It's what you call softball strength

Mike DiMauro , Day Assistant Sports Editor, New London Day, 5/22/2008

There's a great line in the book “Freakonomics” that defines how we've become conditioned to think: “Fear thrives best in the present tense. It's why terrorism scares us more than heart disease.”

It's become that way economically, too. The present tense is so scary that the idea of spending a little more today in an effort to save some down the line is the exception.

Today's case study: parents of high school athletes. They pray for college scholarships to lessen the financial burden. And many of them balk when they hear the term “personal trainer,” fearing that the cost is too high, even though the benefits might enhance the chances of a scholarship.

This is not going to be a lecture on how you should spend your money.

This is going to be a lecture on how you can save it by spending it.

Introducing four high school softball players from the region, who will be playing for their schools today in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Tournament:

Cashel Gaffey, East Lyme.
Brianna Turgeon, Fitch.
Brittany Duclos, Fitch.
Haley Gilles, Stonington.

They could be your kids. Or my kids. Or the kids next door. And what they did this past offseason to their bodies was extraordinary. Or maybe just the by-product of wanting something bad enough. Like a scholarship. They all employed personal trainers.

Here are the numbers to date. They have played roughly 20 games apiece:

Gilles: .500 average, 28 hits, 20 runs scored, 20 RBI, five doubles, three triples, three homers.

Turgeon (a freshman): .467 average, 30 runs scored 35 hits, 27 RBI, five doubles, four triples, five homers.

Gaffey: .544 average, 20 runs, 32 hits, 16 RBI, eight doubles, two triples, two homers.

Duclos: .450 average, 20 runs, 25 RBI, 27 hits, three doubles, two triples, one home run.

That's a combined 43 extra base hits.

Here is what their coaches are saying:

East Lyme's Judy Deeb, who has more than 500 wins, on Gaffey: “I've never had a kid hit for that high of an average. The ball flies off her bat. Everything is more compact. She's faster, more powerful. And she doesn't have the problems she's had with her knees in the past.”

Fitch's Jon Grossman on Turgeon and Duclos: “Brittany is a lot stronger. Her quickness from side to side has increased. She's definitely committed herself. And Brianna … she sure doesn't handle herself like a freshman. UConn already knows about her.”

Stonington's Ann-Marie Houle on Gilles: “It's just brute strength. She's never been a big girl. But if you look at the team picture from last year … her body has slimmed down. She's added muscle. It's insane. She's always hit the ball. But now, there's no other way to describe it but brute strength.”

Gaffey, a junior, has Big East schools recruiting her. Duclos has given an oral commitment to Division I Maine. Gilles will play at Division I Temple. And Turgeon has a chance to be a major Division I player.

”I definitely feel stronger and better about myself,” Gilles said. “I did a lot of softball-specific drills. Last year, I got up (to the plate) not to strike out. Now, I'm hitting the ball. There's definitely a price you have to pay. But it's worth it.”

Now for the full disclosure portion of the program: I know their stories because I work out at the same place. Gilles, Turgeon, Duclos and Gaffey trained with Calvin McCoy and Greg Drab at Advantage Personal Training in Mystic and Niantic. I watched the softball-specific drills to which Gilles alluded. Their perspiration has translated to the field.

Please don't view this as some excuse to endorse Drab and McCoy (even though I endorse them mightily). High school athletes have many choices in the region. They could go to Tim Yuhas, Pete Kiefer or Chris and Pete Gianakos, all of whom have excellent reputations.

The point is this: Personal trainers, especially among raised awareness for health and wellness issues, are worth it. Here are four examples of young women who didn't merely enhance their chances of college scholarships. They've become healthier and more confident. Is there a price tag for that?

Maybe the best story of all came when Gaffey became the first player in East Lyme's 37-year softball history to hit a home run over the high center field fence at Veterans Field in Niantic. It happened two Saturdays ago. Gaffey actually called McCoy during the game to inform him what happened, a message that implied, “All that misery you put me through was worth it!”

If you have a decision to make about a personal trainer, use four young women as beacons. Better yet, go watch them play today and see for yourself.