"You were born to be a player, you were meant to be here.  This moment is yours."

^{-Coach Herb Brooks, in his pre-game pep talk to the 1980 US Olympic hockey team before the game with Russia in 1980-}

FINESSE 12 U  ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

About 10 months ago, the 2010 Finesse 12 U team met for their first practice; 11 young ladies committed to becoming better athletes. During our first practice, I asked the ladies one question  What do we want to achieve as a team? What is our team goal? All 11 answered the same, "World Series Champions!"

The road to achieve our "team goal" began that practice. Fence pull after fence pull, ground ball after ground ball, T-work after T-work, it started to become apparent that the ladies were not just "saying" they wanted to be National Champions, they were willing to put in the extra effort. From "Total Sports" workouts to "Barn" workouts, to "Dome" work outs, Finesse 12's continued to improve and develop.

Tournament after Tournament, Finesse competed with skill, determination, and Passion, earning them 8 Tournament Championships (including USSSA State Champions) of the 10 entered.

I asked the Ladies after the State victory, "are we done yet?" "Have we achieved our team goal?"  "No way coach" was their response.

Our run to the National Championship started out strong, 2-1. However, one flat game dropped the ladies down to the losers' bracket.   With a constant threat of "lose and go home, " 101 degree weather, injuries, and 38 other teams from 11 states all standing in the way of our "team goal," Finesse leaned on each other and put together a string of games/wins that would make Coach Herb Brooks proud. 8 consecutive wins, including wins over last year's defending champs, PA. ASA State champs and NJ. State champs brought us to the final game to meet the undefeated Delaware Express in the Championship game.

Our team goal was now 7 innings away. It would only take 5, as the Finesse bats lit up the Delaware team for 10 runs.

GOAL ACHIEVED......WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.

Enjoy your rewards ladies, you have earned it.

I am proud and honored to have been your coach.

Coach Paul Nieto

Finesse 12 U

USSSA State Champions

Pony National Champions

ONE TEAM...ONE DREAM!