The Nevada Hot Shots 16U team poses with a championship banner at a Colorado tournament, during the summer. The travel softball program features chances for players to play all over the west coast in front of collegiate scouts.
The Nevada Hot Shots have been providing opportunities for youth softball players for more than two decades.
The program is a big reason why Northern Nevada has become a hotbed for collegiate talent.
Joe Gooch, who took over control of the program a few years ago, feels the Hot Shots approach to the game — from the youth level on up — has been an instrumental part to its success.
Countless Hotshots alumni have gone on to compete in the college ranks.
“We get them super active in building profiles and getting emails going, being direct with where they want to live, finding school that have their majors,” Gooch said. “Ultimately, get them in front of colleges as much as we can … Lead them to the water, if they drink they’ll play college softball.”
Gooch coaches at the upper age level of the Hot Shots, and the program as a whole offers team from 8U up to 18U.
“We get girls to college and we’ve done it consistently for 10 years plus and I think that’s a major factor for why parents and players look to us,” said Gooch.
Former Douglas High School softball coach John Glover admitted that he rarely spoke to college coaches in his role with the high school team.
That all came from the opportunities provided in travel ball.
TRAVEL BALL
There’s all sorts of negative connotations around pay-for-play youth sports these days as the competitive atmosphere has taken on a different dynamic.
Gooch feels that the Hot Shots successes have come from putting out a high-level product that produces results without the “slimy” side of youth athletics.
“We are offering things that a lot of the other programs don’t offer. We are one of the top options to get you to the next level, I think it naturally takes care of itself,” Gooch said.
The Hot Shots headman says he has an old school respect for the game and the program’s dedication to doing things the right way has spread more than enough positive word of mouth to area athletes who are serious about playing collegiately.
“Our mission statement is to provide a safe, healthy environment to push players to become the best they can be, but also worry about getting into college. I would say we’ve placed more athletes into the college level in the last 10 years than any other program around,” said Gooch.
The serious players in Northern Nevada have taken notice, too.
Gooch estimated he had players from eight or more high schools on his 18U team this summer.
Travel is a necessary part of the college recruitment process, as college scouts tend to flock to major events outside of the region.
The Hot Shots travel up and down the west coast from the Bay Area and Sacramento, to Southern California and out to Colorado.
The team has an Alliance National qualifier in Sparks in the coming weeks, which is a rare exception to showcase their talents to scouts locally.
The program tries to fundraise as often as it can to cover player fees. Gooch and Co. hope the main cost of playing comes from the travel and the exposure that it offers.
“Players and parents aren’t coming out of pocket for fees, they are coming out of pocket for travel, which is how I like to have it,” said Gooch. “You just don’t get a lot of colleges to come here.”
The program has fundraised through various avenues from poker nights to football squares. The next poker night fundraiser for the program will be August 10.
YOUNGER AVENUES
Of course, not every youth athlete is competing for collegiate offers from the moment they step on the field.
The Hot Shots 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U teams are all hoping to inspire a love of the game in the athletes first and foremost.
“Give them a foundation to build off, but get them to play again next year,” said Gooch. “Build the love, make the kid love the game and want to play it again.”
Relying on quality coaches is a must at the lower levels and Gooch feels the program has the dedicated members to keep the younger levels learning and engaged.
Gooch said almost the entirety of the youth teams are athletes from the Carson Valley.
“I think we have good coaches in place. Most of them have a high level of teaching,” Gooch said. “Hopefully it’s the organic situation where the players end up being together and they like playing together.”
Tryouts for the younger age groups went on this past weekend at Lampe Park, but those interested in learning more information can visit the program’s Facebook page ‘Nevada Hot Shots Softball’.
(A youth Nevada Hot Shots team poses for a photo on a softball diamond. / Courtesy Joe Gooch)