18 & Under Shamrocks Coaches Profiles

      The 1998 summer season will mark Tommy Orndorff’s 25th anniversary as head coach of the 18 & Under Shamrocks. Under his direction, today’s Shamrocks are recognized as one of the country’s premier fastpitch programs.

      The Shamrocks have dominated local fastpitch softball by capturing 17 out of the last 20 Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Metro Washington DC Championships. “The ‘Rocks” were ineligible for competition two of those years because the team was awarded automatic berths to the ASA Nationals by qualifying to compete in the ASA Hall of Fame Tournament. Last year, the team announced it was moving up to ASA Gold status. By doing so, the Shamrocks were declared ineligible to defend their local title.

      No other 18 & Under contingent outside the state of California has accomplished as much as the Shamrocks nationally. Most notably, the Shamrocks have made 14 trips to the ASA 18 & Under National Championship Tournament (11 consecutive). In those national appearances, the Shamrocks have finished in the Top 20 eight times, including three straight Top 10 finishes in 1987 (5th), 1988 (9th), 1989 (5th). The 1995 Shamrocks squad finished 4th in the nation. In 24 seasons, Tommy Orndorff’s record with the Shamrocks stands at 944-187.

      Besides his Shamrocks, the past thirteen springs have found Orndorff as the head varsity softball coach at Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School. Under his reign, the Arlington, Virginia school has played in every catholic league championship game, capturing the top prize nine times. Orndorff’s Lady Knights have also won five consecutive Virginia Independent State School Association (VISSA) state titles.

      Speaking of the VISSA, it has named Orndorff its “Virginia State Softball Coach of the Year” for five straight years. The Washington Post has twice named Orndorff its “Washington DC Metropolitan High School Softball Coach of the Year” (1986 & 1996).

      This spring, the Lady Knights went unblemished with a record of 26-0 earning a #1 ranking by the Washington Post and a #13 national ranking by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) published in USA Today. Orndorff’s overall record at O’Connell now stands at 270-29.


Heiskel R. Gray - Assistant Coach

      Heiskel R. Gray has been associated with the 18 & Under Shamrocks for the past ten years. First as a parent of former player Tricia Gray (1988-89) and then as an assistant coach (1990-present).

      For the past eight summers, Mr. Gray’s primary responsibility for the ballclub has been as scorekeeper/statistician. For the past seven springs, Mr. Gray has also kept Bishop O’Connell’s Varsity scorebook. Head Coach Tommy Orndorff relies heavily on Mr. Gray’s advice and knowledge of the game.

Tony Hyde - Assistant Coach

E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

      The 1998 season will signal Tony Hyde’s return to the 18 & Under Shamrocks. Coach Hyde began his tenure with the Shamrocks as an assistant coach beginning in the fall of 1988 and ending in 1993.

      In 1994, Tony was tapped by “Head ‘Rock” Tommy Orndorff to direct the 16 & Under Shamrocks. In four seasons under his leadership, the junior squad captured three ASA Metro Washington DC Championships, three ASA Open National Qualifier Tournament Championships, made three trips to the 16 & Under ASA National Championships as well as two trips to the 16 & Under AFA National Championships. Hyde's squad compiled a won-lost record of 186-68.

      From 1988 through the spring of 1997, Hyde also teamed with Tommy Orndorff at Bishop O’Connell High School. In their ten years together at O’Connell, the Lady Knights captured seven Catholic League championships as well as four Virginia Independent State School Association (VISSA) state titles.

Ed Russian - Assistant Coach

E-mail: [email protected]

      In 1998, Ed Russian begins his second season as the 18 & Under Shamrocks pitching coach. Under his guidance, the 1997 Shamrocks pitching staff compiled a stingy 0.80 earned run average, holding opponents to an anemic .160 batting average.

      Coach Russian is the father of standout pitcher Samantha Russian, who earlier this fall received a softball scholarship from the University of South Carolina. Before joining the Shamrocks, Coach Russian assisted with the Loudon County 16 & Under Fire & Ice and the 18 & Under Prince William Niners. In his first year as the Head Coach of the 16 & Under Fire & Ice, his team went to the NSA World Series where they placed 15th out of 87 teams participating.

      Ed is originally from Southwestern Pennsylvania where he had an extensive background in baseball and softball. He played high school baseball, and in his junior and senior years played American Legion and Semi-Pro baseball. After graduation, he was drafted into the military and served in Viet-Nam from 1966-1967.

      Ed moved into the Northern Virginia area in 1968. He had coached baseball at all age levels until 9 years ago when his daughter, Samantha, decided to play softball. He has been her softball coach ever since.

      Ed is recognized and respected throughout the Washington, DC area as one of the top pitching clinicians. Under his direction, many of the top area pitchers have gone on to lead their high school teams to the Virginia State playoffs.