ABOUT US

I-Club was started in the fall of 2005.  Dave and I thought it would be interesting to see how Iowa players would do against some of the best players from other states. We found the St. Louis Showcase online and decided to enter.  Dave was the head coach and we took 12 of the best players we knew at the time.  We played 5 games that weekend and went undefeated.  It was the "Wow" moment for us.  We knew we needed to continue to do this and with more players.  That is how I-Club was started.  

Our philosophy has always been to make an affordable club program.  A lot of club teams in other sports seemed to cost quite a bit of money so we wanted to try to build a program that was affordable.  We charge $50 a weekend in the spring and $100 a weekend in the fall.  We try to work around high school ball so the spring season is optional.  We put a couple of teams together and mix all the players to play few games.  The fall season is our focus.  We are in our 5th year.  We start by going to the only ASA National Tournament we can qualify for based on the Iowa High School softball season - ASA/USA Northern National.  We play in Grinnell to support our local tournaments and then we go into playing showcase tournaments.  The Homer Hawks Showcase, The Sparks Showcase, The St. Louis Showcase and one other.  We try to promote our players to college coaches during the tournaments and on our website.  We encourage our players to contact coaches at programs they are interested in attending so they can take a proactive role in obtaining their college opportunities.  We like players who are loyal and want to work hard to develop their skills.

Another goal for I-Club is to help develop the softball community in Iowa.  We are not competing with other area programs, we actually want to provide more opportunities for softball players in Iowa.  Five years ago there were two teams going to Showcase Tournaments: I-Club and the Cental Iowa Stars.  Now Iowa has many showcase club teams and that is exactly what we wanted to help create.  Iowa is way behind in softball opportunities compared to the rest of the country but we are not way behind on talent.  We have some great players that just need to be seen.  Dave and I have one very simple reason why we do what we do.  We just want to help kids.  We don't make a lot of money taking players to showcase tournaments.  The dues we collect covers tourney fees, equipment, uniforms and we pay our head coaches hotel expenses.  Dave works full time as a restaurant manager and I work full time as a college coach and private instructor.  That is where we make our living.  We enjoy seeing the players have success.  We just
Love The Game!!!  

Mary Thompson Coached by USA Olympic Coach  Mike Candrea 2008/09 Ellsworth College Head Coach 2008 ASA Deputy Commissioner 2008 NFCA Iowa Travel Ball Representative Oct. 2005 Founded I-Club - Iowa Softball Club 2005 Ankeny HS Head Coach 2004 Hoover HS Head Coach 2002 & 2003 Lincoln HS Assistant

• Mary Thompson is co-founder of the I-Club.  A native of Iowa.  She has a 18 year old daughter named Paige.  She has over 20 years of playing experience and over 25 years of coaching experience.
  
• Mary attended Lincoln High School in Des Moines where she was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.  She was a 4x All-Conference pitcher and a 4x All-State pitcher.  Still holding a state record of least amount of hits allowed in one season.
  
• Mary played on several ASA travel ball teams growing up.  She has made it to 4 ASA National tournaments including Binghamton NY, Freeport TX, Freeport TX again and Las Cruces NM placing 7th in the Nation.  She also played for the Reames women's fast pitch team for approximately 12 years.  
  
• Mary played in college at Central Arizona Community College 1984 where she helped pitch them to a National Championship under Coach Mike Candrea.  Went on to receive a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where she won All Big 8 honors.
  
• Her passion is helping kids reach their potential.  "I want all the players that want to go to college on a softball scholarship to have that opportunity." 

I-Club has placed over 45  players in the past 4 years into college on scholarships.  We currently have three 18U teams and one 14U/16U team.

Mary is a private instructor 
 performing group and individual lessons 
in both pitching and hitting.

2008  Central Springs High School set school record with 24+ home runs this season and top in their conference.
2007 Adel High School set record for most home runs in a season with 26.  Improved overall team batting average.  Went to state tourney.
2007 Winterset High School set school record for most home runs in a season with 28.  Individual home run record with 9 by Macie Silliman.  Improved overall team batting average.
2008 Winterset won the State Championship.

Dave Streyffeler 2005-Present Head Coach/Owner I-Club 2004 Hoover HS JV Head Coach