The GraveDiggers is a highly competitive travel softball team located in North Central Pennsylvania consisting of girls from Williamsport and the surrounding area.   The organization has been in existence since the early 1990’s and is committed to not only developing skilled softball players but quality individuals.   The current 16U Blue team was first organized in 2007 as a 12U team and finished the year with a record of 40 wins and only 4 losses.   The team recorded 5 first place finishes winning the following tournaments: 

       

                                    Tournament Champions:

                                    Dust Off the Rust Tournament, Chambersburg, PA

                                    Keystone State Games Qualifier, State College, PA

                                    Mahanoy City Tournament, Mahanoy City, PA

                                    Vipers Back to School Blast, Dallas, PA           

                                    Keystone State Games Champion, York, PA

The team continued its success in 2008 finishing with a final record of 46 wins and 15 losses.  The team won 2 tournament championships along with finishing runner-up three times  and placing  3^rd once.  The highlight of the season was a trip to Orlando, Fla where the team participated in the 2008 USSSA World Series and recorded a 13^th place finish out of 53 teams.   Shock waves hit the tournament when the team upset the Louisiana Lady Hawks by a 5 - 2 score.   Two years earlier, the Lady Hawks won the 12U World Series at the same Orlando site and were pre-tournament favorites to repeat the feat in the 14U World Series.   The team finished with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses in Orlando and was eliminated by the Central Iowa Impact that finished in the runner-up spot by a 4 to 0 score.   A great time was had by parents and players alike as they left with a lifetime of memories from the tournament, theme parks and the time spent with each other. 
 

                                    Tournament Champions:

                                    Dover Invitational, Dover, PA

                                    USSSA Sunburst Steal, Forty Fort, PA

                                    Tournament Runners-Up:

                                    Central and Western PA State Championship, Shippensburg, PA

                                    USSSA Springtacular World Series Qualifier, Quakertown, PA 

                                    Vipers Back to School Blast, Dallas, PA

                                    3^rd  Place:

                                    Dust Off the Rust Tournament, Chambersburg, PA

 

2009 was an unbelievable year as the team finished with an overall record of 49 wins, 8 losses and 2 ties and captured 3 tournament championships.   What made this all the more impressive was the coaching decision to move up to play 16U and 18U teams in several tournaments.   While the team did not place in either one of these tournaments the GraveDiggers made a lot of noise as they went undefeated in both tournaments on Saturday before losing in International Tiebreakers during Sunday elimination games. 

 

                                    Tournament Champions:

                                    Keystone State Games Champion, State College, PA

                                    Sunbury Tournament, Sunbury, PA

                                    Frozen Ropes Tournament, Drifton, PA

 

                                     Tournament Runners-Up:
                                    Central and Western PA State Championship, Shippensburg, PA

 

2010 was different than other years as the team did not begin playing until mid-June so as to not interfere with the girls high school softball season.  The GraveDiggers played in several 18U tournaments along with some 16U and finished the season playing in the Kyle Miller College Showcase in Allentown.

                                    Tournament Champions:

                                    Lewistown Lady Patriots Tournament, Lewistown, PA

                                    Danville Lady Bandits Softball Tournament, Danville, PA

                                    

                                    Tournament Runners-Up: 
                                    1st Annual District 4 Coaches Tournament, Hughesville, PA

                                   

                                    3rd Place Finish:

                                    Ocean City Blast at the Beach, Ocean City, MD

                                    Midnight Madness Tournament, Muncy, PA

 

The 2011 season began in mid-June so as to not interfere with the girls high school softball season.  The GraveDiggers opened the season in Indiana, PA and finished the season playing in the Monster Mash tournament in Williamsport, PA.   The team also played in the Elm Park Summer League during the middle of the week and finished at the top of the heap.   The Diggers finished with a record of 51 wins, 6 losses and 3 ties.

 

                                    Tournament Champions:

                                    USSSA Summer Sizzler NIT, Chambersburg, PA

                                    USSSA Andrea Gantt Memorial, Chambersburg, PA

                                    Lewistown Fall Fury, Lewistown, PA

                                    Danville Lady Bandits Softball Tournment, Danville, PA           

                                    2nd Annual District 4 Coaches Tournament, Warrior Run, PA

                                         

 

After 5 years the team has an impressive overall record of 218 wins and 41 losses and 7 ties, winning 17 tournament championships and exceeding any expectations the coaches ever had when the team was formed.  All of the credit goes to each and every girl for all of their hard work and dedication for the past three years and to the parents for providing transportation to practice and their patience when practices went longer than expected.  The coaches would like to thank all of the girls for making the last three years fun and exciting regardless of the outcome.  A simple motto says it all for the GraveDiggers…Input = Output.    Good luck in 2012!!!  

 

HOW DID THE GRAVEDIGGERS GET THEIR NAME?   Three Funeral Homes sponsored the team in its first year of existence and the girls on that first team came up with the fitting name.   The name has stuck and whatever tournament you go to the name GRAVEDIGGERS is remembered for being unique and the team competitive.