There is a misnomer about travel softball, that it should be about college exposure, and I want to take time to dispute and then stress to Wisconsin players why the Danes are the IDEAL place to prepare for college softball.

First, exposure, the idea that if you play travel ball, college coaches from all over the country will see you play and want you to play for them.  This logic holds up for players who have been getting elite, top level coaching from age 10; playing elite travel ball against top teams from all over the country since 12U; big enough/strong enough to be considered D1 size and have the required metrics (Sub 3.2 Home to First and/or 61 mph pitch speed).   This isn’t true for WI/MN based players. 

College exposure in our area is all about relationships and the ability for a coach to see a kid who they like, who will help their team academically and will develop into a strong player after getting next level coaching.  Every HS player has to improve to compete at the college level. 

So the question you need to ask yourself about travel ball is which programs have the proven experience to develop not only the exposure needed but the skills needed to ensure that when you get to college, you will get playing time and be a top level player.  We KNOW the answer is the Danes.

There are many other teams and coaches, but I’d challenge you to ask about their results in developing college players.  Our home page talks about the overall post season honors our alumni have earned, certainly a small shared honor with the college coach, travel ball and high school coach but mostly an honor to the player themselves who do all the work. 

But let’s focus on players starting their college career, two common options.

Option 1)  Sit a year and learn the next level of ball.  This is common for players with HS only experience.  The game is faster, played at the 43 foot pitching distance and players are expected to compete and understand a much more mature strategy of the game. 

Option 2) Walk in at practice on day 1 and not only compete but achieve “star potential” right away.  The key to this option, the player needs to make the adjustment BEFORE getting to college ball.  And in Wisconsin and Minnesota, there is ONE team which has the experience and resume to prepare you for this option. 

You want Option 2 Right?  Here are the facts…

Study was done of the past 5 years of college ball, focusing on teams and seasons where the Danes had a player in their freshman year at a specific school.  We then compared those Danes Alumni against the rest of their freshman class for some key offensive statistics.

But lets start with playing time…. The best measure of playing time is the ABs earned as a Freshman. 

Danes Alumni average 79.5 at bats in their freshman season
Non-Danes Freshman averaged 37 at bats in their freshman season. 

Result:  Danes Alumni get twice as many at bats on average as Non-Danes Freshman

How about batting averages, in a game where .400’s are great, .300 hitters are starter and .200 hitters are bench players on good teams, the Danes have a complete advantage

Danes Alumni have a .317 batting average as freshman
Non-Danes Freshman have a .275 batting average

Result:  Danes Freshman are over 40 points better as hitters starting their college career, mostly driven by proper hitting mechanics and the experience of playing at 43 feet against top level pitching. 

Just hitting the ball is not the goal, at the next level; you have to hit with power since the game is much higher scoring by nature of 200 foot fences and 43 foot pitching distance.   Let’s look at power metrics…

Danes Alumni – Hit a Double every 17 at bats and a HR every 45 at bats
Non-Danes Freshman – Hit a double every 24 at bats and a HR every 77 at bats

Results:  Clearly Danes freshman hit with greater power BUT how about this…

The 17 Danes have 12 freshman triples, the same number the 81 non-Danes freshman achieved. 

If you are considering the Danes against another team, you may want to make up your mind based on money or friends or loyalty, and that is OK.  But if you are truly looking for the best team to help you achieve your future goals a softball player, there is really one clear option of proven success…. Clearly the Danes.