The Knoxville Explosion Fastpitch Softball Club is currently comprised of 9 teams (18u/16u Select, '99, '01, '01 Navy, '02, '03, '04, '05 and '06) that have a total of 130 very special players.  Players are not only selected based upon skill but also character and desire.  Our organization is committed to improving the skills of these special players to not only develop them into the best fastpitch softball players that they can be, but also the best students, friends and reliable, honorable young ladies. Our goal is simple, develop the player to make a meaningful contribution to their schools, communities and future endeavors at the earliest possible opportunity. If you are interested in joining our organization, we invite you to observe our practices and games to see what we teach and how we interact with the players. Tryouts are held in early August each year for the respective teams.If you have any questions regarding one of our teams, please call the Head Coach listed in the important numbers section on the right information section of our website. God Bless and Be Safe!

Joe Birchfield

Knoxville Explosion Fastpitch Organization Chief

(865) 363-0728

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The Knoxville Explosion Fast Pitch Softball Club is committed to developing player excellence on and off the field.  This is accomplished by selecting coaches who volunteer 100% of their time to teach the players the proper fundamentals of the game that include hitting, pitching, fielding and base running.  Each head coach will be a certified Double Goal Coach through the Nationally-recognized Positive Coaching Alliance Organization.  Key concepts are reinforced using state of the art training equipment, playing equipment, computer software and professional coaches that seek to identify and raise awareness of the player to correct flaws in their own fundamentals.  In addition, our players will be taught the proper way to conduct themselves on and off the field.  Knoxville Explosion Players are expected to honor and respect their coaches, parents, team mates, opponents and umpires.  Our players are also expected to do their very best in school courses and to place emphasis on their studies.  We recognize that our players are also students and without achieving the proper grades, our players will not be allowed to compete at the next level.  Our coaches are committed to teaching our players the rules of the game and more importantly, how to succeed and have fun!  A key component of this commitment is to teach our players the strategy and mental aspects of the game.  It is through this commitment to the fundamentals that our coaches and players will honor the game of fast pitch softball.

 Joe Birchfield, Head Coach Knoxville Explosion Fast Pitch Organization Chief

The Knoxville Explosion Fastpitch Softball Organization has developed a complete recruiting package for it's Explosion Select (18u/16u) and '99 Select (16u) teams.  Part of our commitment to our players is not only the development on and off the field but also to provide meaningful assistance to our players to get to the next level.  To this end, the Knoxville Explosion procured the services of various professional printers, photographers and marketing material specialists to produce a one of a kind college recruiting package for each of our 18u and 16u players.  Included in these press kits are a full color 8x10 photo, a complete academic and extracurricular profile, a comprehensive summary of key statistics for offense, defense and pitching for the past 3 seasons, 2015 Spring and Fall Playing Schedules, Hand-written letters to the colleges of their choice that describe not just the player, but introduces the person, stated goals and areas of academic interest.  Also included in the kit is a high definition video of batting, fielding, catching and pitching, all contained in a professionally printed folder brochure with a business card of Joe Birchfield, the Head of the Knoxville Explosion Fastpitch Organization.

We invite all college recruiters and/or coaches to contact Coach Birchfield at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call him at (865) 363-0728 to gain access to important information about any of our players!  You won't be disappointed, we have 31 softball players on the Explosion Select and '99 Explosion Select that are valuable members of the various communities, not just in the Knoxville area but also in Virginia, Kentucky, as well as Northeast and Southeast Tennessee.  They are also gifted academically, as well as being very talented softball players.  Come and see what our players are all about!

The '05 Knoxville Explosion completed it's 2015 community service project as the team donated to Student Support Services and Family Resource of Roane Co Schools. This wonderful organization works to supply hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and tooth brushes, laundry, and dish detergent, diapers, and etc to give to students and families that are low income, teen moms, and homeless students.  Great job '05 Explosion, we are all very proud of your efforts!

Attention all prospective parents and players, the Knoxville Explosion Organization has some select openings on a couple of our teams. Come and join our family! We have a proven developmental program utilizing the latest in softball training technology, certified Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Double Goal Head Coaches who volunteer a 100% of their time to help your player be the best that they can be! Since 2011, our organization has won 12 Open Tennessee State Championships in ASA, ISA, SEAA and USSSA! Off the field our players participate in community service projects and over 80% of our players are Honor Roll students. We enjoy a 90% player retention on our teams so these openings are truly unique and positions will be filled fast!

- '01 Navy Explosion (14u), Needs are Front Line, Experienced '00 or '01 Pitcher and utility player with a good bat, contact Head Coach Tim Baldridge at (865) 659-6016 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a private tryout

- '04 Explosion (10u), Needs are utility players with good bats, speed a plus, '04 and '05 players are encouraged to contact Head Coach BJ Henderson at (865) 389-3777 or email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a private tryout. Indoor practices will start for all of our teams in early January indoors so act fast!

On Saturday, December 13, 2014 the Knoxville Explosion held it's 4th Annual Christmas Giving Party with the children of the Smoky Mountain Children's Home in Sevierville, TN.  Six of the Knoxville Explosion Teams (Select, '99, '01 Navy, '02, '04 and '06) came together to form an awesome team that purchased gift cards, presents, fruit, candy, etc. for 32 children this Christmas!  Complete with a full service pizza party, the Knoxville Explosion provided the cottage families with baskets and even Santa got in on the action delivering games, puzzles, toys and other goodies to these special children!  We would like to acknowledge contributions by both private parties and our wonderful corporate sponsors: Rusty Wallace KIA, Dick's Sporting Goods and DTR Tennessee who helped us provide a great Christmas to those less fortunate peers of our players.  We love you guys!

A special shoutout to our event coordinator, Kelley Gardner (Select) and our Team Leaders: Mary Elkins ('99), Tim Baldridge, Rhonda Shoemaker and Danielle Braden ('01 Navy), Robert Downing ('02), BJ Henderson ('04) and Jason Darnell ('06), as well as all of our wonderful Explosion families and friends who truly sacrificed their time and efforts to help us accomplish this important task this holiday season!  Great job everyone!

The children at the home weren't the only ones receiving gifts as our players and families received the greatest gift of all, the gift of giving.....A special prayer goes out to all of our teams, coaches, families and players this season of giving.  We wish you all nothing but the best and God Bless each and every one of your families!

The '01 Knoxville Explosion took the opportunity to give back and serve our community today. Working in support of the Loving the Unlovable Homeless Ministry, our young ladies and parents did an excellent job serving dinner and delivering clothing items to those in need in the downtown Knoxville area while spreading some Christmas cheer. This ministry takes place just a few miles from Caswell Park where we have played several of our tournaments. We are very thankful for the opportunity taken by these ladies to give back in our community and area. We would like to give a special thanks to West Emory Baptist Church in Karns for allowing us to assist them in their ministry efforts and service.

As the sport of fast pitch softball winds down here in Knoxville, the Knoxville Explosion Organization reflects on 2014 as another benchmark year for our organization.  We stand for and are about the on and off the field development of our players.  Amazingly enough, over 80% of our players are honor roll students.  Many of our players also received numerous citizenship, spelling bee and 4H essay awards throughout 2014.  In addition, 100% of our players were selected to participate in their various middle school and high school teams!  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

On the field, it was an equaly amazing year for our organization!  The organization Spring and Fall 2014 Season combined team statistics were as follows:

129 Tournaments Participated

(44) 1st Place Finishes - Including 14u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 12u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 10u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 8u ISA Class A Tennessee State Champions, 10u ASA Class B Tennessee State Champions, and 8u SEAA Open World Series Championship

(32) 2nd Place Finishes - Including 14u ASA/USA Eastern Elite Alabama Showcase Runner-up, 12u ASA Class B Tennessee State Runner-up, 14u ASA Class B Tennessee State Runner-up, 16u Big Orange Fall Showcase Runnerup

(9) 3rd Place Finishes

Statistical Insight: Of the tournaments played in 2014, the Knoxville Explosion Softball Teams either won, showed or placed in 65.8% of all tournaments played!  This list of tournaments include major showcases, Tennessee State Touranments, World Series and Large tournaments throughout the Southeastern U.S.  WOW!

Wins & Losses

Wins - 452

Losses - 198

Ties - 5

Statistical Insight: Overall organization winning percentage of .695!  WOW!

Our organization also added a 8u team for the Fall 2014/Spring 2015, bringing our organizational roster to a total of 10 teams, welcomed 2 new head coaches and 135 players from all over Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky!

The numbers don't tell the whole story though!  Our players got significantly better as our teams traveled to 10 different states and played teams from 35 different states and made some great friends along the way.  The competitive spirit exhibited on the field coupled with the smiles and laughter, as well as the blood, sweat and tears that our players endured throughout the year is a testiment to the dedication forged by the Knoxville Explosion Coaches and tireless support of their parents!  As appropriate, in this month of giving thanks, the Knoxville Explosion Softball Organization would like to give thanks and honor our competitors, tournament directors, umpires and countless other supporters that make the sport of fast pitch softball everything it can be!  To you we give thanks for a great 2014 and look forward to an even more exciting 2015!   All prospective players and families, we would love for you to join us and our quest to develop the best fast pitch softball players on and off the field!