Northern Alberta Xtreme Softball Academy
We are very excited to consider you as a prospective player within the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) Softball Academy!
All athletes at NAX are students of Black Gold School District (BGSD) schools in Devon, Alberta. Students in grades 10-12 attend John Maland High School while students in Grades 7-9 attend Riverview Middle School. Our strong relationship with BGSD has not only allowed NAX to grow tremendously as a program but enables our program to create some of the most unique opportunities and training experiences for young elite student-athletes.
NAX Softball Program Outline
Northern Alberta Xtreme Softball is now seeking interested elite softball players wanting to take their game to the next level by inviting them to participate with NAX Softball Team program for the 2021-2022 season. All student-athletes selected to play on the team would be provided with the training and game schedule below. Game Schedule is built by NAX Softball Staff to provide the optimal experience possible for athletes within the program. Costs related to travel and game schedules would be on top of the proposed training costs. It is also an expectation for athletes entering into the program to participate in both the training and game schedule; therefore, we kindly ask all interested families to consider both the training and game schedule costs when committing to the program. NAX and Director of Academics, Paula Smith, will assist the athletes and their parents in understanding the collegiate softball recruiting process, including building profiles and understanding how to promote themselves and communicate with college coaches. Having played and coached at high levels for an extended period of time, all NAX coaches have an extensive background of connections with college programs.
Proposed Schedule Outline:
- September – October, 2021 Outdoor practices 5 days a week (Monday-Friday)
- Softball Activities (8:00-11:00am)
- Includes Strength and Conditioning training, video sessions, Softball 101
- Weekend game schedule (7-9 weekends depending on weather)
- Two tournaments
- November, 2021 – March, 2022 – Indoor workouts (Monday – Friday)
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- Softball Activities (8:00-11:00am)
- Includes Strength and Conditioning training, video sessions, Softball 101
- March – June, 2022 (Weather Dependent) 5 days a week (Monday-Friday)
- Softball Activities (8:00-11:00am)
- Includes Strength and Conditioning training, video sessions, Softball 101
- Weekend game schedule (7-9 weekends depending on weather)
- Two tournaments
- Training Cost includes but is not limited to the following items
- Staffing
- Facility Rental
- Venue Booking
- Apparel
- Equipment
- Daily Travel & Insurance
Students-Athletes will be training Monday-Friday from September to June in conjunction with the school calendar year at BGSD. All program training for the 2021-2022 Softball Program will be in the mornings from 8:00am-11:00am and student-athletes would be in their academic classes in the afternoons.
Proposed Game Schedule & Cost: $8,000.00 – $12,000.00/Year NAX Softball Staff will build a competitive schedule that considers strength of competition as well as player exposure to maximize student-athlete opportunity within the game setting. Program game schedule will be formalized upon confirmation of the NAX Softball team and costs associated will be finalized for families as schedule is confirmed.
- 2-4 showcase events (1-2 – Fall event & 1-2 – Spring/Summer events)
- Games & Tournaments (7-9 weeks weather dependent in the Fall) & (Spring/Summer Schedule)
- Games vs. other Softball Academies
- Games vs. Minor Softball Associations
- Tournaments (AB, BC, Sask)
DeAnna Voshell – NAX Softball Head Coach/Director
DeAnna is the Head Coach/Director of the Softball Academy as well as a fielding instructor. DeAnna has played all forms of softball for more than 40 years and has a great passion for the game. She received a full scholarship to play second base for a Division I Junior College in Washington State, where she received Golden Glove, Batting Average and Runs Batted In awards. DeAnna went on to win two National Championships in the USA women’s league. She played second base and centre field in Women’s Slow-Pitch Nationals and Mixed Slow-Pitch Nationals in the USA. DeAnna has played and coached softball in Canada for the last 20 years. She has a professional background with direct training levels and values to coach at a highly competitive athletic level.
Camille Czarnecki - Coach and Pitching Instructor
As a player, Camille is a high-level pitcher who has a very strong offensive game. She graduated from a lucrative ball scholarship and has returned to Alberta to give back to the game. Camille attended Iowa Western Community College from 2009 to 2010 and led the Conference in strikeouts (151) and saves (4). She went 16-7 with a 1.67 ERA and was a NFCA Scholar All-American. In her sophomore season, she attended Stetson Division I school from 2010 to 2011 and went 9-9 in the circle, leading the team in wins, with a 2.91 ERA in 110.2 innings. Her college career came to a close in 2014 at Barry University where she was named to the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She was named the NFCA Scholar All-American and finished with a 11-5 record and a 2.46 ERA and has won numerous pitching awards.
She has led her team to a Gold Medal in Provincials for five consecutive years. She has pitched in many Canadian Western & National Championships and Western Canadian Summer Games. In 2011 her team earned Bronze at Nationals where she earned the All- Star Pitcher Award. In 2012, she was the Fast Pitch Player of the Year in Alberta. She still currently plays part time with Calahoo Senior Ladies and has taken her coaching and playing skills abroad this past year. She has been teaching full time the past seven years and is always find new and creative drills to challenge her students.
Some of her more recent Career Highlights are: 2011 – 3rd at Junior Canadian Championship and named All Star Pitcher in Windsor, ON 2012 – Named Adult Fast Pitch Player of the Year in Alberta and Zone 5 Alberta Summer Games Asst. Coach 2013 – 2nd at Senior Western Canadian Championship in Saskatoon, SK 2015 – MVP at Senior Western Canadian Championship in Winnipeg, MB 2016 – Played in the European Cup in Most, Czech Republic 2017 – Played for the Polish National Team at the European Championship in Italy. 2nd at Senior A Women’s Canadian Championship 2018 – 1st at Senior A Women’s Canadian Championship in Saskatoon, SK, named Top Batter, All-star first-base and named Adult Female Fast Pitch Player of the Year in Alberta. 2019 – Played for the Polish National Team at the European Championship in Czech Republic. 1st at Senior A Women’s Canadian Championship in St. John, Newfound Land
Shannon Lynn Wilson - Coach and Fielding Instructor
Shannon started playing competitively in 1993 with the St. Albert Angels. She played with the Canadian Xtreme from ages 15-17, and the University of Alberta Gold Squad for two years following. She plays competitively with Edmonton Ladies Softball Association, attending many Westerns, Nationals and Canada Cup tournaments. Shannon is a strong shortstop and second base who continues to play all forms of women’s and mixed softball, attending several Canadian and National Championships.
NAX Softball Next Steps:
- Prospective families interested in competing in the program are to confirm their interest by emailing their most recent report cards to jstewart@naxacademy.com
- Upon review of report cards prospective families will be asked to sign a program contract. Contracts require a program deposit be submitted to officially confirm your spot.
- Prospective families will then be required to register online for their designated school.