thunderbirds 16/18U
Head Coach – Charlie Ball
SOFTBALL
Team Roster
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
– Andrew Carnegie
Analiese Picon
Position: 2B, SS / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Payton Krapf
Position: OF, 2B / Bats: Left / Throws: Right
Peyton Brown
Position: OF, 1B / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Emily Grabinski
Position: 1B, C, OF / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Becca Christman
Position: C, 3B, 1B / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Nora Osifchin
Position: 3B, OF / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Lauren Agnew
Position: 2B, OF / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Maddie Saylor
Position: 2B, SS / Bats: Left / Throws: Right
Hayley Saylor
Position: P, OF, 1B / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Lily Park
Position: 3B, SS, OF / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Maddie Engler
Position: P, 2B, OF / Bats: Left / Throws: Left
Haydn Landis
Position: P, 1B / Bats: Right / Throws: Right
Coaches Bios
Charlie Ball, Head Coach and President
Head Coach and President, Charlie Ball, enters his 31st season with the Thunderbirds; however, his years of experience far exceeds his time with the organization. Coach Ball has over 40 years of experience coaching at all levels – from community to high school and 14u to 18u Gold travel and is well respected among the softball family. Because of his success and reputation, he has formed great relationship with many of the area’s most successful softball programs and college coaches. Due to his relationships, he gets bids into many of the tri-state areas most prestigious tournaments. He has created many winning teams since 1994 for the organization and many of his athletes have gone on to play college softball.
In 2011 Coach Ball took on the head coaching job at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School and has boosted a successful high school coaching career. He has produced winning records in his tenure with the Lady Monarch and in 2021 led his team to their first ever conference championship win.
Since stepping down as head coach of the Thunderbirds 18U Gold team he has been helping to coach and develop the younger teams in the organization. His emphasis is to teach the girls the game of softball, while developing their skills so he can help them take the next steps in their softball career should they wish to move on past travel and high school.
Coach Ball truly believes in creating an atmosphere that gives young athletes a place to play more competitive softball while helping to teach them lessons that can be used far beyond the softball field. While many coaches count their wins and losses as their success story, he counts his success as the players he helps improve and learn the game as well as those who move on to play at higher levels. He is truly in this sport for the girls!
John Golden, Assistant Coach
Coach John enters his 20th season with the organization and brings 25 years of experience to the Thunderbirds coaching staff. Before joining the Thunderbirds in 2005, as the head coach of the 14U team, he coached in the Souderton Community League for 5 years. While with the Thunderbirds, he has coached at various levels including 14U and 16U before assisting head coach Charlie Ball with the 18U Gold team, returning to help with the 16U team.
In 2011 Coach John added to his experience by becoming the assistant coach at Gwynedd Mercy High School Academy. Durning his time with the Lady Monarchs, he has helped the team boost many winning seasons and in 2021 he helped the team win their first ever conference championship.
Additionally, he has two daughters who both wore the Thunderbirds uniform and had very successful travel, high school, and college softball careers.
Coach John’s dedication to the organization goes beyond his coaching experience. He feels fortunate to be involved with an organization that not only teaches and instructs players to respect and play the game the right way but that also cares about their players both on and off the field. Although the organization has been successful, winning national championships and making numerous semi and quarter final appearances, it is his hope that he, in some way, has helped players become better people.
Kim Krapf, Assistant Coach
Coach Kim enters her sixth season with the Thunderbirds as an assistant coach that focuses on catcher development; however, she is not new to the organization. She was one of the original Thunderbirds and played with the organization from 1994 to 2000. In 2000, she returned as the bench and catching coach for the 18U Gold team assisting head coach Charlie Ball for 8 years before leaving to start a family of her own. While coaching the 18U Gold team, she also served as the board secretary for the Harleysville Girls Softball Association where she also coached one of the 8U coach pitch teams. In addition to playing for the Thunderbirds, Coach Kim played for Indian Valley Middle School and Souderton Area High School before moving on to play four years at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where her team won four consecutive Freedom MAC Conference Championships and made four NCAA regional appearance.
This year, she will be helping as an assistant coach for her youngest daughter’s tee ball team. Additionally, she offers her knowledge by running catching clinics for local community organizations.
Coach Kim enjoys coaching and giving back to the sport that gave so much to her. She loves the game and hopes to make an impact on her players by providing life lessons they can use both on and off the field. Her greatest joy is watching these young athletes develop their skills and succeed while having fun.
Ryan Krapf, Assistant Coach
Coach Ryan enters his sixth season as assistant coach with the Thunderbirds. He originally joined the coaching staff in 2005, coaching the 18U team under the guidance of Coach Ball. He stepped away from the organization in 2012 to be with his family before returning in 2019 to help start up the Thunderbirds 12U team. As a former track runner, he brings tips and tricks to help the girls increase their speed.
Additionally, he also coaches and umpires in the local community, helping with his sons baseball and flag football teams and offering to umpire for the local softball and baseball leagues.
Coach Ryan enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with the players and watching them learn and develop their skills in the sport.
Hailee Weiss, Assistant Coach
Coach Hailee enters her first season with the Thunderbirds as an assistant coach. She recently graduated from Catholic University of America with a degree in Biology and a minor in Psychology.
While she is newer to coaching, she is no stranger to the softball field. She had a success college career at Catholic earning the 2022 All-Landmark Conference Second Team Selection, the 2023 Landmark Conference All-Sportsmanship Team and was a 3-time Conference Spring Academic Honor Roll member.
Prior to college, Coach Hailee played at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School and for Revolution travel softball. During her time at Gwynedd, she was elected team captain and was a 2-time ACCA All Star offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year. This year she returns to Gwynedd and enters her first season on the sidelines as an assistant coach.
Coach Hailee is looking forward to the opportunity to help shape the next generation of softball players! She hopes to instill the love of the game in her players like her coaches have done for her in the past.
