Niskayuna, NY - Head Coach Stephen Souky is pleased to announce that tryouts for the 14U Niskayuna Spirit Girls Softball team are forthcoming. Any interested players must try out in order to gain a spot on the team.

Stephen Souky, who also coaches the U14 Niskayuna Blitz team, said that past tryouts have offered stiff competition for players, but that the Niskayuna team definitely fosters a community of players who are supportive of developing new skills and welcoming new players. “We only fill a roster of twelve players each year,” said Head Coach Stephen Souky, “so we look very closely at the players who try out to see whose skills and experience will best fit with the team as a whole. That said, we’re very focused on development, and in addition to skill, we’re also looking for an eagerness to learn and a dedication to building teamwork skills and playing cooperatively with teammates.”

The Niskayuna team is a member of the Hudson Mohawk league, and plays twelve games and three to four tournaments during their active season, which begins in June. The team practices once per week in the winter off-season.

Said coach Stephen Souky, “Being a member of the Niskayuna Girl’s Softball team is certainly a commitment, and we expect players to attend every practice, game and tournament. But it’s also an extremely rewarding experience – members of the team learn new skills, meet new friends, and can really take their play to the next level, as they play fierce competition, receive more individualized coaching than on a school or intramural team, and receive more playing time than they would on any other team.”

For girls interested in softball just starting out, or who don’t want to commit to the schedule of the travel side, Niskayuna Girls Softball also hosts a recreational league that plays yearly in April, May, and June. Any girls who meet the age and residency restrictions can play for the recreational league, and may contact Stephen Souky for more information.

Stephen Souky has been coaching girls’ softball for three years, and is an ACE certified softball coach. A former basketball player at Linton High School and SUNY Fredonia, Stephen Souky also coaches the Biddy B side of the Niskayuna Girls Basketball Team, as well as acting as league coordinator for Niskayuna Girls Basketball.