Making Contact with Coach Teresa Flores

Hello and Welcome to Batter's Box - Making Contact, the blog set up for young women playing for the Hurricanes Softball Program out of Corpus Christi. I am Coach Teresa Flores, the head coach for activities at Batter's Box in Corpus Christi, Texas. I am here to help you not only become a better softball player and hitter (my speciality), but a better young person and citizen. I have the knowledge and character to help you understand that the lessons we learn from the game of softball are life-long lessons that will help each individual survive in today's society.

But, Batter's Box is about softball. As you enroll and apply for our programs and decide to participate on our team's please know that you are accepting a great responsibility. Please know that you are giving your word that you are committed to try the best you can to improve as an athlete and softball player and also to become the best young person you can be. We will help you. Please know, too, that when you go out on the playing field or travel with us you are representing not only yourself, but your parents and family, the organization and Staff at Batter's Box, the city of Corpus Christi, Texas and the nation. Yes, you represent all that. Always do things with "class, dignity and respect." If you do that, you will grow up to be a strong person and a good citizen ready to help society. You will also be a better softball player. We promise.

Now, a little about me. I recently resigned as  assistant softball coach  for the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Islanders. I served in that capacity for three years and I really enjoyed my job of helping transform the Islanders softball team into one of the best college teams in the state and nation. I had an opportunity to join the Batter's Box staff and I felt this is where I can make a difference in South Texas. I felt this was where I could help young South Texas softball players be better equipped to play the game I love, softball. It's also a way I feel I can give back to the community that nurtured me as a young girl and helped me grow into the person and softball player I became.

I started playing softball and baseball when I was a young girl. I also played Little League baseball 'cause there weren't any softball leagues in my neighborhood when I was growing up. When I finally played organized softball, I became a member of several of the city's best team and travelled to several national tournaments. Later I played for the Austin Stix, where I made many contacts statewide

In high school, I was an all-state shortstop for the Corpus Christi Roy Miller High School Lady Buccaneers, where we went to the playoffs two years in a row. I went on to an All-American career at Texas Woman's University  and also played international softball while in college. After graduation, I became a member of some of the nation's top amateur teams and competed in the Canada Cup.

At TWU I was presented the TWU President's Award in 2004 for excellence in the classroom and on the playing field and was named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American Team at shortstop. I was alsonamed the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year in 2004,  All-South Central Region, Academic All-District VI First Team two years in a row and holds or shares 30 TWU team records and four Lone Star Conference records.

After graduating from TWU with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a double minor in adaptive physical education and special education, I earned her master's degree in special education from the University of Texas where she served as the video specialist and manager with the Longhorn softball program during the 2007-08 year.   With the Lady Longhorns, I assisted with the teams hitting drills and worked with the outfielders during defensive drills.

I was also a student volunteer coach at TWU in 2004-05, giving instruction to hitters while helping make adjustments during games and assisting with infielders.  At the University of Incarnate Word, I coordinated batting practice and assisted with infield practice while also individually instructing players to develop hitting skills.

While at Miller High School, Flores received the Distinguished Scholar Award for Athletics from the Corpus Christi Caller Times and was named All-South Texas and All-State.  She also participated in the U.S. Scholar Athlete Games in Rhode Island. In 2010, she was named to her high school Alumni Hall of Honor

My travel ball career includes international play in Europe and Canada and playing against teams from the National Pro Fast pitch League. She was a member of the Texas Elite travel team that toured Holland, Germany and the Czech Republic in 2002. I was on the California Schutt Hurricanes Women's Major team, traveling to the Canada Cup where her teammate was Olympian Andrea Duran in 2003. In 2005 and played for the California Sunbirds, one of the nation's top amateur teams that plays against teams from the NPF. In 2007, I played on Corona (Calif.) Storm USA, a women's major team that won the American Softball Association Class A national championship. I was named ASA Class A All-American while playing for Storm USA.

I have a bachelor's degree from TWU and a master's degree from the University of Texas.  And, while I mention this last, getting an education and upper-level master's degree from Texas, is the most important thing I've done in my life. That education prepared me for whatever situation life throws at me.

I'm ready, are you? Come join us at the Batter's Box. Let's make some contact. My email is teresamflores@yahoo.com. My cell is 361-813-7217.