HS & Club Softball

Seven Innings: John Carpenter Texas Blaze 18U Gold

The Texas Blaze organization continues to grow in size and success. Texas Blaze 18U Gold team coached by John Carpenter was one of the best teams in the nation last summer. They won the 2016 Triple Crown National Championship and finished as the Runner-up at the IDT Boulder National tournament. The Blaze have the talent and balance to make a top 10 run at any event this summer. Coach Carpenter will have this team focused for a strong run at the IDT Boulder, Triple Crown Nationals, Junior World Cup OKC and PGF Nationals this summer.  Players to watch include Rylee Trlicek – P (2019, Florida),  Madi Jatzlau – UTL (2018, Texas A&M), Kinsey Kuhlmann – OF (2018, Ole Miss), Sydney Ownes – IF (2018, Iowa), Tara Oltmann – IF (2017, Texas State), and Camryn Middlebrook – IF (2019, Uncommitted). Coach Carpenter recently had a conversation with FPN’s Brandon Pannell.

Brandon Pannell:  What other sports coaches have been great influences in your life and why or how?

Coach John Carpenter:  John Wooden – selfless play, team play, character, chemistry above all else.

Brandon Pannell:  What sports books or sports movies are your favorites and why?

Coach John Carpenter:  The Champions Mind, Mind Gym, Bible, anything written by John C Maxwell, Movie: The Natural

Brandon Pannell:  What is one key softball event that changed your life in a positive or negative way?

Coach John Carpenter:  I made the worst coaching decision of my life at the 2015 Triple Crown Nationals in Reno and I used my failure as an example and that we own our failures and never blame others. In 2016 we went to NYC and won the Triple Crown Nationals – failing always leads to victory if you learn from it and own it!  Another book: Extreme Ownership

Brandon Pannell:  Who is your greatest role model either personally or as a coach?

Coach John Carpenter:  Jeff Love of Boise, Idaho who was my youth pastor, Ken Eriksen and My wife Jennifer, we met at 18 and she is the most selfless person I have ever met.

Brandon Pannell:  What one word or phrase do you want people to associate with your name?

Coach John Carpenter:  “Be Selfless!” “Own It – No Blame”    or “Who peed in your Wheaties”

Brandon Pannell:  How do you handle social media both personally and with respect to players on the team?

Coach John Carpenter:  Keep it positive it is a reflection of you and your team

Brandon Pannell:  What person and or event have had the most influence on your life? Why?

Coach John Carpenter:  1977 the day I accepted Christ as my personal Savior

Brandon Pannell:  How has coaching affected your life?

Coach John Carpenter:  It has changed me as a dad, husband and person…life is not about me…coaching MUST teach this

Brandon Pannell:  Who are your role models in coaching and why?

Coach John Carpenter:  Ken Eriksen – We think the same, it is so crazy and I have much respect for Tony Rico and JB Slimp.

Brandon Pannell:  What made you decide to go into coaching?  What is your coaching philosophy?  How important is winning?

Coach John Carpenter:  My Daughters are what got me into it. My philosophy is be SELFLESS, if you are too good to sit the bench then you are too good for our team!  Winning is an outcome, not a goal ever…the process is the goal and if you reach that goal…then winning happens, must become winners on and off of the field.

 Brandon Pannell:  Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?

Coach John Carpenter:  A USA National Team Coach

Brandon Pannell:  Describe your off-season program for your team or organization?

Coach John Carpenter:  On my 18U Gold team they are on their own, with HS ball and private instruction and I coach a high school team also.

Brandon Pannell:  Describe and give examples of your role as a role model for the players or your team and others.

Coach John Carpenter:  On and off the field, the words that come out of my mouth, my actions they speak loud and I must lead by example in everything, I respect every lady I coach and I expect them to respect themselves every day.

Brandon Pannell:  Describe the organization of a typical practice.

Coach John Carpenter:  Details, Daily’s, Determination… we focus on detail and the fundamentals of the game, a team cannot do this too much, practice on purpose…and bring your “A” game to every practice…Champions are born on the practice field…game time is when the world gets to see it.

Brandon Pannell:  How do you handle the tryout and cut process?

Coach John Carpenter:  Honest, don’t hide it, that helps nobody…call it like it is I have a responsibility to the ladies and organization.

 Brandon Pannell:  What other factors might influence a player making the team other than skill set and athletic ability?

Coach John Carpenter:  ATTITUDE, Non-verbal communication…and intuition: are they a good chemistry fit…we are creating culture…a championship culture.

 Brandon Pannell:  Describe the top five priorities in softball in rank order and explain why.

Coach John Carpenter:  1.Details – from the dress, to walk, to attitude, this is everything that you overlook kills you. 2. Daily’s the things that don’t change – repetition and muscle memory won’t let you down in crunch time. 3. Attitude, suck it cupcake we got work to do, I need you at your best even when you don’t feel like it. 4. Desire – you have got to want it…everyday 5. Chemistry – SELFLESS players create winning cultures.

Brandon Pannell:  What are your strengths and weaknesses as a coach?

Coach John Carpenter:  Motivation –  talent is never enough on its own, the mental side of sports is huge, we have many great athletes that struggle with this. They need motivation, I believe another strength is the passion and attention to detail in every area.

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