to others and raising the money we need to support medical research – the key to longer, happier lives with MPS.

Your support during this tournament is very much appreciated. From each entry fee, $25 will be donated to the MPS Society in Ryan’s name. Also, $5 from every tournament t-shirt will be donated to the MPS Society. All proceeds from the Swing For Courage Home Run Derby will be given as well. We are happy your team has entered.

Now you can do two other things:

1. Buy a tournament t-shirt

2. Enter the Swing For Courage Home Run Derby.

See you in Sellersville!!

Yes, for over 21 years the Sellersville Belles have been successfully running the Fall Classic.  It is a great weekend of competition and showcase softball.  Saturday play is a showcase format with Sunday being a preset single elimination tournament.  The games are 1 hour and 45 minutes apart allowing 1 hour and 30 minutes and finish the inning - no 1 hour 15 minute drop dead games.  We do field maintenance after EVERY game, including but not limited to relining of lines and filling "hole" at the pitching rubber.  All fields have 200' outfield fences and outfield foul line and out of play lines are spray painted for a true line, not just the umpires "eye."

The tournament is also a fund-raiser for the MPS Society.  The last two years we have donated $3000 with a goal of over $4000 this year.  A big part of this is the Annual Home Run Derby that occurs during the course of play on Saturday. 

Of course the snack stand offers it's usual quality fare, featuring hot foods.  But best of all are the Apple Dumplings.  This year we will feature the original apple dumplings that the Belles starting selling 15 years ago, but have not been available the last three years.  Don't miss out on these!!  

You can get the registration form here and register imnediately.  Hope to see you in Sellersville on Oct. 20-21, 2018.