Lombard Thunder Travel Softball

“Park district doesn't vet the coaches, we have to play low level teams to have a chance to win, coach and daughter are clueless but hes run off anybody with talent,nobody from other towns wants to play here because they know 12u and 13u are a disaster.”

“Bottom of the barrel organization, ran by money hungry park district that does not care about coaching, player development or team competitiveness, they the top team for age group in town and have to look for part time teams or other towns c teams to obtain a 500 record to protect coaches ego, another team in organization. Has 18 players on roster and a 200 winning percentage but as long as the money keeps rolling in the park district doesn't care, if your daughter is serious about high school ball or above have her play elsewhere because your child will not get better playing for a coach who had to create a team because his child couldn't make it anywhere else, 9 to 11u, 14u and above might be a different story, the amount of talent that lives in the area but play somewhere else because of how bad the coaching is proves that the thunder are a joke.”

“My daughter found her happy place on the Berrier 16U team. This is her fourth travel team and organization- not a team hopper, but each team dissipated after one season. The Berrier 16U coaches and teammates helped her grow and reach performance levels she did not see in herself. The growth, confidence, camaraderie, and plain old fun I see my daughter having on the field just fills my heart! They are a competitive, strong, winning team yet they prioritize player development and supporting each other. There is just something so special here. Although my daughter is aging out of this team, this would be her forever team if it was up to her. As a mom, I see that one year with this team has taught my daughter so much about leadership, teamwork, communication, hard work - modeled by positive kids and adults. ”

“Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion. It’s remarkable how much certainty can be packed into a message with so little evidence to support it. A collection of sweeping conclusions, exaggerations, and assumptions doesn’t become fact simply because it’s written with confidence. Constructive criticism is always worth listening to, but credibility comes from facts, context, and firsthand knowledge—not broad accusations or personal grievances. Reading your comments , it’s difficult to separate genuine concerns from frustration, and that makes it hard to take the conclusions seriously. The reality is that the organization is built on volunteers, dedicated coaches, and families who invest an incredible amount of time and energy into giving young athletes the opportunity to learn, compete, and grow. Success isn’t measured solely by a win-loss record; it’s measured by player development, teamwork, sportsmanship, resilience, and a love for the game. No program is perfect, and they are always looking for ways to improve. But the commitment, integrity, and passion the coaches bring to the field every season deserve far more recognition than the characterization you’ve offered. They give countless hours to help players develop both on and off the field, and the positive experiences of the many families who choose to be part of this organization speak far louder than one comment. We remain proud of the teams, grateful for our coaches, and committed to providing a positive, competitive environment where every player has the opportunity to improve and enjoy the game.”