New England Diamond Gems Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

Message From Coach Jim Rines and the Board of Trustees:

The New England Diamond Gems are pleased to announce that we are now an official IRS 501 C-3 Non-Profit Organization! We would like to personally thank Steve Stewart and Michael P. Wallace for all their time and help in accomplishing this huge task. Job well done!

As the high school and middle school seasons near their ends, it is nice to see all of the New England Diamond Gems student- athletes excel on the Jim Rines, playing field and in the classroom. All of the hard work and dedication to Director of Operations the New England Diamond Gems winter workouts that focused on key New England Diamond Gems skills and drills is paying off for each athlete’s success. The New England Diamond Gems would like to wish everyone success in their up-coming New England Diamond school playoff games. Gems Board of Trustees The New England Diamond Gems younger teams are starting to play and

Jim Rines-Director of compete in scrimmages and tournaments. All of our teams have shown Operations they can compete at a high level. Remember, our focus is on player development by implementing appropriate skills and drills. By following Ron Jackson– Vice this overall organizational philosophy, the wins will come! President

Dave Johnson-Treasurer The New England Diamond Gems would like to congratulate Lydia Beaudon for being accepted and to attend Plymouth State College to Steve Kraytenberg- Business Development further her education and softball playing career. Way to go, Lydia!

Michael P. Wallace- Communication and Marketing

New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

The New England Diamond Gems would also like to congratulate Kelsey Kennedy for being accepted and to attend Bentley University to further her education and softball playing career. Way to go, Kelsey!

The New England Diamond Gems will be playing a select team from Nova Scotia. The games will take place on July 2, 2013, at Southern NH University from 5 pm to 8 pm. Team Nova Scotia is a 21 and under select all-star team. We are excited to host this international event. Please, if all are available, come on down and cheer for the Gems and show our pride in our organization.

The May 7, 2013, edition of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune had an article on Leah Hunt who is a junior in high school and plays for both Londonderry High School and the 18 U Diamond Gems Gold Team. Here is the link below to read the article: http://www.eagletribune.com/sports/x326076064/Staying-in-the-Hunt

Way to go, Leah!!

On Sunday May 12, 2013, the Sunday Boston Globe ran an article about Amesbury Senior catcher Cassie Schultz who also plays for Dave Johnson’s 18 U Orange Team. The link is below: http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/softball/2013/05/11/cassie-schultz-commanding-presence- behind-the-plate-for-amesbury-softball/kKMr6qzHk7A4CEAQvdq9GO/story.html

Way to go, Cassie!! New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

The New England Diamond Gems would like to continue to update everyone on last year’s bat bag situation with Gear Guard Sports. As many of you know we take pride in our appearance and equipment and had custom bat bags designed and made by Gear Guard Sports. The first year we paid in full, the bags were delivered. Last year, when we ordered the bags, we again paid in full and the merchandise was never delivered.

The Director of Operations, along with Board of Directors’ member Michael P. Wallace, has been working fearlessly with many legal avenues to rectify the situation. They have spent many hours calling them and emailing them with little to no response. The next step was to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau who investigated the claim and found them at fault and tried to work with them to no successful conclusion.

After the Better Business Bureau exhausted all of their legal avenues, they recommended that we bring them to small claims court and also talk to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Both avenues were pursued and the State of NH Merrimack County Small Claims Court found Gear Guard Sports at fault and ordered them to pay full restitution. To this point, Gear Guard Sports has not complied. Earlier this week, the Arizona State Attorney General’s Office has accepted our case and is pursuing them through their legal system. It has been a long process with numerous hours put in to achieve a suc- cessful outcome. It looks like this will finally be taken care of through the appropriate legal systems, and as soon as we get further updates, we will let everyone know. We have taken steps to ensure that this type of situation does not happen again. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we all know we are a volunteer non-profit organization, and every penny that comes in goes right back out to the programs that make our athletes successful!

If you have any news you would like to put in the upcoming newsletters that will have a positive influence on our organization, please email them to Jim Rines at [email protected].

Reminder: Final tuition payments are due. The payments can be given to your team Coach, Coach Rines, or Dave Johnson. Or mailed to:

Dave Johnson 19 Adam Drive Hudson NH 03051 New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

The New England Diamond Gems are pleased to announce our updated alumni list of players:

Player College Freshmen Year

Alicia McCauley Roger Williams University 2013

Amanda Turco Southern University 2013

Ashley Abad Assumption College 2013

Casey Schultz University of Rhode Island 2013

Danielle Tenney Sacred Heart University 2013

Katie Kennard Plymouth State University 2013

Kelley McCarthy Bridgewater State University 2013

Kelsey Kennedy Bentley University 2013

Kelsey Morton University Of New England 2013

Kelsey Smith Bentley University 2013

Lauren Mackey Clark University 2013

Leslie Moore Babson College 2013

Lydia Beaudion Plymouth State University 2013

Masha Lang Plymouth State University 2013

Meaghan Bishop Roger Williams University 2013

Nicole Harvey Assumption College 2013

Samantha Henniquin 2013

Sydney Strout Bridgewater State University 2013

Tori Alcorn UMASS-Lowell 2013 New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

2012

Ali Sumski Stonehill College 2012 Alyssa Wright Clark University 2012

Catherine Tewell Keene State College 2012 Emily Schatz Colby College 2012

Heather Pelletier Keene State College 2012

Lindsey Bolduc Southern New Hampshire University 2012

Madison Sullivan Brandies University 2012

Mariah Crisp Keene State College 2012

Mel Dusseault Clark University 2012

Michaela Mcgowen Newbury College 2012 Morgan Fallon Keene State College 2012

Nicole Gubellini Quinnipiac University 2012 Rachel Kraytenberg Clark University 2012

If you have any news you would like to put in the2011 upcoming newsletters that will have a positive influence on our organization, please email them to Jim Rines at [email protected]. Aime Lalanacette Saint Anselm College 2011 Reminder:Julia Nolan Final tuition payments areKeene due. State The Collegepayments can be given to your team2011 Coach, Coach Rines, or Dave Johnson. Or mailed to: Kaitlyn Belair Plymouth State University 2011 DaveKaitlyn Johnson Johnson Franklin Pierce University 2011 19 Adam Drive Kelsey Martel Middlebury College 2011 Hudson NH 03051 Samantha Nitso Keene State College 2011 New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

2010 2010 2010

Allson Frazier University Of New England 2010 Amanda Szidat Lasalle University 2010 Dominque Heres Plymouth State University 2010 Emily Kraytenberg Middlebury College 2010 Jackie Digman Plymouth State University 2010 Katie Guido Babson College 2010 Rebekah Jackson Plymouth State University 2010

2009 2009 2009

Brianna Gunter Stonehill College 2009 Cara Chooljian South Carolina University 2009 Katie Miller Stonehill College 2009

2008 2008 2008

Kat Scafidi Saint Anselm College 2008 Korie Bailey Johnson & Wales University 2008 Lauren Cheznulevich Daniel Webster College 2008 Megan Rizzi Catholic University 2008

2007 2007 2007

Ashley Wright Endicott College 2007 Kayla Johnson Franklin Pierce University 2007 Stacy Goddard Catholic University 2007

2006 2006 2006

Allison Farrington University Of Ohio 2006 Ashley Nicolson Keene State College 2006 Jenna Patnode Keene State College 2006 New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!

2004 2004 2004

Andrea Crocker Saint Anselm College 2004

2002 2002 2002

Erin Leftkowitz Union College 2002

If you have any news you would like to put in the upcoming newsletters that will have a positive influence on our organization, please email them to Jim Rines at [email protected].

Reminder: Final tuition payments are due. The payments can be given to your team Coach, Coach Rines, or Dave Johnson. Or mailed to:

Dave Johnson 19 Adam Drive Hudson NH 03051 New England Diamond Gems Softball Signal May 2013

Quality Organizational Values + Quality Coaching + Quality Athletes = Success on and off the Field!