Some things come back full circle to the community, and the Girls Fast-pitch Tournament Travel Team, also known as Fallon Force, is a perfect example of that. Under the direction of Head Coach Crystal Smotherman Cypher, the team is in their second year of playing tournament-level traveling softball together. The team is comprised of 12 Fallon girls, with 11 of the 12 returning to the team after a year off due to COVID-19. This year is their first year playing in the 12-and-under tournament division. Their first year was played in the 10-and-under division. The full circle is created by having some members from the 1994 Greenwave Softball team now coaching the Fallon Force team. The players from 1994 were Crystal Smothermann, Dawn Smotherman, Jodi Dolan, and Dee Dee Allyn.
Cypher has a dedicated staff assisting with team functions, which includes Assistant Coaches Robert J Yost, Jason Walker, and Randy McClelland; Pitching Coaches are Ed Smotherman and Jodi Dolan; the team Manager is Deby Smotherman.
Eddie Smotherman, dad to past players and grandfather to present team members, described the full circle effect this way on Facebook, “Crystal was All-State first baseman, Dee Dee was All-State catcher; Dawn and Jodi both earned the Nevada All-American Pitcher title. Now, 27 years later, Crystal's coaching her daughter Hali Jo, who is also Dawn's niece and is pitching to Dee Dee's niece, Emi.”
The full line-up of players is Emi Allyn, Jada Anastasio, Hayden Cooper, Kaitlyn Hornby, Brylee Parsley, Phynex Hunt, Kesley Sandberg, Hali Smotherman, Destinee Tapia, Layla Walker, Lea Williams, and Sutton Yost. Hali and Sutton have both been pitching for 3 years. Hayden and Kaitlyn will start their first year of pitching this season. The team catchers are Destinee, Emi, and Lea.
Cypher said, “It is amazing to see these girls learn and grow together as a team, as well as individuals. Having almost the entire team come back gives them added opportunity to gel as a team and learn to play together as a unit. They grow friendships and unity as a team throughout the season.” Cypher went on to say, “Softball is a team sport, not one player can carry a team. It's awesome to see these girls learn to depend on each other, give their best to the team, and work hard for one another.”
Cypher described this age group as one where coaches see the players' talents develop as they learn the game's strategic aspects. They will start more complex plays this year, and add focus to the "short game", which includes bunting, drag bunts, and slapping for the offense. Mechanics are taught to the players for basic hitting, followed by new aspects to help runners advance into scoring position. Cypher said, “Baserunning is key when using short game techniques.”
The scheduled tournament games will take place on June 12-13 in Fallon, June 19-20 in Winnemucca, June 26-27 in Fernley, July 10-11 in Yerington, and July 17-18 in Carson City. The team thanks everyone for the continued support, and hopes that some Fallon locals turn out for the games to cheer them on. The team also wanted to acknowledge their sponsors, who make the team's participation in the tournament possible with their volunteer time and donations. The businesses shown on the banner in the picture donated $250 or more, which paid for uniforms, helmets, equipment, bat bags, and tournament registration fees.
In addition to donations from the players' parents, the following businesses also donated to the team: A & K Earthmovers, Affordable Document Solutions, Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Jim, Aunt Jessie and Uncle J.R., Benham's Diesel and Auto Repair, Buttsup Duck (Visors), Buttsup Duck Designs, Camacho Auto Sales, CC Communications, Cheek Construction, Dooley Family, DoTERRA Licia Rogne, Electric Chairs, Fallon Family Dental Care, Fallon Ford Toyota, Fallon Glass, Getto Subs, Glenn the Mover, Grace Gandolfo, Grandma & Grandpa John, H&R Block, His Inspirations, Holliwood Hair and Nails, Ivy Land, Jim and Sally Walker, Karen Sustacha, KD Automotive, Louie's Ace Home Center, Marshall's Septic, Merlene Ward - Realtor, My Scenic Views, New Frontier Treatment Center, NNE Construction, Phone Buddy, Pioneer General Engineering, Pizza Barn, Sand Hill Dairy, Shannon Nelson - Berney Realty, Skyline Energy, TBC Inc., The Grid, The Warner family, Tumbleweed Garbage Disposal, Widmer and Mills, and Wonrate Gear.
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