Sparks, MD – Former Virginia Tech softball All-American Angela Tincher, the 2008 NCAA Player of the Year, and University of Maryland head coach Laura Watten will highlight an accomplished instructional staff at the All-Pro Fastpitch (APF) Softball Coach/Player Seminar scheduled to be held December 5, 2009, at the Hunt Valley Marriott. They will be joined by former Maryland All-American Amber Jackson and Tincher’s college teammate, former All-ACC selection Kelsey Hoffman Schmitt, at the event, which is designed for coaches, parents of fastpitch athletes and youth players 12 years of age and older.

The APF Coach/Player Seminar is scheduled to run from 10 am. Until 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 5. It will cover most aspects of the game, including pitching, hitting, defense and catching as well as a segment on developing an effective practice plan. Each segment will include a Q&A opportunity with the instructors, and there will be an opportunity for photos and autographs following the event.

The cost of the seminar is $75 for parents and coaches and $35 for players 12 years of age and up. Instructors will teach and demonstrate in a classroom-style format, however players attending the seminar may be asked to help demonstrate some of the lessons and drills being discussed. For more information or to register please go to www.APICamps.com or call 410.472.3500. Space is limited, so please make sure to register in advance.

Instructor bios:

Angela Tincher was named the 2008 USA Softball College Player of the Year after leading Virginia Tech to its first-ever Women’s College World Series appearance. She is best known for no-hitting the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, breaking its 185-game pre-Olympic win streak. A member of the 2009 U.S. Pan Am Qualifier team, Tincher was a two-time All-American, an ESPY finalist and ranks among the top five collegiate pitchers of all time statistically. She plays professionally in Japan as well as for the NPF Akron Racers and is a two-time All-NPF selection.

Laura Watten is entering her fifth year guiding the Terrapin softball program, looking to improve upon an impressive initial four campaigns with her most talented and experienced squad yet. Named the 2005 NFCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year after taking a fledgling Bethune-Cookman program all the way to the NCAA Super Regionals, Watten’s 2008 team set a Maryland record for victories with 36, including a school-record 16 wins in a row at one point. That season marked the third consecutive year that the Terps had improved their record under Watten.

Amber Jackson transferred to Maryland from Bethune-Cookman when Watten signed on to guide the Terps. A three-time All-American in college, she was named the National Pro Faspitch Player of the year in 2007 as a member of the Washington Glory. Jackson, who currently plays for the NPF Florida Pride, led Bethune-Cookman to a 49-19 record in 2005 and a regional championship against the likes of perennial powers Florida, South Florida and Central Florida.

Kelsey Hoffman Schmitt was a second-team All-ACC catcher at Virginia Tech, mainly handling Tincher, before signing with the NPF Akron Racers in 2009. She recorded a double off U.S. pitcher Jennie Finch to set up the only run in Tech’s stunning 1-0 shutout, no-hit win over the U.S. National Team in 2008. Schmitt had a breakout year as a junior, hitting .277 and committing just two errors in 572 chances, good for a remarkable .992 fielding percentage.