to - USSSA - United States Specialty Sports Association

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SUMMER
2011
Shaun Marcum,
former USSSA baseball star,
ace pitcher for the
Milwaukee Brewers
Resmondo / Specialty Tank / Worth
reclaims #1 ranking with a championship
at the Dudley/Budweiser
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USSSA Baseball Star going
on 6 years in the Big Leagues
by Kaylen Shimoda
He turned his childhood dream into reality,
and today, with his wife
Stephanie and sons Ryne,
4, and Landon, 22 months, he
couldn’t have asked for anything
better. Shaun Marcum is the starting
pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and
is going on six years playing in the big
leagues. With an exciting career prior to
the Brewers at Missouri State University
and with the Toronto Blue Jays, he
has always had the determination and
desire to make it big.
Since he was a boy, baseball has always
been his number one passion and he
stood out as a strong team player with
a unique natural talent. Although he
played football and tried out the likes
of wrestling, no one could deny his
baseball ability. “It was just one of those
things I loved when I was a little kid,
that’s all I wanted to do, play baseball,”
said Marcum, and his love turned into
something even greater.
With the loving support of his parents,
Pat and Kathy, they were determined to
help make their son’s dream come true,
Marcum adds, “I couldn’t have done it
without them.”
Shaun joined the KC Wildcats at the age
of 9 where he developed from a young
baseball player into an intense competitor by the age of 18. His coach, Rick
Fortuna, believed in him from the start,
“He started to pitch here and there
because he had such good control which
was rare, most 9-year-olds struggled
with strikes but with Shaun, it was strike
after strike after strike,” said Fortuna.
Marcum has always had good things to
say about Fortuna, the coach who helped
him gain the skills and mentality to play
the game with everything he had every
time he stepped onto that diamond.
“Rick was the one who instilled in me
everything I know about baseball today;
the competitive fire I have, the intensity
I play the game with, and there are guys
who are still playing; everybody’s the
same, it’s just something that he taught
6 USSSA TODAY
CONTENTS
M A G A Z I N E
6028 Rayburn Dr. • Fort Worth,TX 76133
(817) 944-7484 • [email protected]
Executive Director, CEO USSSA
Don DeDonatis
Publisher, USSSA Today
Stafford Connor
Managing Editor, USSSA Today
Greg Huchingson
Communications Director, USSSA
Tom O’Hara
Design / Printing
REEDESIGN
Lebco Graphics
Contributing Writers
Scotty Baker
Robert Boudreaux
Scott Cameron
David Evaul
Rick Fortuna
Frank Griffin
Van Galeon
Rachel Gossens
James Hightower
Jeff Kittle
Kelly Knight
Scott Kuhnen
Jeremy McDowell
Kevin Naegele
Daniel Odom
Joey Odom
Dave Pedersen
Rick Phillips
Julie Rodriquez
Kaylen Shimoda
Kirk Tarabokia
Kim Titus
Gerry Turnberg
Dale Weiser
Photographers
Brianne Cisneros
Roy Dean
Scott Duffy
Rachel Gossens
Larry Meraz
Daniel Odom
Pete Spatula
Kim Titus
USSSA Today is published quarterly. Publishing offices are
located at 6028 Rayburn Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76133. One
year subscription is $25; two year is $40. Reproduction or
use of the contents in whole or in part without prior written
permission of the publisher is prohibited. USSSA Today
welcomes unsolicited articles or photographs, but must be
accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for
return of unsolicited material.
Baseball Star
6 USSSA
going on 6 years in the
Innings Spark
42 Big
Resmondo’s Comeback
Big Leagues
Win at Dudley
Tournament
12 Rick Fortuna
14 MidSouth USSSA
Super NIT
Big League Dreams ‘Rolls
16 Out
Carpet’ in North
Texas
6th Annual
18 Dick
Vitale Gala
Hall of Fame Major
20 NIT
Indicator of What
To Expect For 2011
Conference USSSA
Baseball And
46Important
Softball Bat Changes For
2011/2012/2013
50 Pitch for the Cure
54 The Connecticut Way
USSSA Fast Pitch
Arman’s Softball Career
58 Spans
60 Years
Prairie, Texas’
60Grand
Airhogs To Host NPF’s
USSSA Pride & NPF
Diamonds
Sports Mike
22 Worth
Turney Memorial
11th Annual Texas
26 Legends
Weather Has Final Say at
28 the
Columbus,IN NIT
Get to know the Florida
62 Pride
Annual Queen Of
72 3rd
The Mountain Fastpitch
Event
B.J. Fulk A Big Hit At
76 Namesake
Tournament
30
32
GTL Cartel/DeMarini
39 Blows
Out The
Competition At The
Windy City
Weather Whistles Its
Own Tune At The Music
City
Resmondo Bats Blast Off
at Space City Classic
Bat Series Propel
40454
Worth’s Flagship Teams
In Texas
26th Annual Budwesier
78 Festival
Makes History
Sweetheart City
91 Classic
NIT
92 Behind The Walls
98USSSA Classic Junior
Golf Championship
USSSA TODAY
7
us when we were young,” said Marcum.
He adds, “I don’t know if I’d be here if it
weren’t for him.”
As Fortuna instilled such qualities in
Marcum and his teammates, USSSA baseball enabled them to travel throughout
the country and play competitive baseball, which Marcum believes, helped fuel
his career today. “It was better competition, we got to go to some pretty cool
places; we were kids, we got to travel
and play competitive baseball. The
travel was exciting, you know, it gets old
playing the same teams so when you’re
young and playing around the country,
it helps you since you’re playing meaningful and competitive games.”
The boy in him loved the travel but little
did he know how much it truly helped
him get where he is today. USSSA taught
Marcum what it meant to play with
intensity and competitiveness, he was
learning valuable lessons which would
help him in the long run and he agrees
that they are still very important to
him today. Aside from baseball, there
was one lesson in particular he learned
about family, and that lesson has stayed
with him ever since. USSSA brought
together a family, a band of brothers,
Marcum adds, “we were a family, we
put so much time in and we learned to
respect one another.”
Today, Marcum keeps in touch with his
old teammates as much as possible and
Fortuna host’s reunion parties to keep
them together and remember the times
they spent playing USSSA baseball. It’s
important for all of them to remember
USSSA and remember where they all
started their baseball careers.
Being the starting pitcher for the
Milwaukee Brewers is something that
Marcum is very proud of, but although
he’s achieved his goal, he must maintain
his commitment and desire to staying
there. “It’s easier to get to the Big
Leagues, it’s harder to stay there,” said
Marcum, “and that is one of my goal’s,
to play for a long time.”He has pushed
himself to stay fit and strong, and at the
rate he’s going, there are many more
years ahead for him. With a passion for
baseball such as his, there’s no saying
he’ll retire any time soon.
Prior to the Brewers, he played baseball at the University of Missouri before
8 USSSA TODAY
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they should always keep a strong head
on their shoulders and never forget why
they chose to play the game.
“I even see guys that get frustrated in
the big leagues. We’re playing a good
game, so have fun with it because it
doesn’t last forever. I can always say
that I’ve done so, and will continue to
tell kids to leave everything out on the
field. You won’t look back and have
regrets, you’ll feel like you did what you
could and that’s what matters most.”
His love and drive for the game has
gotten him to where he is today, and
with a strong career ahead of him, his
time at the Milwaukee Brewers proves
to be some of the best times. Hoping
to get at least five or six more years in
the MLB, the 29-year-old father of two
is very proud of his accomplishments but
is always looking for more.
transferring to Missouri State University
playing on the 2003 College World
Series Team.
He worked hard and continued to
pursue his dream of playing in the major
leagues, and Marcum stands by what
he’s always said, “For me, it’s not about
ability, I think more then anything it’s
about determination. If you’re determined enough to do something, then
you will do it.” As he has stood by those
words, Marcum has beaten the odds and
proven that he can do it even when he
was told he never would. “I was always
told I didn’t throw hard enough and
that I was too small; I’ve been playing
pro for five years now,” said Marcum
with confidence.
“I’m 5’10” and 190 pounds. I can throw
strikes, locate and keep the ball down.
You don’t have to throw a 95, it’s all
about locating it down at the knees,
both sides of the plate.” In addition to
his natural talent, he remains humble
and thankful for all of the coaching
and motivation he had surrounding him
since he was young,“Obviously I think
all of the five-hour practices with Rick
since I was 9-years-old to high school has
a lot to do it and I’m very thankful for
that.”
After his college career, the Toronto
Blue Jays drafted him in 2003. Marcum
10 USSSA TODAY
enjoyed his time in the big city and
worked his way up the minor leagues
to the big leagues in 2005. Toronto was
a great experience but moving to the
Brewers hit closer to home, “Milwaukee
is like home for my wife and kids; to live
outside the city is peaceful and quiet.
It’s been a good transition and everyone
gets along here, everyone plays the
game the way I like to play it.”
It’s much easier for his wife and kids to
travel to the games whereas in Toronto,
it was too hard to travel abroad. When
asked about his kids and sports, he
laughs, “Right now they’re into video
games and television shows,” but he
emphasizes the fact that, although
he would love to have two baseball
players, he will support and encourage
them to try many things and find what
they truly love. “Landon likes to throw
the ball and swing the bat, and Ryne
was into basketball and then wrestling.
Hopefully he starts to play baseball
but I’m not going pressure him to play.
Whatever they want to do, they’ll do!”
Spoken like a true father, he will support
them no matter what path they choose
to take, after all, they’re still young.
Marcum has some important advice for
young boys and girls who choose to
pursue any type of sport. “I think the
main thing is to have fun,” he said, and
for those who choose to play baseball,
When asked what his favorite part of
the game is, Marcum responds with
confidence, “For me it’s the competitiveness because I’m such a competitive
person; being out there as the pitcher
is like being the quarterback, you’re
in control. If you can be out there and
do your part than you’re the guy that
controls everything, so you go out and
you do that, for me that’s the main
thing.”
His competitive edge and his drive for
success has helped him pursue his dream
of playing Major League Baseball and
Marcum is proud to have the desire he
has for the game. “I love going out and
competing, to me there’s nothing better
than it and that’s something I’ve always
done since I was little.”
A rare talent has given him numerous
great experiences while meeting many
exceptional people. He’s travelled
around the country and beyond, while
maintaining many close relationships
that are very important to him today.
He stands by his support system and has
become a loving father to two great
little guys. He thanks Rick Fortuna for
all that he has done for him and thanks
his parents for their endless love and
support throughout his life and baseball career. Marcum believes he couldn’t
have done it without all of those who
have helped him become who he is
today.
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G A M E
I M P R O V E M E N T
B Y
D E S I G N
Rick
Fortuna
Executive VP Baseball Operations
by Kaylen Shimoda
USSSA Executive Vice President Baseball Operations,
Rick Fortuna (left), with USSSA Executive Director/
CEO, Don DeDonatis.
Rick Fortuna began his career in
sports by starting a baseball tournament company called KC Sports in 1994.
By 1997, he had helped launch USSSA
Baseball with the Assistant Executive
Director of USSSA, Jim Swint and current
USSSA CEO, Don DeDonatis. Ever since,
both companies have flourished.
By 1999, Fortuna became the Vice
President of USSSA Baseball and was
elected to the board of directors where
he still holds his position today.
His baseball coaching career started
long before either of these companies. In
1983, his younger brother’s baseball team
needed a coach and he volunteered his
time to help the team grow. Every summer
since ’83 to the year 2010, Fortuna had
held a baseball team and has loved every
minute of it. Once his son’s were old
enough to play baseball, he had taken the
coaching positions for their teams.
“I always wanted to be involved
coaching, I played through high school
and wanted to stay and be involved in
baseball. I ended up volunteering and
helping the league here, so you know
I’ve always wanted to be in coaching.”
With a passion for the game of baseball,
Fortuna devoted much of his time to
helping youth players develop their skills
and pursue something they enjoy doing.
“It’s something I have a great passion
for and that coaching led to running
baseball tournaments and fundraisers
for teams, which led to KC Sports, which
led to USSSA Baseball,” said Fortuna.
He was not only able to coach, but he
12 USSSA TODAY
helped to provide venues and tournaments for teams to participate and play
in a competitive environment.
Fortuna adds his thoughts on USSSA
and what it has done for him, “I love
doing what I do because I enjoy building
programs, putting systems into place,
bringing about new and innovative ideas,
putting them into place and seeing them
work.” It’s a system that develops and
grows for the betterment of the players
and the staff who help put the tournaments and events together. Keeping it
about the kids is important and emphasizing their development is key to USSSA
Baseball success.
His experience coaching Shaun Marcum
and his team from 9 to 18-years-old was
something he will always remember.
“The team that Shaun was on, that team
I coached from 1991 to 1999. That was
a really good team and we travelled
around the country to different national
tournaments and events; that’s when we
started running tournaments in Kansas,”
Fortuna adds that today, his typical day
is a ‘two-hat’ day since he’s running both
companies. “I run KC Sports and I oversee
USSSA Baseball all over the country, so
it’s a two-hat day. We get up and we’re
working baseball,” which is what he loves
to do.
“It’s a whole lot of baseball which is
fun! Hard to complain, we’re travelling a
lot and we’re always at a ball park,” said
Fortuna and USSSA Baseball has grown
enormously since it started back in 1997.
“We have 34 state directors that oversee
the program of about 52, 000 teams. It’s
really amazing how much it’s gone since
the idea started in ’97. USSSA Baseball is
the second largest baseball organization
in the world. So it happened all pretty
quickly.”
Working with Shaun Marcum is a
story in it’s own as Fortuna believed
that Shaun had such a natural talent
that was very special for any coach. “The
best way I can always describe Shaun is
very intense with an incredible passion
to play baseball. It was obvious even
when he was 9; he didn’t like to fail, he
liked to win, he liked to play the game
the right way and he was never satisfied
with mediocre days, he always wanted
to have good games. That’s what pushes
people to success, he always had that
strong internal drive to be a good baseball player.” Marcum depicted the player
every coach dreamed to have on his
team, and Fortuna was very happy with
the consistent effort and attitude he had
received from Shaun every practice and
every game.
Today, there were a total of seven
guys from Fortuna’s team who play
professional baseball, most in the minor
leagues, while Marcum was the one to
break into the big leagues. “A bunch
of kids ended up being quite the collection of players,” said Fortuna, and he
still follows all of their careers and
keeps them together through an annual
reunion party.
Fortuna said, “In the Midwest, Kansas
City, it’s hard to find those kinds of teams
so it was a great experience coaching this
talented group of guys and watching
them get better and better, seeing them
go to college and get drafted.”
He had always believed in his players,
disciplined them and taught them both
physical and mental strength that they
would need to be successful. Instilling
that mentality and teaching them valuable lessons along the way sure paid off
for the players both in life and baseball.
“Shaun being in the major leagues,
I couldn’t be more proud,” and proud
Fortuna should be after the time and
effort he spent helping Marcum along
with the rest of the team, get where they
are today.
As for Fortuna’s coaching style, he
re-iterates the fact that everyone has his
or her own way of coaching and for him
it’s beginning development at an early
age. “The passion I have for coaching is
just trying to help kids develop, I mean
I love to coach and my preferred way
to do it is to take young kids, stay with
them and watch them grow as baseball
players and people,” said Fortuna, while
for others they take a chance at older
teams around 16 or 17. “I like to take
young kids and stay with them, watch
them grow up and try to teach them to
play the right way. I try to instill a strong
work ethic in them and help them be
successful as people as well.”
He stresses the importance of life
outside of baseball because at the end of
the day, the lessons learned at a young
age will last for a lifetime. Baseball won’t
last forever but family life and career are
also affected by what is learned at an
early age.
When asked to give three words to
describe Marcum as a ball player, Fortuna
responded with, “Intense, meticulous
and passionate.” Spoken from a true
coach, he also said Shaun’s a great family
guy and a fun-loving person. The balance
he has been able to create through family
and baseball is always challenging but
Marcum makes the best of it and Fortuna
adds that what they have is a “real and
genuine relationship.”
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MidSouth USSSA Super NIT
by Chris Van Tuyl
Nicknamed the “Road to Disney,” the Mid-South USSSA Super
NIT played May 13-15 at Snowden Grove Park in Southaven,
Miss., in addition to other Memphis-area venues, were the baseball diamonds where dreams came true for a number of youth
teams.
The icing on the cake for several in the Major Division of the
9-14 age groups were berths to the Elite 32 World Series at the
Disney Sports Complex in Orlando later this summer.
Among those accepting were the Vipers Baseball Academy,
which won the 14’s with a 6-1 victory over the Illinois Diamond
Owlz. Formerly the Huntsville (Ala.) Baseball Club, coach Jimmy
Collins’ club concluded its first tournament with an undefeated
6-0 record.
“We’re one of the 32 teams that’s going to be there, so we’re
very excited about going down to Disney,” Collins said. “I know
the kids are thrilled.”
The Vipers didn’t have much breathing room in the championship game until scoring three runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Brett Blaylock’s RBI double, to make it a 5-0 contest.
They got a sacrifice fly from both Cody Reed and Carson Lester
earlier to grab an early two-run lead.
Strong pitching and good defense, including a gem by shortstop Matt Sanders to begin a third-inning double play, was the
key as the Vipers surrendered a total of just 14 runs in the tournament – reason enough to have the celebratory dog pile after
the postgame ceremony of awards, presented by tournament
director Scotty Baker.
In the end, Collins was appreciative of the Snowden Grove
hospitality.
“No. 1, Southaven is beautiful,” he said, “and then you’ve
got this right here. It seems to be the heart of the town with
this many fields. I had never been able to play at this big of a
complex.”
The Chicago-based Diamond Owlz scored in the bottom of
the seventh on Zach Baird’s RBI double. One member of the
Illinois club is Owen Young, son of former Major League Baseball
slugger Dmitri Young.
The Dulin’s Dodgers also felt right at home at Snowden Grove,
capturing the 13’s title following their 4-2 win over the Mac-NSeitz Indians. The Dodgers received RBIs from Justin Ammons,
Dustin Shelton and Donald Hemker, as they did all their scoring
in the first four innings. Trey Morrison was the winning pitcher.
Riley Self recorded the save.
“We’ve had a strong season,” said Dodgers’ coach Bill
Morrison, “with big hitting, great pitching and (speed).”
The Dodgers scored 13 runs apiece in the quarterfinals and
semifinals. A bulk of the offense came courtesy of the long ball.
Thomas Dillard led his team in the power department.
“That’s how our team is built,” Morrison said. “We’ve got
a lot of power. All of our kids can hit it out of the park at any
time.”
While the Indians kept their opponents from going deep,
the Dodgers were able to get some revenge from last year’s
tournament. A majority of team members played with DeSoto
Cardinals, who were eliminated in the semis by Mac-N-Seitz, 3-0.
“This was a game we had pinpointed on the map,” said
Morrison. “We hoped we’d get a shot to play them somewhere
in this tournament.”
Mac-N-Seitz made things interesting with an RBI double
from Blake Lillis in fifth inning and James Cosentino’s sacrifice
fly in the sixth. The Indians, coached by former MLB utilityman
Shane Halter, were retired 1-2-3 in the seventh.
Accepting the Disney berth in the 13’s were the CBA Cyclones.
The St. Louis Gamers Gray joined the Vipers in the 14’s.
Despite falling to the Arkansas Express in the 9-year-old
championship game, the North Mississippi Titans are Orlandobound, as are the Bolton Wildcats. Team DeSoto won the 10’s
and can also pack its bags for Disney. Rounding out the list were
the Mississippi Seminoles in the 11’s and both the Rawlings
Arkansas Prospects and Memphis Outlaws in the 12’s. The undefeated Prospects outlasted the Outlaws in the title game, 4-1.
I-20 Shoot Out
At the 2011 I-20 Shootout Anthony Hall from Winnfield, LA was presented with the 2010 USSSA Umpire of the Year Award. Anthony
has been officiating USSSA Baseball for 9 years and has called numerous state and world tournaments for USSSA. We want to say
congratulations to a well deserving umpire. Keep up the good work. Anthony received his award from USSSA’s Frank Griffin.
14 USSSA TODAY
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OC Sports Team Dealer
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USSSA TODAY 15
Big League Dreams
‘Rolls Out Carpet’ in North Texas
By Greg Huchingson
With as much anticipation as the premiere of a
Hollywood blockbuster, Big League Dreams rolled
out the carpet – literally – for its customers in North
Texas recently, with the debut of Shaw Sportex
Artificial Turf at Big League Dreams in Mansfield.
“This turf is absolutely amazing; I love it,” said
Will Smith, who plays league ball three nights a
week at the complex. “You get true hops in the
infield, low impact when running, and no sliding on
concrete. It really is a lot of fun.”
Fun may be an ancillary benefit of the new
playing surface, but was not the primary purpose.
Protection from Mother Nature is what the complex
was seeking.
Big League Dreams in Mansfield features eight
fields on a sprawling 40-acre site in southern
Tarrant County. When the complex was being
built, there were multiple construction delays due
primarily to weather – an omen of things to come.
There are many great things about Mansfield,
which is a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth. In 2009,
CNN/Money Magazine rated it one of the “Best
Places to Live,” ranking 24th out of the top 100
American cities. But with all its shiny attractions
also comes often turbulent weather. To make
matters worse, the native heavy silt/clay mixture
that was used for the infields was not conducive to
proper draining. The combination produced ponds
of water after a storm that could sit for days at a
time before the fields could be playable.
According to Steve Navarro, who manages the
Big League Dreams Mansfield complex, weather
was their worst enemy. “As little as a half-inch of
rain could put us down for three days, then just
before we would get ready to play again another
rain would come and start the process all over. It
was maddening.”
The end result was postponement or cancellation of many league and tournament games.
BLD-Mansfield lost 1,210 games to weather in
2009 and another 1,054 in 2010. For league play,
the postponement of games meant fewer sessions
could be completed in a calendar year.
“The seasons dragged out so long, that some of
our regular teams would take off a season after one
16 USSSA TODAY
finished,” said Navarro. “One Friday night league
had 11 consecutive rainouts. That’s all about to
change. Now, if teams want to avoid rainouts they
should give us a shot.”
For tournament operators, the result of rainouts
can be even more damaging. The complex is booked
52 weeks a year, so there is no postponing a tournament until the next weekend. It is simply gone.
And that is just part of the equation. It has been
estimated that up to 40 percenat of the adult slowpitch tournaments at BLD-Mansfield are comprised
of out-of-market teams. When those teams travel
into town, stay in hotel rooms on Friday night,
then have the tournament cancelled without so
much as getting to play a single game, they leave
angry vowing never to return, then go home and
discourage others from their areas from traveling
to the complex.
The new turf should make weather-related
losses a thing of the past.
Big League Dreams in League City, Texas, which
opened in 2006 and is located in a Gulf Coast area
that receives almost twice as much rain as the DFW
Metroplex, already has artificial turf infields. That
park only had two rainouts last year. On one of those
occasions the fields were playable, but the streets
surrounding the complex were flooded making it
impossible for cars to get to the parking lot.
“We will be able to handle several inches of rain
and be able to resume play in a short amount of
time with very little maintenance,” said Navarro.
“When turf was being installed at our park in
Redding (Calif.), I was standing on one of the turf
fields after a heavy summer storm passed through
and the field was ready for play. I looked over at the
next field, which had not yet had turf installed, and
the infield looked like a lake. That’s the difference.”
No other park in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
will be able to offer that luxury.
“We’re trying to get the confidence back up
among players, parents and coaches that if they
sign up with us, they’re going to be able to play
ball,” said Big League Dreams President Jeff
Odekirk.
The park will also have a much cleaner appear-
ance for its visitors, as there will be no more
tracking of mud in the walkways and restaurants.
And with the dirt infields gone, the sandy dust that
was caused from the frequent high winds in North
Texas will also be a thing of the past.
“The infields will always be in perfect condition
now, regardless of the weather conditions,” said
Odekirk. “The players are going to love it.”
Toby Bradshaw who pitches for a top North
Texas tournament team, expects better plays from
the defense behind him.
“Maybe now our middle-infielder and secondbaseman can make some plays,” said Bradshaw
after playing his first game on the new turf. “Last
weekend at (another park), they were getting bad
hops off their chests all tournament long. With this
surface, there’s no excuse for not making every play
clean now.”
Big League Dreams in Mansfield features
eight playing fields that are used for both adult
slow-pitch softball and youth baseball. Each of
the eight fields is a replica of a current or former
Major League ballpark, such as Yankee Stadium,
Wrigley Field, Fenway Park (complete with a “Green
Monster”) and of course Rangers Ballpark, among
others. There is also a multi-sport covered pavilion,
two Stadium Club climate-controlled restaurants/
sports bars both with multiple televisions; several
batting cages with an instructional area; a children’s playground; and an administration office and
maintenance facility.
Also, sharing the same parking lot with Big
League Dreams is a Hawaiian Falls Waterpark,
which is great for children and wives to enjoy while
dad is playing ball.
For those wanting to visit the softball mecca, adult
slow-pitch and youth baseball tournaments are held
year-round at Big League Dreams, which is conveniently located 15 minutes south of DFW Airport. At
a USSSA Winter National held in January this year,
a team from Chicago drove 17 hours (one way) to
play at the park, and was so impressed they vowed
to return. A complete list of tournaments is available
on their website www.BigLeagueDreams.com.
Special Salute: Coach Nick Bollettieri
Presents the 6th Annual
Dick Vitale Gala
Raising Over $1.2 Million
The Ritz Carlton/Sarasota,FL, May, 2011
“Tonight you will...LAUGH, THINK & CRY”
Dick Vitale
Dick alongside USSSA Today publisher, Stafford Connor.
Former Boston Celticgreat, Dave Cowens,
with a bevy of lovely
friends.
West Virginia’s Bob
Huggins (left) visits with
Coach Danny Haney,
Winter Garden, FL.
“We need your help. I need your
help. We need money for research.
It may not save my life. It may
save my children’s lives. It may
save someone you love.”Jim Valvano
18 USSSA TODAY
ESPN’s Erin Andrews with Anaconda’s John “Rockman” Stote
III. Erin was the night’s co-emcee along with ESPN’s Rece Davis.
Anaconda Sports donated ROCK basketballs that were bid on
at each of the banquet tables. The balls brought in over $70,000
toward “the cure”.
The only other person on the
planet with as much “passion” as
Dick is his wife, Lorraine.
“Don’t give up...don’t ever give up”
Jim Valvano
(left to right) Anaconda’s Les “Bonfire” LaFrance, John “Rockman” Stote
III, Dick Vitale, Anaconda’s Greg “Baby” Fall and Danny Haney, Meritas
Schools VP-Athletics and AD of Windermere Prep School. Dick said the
whole weekend was “awesome, baby”.
Dereck Whittenburg, the heart of Jimmy
Valvano’s 1983 NCAA Champions, the North
Carolina State Wolfpack.
2011 National Champions Connecticut’s Jim
Calhoun (left) shares a laugh with Villanova’s
Jay Wright.
In the fight against cancer we all play on the same team.
Kentucky’s John Calipari was one of the Gala’s
honorees.
2011 Honoree, North Carolina’s Roy Williams with
his wife, Wanda.
Pretty girls were everywhere....all contributing to find
“the cure”.
Quite a bit of NCAA basketball history comes into the
room with Duke’s Christian Laettner.
Dick Vitale hosted a private party at his beautiful home the night after to celebrate the success of the 6th Annual
Dick Vitale Gala.
USSSA TODAY 19
GTL CARTEL/DEMARINI AND RESMONDO/WORTH SPLIT DUAL EVENT
Hall of Fame Major NIT Indicator Of
What To Expect For 2011 Conference USSSA
Recap by Dale Weiser
“mercy” rule 24-8. GTL had forced this
showdown after losing early Saturday
morning and then won an amazing 8
straight in the loser’s bracket to make it
back to the championship game.
Resmondo was paced by tournament
MVP middle infielder Bryson Baker who
was on base 25-30 (.833) with 9 home
runs and 22 RBI.
The tournament featured a little bit
of everything including near perfect
weather, major upsets, long bombs,
and even a little bench clearing fight
between GTL and Combat/Laser Vision.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini’s pitcher, Geno Buck. The
USSSA National Headquarters, site of the Hall of Fame
Museum, is in the background.
23 of the top Conference USSSA teams
traveled to Kissimmee, Florida to kick
off the season, in the annual Hall of
Fame Classic (HOF) Men’s Major slow
pitch tournament April 14th - 17th. The
4 days of smash mouth softball consisted
of two separate double elimination
tournaments which were played across
two different parks. The first was the
Houston Astros’ spring training facility
called Heritage Park and the primary
field was the Osceola County Stadium
with field dimensions of 330 feet down
the lines, 390 to the gaps, and 410 to
center field.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini based out of
the Seattle, Washington area battled
Resmondo-Specialty Tank-Worth based
out of Winter Haven, Florida for the
championship of both tournaments.
These two ‘Major’ classified teams split
the tournament championships one
20 USSSA TODAY
Resmondo/Worth’s MI, Bryson Baker.
each as GTL went an undefeated 5-0 to
win the first tournament which started
Thursday afternoon and concluded late
Friday night. GTL was the USSSA Men’s
‘A’ division 2010 World Champions and
has moved up to the Major division this
year. They knocked off the favorite
Resmondo by a score of 29-21.
GTL was led by tournament MVP
pitcher Geno Buck who had an on base
percentage of .680 with 2 home runs
and 13 RBI and shortstop Anthony Dress
who was awarded the Defensive Player
of the Tournament award and chipped
in with a .619 onbase percentage.
Resmondo came back and won the
second tournament which started
Saturday morning and ended Sunday
afternoon, after GTL forced them into
the “if” game. Resmondo won the
“if” game impressively by the 15 run
The surprise team of the weekend was
Midwest Swing/ Miken, a second year
Conference ‘B’ team out of Indiana that
won their first 3 games and 4 over all
in the first tournament to pull out a 4th
place finish.
Also Down2EarthSports.com, a new
Conference ‘B’ class team from Georgia
had a nice 6-4 record in the two tournaments combined and upset 4 ‘A’ teams
on the weekend!
Then there was Turano, a new ‘B’ team
from Maryland that upset GTL on
Saturday morning after GTL had just
run the table in the first tournament.
Turano wound up 6-4 for the weekend
including 3-0 vs ‘B’ teams.
The final surprise was Darkside/TYJA
out of Connecticut, a second year
Conference team that moved to the ‘A’
division this year, who went 7-4 on the
weekend. They beat EWS, Jean Shoppe,
Pharmapar, The Scene, Famous, Turano,
and Down2Earth. WOW!
The tournament was also broadcast live
on the internet at USSSA.com and both
tournaments had 100% compression
testing for all the bats that were used.
CHRIS LARSEN 2009 ASA “A” ALL-AMERICAN
2010 BORDER BATTLE TEAM USA
DEMARINI SIGNATURE PLAYER
The ONE.12 ASA and the GTL
CHRIS LARSEN 2009 USSSA MAJOR ALL-WORLD TEAM
2010 LONG HAUL POWER TOUR CHAMPION
2010 USSSA ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM CHAMPION
Cartel BPF 1.20
Because Homeruns are Awesome™
Kansas City Hosts Conference Event
Worth Sports Mike Turney Memorial
Stop #5 on the Conference USSSA Major Tournament schedule
was at the Worth “Mike TurneyMemorial” in Kansas City,
Missouri over the weekend of April 29 - May 1st. The tournament was named in honor of Mike Turney and was played at
the vast Mid America softball complex. Mike was a gunnery
Sergeant in the Marines and was heavily involved in the Marine
softball team as a player and manager before a 6 year stint in
promotions at Worth sporting goods company. Mike was 52
years old when he passed away from a brain tumor in 2007.
This tournament featured 29 teams including 12 from the
Conference representing 14 different States and was dominated start to finish by the #2 team in the nation ResmondoSpecialty Tank/Worth, a Major classified team based out of
Winter Haven, Florida. Resmondo went 5-0 on the weekend
and came from 13 runs down at one point in the Championship
game to beat RFC/Hub’s Pub/Syndicate 45-39. RFC is a ‘B’
team out of nearby Derby, Kansas that sent home 5 straight
Conference teams in the loser’s bracket to earn their match up
in the finals with Resmondo!
Resmondo was led by Co-MVP’s shortstop and lead off hitter
Don Dedonatis Jr. (26-30, .867, 1 HR, 8 RBI) and third baseman
and local Kansas City product Jeremy Isenhower (21-25, .840,
6 HR, 24 RBI). Dedonatis also picked up the Defensive MVP
award.
For RFC this was their first Conference tournament since they
joined the league this season and they impressed everyone
with their line to line and gap to gap offensive display and
mixed in some timely homer’s by slugger Wayne Habermehl
and shortstop and Offensive MVP Kevin Lucas (34-42, .810
onbase percentage).
Third place went to EWS/ShirtsandLogos/Drgraphx/Easton
based out of Chicago, Illinois. EWS made it easily to the winner’s
bracket finals where they came back from a large deficit to
pull within 5 runs of Resmondo. However they left the bases
loaded twice in the 4th and 5th innings and Resmondo pulled
away from them for a 49-30 win. When EWS dropped into the
loser’s bracket championship game against RFC they accidentally hit 5 solo homer’s out of their home run limit of 8 and
RFC slowly came back to force extra innings and RFC ended
up winning with a walk off base hit by Mitch Loomis in the
bottom of the 8th inning.
Fourth place was Sinister/Pritchard/Miken out of Michigan who
lost 35-28 in the loser’s bracket semi finals to RFC in a game
which featured great action and offense from both teams.
The tournament had great softball weather on Friday night
and Saturday. It cooled off on Sunday and the ball was flying,
scores were up, and the teams were using all of their allotted
home runs and then some. Resmondo comes away with their
second tournament win of the season and pulled nearly even
in the points standings with the #1 team GTL Cartel/Demarini.
22 USSSA TODAY
Don DeDonatis III- 2011 Mike Turney
Memorial MVP and Defensive MVP
Greg Connell, Resmondo- All
Tournament
R&D Metals/Easton’s Brian Zirkle
Resmondo’s MVP/3B, Jeremy Isenhower
making a dive for a linedrive.
All Tournament Team
2B
Sam Lopez
EWS/SHIRTSandLOGOS/DrGRAPHX/EASTON
RF
Scott Striebel
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
C
Jeff Wallace
CF
Michael Stephany
2B
Greg Connell
1B
Ryan Thiede
Tim Jones
RFC/HUB’S PUB/SYNDICATE
James Butterfield
C
Wayne Habermehl
P
Thad Eagan
P
Andrew Purcell
1B
Billy Fulk
CF
Robert Hughes
“Mike Turney Memorial” Tournament Awards and Final Standings:
Tournament CO-MVP
Don DeDonatis III
Resmondo-Specialty Tank /
Worth
Tournament CO-MVP
Jeremy Isenhower
Worth
Offensive Tournament
MVP
Kevin Lucas
RFC/HUB’S PUB/
SYNDICATE
Defensive Tournament
MVP
Don DeDonatis III
Worth
DENNY CRINE
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October 29-30
BIG LEAGUE DREAMS
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For more information:
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HOST HOTELS:
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To book hotel rooms, call
(702) 221-6584
11th Annual Texas Legends
Softball World- Euless, Texas
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
SPMensMajor
5
0
0
166
103
33.2
20.6
WA
GTL Cartel / Demarini
SPMensMajor
4
2
0
183
117
30.5
AR
Fence Brokers / Gametime Supply/Worth
SPMensB
4
2
0
117
103
19.5
4
TXN
Sagnasty / aspnation.com / Miken Frozen
SPMensC
5
2
0
163
141
5
TXS
Zamora’s All Out Sports / Team TPS Frozen
SPMensB
4
2
0
107
5
VA
Team 454 Emerald / Worth
SPMensA
2
2
0
118
7
MS
BWW /Team Baden / Buzini Sports
SPMensC
4
2
0
7
TXN
Absolut Softball Frozen
SPMensC
4
2
0
Place
State
1
FL
2
3
Team
Tournament MVP
Brian Rainwater
Offensive Tournament
CO-MVP
Chris Larsen
GTL Cartel / DeMarini
Defensive Tournament
MVP
Don DeDonatis III
All Tournament Team
Mike Bowlin
All Tournament Team
Kevin Filby
All Tournament Team
Bryson Baker
All Tournament Team
Scott Striebel
All Tournament Team
Jeff Wallace
All Tournament Team
Tim Howard
All Tournament Team
Greg Connell
All Tournament Team
Scott Morrison
Fence Brokers / Gametime Supply / Worth
All Tournament Team
Chad Walker
All Tournament Team
Jason Bridges
All Tournament Team
Mykel Garrett
SAGNASTY / ASPNATION.COM / MIKEN
All Tournament Team
Corey Large
SAGNASTY / ASPNATION.COM / MIKEN
All Tournament Team
Robert Hughes
All Tournament Team
Jeremy Isenhower
All Tournament Team
Richard Buck
1
FL
Resmondo - Specialty Tank / Worth
5
0
2
WA
4
2
3
AR
4
2
4
TXN
Sagnasty / aspnation.com / Miken
5
2
5
TXS
Zamora’s All Out Sports / Team TPS
4
2
5
VA
Team 454 Emerald / Worth
2
2
7
MS
BWW / Team Baden / Buzini Sports
4
2
7
TXN
Absolut Softball
4
2
26 USSSA TODAY
Runs
Allowed Avg Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg Diff Max Runs USSSA
Points
12.6
43
150
19.5
11
45
110
17.1
2.33
31
190
23.2
20.1
3.14
31
160
100
17.8
16.6
1.16
33
140
90
29.5
22.5
7
33
140
95
69
15.8
11.5
4.33
28
160
135
112
22.5
18.6
3.83
35
120
2011 Legends MVP Brian Rainwater
“whoops” it up.
Bobby Hughes, all-tournament- recognized for
outstanding outfield play.
“Scarecrow” Timmy Howard’s performance
earned him all-tournament recognition.
11th Annual Texas Legends Offensive MVPGTL Cartel/DeMarin’s Chris Larsen
Fence Brokers wore John Glidewell #14
uniforms in honor of his memory.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini’s Kevin Filby- All
Tournament
USSSA Executive Vice President, Kevin
Naegele, with his lovely wife, Val.
Softball World is owned and maintained by
the City of Euless,TX.
(left to right) USSSA Assistant
Executive Director, Danny Brown,
Softball World GM/Texas Legends
Tournament Director, Chris Thames and
USSSA Assistant Executive Director,
Jim Swint.
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Weather Has Final Say at the Columbus,IN NIT
The Columbus, Indiana Major held at
Lincoln Park was never completed as
rains swept in Saturday around 6 PM
and never really let up the rest of the
weekend. This weather put a damper
on a tournament which featured one
of the best field of teams of the whole
Conference USSSA season.
Friday night, the games went as forecast
with upsets by the local ‘C’ teams and
close games throughout with the nonconference teams taking advantage of
the hard Conference ball to put a scare
into some opponents. TG/TPS/ELITE a ‘C’
team from Michigan knocked off RFC/
Hubs Pub/Syndicate 26-25 and in the same
part of the bracket Gutter Works/Easton
from Tennessee knocked off Darkside/
TYJA/Easton 27-26. In the game Darkside
pitcher Dan Sanchez was hit in the wrist
which may be broken. These two upsets
led to a second round matchup between
the two ‘C’ teams and TG/TPS/ELITE came
out on top 28-27. The ‘C’ teams in this
tournament were outstanding with EAP
knocking off Conference ‘B’ team DMC,
and Mojo out of Columbus, Ohio squandering a big lead in their opener against
Magic.
When the rains came and the tournament
had to be cancelled, it was Resmondo vs
Shoppe and Linedrive vs Suncoast in the
semi-finals of the winner’s bracket that
never was played. In the loser’s bracket
Blitz had beaten TG, Sinister had knocked
off Red’s Astros, and Columbus Pipe vs
Hustler’s and EWS vs Combat/Pharmapar
were games that never did get finished.
This tournament for sure had some great
matchups throughout and it would have
been fun to see if Shoppe had anything
left for a red hot Resmondo team and to
see if Linedrive could have kept up their
great play against a Suncoast team that
was poised to make their first winner’s
bracket finals in a long time. In the loser’s
bracket one wonder’s if EWS had enough
to come through the loser’s bracket to
finish final 4?
Here is a rundown of how the top
finishing teams were doing when the
rains came:
28 USSSA TODAY
bracket championship matchup if they
could get by Linedrive. Suncoast doesn’t
venture outside of the southeast much
but picking the Columbus tournament
looked like it was going to pay off with
big points and in the end thats what they
will get.
Shoppe/TPS’ Eric Thompson celebrates a homerun
with teammates.
Resmondo/Worth’s Brian Rainwater
Resmondo was headed for another tournament championship as they won their
first 3 games by a combined score of
102-17. They played without BJ Fulk and
a sub 100% Howie Krause but that didn’t
matter much as they used their number
one seed to roll over everyone in their
path. With the near perfect weather
(until the storms came) I don’t think
Resmondo even broke a sweat.
Shoppe played solid with a Friday run
rule of Tyler Trucking. Then they had a
Saturday morning line drive battle with
Magic which they won 34-27 and a fairly
low scoring but impressive win over
Sinister 19-11. Shoppe’s top of the order
with Chad McLamb, Eric Thompson,
and Tim Cocco is really in a great hithit-homer rhythm. Throw in a healthy
Gordon and Matt King and this team
is shaping up to be the contender they
were meant to be.
Suncoast is the team that lost the most
when the rains came. They had what
looked to be all of their players and
were healthy. They picked up former
AJS warrior Terry Rosenbalm to play
third base and pitcher Lossen White was
holding teams down. All of their games
were close but a big signature win over
EWS 22-15 gave them a shot at a winner’s
Linedrive knocked off a very solid Red’s
Astros team 28-23 in their opener on
Friday night then they upset Combat/
Pharmapar 29-28 when they pressured
Combat from start to finish. In their third
game they were the beneficiary of the
earlier upsets in their part of the bracket
and beat a good TG team 32-22 in a little
bit of a Michigan grudge match.
Linedrive’s brand of softball is right
along the lines of the old Hub’s Pub and
AJS style - “we don’t care who you are,
we are playing our game every inning
and we’ll look at the scoreboard at the
end of the game and see if we won”.
They feature team play, they pick up the
guy that makes the mistake, and they
manufacture runs. Add to this the fact
they are making some nice pickups like
Jason Ferguson from the old Mike Foulk’s
teams. It is hard to believe someone like
that was available.
Blitz lost a tough second round game
20-19 against Suncoast leaving the bases
loaded early in the game. Then in the
loser’s bracket had some solid wins over
Tyler Trucking, they absolutely crushed
DMC when the rains came in and sent
home TG. This team is a gritty team that
seems to play better in less than favorable
field conditions. Blitz has Mark Urbain on
the mound with career Blitz player Frank
Gruber sharing pitching duties. They have
a new shortstop in Robbie Grinestaff and
David “baby wegs” Kessler was mashing
a homerun everytime I watched him.
Add this to the normal team leaders
Jayson Scott, Jon Jamison, Jason Roesch,
and Jimmy Carter and you have a formidable B+ team that should do very well
in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Michigan. My
initial impression is that they have their
best Conference team that they have
had in recent memory. I think the only
thing Blitz is lacking is confidence after a
very slow start.
Weather Whistles Its Own
Tune At The Music City
The “Music City” Classic held in Gallatin, Tennessee was stalled
by a brief rain/hail storm on Saturday night around 6:30 PM.
That rain led to some late games which were then postponed
at 1:30 AM because of thick fog. When the games resumed on
Sunday morning at 7 AM the weather held out until another
brief rain storm cancelled the loser’s bracket final and the
championship.
Team Combat/Laser/D2E/Supreme, the only Major classified
team in the tournament gets the championship as they went
a perfect 4-0 and outscored their opponents 123-52. Combat
run ruled Sinister/Pritchard/Miken, a Michigan team, in the
winner’s bracket championship 26-10 when the recently added
Scott Zaciewski sliced a high flying walk off run rule homer
to left center field on the main diamond which measured 325
down the lines and 375 to center.
LineDrive/Triple SSS Sportscards was the highest finishing “C” team.
Sinister was in the early part of their loser’s bracket championship game against Team 454/Worth when the rains came
around 2 pm on Sunday afternoon and the games were finally
cancelled.
Except for the two short thunderstorms and the late night fog
the weather was perfect for softball and the tournament field
of teams which consisted of 17 Conference teams made for
one great matchup after another all weekend long.
1st Place: Team Combat/Laser/D2E/Supreme showed more
they have a pulse as they rolled through the Music City undefeated and used a “Resmondo” type #1 seed to make it to the
semi-finals. Once there they quickly took both Team 454 and
Sinister to the wood shed for a beating, using some nail driving
bombs by Brett Helmer and some great pitching by tournament MVP Billy Messina to run rule all 4 opponents.
Team Combat/Laser Vision’s Rusty Bumgardner is having a solid 2011 season after
missing most of 2010 recovering from a neck injury.
2nd Place: Sinister/Pritchard/Miken finishes their second
weekend in a row only losing one game. They do so by beating
Hustler’s 17-2 after Hustler’s had just finished scoring 40 runs
the game before. On Saturday Sinister disposed of Conference
opponents FBI and Linedrive then they were run ruled by
Combat/Laser Vision on Sunday morning in the winner’s
bracket finals and then were rained out in the loser’s bracket
championship against Team 454.
3rd Place: Team 454 Emerald/Worth beat EWS twice and won
their fog delayed game over Taylormade moving their record
against the ‘A’ division to 5-1 on the year. An impressive stat
for sure. They also get a huge points boost from the Music City
jumped to 3rd place in Conference USSSA points.
30 USSSA TODAY
The fog rolled in on Saturday night.
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HATE TO
PLAY ME.
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Resmondo Bats Blast Off
at Space City Classic
By Van Galeon
Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth Sports 2011 Space City Champions
LEAGUE CITY, TX – There’s an old saying that everything is bigger in Texas, and for
Conference USSSA that saying proved to be true this year. The 5th Annual Space
City Classic was held June 3-5 at Big League Dreams in League City, Texas (near
Houston) and attracted 64 teams making it the largest Conference USSSA tournament ever held. Space City was also the largest Conference tournament in 2009
and 2010 when it attracted 48 teams each year, but this year saw a 33-percent
increase.
The 64 teams hailed from 11 different states and included 10 teams from
Conference USSSA. There was one Major team, one Class A, nine Class B, 20 Class
C, 17 Class D and 16 Class E.
Defending USSSA World Series champion Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth made a
triumphant return to the Space City Classic with one of the most dominant performances ever in a Conference USSSA event. Resmondo won the first two Space City
Classics in 1997 and 1998, before missing the tournament each of the past two
years. T&R Stucco won Space City in 2009 and Albicocco/The Scene won it in 2010.
Resmondo was a heavy favorite coming into the 2011 Space City Classic, but
nobody was prepared for the level of dominance unleashed on the artificial
surface fields at Big League Dreams, which is located only two miles from NASA.
In fact, some of the rockets launched from Resmondo bats probably showed
up on the radar screens at the Johnson Space Center. In posting a perfect 7-0
record, Resmondo scored 324 runs (46.2 per game) and yielded just 83 (11.8) for
32 USSSA TODAY
2011 Space City MVP, 2B Greg Connell
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an average margin of victory of 34.4
runs. Resmondo posted a team batting
average of .912 and their players batted
fewer than five innings per game.
Ironically, Resmondo almost suffered a
catastrophe in their first game Friday
night against RPN/SwingTyme/Syndicate
from Crosby, TX. With outfielder B.J.
Fulk missing with an injury, and pitcher
Andy Purcell attending his daughter’s
graduation ceremony, Resmondo had
just 11 players for the game. Resmondo
held a narrow 14-10 lead after three
innings and a vocal Texas crowd was
heckling the heavy favorites. Resmondo
manager John Rector was heard saying
only half-jokingly to a tournament official, “I hope you guys have us a police
escort out of here.”
Gold’s Gym - Runner Up
Resmondo began to stretch their lead
in the middle innings, before Bobby
Hughes was ejected from the game
for taking his bat back into the dugout
after an at-bat instead of leaving it
at the team bucket. The only other
Resmondo personnel in uniform were
Rector and coach Frank Webb, so Rector
was inserted into the lineup. In his only
at-bat of the game, Rector popped
up meekly to the pitcher, much to the
amusement of his players. Resmondo
went on the win the game, 30-10.
Later that night, Resmondo played
another game against the BTX Outsiders
from Beaumont – one of the top C teams
in Texas. Not wanting to leave anything
to chance after the close call earlier,
Resmondo came out on a mission and
pounded out a 58-6 run-rule victory.
Darkside/TYJA/Easton - 3rd Place
With Purcell in town and in uniform,
Resmondo returned for the matinee
session Saturday afternoon and posted a
42-5 whipping on local favorite Fidelity
Medical from League City, then a 42-12
blasting on Bingo Long’s Sports Center/
Worth from Jackson, Miss. Fidelity is one
of the top C teams in Texas and Bingo
Long is a top C team from Mississippi.
In the semi-finals of the winner’s bracket
Saturday night, Resmondo faced their
first Conference USSSA opponent of
the tournament. But the result was no
different from the previous four games,
as Resmondo dealt a 42-12 thrashing to
The Scene/A.J.S./Easton from Ft. Meyers,
Fla. The Scene is registered as a Class B
team this year.
34 USSSA TODAY
BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports - 4th Place
That win was followed immediately by
the winner’s bracket finals against the
highest classified team in the tournament other than Resmondo. But the
Worth flagship team scored 20 runs in
the top of the first inning and never
looked back in short-gaming Class A
Darkside/TYJA/Easton from New Britain,
Connecticut by a 45-23 margin in front
of another huge crowd.
The most entertainment of the evening
for many came from the USSSA Live
broadcasts. Colorful East Texan and
former Major List player Ray Cowart was
offering lively commentary in his distinct
drawl. Play-by-play announcer Bernie
Guenther was probably happy that the
Internet telecasts were not subject to
the scrutiny of the FCC, otherwise there
might have been some explaining to do.
Resmondo returned Sunday morning
for the championship game, where they
were met by a ragged but proud Gold’s
Gym team from Dallas. After losing to
BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports from
Mississippi in the quarter-finals of the
winner’s bracket, Gold’s Gym went to
the loser’s bracket and posted three
wins on Saturday night – which lasted
until 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning. They
returned to the park just a few hours
later and redeemed their only defeat
with a 15-12 win over BWW/Team
Baden/Buzini Sports in a re-match, then
pounded Darkside/TYJA/Easton, 18-3, to
advance to the championship game.
Resmomndo/Worth’s all-tournament, Vince Bisbee OF
Not that it would have mattered much,
but Perry Hensley’s team was out of gas,
and Resmondo cruised to a 54-15 championship game victory to finish the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record.
“Resmondo’s offense was clicking on all
cylinders and the first inning of what
seemed like each game they played,
they basically batted around the order
at least one time,” said softball reporter
Dale Weiser, who was covering the tournament for his Softball Center website.
“For the most part, Resmondo players
did whatever they wanted to offensively
and a number of their player’s made only
a handful of outs the whole weekend.
Resmondo also played without the
injured B.J. Fulk (oblique muscle) and
Howie Krause came up a little lame with
a possible knee problem during one of
the games.”
Gold’s Gym’s P, Perry Hensley (left) strategizes with Tim Barnes.
USSSA TODAY 35
In their most impressive showing of
the season, Gold’s Gym finished second
with an 8-2 record, including two big
wins over Conference teams on Sunday
morning.
“Gold’s turned in their best performance
of the year and should finally climb into
the computer rankings and Conference
points list, said Weiser. “They did so with
great veteran leadership in A-plus pitcher
Perry Hensley, big hitters on the corners
with third baseman and leadoff man
Preston Spurlin and Offensive MVP first
baseman Kelly Hartman, plus left-hand
hitting right-fielder Clay Smitherman.”
Weiser added, “These four vets mixed in
with the six skilled defensive positions
filled by a group of almost unknown
younger but solid, up-and-coming
Conference talent makes for a team
that is now 9-1 against B teams on the
season. That is a statistic that will pay off
at the B Worlds come September.”
Darkside/TYJA/Easton came in third
place at 5-2, just one week after also
finishing third in Atlanta.
Gold’s Gym’s Kelly Hartman, Space City’s Offensive MVP
“Darkside is still without injured pitcher
Dirty Sanchez, and played without
shortstop Lee Lipshutz, Jon Encarnacion,
and slugger Charlie Baumgartner, but I
think this is another one of those great
chemistry teams that doesn’t need to
have all of their players present on a
given weekend,” said Weiser.
BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports finished
fourth, also at 5-2, and drew high praise
from the respected Weiser, also known
by the Internet handle of “DW.”
“BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports is
now, in my opinion, the number one C
team in the country,” said Weiser. “Yes,
I know that is a shocking statement,
when you consider what Line Drive out
of Michigan and Wiley’s Supreme from
Florida have done the last couple weeks.
But BWW has quite frankly a very good
team, with solid all-around Conference
talent at every position. BWW is led by
veteran pitcher and three-hole hitter
Donald Plaisance, who kept hitters off
balance most of the weekend.”
Wesier used BWW/Team Baden/Buzini
Sports to elaborate on his online contention that top C teams today are equivalent to most A teams of the 1990’s.
Resmondo/Worth’s all-tournament- Jeremy Isenhower
36 USSSA TODAY
“Going back to The Old Scout (website)
discussion about whether or not today’s
C, teams built with similar budgets and
the majority of their players from one
county or State region are equal to the
average A team of the early 1990’s that
were built in the same way. Well, BWW
would have been right there with the
A teams of the early 1990’s,” Weiser
contended. “I make this statement
for the 2011 C teams that I have seen
play in Conference tournaments across
the country this year. Most C teams are
really stepping up the quality of their
rosters from the pitching to the shortstops and center-fielders and everyone
in between. As you can tell I was very
impressed (by BWW) and although I am
just starting to get to know this team, it
looked like they had their full roster for
the first time this season and it showed.”
Fence Brokers/Gametime Supply/Worth
from Bryant, Ark. and The Scene/A.J.S./
Easton (both B teams) tied for fifth
place; Bingo Long’s Sports Center/
Worth and Classic Roofing/Mizuno from
Garland, TX (both C teams) tied for
seventh place; and Olmito Heat/Rios/CR
Bar from Olmito, TX, BaughFord.com
from Alabama, The Softball Mafia of
Louisiana, and Zamora’s All-Out Sports/
TPS from Rosenburg, TX (all C teams)
rounded out the Top 10 by tying for
ninth place.
Several non-Conference USSSA teams
earned Paid Berths and Travel Money for
their respective World Tournaments by
being the highest finishing non-Conference teams in their classification at the
Space City. The B berth went to Team
KC/Miken from Spring, TX and their
manager “Sweet Willie” Whittington
who tied for 13th place with a 3-2
record. The C berth and money was
shared by Bingo Long’s Sports Center/
Worth and Classic Roofing/Mizuno who
tied for seventh place with identical 4-2
records. The D berth and stipend went
to Team Ego/Texas Inks from Houston,
who tied for 13th place with a 3-2
record. An the E berth and money was
shared by CABO from Seabrook, TX and
Texas Baseballers from Spring, TX who
tied for 25th place with 2-2 marks.
Greg Connell of Resmondo/Worth
was named the Most Valuable Player
of the tournament. Connell put on a
hitting clinic all weekend long by either
bouncing balls off the 30-foot-high
Outstanding defensive player, Don DeDonatis III, SS
John Rector, cooling off, after a torrid hitting display.
Ray Ray Cowart offered colorful commentary via
USSSALive. The viewing numbers were the best of all
season.
USSSA TODAY 37
outfield walls at Big League Dreams, or
clearing them with scorching rockets.
For this tournament, like the Toys For
Tots which is played at a Big League
Dreams facility in Palm Springs, CA,
home runs had to completely clear
the outfield walls – not just the yellow
lines painted on the walls. Connell also
used the Field Turf infield surfaces to
help him play flawless defense from his
second base position.
Burly
left-handed
slugger
Kelly
Hartman of Gold’s Gym was named the
Outstanding Offensive Player of the
tournament, while Resmondo shortstop
Don “Junior” DeDonatis III was named
the Outstanding Defensive Player. Junior
doesn’t need any help fielding a ball in
a ragged pasture, so getting a ball past
him on the smooth turf surfaces was
next to impossible.
The USSSALive broadcast team from Kissimmee, FL. (left to right): USSSA National UIC, Rick Robertson,
logistics expert, Matt O’Hara and technician, Bernie Guethner.
Rounding out the All-Tournament team
were Scott Striebel, Jeff Wallace, Brian
Rainwater, Vince Bisbee, Bobby Hughes
and Jeremy Isenhower, of Resmondo/
Worth; Perry Hensley, Preston Spurlin,
Clay Smitherman and Jake Mayes, of
Gold’s Gym; Lou Mongelli, Billy Moore
and Ryan Parfitt, of Darkside/TYJA/
Easton; and Brady Bascle and Kyle Wilks,
of BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports.
One of the biggest reasons why the
Space City Classic gets so many local Class
C, D and even E teams willing to step
up and play in the Conference USSSA
bracket is that their teams also get separate tournaments among teams from
their own classes to play in once they are
eliminated from the main bracket.
The bat testing was in the capable hands of Rick Robertson (left) and dependable Larry Lofton.
In the C Consolation bracket, Ambush
from Houma, LA won first place, Team
Hemphill from Parl, MS came in second,
and Disturbed Softball from Baytown,
TX finished third.
In the D Consolation bracket, Twisted
Specialty Metal Products from Magnolia,
TX was the champion, Ozone: Rebirth/
The Recession from Carencro, LA was
the runnerup, and the Woodpeckers
from Galveston, TX came in third.
In the E Consolation bracket, Rack Em
Up/Modernperformance.com
from
Houston won first place, the Scrappers
from College Station, TX finished
second, and Head First from League City,
TX came in third.
38 USSSA TODAY
LoneStarSoftball staff (left to right): Roy “Heavy Peanut” Dean, David Ramirez, Scott “#99” Duffy, Stiffanie
Cooke, Ben “the rat” Templeton, Brian “I’m Marna’s brother” Ragan and Greg Huchingson, the King. Not
pictured- “Family Guy” Wheeler and Rene Hinojosa.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini
Blows Out The Competition
At The Windy City
GTL Cartel/DeMarini based out of the Seattle, Washington area
went 5-1 to win the “Windy City Bud Light NIT”. This included
2 out of 3 wins against top ranked Resmondo-Specialty Tank/
Worth in the winner’s bracket finals and championship games.
All 5 of their wins were by the run rule and it wasn’t until they
played Resmondo that they let up more than 8 runs in a game.
The tournament opened up Friday night in Joliet, Illinois with
a couple of upsets when Precision, a local ‘C’ team, knocked
off RFC/Hubs Pub 29-9 and P&P, a ‘C’ team out of Michigan,
dropped T’s 13 22-21. Cool temperatures prevailed throughout
the weekend and the sun didn’t pop out until Sunday. The
rain the previous Thursday and Friday actually made the fields
softer and more playable for the infielders.
On Saturday starting at 11 AM the winner’s bracket resumed.
All at one time Suncoast found themselves in a 9 inning victory
over Midwest Swing. Blitz came from a 14-0 deficit in the first
inning to beat EWS 27-26 in 8 innings, and Sinister came from
behind to knock off R&M Metals 31-30. Then in the 3rd round
the 4 top teams in the nation all advanced to the semi-finals.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini
In those semi’s Resmondo kept ahead of Team Combat to the
tune of a 27-19 victory and GTL 15 run ruled Team 454/Worth
35-5. In the winner’s championship GTL used a Sean McDonald
base hit to run rule Resmondo 39-24.
On Sunday, Team Combat/Laser Vision matched Team 454’s 16
run third inning with a 16 run 4th inning of their own and
played hard for all of 2 hours and 42 minutes to finally put
Team 454 away by the highest run total of the season 54-48!
Then Team Combat managed just 4 runs on 1 homer against
Resmondo and went quietly home 28-4 in 4 innings in the loser’s
bracket championship. Resmondo batted around and the top
of the order hit 3 times each in the first inning alone. Greg
Connell himself had 2 homer’s and 7 RBI in the inning. This win
advanced Resmondo to the Championship against GTL.
In the first game of the championship which pitted the #1 team
in the nation, Resmondo, against the #2 team in the nation
GTL, Resmondo came out and used all 16 of their homers to
put GTL away 35-18. This force the “if” game of the championship.
In the “if” game GTL used a 2nd inning grand slam by Mike
Bowlin to put up a 12 spot and GTL ran away with a 40-25 run
rule in 6 innings.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini’s
Co-MVP, MI Matt Pesso
GTL Co-MVP pitcher Geno Buck.
The Windy City tournament teams were classified as follows: 3
- Major, 6 - ‘A’, 6 - ‘B’, 5 - ‘C’, 15 - ‘D’ 16 of the teams were from
Conference USSSA.
GTL was paced by Co-MVP’s Matt Pesso (23-28, .821 onbase
percentage) and pitcher Geno Buck (26-34, 8 HR, 25 RBI, .765
onbase percentage). Matt Pesso’s defense was also an incredible show of speed, agility, and aggressive anticipation from his
middle infield position. Matt and the GTL defense is what has
pushed them to an even level with perennial softball power
Resmondo.
USSSA TODAY 39
454 Bat Series Propel
Worth’s Flagship Teams
By Dennis Turner
WOW! What a season it has been
already and we are still heating up with
more tournaments and league play to
come. We have had a lot going on with
our top teams, the new 454 bats and our
454 Homerun Derby’s.
Let’s start out with our top teams.
Resmondo/Specialty
Tank/Worth
is
ranked #1 in the Conference USSSA
standings going into the end of June
with plenty more tournaments to play.
Greg Connell is leading the charge with
a .791 On-Base Percentage followed
closely by Bryson Baker (.766) and Scott
Striebel (.760). Resmondo/Worth has
won 6 of the 8 events entered so far and
they are staying on track to do some
damage for the rest of the season and
eventually going into the nationals with
some steam. I cannot say enough about
how this team continues to dominate
the competition year in and year out.
These veteran players with a few new
guys mixed in every year seem to know
what it take to get the job done. These
Resmondo/Worth players are really
something to watch depending whether
they are playing on the stadium field or
the 300’ fields, they play to the situation
with a little attitude and fire in their
eye.
Team 454/Emerald Consulting/Worth
has really turned it on over the past
few tournaments to position themselves as one of the top “A” team in the
Conference USSSA standings, and they
are looking to make their mark at the
USSSA “A” Worlds in Orlando this year.
They too have a mixture of some experienced players with more youngsters that
are hungry for success and looking to
blaze a path for a title in the months to
come. Team 454/Worth is led by Bubba
Mack (.735) and Kyle Moyer (.700), and
this team is playing the game well. Look
for them to continue to place high as
the season winds down as they look to
give some of the other top teams in the
nation a battle on the field.
One of the biggest surprises this year has
been
Down2EarthSports.com/Worth.
This “B” team led by Drew Dubberly
is in the 12th position amongst the
40 USSSA TODAY
Conference USSSA point standings and
Drew has a team of players that never
say “die” and keep fighting until the last
pitch. They have jumped up and played
the nations best and have competed
very well on the ball diamond, definitely making a name for themselves.
Look for them to play very well in the
home stretch of the season going into
the worlds and national tournaments.
Our 454 HR Derby series is going crazy
across the nation. To date we have had
35 events and 35 winners who have
received a 454 Titan bat (No Return) of
their choice and 454 HR Derby T-shirt.
These events have been a huge success
with all of you that have either participated or seen at local ballparks from
coast to coast, and the 454 HR Derby’s
have allowed players not only to demo
the new bats, but a chance to actually
win one of the 454’s, is awesome! These
players have had the chance to swing
the 454 Balanced, 454 Resmondo, 454
Reload, and the 454 ASA. It has turned
into a huge demo station for players to
try out the bats and possibly win the
same model they used during the event.
Our 454 Advisory staff has put together
some great venues for these events
and we still have a few more to go as
we wind them down by the end of July.
There is no doubt that we will have this
same format next in 2012 as we have
considered this series a success.
The Long Haul Bomber Stadium tour
is up and running and Team Worth is
currently in 2nd place behind Team
Miken. With BJ Fulk being sidelined due
to an injury, Jeff Wallace of Resmondo
stepped up and filled in teaming up
with Greg Connell in both Miami and
Tampa before the MLB games. Connell
is determined to not only catch Denny
Crine but to pass him and win the series
and possibly the Manufacturers Cup that
we held a few years back. BJ is getting
better and should be back for the event
in San Diego at Petco Park, where both
BJ and Greg hit very well and put a show
on for the Padres fans. With just a few
events remaining, these guys will have
to turn it on to make the finals that is
being held at Dodger Stadium this year.
P.S. Free the 454 Mutant!
Until next time, stay focused and play
hard. DT
Big Innings Spark Resmondo’s
Comeback Win at Dudley Tournament
By Dave Pedersen
The level of play by the top men’s softball teams in the country
fluctuated as much as the weather conditions at the 29th
Dudley/Budweiser Classic NIT in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
June 17-19.
Perfect conditions for Friday’s session turned ugly when heavy
rains hampered the last game of the night. Saturday was a
blend of drizzle, downpours and a wall of fog that pushed the
winner’s bracket finals to 8 a.m. Sunday.
For some reason the games were played in a climate of all or
nothing. The four teams ranked as Major particularly had their
ups and downs, especially when facing each other. One Major
team was shut out 32-0 after scoring 48 runs the game prior.
The same team also was on the winning side of a 32-0 shutout.
Defending USSSA World Series champion Resmondo/Specialty
42 USSSA TODAY
Tank/Worth was overpowered by GTL Cartel/DeMarini 30-10 in
four innings in the bracket finals.
“We kept pushing and putting the pressure on them,” said GTL
manager Jose Sanchez about dominating the winner’s bracket
final. “That’s how we roll.”
Down but not out, Resmondo blew away Team Combat/Laser
Vision/D2E/Supreme 49-17 to earn another crack at GTL in the
finals. Resmondo stayed hot and powerful when defeating
GTL twice, 45-20 and 52-34 to grab the tourney title.
A 3-run homer by Don DeDonatis III with two outs in the sixth
put the game away, enabling Resmondo to stay in the lead
in Conference USSSA. GTL had come to the forefront after
winning the Chicago tournament the week prior, improving
to 34-7.
Resmondo rode the big inning, scoring 25 runs in one inning,
plus put up 24 in an inning twice. The top-ranked team
outscored their last three opponents 146-61 and scored at least
30 runs in six of the seven games.
Rested for Sunday battles
The fog on Saturday night meant the top two teams did not
have to play starting at 11:30 p.m. and could get some rest and
be recharged before engaging in the money games.
“If its fair for one it’s fair for the other,” said Frank Webb from
Resmondo. “They came ready to play Sunday and jumped on
us. We got our feet back on the ground. Most every game we
play them is a short game. It is who handles the home runs and
jumps out.”
In the first title game it was Resmondo doing the jumping out,
scoring 24 first-inning runs. The tactic worked the game prior
when scoring 25 runs in the first inning against Team Combat/
Laser Vision/D2E/Supreme.
2011 Dudley/Budweiser MVP- Resmondo’s MI Bryson Baker with a .871 OBA
It appeared to be GTL’s turn to jump start a game when off to
a 15-5 start in the final contest. Resmondo kept pace and the
teams were tied at 20-all after two innings. Resmondo never
let up and outscored GTL 32-14 the rest of the way to defend
its Dudley tourney title.
“We were arm wrestling for the home runs to get the upper
hand,” adds Webb. “It was like a roller coaster. It happens
sometimes when you save your home runs and are waiting for
the next guy.”
The last eight games between the two teams have been
decided by the run rule, including all three at the Dudley. The
teams split the last six games played.
“You hear it said so many times, but this really was a team
effort,” said Webb about how Resmondo was playing so “beat
up” that all of the outfielders were out of position. Bobby
Hughes and Minnesota native Scott Striebel played with
hamstring injuries and both still made the All-Tournament
team. Striebel had to come out in the title game.
Combat/Pharmapar/Transat Holiday finished fourth.
Michael Rhines played well off the bench and infielder Jeremy
Isenhower was turned into an outfielder. Greg Connell offered
up some key home runs. Webb says Andy Purcell “stepped it
up on both sides of the ball. He hit home run after home run at
the right spots and pitched great.” Purcell had 11 homers with
30 RBIs and a .837 OBA.
Bryson Baker was named tournament most valuable player
with a .871 OBA. Others honored were Purcell, Vince Bisbee,
Isenhower and DeDonatis.
GTL was in control
GTL warmed up for the first battle against Resmondo by shutting out a Major team, Combat/Pharmapar, 32-0. The team had
just put up 48 runs against a Major team.
“We had a slow start on Friday night against a good little C
team,” said Sanchez about a 12-8 win. “Going into the championship games Chris Larsen only made one out, Anthony Dress
made two outs and Geno Buck made three outs.”
Coach Frank Webb stated that pitcher, Andy Purcell “stepped it up on both sides of
the ball. He hit homerun after homerun at the right spots and pitched great.”
USSSA TODAY 43
Both Dress and Buck are from Minnesota and did not disappoint family and friends on hand. Buck pitches and Dress is a
middle infielder who is part of a defense that “is as good as it
gets.”
Matt Pesso played “awesome in the middle as usual” and was
voted as tournament MVP on defense. Also named to the
All-Tournament team were Dress, Larsen, Sean McDonald,
Donovan Pokraka and Joey Formosa.
Sanchez said his team does not have the prototypical catcher,
rotating outfielders through the position. The squad is “pretty
athletic” through the whole roster.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini’s Anthony Dress acrobatically attempts to apply the tag on a
sliding Bruce Rhines.
“Our program model is to recruit the best people and the softball ability will follow,” says Sanchez. “We recruit good people
and we have a very good chemistry on our team. It shows every
week.”
GTL and Resmondo were in a dead heat for the top Conference
USSSA ranking entering the Dudley tourney.
“I don’t mean to put rankings down, it just means we are
doing our job and going deep into every tournament,” adds
Sanchez. “Playing as a Major team is new to us. We were a
Class A team the past five years. Now we are playing for the
third weekend in September rather than the third weekend in
August. The crown jewel is the World Series.”
GTL won the A World Series title the past two seasons and
made the finals the past three.
Buck pleases hometown crowd
Connell offered some key homeruns.
Geno Buck played in his first Dudley tournament eight years
ago. He played for a couple local Minnesota teams before
recruited to play for Long Haul for a few years. Buck helped
the national power based in Minnesota win a Dudley title.
After Long Haul disbanded, Buck joined Dan Smith last season.
When Dan Smith’s sponsorship decided to take a break, Buck
got the call from GTL, a team moving up to Major.
“Being I was a DeMarini guy last year it worked better to stick
with GTL, a team sponsored by DeMarini,” said Buck. “I have
a personal contract that says I have to play with a Major team.
Plus, they have a great group of guys.”
Buck is a veteran on a young team. He says the players are
learning in a hurry that, “No matter what, you keep chipping
away until the final out.”
Once again Buck was named to the All-Tournament team at
the Dudley, doing it with three different teams. He is a pitcher
who can hit the long ball.
“A really good knuckle ball goes a long ways,” said Buck. “The
pitch is hard to control, but I throw a knuckle ball no matter
if I am behind in the count or not. You try to pitch away from
what you think they are trying to do.”
At the plate Buck likes to be patient to look for a pitch he can
drive. Even if behind in the count, he says a player has to have
confidence when he steps into the box.
GTL Cartel/DeMarini believes strongly in the “team first” concept.
44 USSSA TODAY
Game of the tourney
The game of the tournament was the 48-47 slugfest between
Team Combat/Laser Vision and Combat/Pharmapar, two of
the four Major teams. Laser Vision jumped out to a 10-0 lead
which was answered by Pharmapar with 15 runs and growing.
Pharmapar surged to a 26-run lead in the fourth inning. The
20-run mercy rule was in play when a double play was not
converted. That left the door open for Laser Vision to battle
back and tie the game at 47.
Pharmapar needed one run to win and looked in control with
a leadoff triple in the last of the seventh. Laser Vision loaded
the bases and got a force out at home. Next came a strikeout,
making it very possible that a run may not score. Luc Chauvette
singled home the game-winner to end the drama.
Resmondo’s Scott Streibel is watched closely by his daughter on this Father’s Day.
Both teams made major lineup changes coming into this
season. Team Combat/Laser Vision added several players from
Dan Smith.
Combat/Pharmapar/Transat Holiday also involves a merger of
two squads. Most of the players are from Montreal, Canada
and the others are from Northwest Combat, including George
Phillips.
Coach Stephane Chapdelaine is a former member of the
Canadian National baseball team. He said the team asked to
be classified as a Major team despite not having one major
player on the roster. The idea was for the team to get better
by being challenged.
Chapdelaine was pleased with the fourth place finish at the
Dudley since the team was missing three middle infielders.
Hall of Fame umpire, Doc Beckwell, is on top of GTL Cartel/DeMarini’s MI Matt
Pesso’s flip to second.
After scoring 48 runs against Laser Vision, Pharmapar was shutout
by GTL 32-0. The team bounced back to edge Suncoast 42-40.
The run ended with a 37-21 loss to Laser Vision in the rematch.
Mike Taylor led the All-Tournament selections from Combat/
Pharmapar for batting .806. Also honored was Francis Henry,
who led with 30 RBIs and Claud Chiason, who batted .750.
Team Combat/Laser Vision recovered from the one-run loss to
Pharmapar to capture third place. All-Tournament selections
were Brett Helmer, Jeff McGavin, Scott Zaciewski and veteran
Rusty Bumgardner, who batted .900.
The team has two players who hail from Minnesota, pitchers
Scott Brown and Andy Vitcak.
Tournament notes
Team Combat/Laser Vision’s coach Don Cooper surprisingly questioning a call.
The four Major teams grabbed the top four places at the
Dudley in the 30-team field. Suncoast/Reebok and EWS/SHIRTS
and LOGOS/Dr. Graphix/Easton tied for fifth. RFC/Hub’s Pub/
Syndicate and R&M Metals/Troup/TCP/Easton tied for seventh.
Warren Bellm, tournament co-director along with Joel Ericksen
, said his vote for the MVP goes to the groundskeepers. The
fields took in three inches of rain the week before the event
and then rain fell all night Friday and all day Saturday.
“Look at all the work they did with the diamond dry and pumping
water both nights to make sure we could play,” said Bellm. “We
could not do it without the work of the grounds keepers. The
players from several teams personally thanked them.”
Budweiser flows smoothly....in the rain or shine!
USSSA TODAY 45
Important Baseball & Softball Bat Changes
for 2011 / 2012 / 2013
As you have probably aware, the rules regarding legal baseball and softball bats are changing. To understand those changes and
how they may impact you or your team and the use of legal bats in USSSA sanctioned play, you should carefully review following
USSSA.com information.
IMPORTANT NEW BAT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SOFTBALL. Please go to National Announcements found at USSSA.com under the
SLOWPITCH Tab and review the following Bat rule announcements
1.Important USSSA Baseball & Softball Announcements - January 2011 UNDER NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
2.Worn/AbusedDamaged/Foreign Substance Bats – February 2011 UNDER NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
3.Sofball Bat Standard Announcement – 10/19/2010. – UNDER LICENSED EQUIPMENT
4.Softball Bat Standard Announcement Update – 4/1/2011
IMPORTANT NEW BAT ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR BASEBALL. Please go to National Announcements found at USSSA.com under the
Baseball Tab and review the following Bat rule announcements:”
1.Important USSSA Baseball & Softball Announcements - January 2011 UNDER RULES, EQUIPEMENT AND LEGAL INFORMATION
2.Worn/AbusedDamaged/Foreign Substance Bats – FEBRUARY 2011 UNDER NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
3.USSSA Baseball Bat Performance Standards Announcement for 2011 & 2012 – UNDER RULES, EQUIPEMENT AND LEGAL
INFORMATION
4.Licensed Baseball Bat Manufacturers – NEW 2/1/2011 – UNDER RULES, EQUIPEMENT AND LEGAL INFORMATION
5.2011/12 New USSSA Baseball Bat Marks & Grandfathering Rules - 5/16/2011
Maingate
Sports Teams…
Welcome to Kissimmee!!!
Best Western Lakeside is a USSSA preferred hotel partner for
sport teams, athletes and fans alike. With an ideal location to
several sporting venues and only 2 miles from ESPN Wide World
of Sports Complex the property is a win with sporting teams!
•
•
•
•
•
3 pools, basketball court, miniature golf and fitness facility
On-site Pizza Hut, Greenhouse Restaurant
Hurricane Sam’s Bar & Grill
Coined laundry facility
Free Coaches room with 10 or more
rooms consumed
• 100% non-smoking rooms
• Visiting fan & family rates
• Free high-speed internet access
Each Best Western hotel is independently owned and operated.
7769 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. • Kissimmee, Florida 34747
www.bestwestern-maingate.com
For more information or to book your teams call April Trantham at (407) 997-1108 or email [email protected]
46 USSSA TODAY
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master the multi-piece swing live by them,” says Don DeDonatis III.
Pitch for the Cure
By Rick Phillilps
An Idea Pitched, A Tradition Born…..
In the fall of 2005, an idea to host a
fastpitch tournament to raise funds
for an area fastpitch team turned into
something much more than just softball. Gina and Chris Bartholomew, the
event’s co-founders, had just returned
to Arkansas from visiting with Gina’s
cousin, Linda, in California. Linda had
been diagnosed with breast cancer at
age 40, after noticing a golf ball sized
lump in her breast had been found. After
watching her go through chemotherapy
and the effects that it had on her, Gina
wanted to go into action. She offered
an idea to Steve and Darcy Kline, the
co-founders of the Springdale Chicks,
to partner the tournament with Komen
for the Cure Foundation. The tournament would give a portion of the profits
to the charitable organization while
teaching the girls’ the importance of
self-care, community service and doing
something bigger than just playing the
game. Why not? The Chicks, also a
501(c)3 organization, were already on
the path of community service. From
that, the Springdale Chicks’ 1st Annual
Pitch for the Cure was born!
What started as a dream to draw 55
50 USSSA TODAY
“local” teams and raise some money for
the Springdale Chicks has turned into
one of the largest weekend fastpitch
tournaments in the region. The first
year 66 teams signed up exceeding the
original goal, and a shocking $10,000
was given to Komen for the Cure. The
size of the tournament grows each year,
also exceeding each yearly goal. In
2010, on the 5th anniversary, the event
brought in 164 (8U MP, 10U-18U) teams
selling out over a month in advance.
That donation to Komen exceeded
$37,000, bringing the five year total to
$100,000 donated!
Pitch for the Cure is known to be special
but not just due to the great cause(s)
that benefits from the fundraising. The
mission goes beyond the fundraising. It
reaches out to the girls showing them
that they have the strength, the power
and the integrity to make a difference.
It is empowering these young players to
make changes in their world, whether
that is in their school, their town, state
or country!
The support from both local and
national sources really helps put special
touches on the event for all the girls, not
just the bracket winners. Items donated
by these partners are stuffed in player
goodie bags and given to each young
lady who attends as a player. And yes,
really STUFFED! Contests take place for
teams, groups and individuals, including
the Team Donation Challenge which
donates 100% of the money raised by
each team to Komen. An award is given
in to each respective age division for
being the highest team fundraiser, as
well as to the team bringing the largest
overall donation. There are also contests
for pitching, t-shirt design, home to
home, round the horn and others.
Saturday evening around dusk, a very
special tribute ceremony is held at
the main park honoring those who
have battled breast cancer. Everyone
gathers as pink balloons are released
in the name of those who have beat
breast cancer, those who are now gone
because of it and those that are still in
the battle. The stories of the people that
attend Pitch for the Cure are deep and
often emotional. Sometimes they’ve put
someone they love on the tribute list for
the ceremony. Sometimes they’ve been
put on the list themselves.
The Springdale Chicks and other volunteer staff that works on presenting
this tournament put a lot of effort
into “customer service” (and always
improving). There is a focus on making
the weekend unique for the players and
families that visit Northwest Arkansas.
Maybe that’s why teams come back year
after year? In addition to the gift bags,
scorekeeping is provided, game balls
are provided, t-shirts are pre-sold and
program books are free to the players
with maps from park to park. Specials
are given by the sponsors and some of
the local businesses for the weekend.
The prize packages are GREAT! First
prize in each division receives a team
trophy, individual awards, team helmets
and the entry fee to the 2011 USSSA
World Series paid! An MVP award is
given out at the championship games to
the players that really stood out during
the tournament.
Something new is added each year for
the teams. For 2011, Olympian Crystl
Bustos will be joining the event to
present clinics during the Pitch weekend.
Crystl will be presenting a coach/parent
clinic on Friday; PFTC players only clinics
on Saturday and then open players
clinics on Sunday where anyone can
attend. She’ll be visiting each park so
that most girls will get the chance to see
her. And of course, there will be photos
and autographs!
The 2011 event is June 10-12 in Northwest
Arkansas and already has more than 120
teams registered from AR, OK, TX, MO
and KS (as of this writing). It’s projected
to be sold out for teams by mid-March.
However, those interested in checking
things out, requesting to be on a waiting
list or making a donation, should check
the website at www.pitchforthecure.
org. Joining the online newsletter is the
best way to find out about registration
for 2012. There are many sponsor and
advertising opportunities.
Groups or individuals that would like to
volunteer as scorekeepers are welcome!
It’s an exciting way to participate and
see a LOT of great softball!! All levels of
teams play here for a variety of reasons;
double USSSA NIT points are no doubt
one of them. Having the opportunity to
watch those top few games in any division is stunning. Its remarkable girls’
fastpitch competition at all age levels!
The fact that they are playing for a
good cause is just icing on the cake. You
better believe it: It’s pink icing on a pink
cake. You can’t get too much pink when
you Pitch for the Cure!
USSSA TODAY 51
The Connecticut Way
USSSA Fast Pitch
By Rick Phillilps
In 2003 when David Rocha of Simsbury,
CT, struggled to find a pitching coach for
his 9-year-old daughter, it gave birth to an
idea that five years later became a oneof-kind indoor fastpitch softball facility
called Fastpitch Nation. The 24,000 square
foot facility, in Bloomfield, CT, which
opened in September, 2008, was once
an indoor tennis complex. After Rocha
and his partner, Tom Eastman, purchased
the property, they transformed it into
the home of indoor fastpitch softball in
the region and truly made it a field of
dreams. “I saw how fast this sport was
growing and I knew girls needed a place
of their own,” Rocha said. “Once I did
the research, I knew what worked and
did not work and I had many innovative
ideas for something totally new. People
thought I was crazy to devote a business
to fastpitch softball. It took 5 years to get
off the ground but it’s worked out almost
exactly as I conceived it.”
Fastpitch Nation’s crown jewel is
their indoor field with a professional
quality red clay regulation infield with a
small turf outfield, entirely enclosed by
fencing and netting. This field is home
to many leagues and tournaments run
by Rocha from October to April. This
past season more than 900 girls played in
their leagues for teams 12U to 18U while
also running 10 indoor tournaments.
During the season nearly 400 games
were played on the field. Aside from
the field Fastpitch Nation has numerous
hitting and pitching lanes and top local
instructors, most of whom were former
collegiate softball players and coaches.
Due to the opportunity Fastpitch Nation
afforded players and Rocha’s long-time
affiliation with the sport in the area,
the teams in the state and area states
responded overwhelmingly. Travel teams,
54 USSSA TODAY
rec teams and players from all over have
made FPN their softball home. Even the
Division I University of Hartford made
Fastpitch Nation their dedicated indoor
practice facility.
Fastpitch Nation’s reputation has even
grown nationally. FPN hosted two clinics
this season run by some of the most
famous women in softball. In January
Olympian Monica Abbot was on hand to
do a pitching clinic and provide private
lessons for 18 lucky students. In March,
two-time Olympian and current USSSA
Pride player and ESPN commentator
Jessica Mendoza was at FPN running an
all-day camp.
“Fastpitch Nation was an immediate
success, filling a void in the area for a
quality, indoor, fastpitch specific training
area,” said CT Mirage 18U coach Todd
Ruonavaara. “FPN has afforded young
ladies in the state and surrounding states
the ability to play indoors on a real clay
infield, something not available prior to
Faspitch Nation’s opening.
Mark Macchiarulo, Director and
Coach of The Wicked Travel softball
organization agrees. “Fastpitch Nation
has significantly elevated the level of
play in Connecticut. FPN’s approach,
giving young ladies the right skills and a
year-long opportunity to develop those
skills has made a real difference in their
on-field performance,” he said.
“Fastpitch Nation has redefined
the game of Fastpitch Softball in the
Connecticut region, said CT Mirage
14U coach Peter Gailey. By providing a
first-class, year-round facility, FPN has
provided nearly unlimited opportunity to
players of all ages seeking to train, practice and play with the best. Its unique
brand proposition is the ability to provide
a world-class training continuum from
rec ball, through travel and into college.
FPN, and its highly qualified staff have
helped me team take twelve, 11-year
old rec players and in a few seasons turn
them into 12 high school varsity players
as Freshmen. The ability to play, train
and compete, year-round, at such a high
level, so close to home, has meant the
world to our team.”
Because of Fastpitch Nation’s success,
Rocha has become a recognized leader in
the sport in the region and in early 2010
USSSA came calling. In May 2010 Rocha
was named USSSA’s first Connecticut State
Fastpitch Director, tasked with building
a program from the ground up. “We
chose David as our new state director
because of his strong connections in the
Connecticut fastpitch community,” said
Bill Dowell USSSA VP of Fastpitch. “In
addition, he’s very self-motivated and
extremely customer focused, which made
him an ideal candidate. To be truthful, I
don’t think we could have done a better
job on the appointment because in the
short time he’s been with us he’s registered over 140 fastpitch travel teams and
has produced numerous well-run events
in the state. We fully expect his success
to continue with even stronger numbers
this fall and into next year.”
CT is a state in a fastpitch frenzy with
one of the highest teams to population
ratios in the country. But it was a state
dominated by PONY for travel softball.
Almost all teams had never heard of
USSSA before. Traditionally in Connecticut
all tournaments for the following year
are posted by Thanksgiving and are filled
and paid for by year’s end. So Rocha had
to work fast to build a program, market
it, educate the teams and offer a tournament selection all before teams could
fill their schedule with PONY events. He
also recruited one of the state’s top and
most respected umpires, Mike Almeida,
to take on the equally daunting role of
State Umpire-in-Chief.
From May to October 2010, Rocha
and Almeida talked to many teams and
umpires, held informational meetings
and focus groups. They took the benefits
that USSSA had to offer and used their
own personal reputations to change the
course of fastpitch in Connecticut. “When
David came to me to help him start CT
USSSA I knew it would not be easy.
Umpires do not easily change and asking
them to commit to yet another organization with no guarantee of success was
not easy,” Almeida said. “But I also knew
David and the success of Fastpitch Nation
and the opportunity he afforded umpires
convinced me.”
In the state PONY tournaments are
traditionally hosted by teams as fund-
raisers and not by PONY or independent
hosts. Rocha had to change the paradigm since he would be an independent
host of nearly all the USSSA events in the
state. But first he needed a place to play.
So he took on a huge business risk. He
discovered a set of 7 slowpitch fields and
a clubhouse owned by jet engine maker,
Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, CT.
These fields were grass infields and were
dilapidated from 30 years of adult league
use with no improvements. But most
importantly, they were unused on weekends. Rocha convinced Pratt & Whitney
to let him use the fields every weekend
from April to November. Rocha invested
$50,000 to skin and totally refurbish
the fields for fastpitch. He rebuilt every
field, replaced backstops, added safety
screening, new bases and benches. He
signed a 7-year agreement creating the
largest and best facility in the state for
fastpitch tournaments. With that in hand
he posted his events.
“I really had no idea what to expect.
I was certainly hopeful the teams heard
my message and would respond. But
the way they responded surprised
even me,” he said. “I knew if I offered
a better program, had the best run
events, used the top umpires in the best
facility it would be a winning combination.” Almost immediately the 12 Spring/
Summer events at the new outdoor
complex started to fill up. By the first of
the year some were already full with the
largest events having 32 teams entered.
By Mar. 1, 84% of the total tournament
capacity was filled. He also conceived of
the co-host concept since USSSA teams
were not hosting events themselves.
“Many teams hosted their own tournaments in the past which lead to a huge
inconsistency in the process and quality
of events. I wanted to fix that while still
offering as many teams as possible an
opportunity to raise money, practically
risk-free,” Rocha said. He needed reliable day of tournament labor and the
teams needed money. A co-host team
provides this labor and depending on the
size of the tournament the co-host earns
as much as $1,100. “The response was
tremendous. I had more teams wanting
to co-host than I had events,” he said.
The response from umpires was equally
impressive. “We knew USSSA would have
the best tournaments and we wanted
the best umpires as well,” Almeida said.
In the 2011 season in Connecticut
the schedule contains 23 tournaments
indoors and outdoors including state
championships for 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U
and 18U as well as the first Women’s
56 USSSA TODAY
open event in the state. Aside from the
more than 140 teams in Connecticut
playing in USSSA events, teams from
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Vermont have played or will play this
season in Connecticut.
The outdoor season is well underway
and teams are fully enjoying the new
home of USSSA softball in CT at the Pratt
& Whitney fields and also discovering
the wonderful benefits of USSSA from
the comprehensive web based tools to
the World Series in Disney World. Many
teams from the state have already registered to play at Disney and the World
Series event in Maryland.
“CT USSSA has been a great alternative to the PONY tournaments. The
website is fantastic and the coaches and
parents enjoy the “openness” of information which includes teams registered
for tournaments, rosters, records, and the
historical information on teams that is
provided,” said Mike Gothers coach of the
Central Connecticut Comets 16U Black.
“CT USSSA has brought more options
and awareness to the softball community
in general,” said Paul Crisci, Director and
Coach of the CT Seahawks. With other
programs dominating the state for many
years, CT USSSA brings a competitive
awakening to the other programs that
in the past have been somewhat complacent. David has committed to his dream
of creating a greater softball experience
to the softball community. His ability to
be available and accommodating is a rare
quality found in youth sports today.”
Said Gothers, “David Rocha was the
perfect person to both lead the USSSA in
CT as well as opening Fastpitch Nation.
David is very creative and his thought
process always opens new eyes to
different options and ideas and presents
them in a way that is welcoming. We are
truly lucky to have David here to help
support and drive fastpitch softball to
new levels.”
When I started Fastpitch Nation it
was a direct reflection of my love of the
game and a genuine desire to expand
the opportunities for the female athletes
of this region. Taking on building the
USSSA program was a natural extension
of that. I knew there could be a better
system enhancing the experience for
these players. I have made long term
commitment to the game and to the
teams in the state. To be able to provide
both Fastpitch Nation and USSSA to the
players and coaches in Connecticut is
both an honor and a privilege for me.
Rising To The Top
USSSA Youth Fast Pitch
Three Things
I Think I Think
By Rick Phillips
1) I think I think that if there is a better
venue to play at then Big League
Dreams that I would be shocked.
The facility itself is state of the art
as softball complexes go, the staff
is real time ready to please, and the
concessions offer good food as well
as somewhere to relax to escape
the hot or cold conditions.
2) I think I think that as more softball
chat rooms pop up on line that this
has a good and bad side to it. As
managers post for players, try-outs,
and more this is a great way to get
the word out. Others at times will
use these sites to complain, argue,
or be vindictive. A simple solution
for the ladder is for the moderators to monitor more instead of in
moderation!
3) I think I think that the team
Insurance policy’s provided through
USSSA affiliates has proven to be
cost friendly as well as very effective in timely coverage. AZUSSSA is
thrilled with the positive feedback
we have received from Coach’s,
Parents, as well as one unlucky
spectator!
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© 2011 Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Louisville, KY. All rights reserved.
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Arman’s Softball Career
Spans 60 Years
by James Hightower
If Roy Arman ever
tells you he’s “Seen
it all,” it’s probably
true.
In more than 60
years of playing or
coaching
baseball,
men’s and girls’ fastpitch softball, Roy
grins: “Nobody ever
sees it all. But, maybe nearly all.”
A retired building contractor from
New Martinsville, W. Va., Arman played
his first softball game in an organized
league at age 14 in 1948. Three years later,
he hit his first home run, at a championship softball game in Woodsfield, Ohio.
He hit his stride that year, smashing two
more round trips, a triple and a double.
From there, it was playing and/or
coaching in 11 world championship
men’s fastpitch tournaments, 27 men’s
and girls’ state softball championships
with more than 3,000 wins. Those years
included 12 years in Little League and
American Legion baseball.
“We never had sponsors in those
days,” says Arman. “We raised money
by individual contributions and from the
players’ own pockets and we traveled
all over the US and Canada, including
Victoria, British Columbia.”
Even while in the Army, Arman
couldn’t stay away from athletics. He
was a coach/player for a softball team
in New York City that was made up of
servicemen. Later, he played baseball
against two players who turned out to
be All-Americans: Sam Huff and Fred
Wyant, who played football for West
Virginia University. Huff went on to play
for the New York Giants and Washington
Redskins. Wyant also was drafted by the
Redskins and later became a NCAA football official.
As for having “seen it all,” Arman
remembers the sensational play by his
granddaughter, Paige, in 2008 that
58 USSSA TODAY
sealed the deal in an 18/u girls’ fastpitch
championship tournament on Wheeling,
W. Va.’s I-470 fields.
With two outs in the bottom of the
seventh, Paige swung so hard at a ball
she dislocated her shoulder. Her dad,
Greg, (a fastpitch hurler himself) and
a physical therapist who was in the
crowd re-located it, whereupon Paige
powdered a home run over the center
field fence -- batting with only one arm.
Then, there was the opening round
of a men’s ISC world tournament in
Phoenix, Ariz., Aug. 16, 1980. Roy’s team
was playing Cedar Rapids in what turned
out to be a 17-inning contest. Regulation
play ended in a 1-1 tie, sending the game
into extra innings.
For the first five of those innings,
every time Cedar Rapids got a runner
on, they would bunt to advance the base
runner. And, every time they bunted,
Arman’s third baseman would grab it up,
tag the base runner on his way to third,
then throw it to second to nail the batter
for the double play.
Finally, Cedar Rapids stopped bunting
and went on to win the game 3-1.
However, Arman is still in disbelief. “In
five overtime innings of double plays, I
never understood why they continued to
bunt,” Arman mused.
Perhaps the funniest thing he has
ever seen was at men’s fastpitch game
against a Canadian team on a cold and
windy day in Buffalo, N. Y. “It was so cold,
we had to go buy coats,” Arman recalls.
His team was behind 4-2, but went
on to win in the seventh inning. “That
made the Canadian players so mad, they
poured water on home plate,” holding
up the next game while groundskeepers
made the field playable.
From 2001-09, Arman focused exclusively on a girls’ fastpitch team, the
Diamond Queens. “Men’s fastpitch was
dying out and it was difficult to find
quality players who wanted to travel,”
Arman explained. During those years,
the Diamond Queens advanced to the
PONY national playoffs and never had a
losing season.
In 2009, however, Arman fielded no
team. “It just seemed like we ran out of
talented players who were not already
committed to a travel team,” says Arman.
But, the following year, Arman found
those quality players and did field his
Diamond Queens, made of players from
Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Three of his players that year -- two
pitchers and a third baseman -- took their
skills to the next level and are now at the
collegiate level. Indeed, over the years,
Arman has sent more than 48 Diamond
Queens on to Division I, II and III schools
as freshmen starters and softball scholars.
In June of 2010 -- in the middle of
travel season – Arman suffered a stroke,
at home, that would cause him to retire
from active softball management. He
turned the Diamond Queens over to
trusted friends for management and
coaching, but continues to support the
Diamond Queens on a consulting basis as
Head Coach Emeritus.
In fact, three of the present Diamond
Queen coaches all played for Arman’s
men’s fastpitch teams -- including the
third baseman who initiated the double
plays in the Cedar Rapids game.
ANDREA DURAN
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Grand Prairie, Texas’ Airhogs To Host
NPF’s USSSA Pride & NPF Diamonds
in a Three Game Series
QuikTrip Park- August 5,6,7
Scott Berry, president and
co-owner of the Grand Prairie
AirHogs, announces the
upcoming series to the DFW press.
Francesca Enea, former Univ. of
Florida slugger, relates her passion
for softball and the place NPF fits
into her life to a local TV affiliate.
Former SEC (Univ.of Alabama)
standout, Charlotte Morgan, is
interviewed by one of the local
newspapers.
Francesca and Charlotte with AirHogs’
president, Scott Berry, at the entrance
to beautiful QuikTrip Park.
60 USSSA TODAY
NPF’s commissioner, Cheri
Kempf, voiced her excitement
for the league’s further
exposure into the North Texas
market.
All media was present- television,
radio and newspaper.
NPF SOFTBALL AT
USSSA Pride vs. NPF Diamonds
QuikTrip Park- Grand Prairie, TX
Friday, August 5, 7:05 PM
Saturday, August 6, 7:05 PM
Sunday, August 7, 1:05 PM
Tickets: $10 for adults
$5 for children
Three-day passes are available
To order your tickets or for
more information call the
Grand Prairie AirHogs at
972-504-9383
or visit
www.airhogsbaseball.com
Megan Willis
2006 Big 12 Defensive POY
Texas Longhorns Star
Jami Lobpries
All-Big 12 Outfielder
Texas A&M Aggies Star
*Scheduled
*S
*
S h d l d to appear
Cat Osterman
Olympic Gold Medalist
Texas Longhorns Star
by Rachel Gossens
Get to know the USSSA Florida Pride...
This will be the first in a series to introduce the players of the
2011 Florida Pride. This issue will get to know:
Andrea Duran
Francesca Enea
Lauren Lappin
Name
Tonya
Ashley
Andrea
Francesca
Samantha
Alissa
Kelly
Lauren
Danielle
Caitlin
Jessica
Charlotte
Cat
Sarah
Melissa
Danielle
Natasha
Megan
Kelsie
Jenn
Jordan
2011 Florida Pride Roster
Position
Callahan
3B/1B
Charters
INF
Duran
3B
Enea
OF
Findlay
1B/DH
Haber
OF
Kretschman OF/DH
Lappin
2B/C/UT
Lawrie
P
Lowe
CF
Mendoza
OF
Morgan
DH/1B
Osterman
P
Pauly
P
Roth
C
Spaulding
P
Watley
SS
Willis
C
Bruder
Draftee
Salling
Draftee
Taylor
Draftee
#
35
11
28
10
13
6
12
37
15
26
2
34
8
23
22
20
29
5
4
7
17
College
Tennessee
Washington
UCLA
Florida
Michigan
Stanford
Alabama
Stanford
Washington
Arizona
Stanford
Alabama
Texas
Texas A&M-CC
Louisville
North Carolina
UCLA
Texas
Florida
Washington
Michigan
2011 Florida Pride Schedule
June 10-12
June 16-19
June 23
June 25-26
June 30-July 3
July 8-10
July 16
July 21-24
July 28-31
August 2-4
August 5-7
August 11-14
August 18-21
Chicago Bandits
Chicago Bandits
NPF Diamonds
NPF Diamonds
Akron Racers
NPF Diamonds
NPF Diamonds
Chicago Bandits
Akron Racers
NPF Diamonds
NPF Diamonds
Chicago Bandits
Championship Series
ESPN Wide World of Sports, FL
Rosemont, IL
Jackie Robinson Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL
TBD
Firestone Stadium, Akron, OH
Rent One Park, Marion, IL
Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL
Foothills Stadium, Calgary, Canada
QuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie, TX
Rosemont, IL
McMurry Park, Sulphur, LA
www.usssapride.com
www.facebook.com/floridapride
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Andrea Duran
3 Base #28
Professional: After playing for the PFX Tour for the 2007 to
2009 seasons, Duran is now transitioning to the National
Pro Fastpitch League (NPF), beginning this phase of her
career and marking her first season with the Pride. In 2010
Championship season Duran was a solid defender with
a .937 fielding percentage and committing 6 errors. She
played in 34 of 57 games, with a .216 batting average with 2
homeruns and 9 RBI.
National Team Experience: Duran made her first appearance with the USA National team in 2006, leading the team
to a World Cup Championship, a title she received again
in 2007. At the 2007 Pan American Games, Duran walked
away with a gold medal after placing second on the team
with a .500 average for the games and hitting her
first grand slam of her National Team career. In
2008. Duran made the trip to Beijing, China as a
member of the 2008 USA Olympic team
and helped her team to the silver medal.
College: During her time in collegiate
play at UCLA, Duran was honored
as the 2006 Pac-10 Player of the
Year as well as named to the AllWomen’s College World Series
Team that same year. In 2003 and
2004, Duran helped her team to
become two-time National Champions at the Women’s College World
Series, securing her a spot on the 2004
NCAA Regional All Tournament team.
Duran also excelled academically over
the course of her collegiate career, being
honored in 2004 with Pac 10 Academic
Honors and again by ESPN: The Magazine
as an Academic All-American.
Personal: Andrea is the daughter of John
and Janie Duran. She graduated from
UCLA in 2006 with a degree in Sociology and recently returned to her alma
mater to take up position as Director
of Operations for the UCLA softball
team.
rd
UCLA
Selma, CA
Francesca Enea
Professional: Francesca made her
professional debut with the
USSSA Florida Pride in 2010
and in doing so, she helped
the Pride win their franchise
first NPF Championship. She
played in 25 out of 57 games, seeing
much of her time in the outfield. She
was second in homeruns out of the rookies
with 2. Francesca ended her rookie campaign
with a .133 average with 2 homeruns and 6 RBI
in 60 at bats.
College: Francesca Enea attended the University of
Florida where she was the National Fast pitch Coaches
Association (NFCA)/Louisville Slugger Second-Team
All-American in 2008 and 2009, Easton First-Team AllAmerican in 2008 and 2009, All- Southeastern Conference
Second Team in 2009, Women’s College World Series AllTournament Team in 2008, NFCA All-Southeast Region
in 2008 and 2009, SEC All-Tournament Team in 2008, and
SEC All-Freshman Team in 2007. She also holds seven records at Florida: single-season home runs (18), single-season RBIs (70), single-season sacrifice flies (6), single-season
slugging percentage (.713; tied), career home runs (41), career RBIs (156) and career sacrifice flies (11). Francesca also
ranks in the top 10 on eight other UF career lists, including a .310 batting average (7th), a .595 slugging percentage
(2nd) and a .411 on-base percentage (5th). She also tallied
70 RBIs in 2009, holding the fifth spot in SEC single-season
record books. Post college career she is tied for fifth in the
league record book with 18 single-season home runs (2009)
and tied for seventh with 17 home runs (2008). Francesca
hit 41 career home runs and ranks eighth in league record
book as well while also mashing five career grand slams.
In her junior season she played in all 68 games with a torn
ACL, starting 62 in left field. In her sophomore year she
started all 74 games and they were also primarily played in
left field.
Personal: A 2006 graduate of El Camino Real High School
in Woodland Hills, California, Francesca earned All-city,
All-West Valley League and all-area honors all four years
and was also named the West Valley CoMVP in 2003 and the Most Valuable Player
in 2004.
Outfield #10
University of Florida
Woodland Hills, CA
Lauren Lappin
Professional: A spark for the Pride both behind the plate and at
second base in her first season as a member of the Pride and also
first season in the NPF. Lappin started in 36 of 57 games, batting
.179 with 2 RBI for the season.
National Team Experience: In 2003, Lappin led the USA Softball Elite team to the Canada Cup gold medal, being recognized as the Top Defensive Player at the competition. She was
a member of the 2004 National Team and served as an alternate
for the Olympic Games. After a two year hiatus, Lappin returned
to the national team in 2007. During this season Lappin became a
gold medalist at the Pan American Games, hitting .400 (2-for5) with three RBI and a run scored, as well as a World
Cup Champion, scoring three runs and finishing
the World Cup with a batting average of .375.
She hit .583 at the Canada Cup with a
double, triple, and three homeruns
for 10 RBI. In 2008, Lappin
became an Olympic
silver medalist at
the games
in
Beijing, China.
College: A Stanford graduate, Lappin was a two-time Pac-10
Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006. She was named to
the Second-team All-Pac-10 in 2003 and First-team All-Pac-10 in
2004, 2005 and 2006, as well as the WCWS All-Tournament team
that same season. She was named to the Second Team All-Pacific
Region and received third-team and second-team NFCA AllAmerican honors.
Prep: Lappin was a four year First-team all Empire League
selection for Softball and Soccer at Loara High School in
Anaheim, California. Twice named to the All-Orange County
teams in soccer and softball, Lauren was awarded the
Orange County Athlete of the Year honor by the “Orange
County Register” in her senior year of high school. She
holds school records for most consecutive games with a
hit and most goals in a season and career for the softball
and soccer programs, respectively. She was also a
two-year letter winner and All-League selection in
volleyball and basketball.
Personal: Lauren is the daughter of Dean and Kelly Lappin and has three siblings Amanda, Archie
and Traci (sister-in-law) as well as three nephews Kyle, Jackson and Easton.
She is a 2006 graduate of
Stanford University
where she majored
in American
Studies.
Infield #37
Stanford University
Anaheim, CA
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T H E N AT I O N ’S BE S T
SOFTB ALL PL AYERS
CONVERGE
The 2011 National Pro Fastpitch Championship in Sulphur, Louisiana is
the only place you’ll see the nation’s finest softball players compete!
On August 18–21, top teams from coast to coast will bring their A-Game
and A-List players such as Cat Osterman, Jessica Mendoza,
Monica Abbott and Taryne Mowatt to battle for the title.
See you in Sulphur!
VisitLakeCharles.org • ProFastpitch.com
3rd ANNUAL
Queen of the Mountain
Fastpitch Event
by Julie Rodriquez
This event was held in the beautiful mountains of Ruidoso NM
using 4 different locations including Ruidoso Downs, Gavilon
Canyon, North Park and the Eagle Creek main faculity. All areas
of NM and WTX were represented well! 67 teams. This was a
record number for this year! Listed below are the results for
each age division and a breakdown on numbers per division.
There will be 2 weekends offered for both events so we can
accommodate more teams! Two events are hosted there every
year on the same weekend. Queen of the Mountain June 3-5
and The Chiller Classic Sept 9-11. Both events have the best of
the best. The officials are chosen by the State UIC Ray Martin
and myself and these events are used as a reward for their
hard work and dedication to our program! Ray and I run both
events together and well as my official traveling crew of scorekeepers Maggie Lopez, Wanda Bell and Elizabeth Brown and
my one and only gopher (go for this go for that) as he calls
himself and #1 cook for the staff Shorty Lopez not to mention
my #1 supporters and sponsors Claude and Ruth Williams NM
Hall of Famers! They go everywhere I go! Special thanks to
Ruidoso USSSA Billy and Patsy Page and Debbie Jo Almager for
all their help!
8u CoachPitch-9 Teams Total
Place
State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
1
NM
Atomic Blast 8u
FPGirls8uCoachOpen
6
0
0
2
NM
Pink Panthers Qualified
FPGirls8uCoachOpen
5
2
0
3
NM
Storm
FPGirls8uCoachOpen
5
2
0
4
NM
Xplosion
FPGirls8uCoachOpen
2
4
0
10u-12Teams Total
Place
State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
1
NM
New Mexico Atomic Blast
FPGirls10UB
5
1
0
2
NM
SOX
FPGirls10UC
4
2
0
3
TXW
ODESSA IMPACT 00
FPGirls10UC
4
2
0
4
NM
New Mexico Sol 2000
FPGirls10UB
2
2
0
Wins
Loses
Ties
12u-28 Teams Total
Place
State
Team
Team Class
1
NM
NM Nemesis
FPGirls12&UB
7
1
0
2
NM
Stitches
FPGirls12&UB
4
1
0
3
TXW
Odessa Impact 99
FPGirls12&UB
4
2
0
4
TXW
Xtreme Heat
FPGirls12&UC
3
2
0
Wins
Loses
Ties
14u-9 Teams Total
Place
State
Team
Team Class
1
NM
NM Starz Qualified
FPGirls14&UB
4
0
0
2
NM
SYNERGY
FPGirls14&UB
3
2
0
3
TXW
TEXAS RATTLERS
FPGirls14&UB
3
2
0
4
NM
Chaos
FPGirls14&UB
3
2
0
Wins
Loses
Ties
16u-18u 10 Teams Total
Place
72 USSSA TODAY
State
Team
Team Class
1
NM
NM Cobras
FPGirls18&UB
4
1
0
2
NM
Lady Ninja’s
FPGirls18&UB
6
2
0
3
TXW
Doc Express Qualified
FPGirls18&UB
2
2
0
4
NM
Albuquerque Scorpions
FPGirls18&UB
3
3
0
www.profastpitch.com
2011 SCHEDULE
Date OppOnent
JUNE
LOcatiOn
time
9 NPF Diamonds vs. Akron Racers
10 Chicago Bandits vs. USSSA Pride
(ESPN Wide World of Sports)
NPF Diamonds vs. Akron Racers
Chicago Bandits vs. USSSA Pride
16 USSSA Pride vs. Chicago Bandits (Opening Day)
17 Akron Racers vs. NPF Diamonds
(FortuneRoadAthleticComplex)
USSSA Pride vs. Chicago Bandits
(Scout Night/Pitcher Poster Night)
18 Akron Racers vs. NPF Diamonds
(FortuneRoadathleticComplex)
Akron Racers vs. NPF Diamonds
USSSA Pride vs. Chicago Bandits (Kid’s Run Bases)
19 USSSA pride vs. Chicago Bandits
Akron Racers vs. NPF Diamonds
23 USSSA Pride vs. NPF Diamonds
(Jackie Robinson Stadium)
Chicago Bandits vs. Akron Racers
NPF Diamonds vs. USSSA Pride
(Jackie Robinson Stadium)
24 Chicago Bandits vs. Akron Racers
25 NPF Diamonds vs. USSSA Pride
(FIU Baseball Stadium)
26 Chicago Bandits vs. Akron Racer
(FIU Baseball Stadium)
28 Chicago Bandits vs. Rockford Riverhawks
(Road Ranger Stadium)
30 USSSA Pride vs. Akron Racers
NPF Diamonds vs. Chicago Bandits
Akron, OH
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Akron, OH
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Orlando, FL
5:30 p.m.
Akron, OH
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
12:00 p.m.
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
Kissimmee, FL
2:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Rosemont, IL
7:30 p.m.
Kissimmee, FL
5:00 p.m.
Kissimmee, FL
7:00 p.m.
Rosemont, IL
Rosemont, IL
Kissimmee, FL
7:30 p.m.
5:35 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
29
Daytona Beach, FL
6:30 p.m.
30
Akron, OH
Daytona Beach, FL
7:05 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
Akron, OH
Miami, FL
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Akron, OH
Akron, OH
Miami, FL
7:05 p.m.
2:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Rockford, IL
7:00 p.m.
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
11
1
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
12
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Rosemont, IL
12:30 p.m.
Marion, IL
Marion, IL
Marion, IL
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
2:05 p.m.
6:35 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Marion, IL
Rosemont, IL
Rosemont, IL
Akron, OH
Akron, OH
Viera, FL
2:05 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
7:35 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Akron, OH
7:05 p.m.
JULY
2
3
7
8
9
10
12
14
15
16
USSSA Pride vs. Akron Racers
(First Responders Night)
Akron Racers vs. Chicago Bandits
Chamber of Commerce Night/
BusinessAppreciationNight)
(Kids Day (Day Game))
USSSA Pride vs. NPF Diamonds (Rent One Park)
Akron Racers v. Chicago Bandits
(Big Bats Poster Night)
King & His Court vs. Chicago Bandits
(Space Coast Stadium)
17
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
31
(Space Coast Stadium)
Akron Racers vs. NPF Diamonds (The Dell Diamond)
Chicago Bandits vs. NPF Diamonds
(North Davidson High School)
Akron Racers vs. USSSA Pride
Viera, FL
7:30 p.m.
Akron, OH
Orlando, FL
2:05 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Round Rock, TX
Orlando, FL
6:00 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Round Rock, TX
Round Rock, TX
Orlando, FL
8:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
Round Rock, TX
Orlando, FL
8:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m.
Clemens, NC
7:00 p.m.
Clemens, NC
5:30 p.m.
Clemens, NC
7:30 p.m.
Clemens, NC
7:00 p.m.
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
Orlando, FL
7:05 p.m.
Orlando, FL
12:00 p.m.
USSSA Pride vs. NPF Diamonds (Foothills Stadium)
(Play it Forward Night)
NPF Diamonds vs. USSSA Pride (Quik Trip Park)
(YouthTeamAppreciationNight)
(College Student & Alumni Night)
(Pink in the Park, Cancer Awareness Night)
(SeasonFinalFanAppreciationNight/
Poster giveaway, First 300)
Calgary, Canada
Calgary, Canada
Calgary, Canada
Rosemont, IL
6:05 p.m.
6:05 p.m.
6:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Grand Prairie, TX
Rosemont, IL
Grand Prairie, TX
Rosemont, IL
Grand Prairie, TX
Rosemont, IL
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
1:05 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
7:05 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Akron, OH
Rosemont, IL
2:05 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
AUGUST
2
3
4
5
6
7
13
14
Championship Series Tournament | Sulphur, LA
17 Fan Fest
Friends of Pro’s Game
BattleoftheBatsFinals
18 Game 1 #2 vs. #3
Game 2 #1 vs. #4
19 Game 3 #1 vs. #4
Game 4 #2 vs. #3
20 Game 5 “If Necessary” #1 vs. #4
Game 6 “If Necessary” #2 vs. #3
Game 7- Final Series
21 Game 8- Final Series
Game 9 “If necessary”- Final Series
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:30p.m.
6:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
For the rest of the 2011 schedule, please visit www.profastpitch.com/schedule
All Times are Eastern Time (unless noted CT) and are Subject to Change.
ForTickets,LiveGames,LiveStats-www.profastpitch.com–(615)232-2900•TeamListedLastisHomeTeam•FollowUsonFacebookandTwitter
We Are Proud To Be Pride
If your team is interested in an affiliate sponsorship with the USSSA Pride and have 5 or more teams
that will participate in an organizational sponsorship opportunity for the 2012 fastpitch season,
please contact GORDON GLENNIE, Assistant General Manager, USSSA Pride
at [email protected] for further details.
B.J. Fulk
A Big Hit At Namesake Tournament In Texas
by Greg Huchingson
2011 BJ Fulk Shoot Out Men B/C Champions – 214 Bullets/Vic’s
2011 BJ Fulk Shoot Out Women C/D Champions – Fully Loaded
2011 BJ Fulk Shoot Out Men D Champions – Team Ego
2011 BJ Fulk Shoot Out Men E Champions – H&H
MANSFIELD, TX – B.J. Fulk is a bighitting left-hander from North Carolina.
But it was his personality that was a big
hit at his namesake tournament in Texas
– the 2nd Annual B.J. Fulk Shootout
held April 2-3 at Big League Dreams in
Mansfield, TX (near Fort Worth).
Fulk blasted 77 home runs for
Resmondo/Worth during Conference
USSSA play in 2010, the second most of
any player in the nation – trailing only
teammate Greg Connell. His 210 RBI’s
were fourth most in the nation. Fulk was
named to the All-Tournament teams at
the Major World Series, where he led
Resmondo/Worth to the championship.
The B.J. Fulk Shootout in Texas is
part of the Lone Star Shootout State
76 USSSA TODAY
Championship Series, which is sponsored by Worth. And since Fulk is one
of the marquee factory players in the
Worth stable – with his name gracing
the Carolina blue B.J. FULK MAYHEM
bat – he makes an annual appearance
at his namesake tournament. While in
Texas, Fulk visited with players, signed
autographs, put on a hitting exhibition,
and hit against the winner of a home run
derby.
He even put his Carolina ranching
background to use by moonlighting
aboard one of the tractors being used
to clear dirt from a field so Artificial Turf
could be installed.
“Texas is one of the best markets for
us (Worth) and it is my pleasure to be
able to come here and hang out with
these players,” said Fulk. “This is the
grass roots of softball, right here. This is
where it all gets started. And this facility
(Big League Dreams) is amazing.”
Seventy teams in four divisions came
out to see Fulk and participate in the
tournament. The Most Valuable Players
of each division, as well as the winner of
the Home Run Derby, each received B.J.
FULK MAYHEM bats,
In the Men’s B/C Division, the 214
Bullets/Vic’s Roofing from Dallas went 4-1
to win first place. Manager Vic Gonzalez’s
team defeated the Jokers (15-14), Clutch/
SaveSecond.com (16-14) and Mafia/
Future (18-17) to advance to the championship game undefeated. Sagnasty/
ASPNation.com/Miken emerged from
the loser’s bracket and knocked off the
214 Bullets ( 20-14) in the first championship game to force an “if” game. But the
214 Bullets bounced back in the rubber
match and defeated Sagnasty (19-17)
to claim the crown with a 4-1 record.
Sagnasty/ASPNation.com/Miken
from
Sagnasty settled for second place with
a 6-2 record, while Mafia/Future from
Dallas came in third at 3-2, and Clutch/
SaveSecond.com from Ft. Worth came in
fourth also at 3-2.
Jerry Tyson of the 214 Bullets was
named MVP of the division, while
Jason trammel of Sagnasty was named
the Gold Glove winner. The rest of the
All-Tournament team consisted of Jason
Benavides, Casey Melton, Jeff Ash and
Daniel Davis, of the 214 Bullets; Cody
Kagioritis, Corey Large, and Matt Vern, of
Sagnasty; Matt Slater, Luciano Castaneda
and Daniel Luke Evans of Mafia/Future;
and Joey Urbanek and Logan Nelson, of
Clutch/SaveSecond.com.
There were 27 teams in the Men’s
D division, making it the largest of the
tournament. Team Ego/TexasInks made
the four-hour drive up Interstate 45
from Houston and went undefeated to
win first place. Team Ego defeated DFL
Construction (8-5), Showtime (13-3),
Bass Tools (16-11), and Reign (23-22) to
advance to the championship game,
where they snuck past the Gamecocks
(16-15) to take the title with a 5-0 record.
Another team from South Texas, the
Gamecocks from Temple, came in second
with a 5-2 record, while Reign from Ft.
Worth finished third at 4-2 and the Texas
Sawx from Mansfield came in fourth,
also at 4-2. Bass Tools from Louisiana and
RPN/SwingTyme/Syndicate from Houston
tied for fifth place, and DFL Construction
from Louisiana and Arkansas Mayhem
tied for seventh.
Mario DeLeon of Team Ego was
named MVP of the division, and Dante
LaPoint of the Gamecocks was the Gold
Glove winner. Other players named to
the All-Tournament team were Bobby
Haddock, Jose DeLeon, Trey Strickland
and Rob Strickland, of Team Ego; Cody
Feight, Andrew Rayas and Adam Sawder,
of the Gameocks; Brian Elliott, Shawn
Huseman ad Jerry Delgado, of Reign; and
Scott Crumley and Jason Drake, of Texas
Sawx.
In the Men’s E Division, H&H from
Waxahachie did it the hard way, after
losing their first game of the tournament to Young & Reckless (6-4). H&H
dropped to the loser’s bracket and
reeled off consecutive wins over Fighting
Squirrels (11-8), The Originals (15-13),
Average Joe’s (16-13), Texas Shooters
(13-8), Hard Knox/Texas Shock (9-6),
R&R Demons (7-0) and Player Haters
(19-7) to make it all the way back to
the championship. Then, H&H doubledipped the Bionic Commandos 18-14
and 8-7 to win the championship with
an 8-1 record. The Bionic Commandos
from Texarkana settled for second place
with a 5-2 record, while Player Haters
from Dallas came in third at 3-2, and
R&R Demons from Harlingen in the Rio
Grande Valley finished fourth at 4-2. Lost
Primos from Abilene in West Texas and
Hard Knox/Texas Shock from Burleson
tied for fifth place, and Young & Reckless
from Louisiana and Texas Shooters from
Waxahachie tied for seventh.
William Cameron of H&H was named
the MVP of the Men’s D Division, and Josh
Anthony of Bionic Commandos was the
Gold Glove winner. Other players named
to the All-Tournament team were Garrett
Gilliam, Scott Neall, Kevin Mawhinney
and Travis Heine, of H&H; Ricky Rushing,
Wesley Wicks and Jason Leeper, of Bionic
Commandos; Brandon Taylor, David
McCoy and Robert Delasbour, of Player
Haters; and Richard Romero III and Pete
Tagle, of R&R Demons.
In the Women’s C/D Division, Fully
Loaded, a D team from Dallas, pulled an
upset by outlasting two strong C teams
in the bracket to win the crown. In the
first round, Fully Loaded shocked Team
Arkansas (19-14) and would have won
even without the three-run spot they
received from the C team. Fully Loaded
went on to defeat Who’s Next (11-1)
and Lady Canes II (10-7) to advance to
the championship game, where they
met another D team. Caught Looking/
ASC handed Fully Loaded their first loss
of the tournament (16-13), before Fully
Loaded bounced back to win the “if”
game (14-2) to take first place with a 4-1
record. Caught Looking/ASC from Euless
came in second at 5-2, the Lady Canes
II from Cedar Hill took third at 2-2, and
Team Arkansas from Little Rock came in
fourth, also at 2-2.
Tara Wesley of Fully Loaded was
named Most Valuable Player, and Destani
Linamen of Caught Looking was the
Gold Glove winner. Players named to
the All-Tournament team were Annie
Alexander, Casey May, Christine Echols
and Sharla Morgan, of Fully Loaded;
Angel Jursnick, Andrea Martinez and
Kristi Mayes, of Caught Looking; and
Aeshia Waites, Tenille Bass and Sandy
Sanchez, of Lady Canes II.
BJ, after hours of signing, generously puts his Carolina
dirt skills to use and helped with the new turf
installation that was in progress.
(left to right) Lone Star Softball’s Greg Huchingson,
BJ Fulk and Big League Dreams-Mansfield GM, Steve
Navarro
Shoot Out team proudly shows off an autographed
Worth BJ Fulk Mayhem. Fulk’s power display was awesome, as usual.
USSSA TODAY 77
26th Annual Budwesier Festival
Makes History With 315 Teams
by Van Galeon
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, TX – Texas
softball history was made April 29
through May 1, when a whopping 315
teams converged on Bryan-College
Station for the 26th Annual Budweiser
Softball Festival, making it the state’s
largest adult tournament ever held.
“When this tournament began with 24
teams back in 1986, I never dreamed
it would eventually turn into this,”
said event organizer Greg Huchingson.
“Slowpitch softball is alive and well in
Texas, and Bryan-College Station just
happens to be located in the center
of the state so it is easy for everybody
to get here. The avid players of Texas,
along with great sponsors like Jack
Hilliard Distributing and Worth Sports,
are responsible for making this happen.”
Last year, the Budweiser Softball Festival
was named 2010 USSSA Midwest
Division Tournament of the Year, when
it attracted 301 teams.
Festivities began Friday night, with the
popular Home Run Derby held at the
Bryan Regional Athletic Complex, and
the Men’s 35 & Over Division held at
Veterans Park in College Station. The
rest of the divisions began at 8 a.m.
Saturday on 17 fields at five different
complexes and continued non-stop
around-the-clock for 40 consecutive
hours until after midnight Sunday night.
All Out – 1st Place Men 35&over
“This tournament is a marathon and
it takes discipline to navigate through
the bracket,” said Huchingson. “People
come here to have a good time, and
many consider it a big party. But it’s no
fun to lose on Saturday then have to
stay up all night playing ball, and have
to keep going again on Sunday. Staying
undefeated as long as possible is definitely a more preferable way to go.”
Spurs/ASPNation – 2nd Place Men 35&over
78 USSSA TODAY
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The event began with Lt. Pedro Tagle,
Jr. of the U.S. Army presenting an award
and American flag to Huchingson and
Lone Star Softball for helping troops
start a softball league in Kandahar,
Afghanistan last year by donating
equipment.
The
equipment
was
collected at the annual Support Our
Troops Shootout in Mansfield, Texas as
well as other donors.
“It was an honor to be able to contribute
toward making a softball league for
our military personnel in Afghanistan
happen,” said Huchingson. “Those folks
put their lives on the line every day for
our freedom, and if they just want to be
able to enjoy this great sport that we all
love in their spare time, it’s the least we
could do. The Texas softball community
really stepped up to make this happen.”
Lady Canes II – 1st Place Women C
Lady Top Dog – 2nd Place Women C
80 USSSA TODAY
Following the presentation, a record 128
participants hit in the popular Budfest
Home Run Derby. With over $2,000 in
prize money at stake, 32 hitters per field
competed in a head-to-head, bracketed
format on each of the four fields at
BRAC. Then the winner from each field
advanced to the Final Four Hit-Off. The
winners from each of the fields were
Joseph Reed, Jr. on Big Bend, Austin
Peacock on Yellowstone, Derek Norris
on Glacier, and Argen Dodds on Grand
Canyon. The eventual grand champion
and winner of the $1,000 first prize was
Dodds. The other three finalists also
received cash prizes.
At the same time the Home Run Derby
was being held, the inaugural Budfest
Men’s 35& Over bracket was held at
Veterans Park. This was the first time
35 & Over was offered at the Budweiser
Festival, and the division was played to
completion Friday night so that players
could compete on their regular teams
on Saturday, although there were some
tired old-timers on Saturday as the
division didn’t end until after 2 a.m.
All-Out from Houston went 4-1 to win
first place, but not without a scare.
All-Out won their first game over Spurs/
ASPNation.com (17-9) then went on to
defeat Ol’ Tribe (17-12) and DYD Crew
(19-11) to advance to the championship
game. After losing to All-Out, Spurs/
ASPNation.com went to the loser’s
bracket and defeated Dirty Old Men
(24-9), Wasted Talent (19-6) and DYD
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Crew (20-14) to get another shot against All-Out in the finals.
Spurs/ASPNation.com came out smoking in the first games and
posted a 29-7 win to force the “if” game. But All-Out rallied in
the rubber match for a narrow 15-14 win to claim the championship in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Sagnasty/ASPNation.com/Miken – 1st Place Men’s B/C
Many of the same players who battled for the 35 & Over crown
would meet again in the 32-team Men’s B/C “Upper” bracket
played at Veterans Park in College Station. After Zamora’s
All-Out/TPS won their first two games over Texas Ice/RIP
Sports (20-0) and Strictly Performance (14-13), and Sagnasty/
ASPNation.com/Miken won their first two games over Houston
Express (22-8) and Elite Screen Print (17-16), they met again in
the quarter-finals of the winner’s bracket. Zamora’s All-Out/
TPS advanced with a 6-2 over Sagnasty, then defeated Olimto
Heat/Rios/CR Bar (23-14) to advance to the winner’s bracket
final, where they lost to Cash Money (33-16). Meanwhile,
Sagnasty/ASPNation.com/Miken dropped to the loser’s bracket
and posted consecutive wins over the BTX Outsiders (18-14),
Fidelity Medical (26-14), Austin Speed (16-1) and Budweiser
(27-13) to advance to the finals of the loser’s bracket against
their new nemesis Zamora’s All-Out/TPS.
The battle would be important, because undefeated Cash
Money inexplicably made the decision to drop out of the
tournament and begin their seven-hour drive back to the Rio
Grande Valley rather than play the championship game at 10
p.m. That made the loser’s bracket finals essentially a onegame battle for the championship. Sagnasty/ASPNation.com/
Miken, from Saginaw, defeated Zamora’s All-Out/TPS (34-10),
then was awarded two forfeit wins over Cash Money to claim
first place with a 9-1 record. Cash Money, from Harlingen,
settled for second place with a 5-2 record, and Zamora’s
All-Out/TPS, from Rosenburg, came in third at 4-2. Hometown
favorite Budweiser, from Bryan, took home fourth place at
5-2. Austin Speed and Olmito Heat/Rios/CR Bar, from Olmito,
tied for fifth place; Fidelity Medical from League City and Old
School from Spring tied for seventh; and Strictly Performance/
TPS from Ft. Worth, Apaches from Crystal City, BTX Outsiders
from Beaumont, and Clutch/SaveSecond.com from Euless tied
for ninth.
Woodpeckers – 1st Place Men’s D
DFL Construction – 2nd Place Men’s D
82 USSSA TODAY
Zane Trammell of Sagnasty was named Most Valuable Player
of the division, and Rocky Galindo of Cash Money was the
Gold Glove winner. Players named to the All-Tournament
team were Brad Sisk, Lyf Nimmo, Corey Large and Matt Vern,
of Sagnasty; Josh Murphree, Encarnacion Guajardo and Daniel
Luke Evans, of Cash Money; Abelardo Lerma and Donte
LaPoint, of Zamora’s All-Out; and Ricky Tubbs and Jeff Januse,
of Budweiser.
In the Men’s D Division, there were 80 teams in the bracket –
including most of the state-ranked teams from the Lone Star
Softball State Rankings – and it was played predominantly at
the Bryan Regional Athletic Complex. The Woodpeckers from
Galveston went undefeated at 7-0 to capture the crown. The
Woodpeckers defeated the Fighting Cocks (18-2), Misfits (19-3),
Wildbunch (15-10), Freaks (18-6), DFL Construction (22-14) and
Dream Street (15-4) to advance to the championship game,
where they defeated DFL Construction again (19-13). The
Woodpeckers scored 126 runs in their seven games (18.0 per
game) while giving up just 52 total runs (7.42 per game) for an
average margin of victory of 10.5 runs per game.
DFL Construction from West Monroe, LA came in second place
at 7-2, while Dream Street from Nederland finished third at
5-2, and Urban Assault from Austin came in fourth also at 5-2.
Twisted/Specialty Metal Products from Magnolia went 8-2 to
tie for fifth place with Dem Doods from Killeen who went 6-2.
CTM Softball from Laredo and Lethal Assault from Keller tied
for seventh; while the Hurricanes from Corpus Christi, Hustlers
from San Antonio, Triumph from Houston, and Freaks from
Leander all tied for ninth.
Cory Simpson of the Woodpeckers was named MVP of the
D Division, and Drew Pendarvis of DFL Construction was the
Gold Glove winner. Others named to the All-Tournament team
were Andrew Whittington, Robert Orozco, Andrew Kidd and
Donald Kemmerling, of the Woodpeckers; Lee Wallace, Chris
Shaw and Mike Cervantes, of DFL Construction; Phillip Jones,
Jarrod Hughes and Ruston Kennedy, of Dream Street; and
James Hamilton and Ryan Frank, of Urban Assault.
Men’s E was the largest division of the tournament, with 118
teams in the bracket. The majority of the games were played
at Central Park in College Station, which has 275-foot fences,
so it takes a team with bat control to be able to keep the
ball in the park. Bad Decisions of San Antonio had that skill
and went undefeated through seven games to take the title.
Bad Decisions defeated Trendsetters (26-14), Dynast (15-14),
Hometown Heroes (26-0), Scrappers (12-9), TX RIP (20-11) and
3 Lefts Softball (20-14) to advance to the championship game,
where they beat TX RIP again (18-16) to claim the crown. Bad
Decisions averaged 19.5 runs per game in the tournament, and
won their seven games by an average margin of 8.42 runs. TX
RIP from Humble was runnerup with a 7-2 record, while 3 Lefts
Softball from Austin came in third at 6-2, and the Scrappers
from College Station came in fourth at 7-2. Super Freaks from
San Antonio and Young Guns from Ingleside tied for fifth place;
DC Outlaws from Houston and Ditry Sox from Conroe tied
for seventh; and Hardfeathers from Houston, Cold-Blooded
from Lake Jackson, Texas Crew/T.S.G.H. from Mansfield, and
Wharton’s Worst Nightmares from Wharton all tied for ninth.
Men’s B/C 2nd: Cash Money (Harlingen, TX)
Fully Loaded – 1st Place Women D
Ben Rizzo of Bad Decisions was named MVP of the E division, and teammate Brian Gilroy was the Gold Glove winner.
Other players named to the All-Tournament team were
Rocky Villarreal, Dave Morales, Dave Ramirez, and Jerrod
Steinbach of Bad Decisions; John Gowen, Jose Vazquez and
Daniel Stumpf, of TX RIP; Brian Simms, Joe Levias and Mike
Turnipseed, of 3 Lefts Softball; and Jaime Sepulveda and Matt
Ash, of the Scrappers.
The two women’s divisions were played at Bee Creek Park
in College Station. The Women’s C Division was played on
the 275-foot field, and there were still plenty of home runs
cranked out of the park. The Lady Canes II from Cedar Hill
went undefeated through five games to win first place. The
Lady Canes II knocked off the Ball Busters (18-10), Lady Top
Dog (13-8), Unknowns (13-5) in a game with a controversial
ending, and Lady Terror Squad (19-3) to advance to the championship game, where they beat Lady Top Dog again (13-6)
JFF – 2nd Place Women D
USSSA TODAY 83
to capture the crown. After the game
against the Unknowns, during the
handshake line, one of the Lady Canes
was punched by one of the Unknowns
and a brawl ensued. After order was
restored, the principles involved were
ejected from the tournament and play
resumed. Lady Top Dog from Beaumont
made a nice run in the loser’s bracket
to take home the second place trophy.
After losing to the Lady Canes in their
second game, Lady Top Dog defeated
RBI (7-4), Connection (21-10), Team
Dallas Women (10-5), Lookouts/Mizuno
(14-12) and Lady Terror Squad (13-6)
before losing in the championship game
and finishing with a 6-2 record. Lady
Terror Squad from Bryan took third
place at 4-2, while Lookout/Mizuno
from Deer Park finished fourth at 4-2.
Team Dallas Women and Unknowns
from San Antonio tied for fifth place;
Ball Busters and Connection, both from
San Antonio, tied for seventh; and Texas
Collision from Houston, Quiet Storm
from Killeen, Houston Blaze, and RBI
from Houston all tied for ninth.
Bad Decisions – 1st Place Men E
TX RIP – 2nd Place Men E
84 USSSA TODAY
Sandy Sanchez of Lady Canes II was
named Most Valuable Player of
the Women’s C Division, and Rosie
Anderson of Lady Top Dog was the
Gold Glove winner. The rest of the
All-Tournament team consisted of
Tasanee Wood, Nikki Jones, Anntron
Barrett and Demtria Keys-Johnson,
of Lady Canes II; Voncia Ducre, April
Garcia, and Deandre Walton, of Lady
Top Dog; Jacque Thornton, Sara Gatlin
and Kaitlin Coleman, of Lady Terror
Squad; Mya McRae and Gina Perez of
Lookouts/Mizuno; and Venus Dukes, of
Team Dallas Women.
The Women’s D Division was played
on the 250-foot field and teams were
allowed no home runs, so it was more
difficult on them. Fully Loaded from
Dallas went undefeated through five
games to win first place. Fully Loaded
defeated the San Antonio Aces (10-0),
HD Softball (7-3), PS (10-3) and Killer
B’s (13-8) to advance to the championship game, where they beat J.F.F. (5-4)
to win it all. J.F.F. from Spring finished
second with a 5-2 record, Killer B’s
from Baytown came it third at 3-2,
and PS from Galveston finished fourth
also at 3-2. HD Softball from Ft. Worth
and Lady Warhawks from San Antonio
tied for fifth; Bad Apples from Corpus
Christi and Knockouts from Austin tied
for seventh; and Corrupt from Houston,
WYW from San Antonio; ETX Mood
Swingers from Longview, and San
Antonio Aces tied for ninth.
Barabra Zernick of Full Loaded was
named MVP of the Women’s D Division,
and Pondray Mathis of J.F.F. was the
Gold Glove winner. Other players named
to the All-Tournament team were Sarah
Hickey, Skylar Barnett and Jana Milton,
of Fully Loaded; Edith Langford, Lauren
Newcomb, and Sommer Salamanca, of
J.F.F.; Nanci Gregory, Lauren Davis and
Sam McCord, of Killer B’s; and Jessica
Lopez and Celeste Ibanez, of PS.
The Mixed C/D Division was played at
Haswell Park in Bryan, and Smack That
from Euless went 6-1 to capture first
place. Smack That defeated You Tell Me
(14-0), Angels & Demons (13-7), Absolut/
KOK (19-8), Team C-No-Evil (10-6) and
Does It Matter/Whut It Dew (15-5) to
advance to the championship game.
Does It Matter/Whut It Dew emerged
from the loser’s bracket, and then even
beat Smack That (16-14) to set up a
winner-take-all “if” game. Smack That
bounced back for a narrow 24-23 win
and the championship. Does It Matter/
Whut It Dew from San Antonio settled
for second place with a 6-2 record. HalfCocked from Nacogdoches came in third
with a 7-2 record, and Stop Looking
from Longview came in fourth at 5-2.
Team C-No-Evil from San Marcos and
Texas T’s/ASPNation tied for fifth place;
ASC/Buffalo Wild Wings from Euless and
Wicked Moose Knuckles from Temple
tied for seventh; and Team Wades from
Austin, Squeeze Play from San Antonio,
The Show from Belton, and Absolut/
KOK from Mesquite all tied for ninth.
The Budweiser girls always add to the scenery,
Allison Kennewell of Smack That was
named MVP of the Mixed Division.
Other members of the All-Tournament
team were Julia Hernandez, Krystal
Garnica and Joseph Urrutia, of Smack
That; Garvin Mikesh, Deborah Marinez,
and Randell Mikesh, of Does It Matter/
Whut It Dew; and Ricky Brown and Troy
Netardus, of Half-Cocked.
The registration line for the homerun hitting contest on Friday night was long.
USSSA TODAY 85
25th Annual Worth Sooner Shootout
Men’s C/D NIT
Boomer
Boomer Sports
Sports Complex,
Complex, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
City
April
April 16,
16, 2011
2011
OKLAHOMA
Photos by Kim Titus
Midwest Hearing from Wichita, KS went 4-0 to win the
tournament and the World Berth.
2nd place went to X-Rated from Tulsa, OK. Defensive MVP:
Carl “Train” Powell; All Tournament: Scott Connell, Josh
Ostrosky, Waylon Travis and Jeff Holliday
3rd place went to Absolut from North Texas.
All Tournament Team: Nathan Williams, Nathan Uranga
and John Pollard
TASA
Men’s C/D NIT
Carl
Carl Smith
Smith Sports
Sports Complex
Complex -- Tulsa,
Tulsa, OK
OK
May
May 14,
14, 2011
2011
Boomer
Men’s D NIT
Boomer
Boomer Sports
Sports Complex
Complex –– Oklahoma
Oklahoma City,
City, OK
OK
June
June 4,
4, 2011
2011
Men’s D team X-Rated from Tulsa, OK went 5-0 to win the
tournament and the World Berth.
TWP from Oklahoma City, OK went 4-0 to win the
tournament. All Tournament: Gabe Seeley, Brian Masoner,
Dustin Anderson and Eric Pando
2nd place went to Men’s C team Evicted
2nd place went to Still Punishment
from Oklahoma City, OK
Defensive MVP - Michael Butcher; All Tournament:
Justin Cox, Jeremy Mehan and Joaquin Trujillo
Defensive MVP: Kevin Peery
All Tournament Team
Trey Gothard and Charles Turner
3rd Place went to Ft. Sill Cannoneers.
All Tournament Team
Vincent Higgins
16th Annual Bebops
Gerry Turnberg
USSSA VP-Central Division
photos by Gerry Turnberg
16th Annual Bebop’s 10,000 Lakes Classic Men’s C/D World NIT Champs Xtreme/Combat (Brooklyn Center, MN)
3rd Annual BeBop’s 10,000 Lakes Classic Men’s “E” World NIT Champs CA Gear/Paddywagon’s/CSX (Apple Valley, MN)
88 USSSA TODAY
The Essence of Sport
by Scott Kuhnen
Scott Kuhnen, Central OH State
Director and sportsmanship proponent
The essence of sport is not contained in
winning or losing. The true essence of sport
is contained in sportsmanship.
When was the last time you went out of
you way to say “Thank you?”
A simple act, very often overlooked,
is gratitude for the efforts of those who
contribute to the success of the sport.
“Thanks, Coach!” Most especially in
youth sports, where the coaches are often
parents who are interested in helping their
own kids or just some of the kids in a given
neighborhood, a large amount of unpaid,
volunteer effort is donated to help the
game.
From organizing a team, to organizing
practices, to organizing snacks, to providing
transportation, to running the team in
league or tournament play, to the very
last piece of pizza at a team party, coaches
contribute vast amounts of time and effort
and deserve no less than a genuine heartfelt “Thank you.”
Even in the adult game, coaches are
often just the player on the team who is
willing to step up. They may have special
talents totally unrelated to playing the
game, like attracting a sponsor or being
willing to organize the team’s calendar.
They make up and hand the umpire the
line-up. They tell players where to play
defense and when they bat in the line-up.
For all of these efforts, they stand a
chance of making their own players and
teammates unhappy. If a roster has 15
players, because some are known to have
conflicts across the long season, it means
that sometimes (when all 15 actually do
show up) players must sit out, either several
Slowpitch
by Robert
Boudreaux
Robert Boudreaux
USSSA Executive VP
Thank You! This month, we have
surpassed the number of teams registered
over the same period of time in 2010 by
some 3000+ teams. Its great to be the
Executive Vice President of this great organization that cares about the survival of
the slow pitch game, we so dearly love.
We have set in place policies that produce
competitive slow pitch softball teams, and
you have contributed the leadership and
the commitment to be successful, either as
a director or umpire.
You have heard it said that the optimist
sees a glass that is half full. The pessimist
sees one that is half empty. Comedian
George Carlin says that he sees a glass that
90 USSSA TODAY
innings or even whole games.
That is just the sort of situation, most
especially in adult sports, which can cause
players to quit and whole teams to fail.
Most often the circumstances are shortterm and can be readily fixed by the next
game or the next league night, but many
players don’t have a long-term view of their
own involvement or the needs of all the
players on the team over their own interests.
Coaches who must juggle rosters,
playing time, the near-term stress of one
game at a time vs. the long-term stress of
an entire league or tournament season,
deserve the appreciation and thanks for
those who don’t need to carry that burden.
If asked, most would back away from it.
“Thanks, Coach!”
“Thanks, Ump!” Although it is most
often true that umpires get paid for their
efforts, it is also true that it quite often
isn’t much. When you factor in the time
and cost to license, the time (hopefully in
umpire classes!) to prepare, the time before
and after each game or set of games, the
pay umpires receive is nothing to write
home about.
In fact, at pre-season umpire classes,
I like to suggest that if umpires are doing
it because of the money, they might want
to consider holding garage sales instead.
They’ll probably make more money and
with much less hassle.
Amateur sports officials are professionals only in the sense that they get paid.
Truth is they are just people like the rest of
us. Many umpires do it because they want
to stay in shape, stay close to the game, and
because they enjoy it.
Many umpires, in fact, are also coaches
and/or players on their “off” nights (or the
other way around). When these umpires do
a good job, or even when they have an off
game, the good sport says “Thanks, Ump!”
“Thanks, Sponsor!” Whether the local
doctor sponsoring a youth slow pitch or
fast pitch team, or the local pub sponsoring
the guys who frequent their establishment,
sponsors are huge part of the game.
Sponsors certainly come in all flavors
and sizes. Some are willing to provide a
couple hundred dollars for league entry
and a set of T-shirts with their name across
the front. Others may contribute in fourfigures to cover an extensive tournament
season. Either way, we owe them for their
contributions to the game.
Most especially on the adult side, sponsors have been terribly abused through
the years. The promises which are made
to “show up and have a few beers” after
each game are easily made in February, but
sometimes hard to execute in August.
Teams who take a long view and appreciate the support they receive from their
sponsors will consider it a sign of good
sportsmanship to follow through on such
promises. It doesn’t take much, but it does
take persistence and an appreciation that
what sponsors contribute is voluntarily
given.
Through the years, you may have
noticed that good teams often have what
appear to be good sponsors. If you study
this real close, you may begin to see that
the attributes which lead to success on
the field are very similar to the attributes
that lead to good business, which is what
team management and sponsorship have in
common.
This is the golden rule in action. Or, call it
“scratch my back – I’ll scratch yours.” Good
sponsors are hard to come by. However,
treat them right and you stand a better
chance of keeping them over the long haul,
and year to year. “Thanks, Sponsor!”
To keep softball alive and vibrant, we
need your help. We need softball’s participants to help the game thrive and be
healthy. The small act of showing gratitude
to those who contribute to the game is a
piece of the puzzle. For the sake of the
game and for the sake of good sportsmanship, don’t forget to say “Thank you!”
is twice the size it needs to be. Your own
attitudes are a reflection of how you see
life in general, and how you see your level
of participation in the USSSA. I think we
have many George Carlin clones with our
association. You look at our programs or
team classifications that are inappropriate,
and you then make the necessary corrections to be successful. That is what you
have become known for- an eye for detail,
improvement, innovation, and success.
Steel
magnate
Charles
Schwab
concluded, “All successful employers are
stalking men who will do the unusual, men
who think, men who attract attention by
performing more than is expected of them.”
Lee Iacocca has agreed: “The kind of people
I look for to fill top management spots,” he
says, “are the eager beavers, the mavericks.
These are the guys who try to do more that
they’re expected to do-they always reach.”
We here at USSSA have both kind of
directors and umpires - the support people
who follow well and who daily do more
than is expected of them and the “eager
beaver” director/umpire who lead the way
in new directions.
Our USSSA directors and umpires have
become team players in the best sense.
That is, our commitment to pull together
has helped us avoid the vast wasteland of
mediocrity. Instead, our team spirit has
molded us into “cream of the crop” directors and umpires, in a group that can act as
a role model to others in our industry, that
we have far behind.
Through continued training, communication, cooperation and commitment,
we have turned our segment of the sports
world, into a user friendly sports world, a
world of directors and umpires who think
like customers think, and who work like
customers would work if they were building
their own sports association. You demonstrate an understanding of quality, and
increased efficiency. In short, you understand profit and you are our real door to
our future.
I am proud to write you today as
USSSA continues to grow as a Slow Pitch
Organization, as well as a complete sports
organization. Keep up the good work.
Together we are going to dominate the
next decade.
2011
Sweetheart City Classic NIT
by Scott Cameron
Seventy four teams met June 11-12
under perfect June Colorado skies for the
right to call themselves champions in one
of Colorado’s oldest continuously run
tournaments, the Sweetheart City Classic,
as we celebrated the 30th anniversary of
the event in Loveland, Colorado.
The tournament was founded by
Colorado USSSA Hall of Famer Dick
Topping in 1981 and this year with its
return to NIT status drew the largest
field since softballs hay-day of the early
eighties. Mr. Topping served as honorary
chairman for Colorado State Director
and tournament host Scott Cameron and
a great time was had by all reliving the
‘good old days’ and celebrating Colorado
long heritage of USSSA play.
Men’s C featured 15 teams and spirited play throughout the day. Conference
USSSA member Peak/ L3 Screenprinting/
TLG set the tone early in the top of the
bracket as they knocked off Redrum
Softball Family 22-14 and followed it
up an hour later with another 20 run
performance as they handled Xtreme/
Garretson’s/ Worth Sports 24-11.
On the bottom side, Junkies/ ZMVP
were matching them step for step as they
squeaked by class D power Smoke 11-10
and recently bumped So Dirty 20-13 to
advance to the winners bracket final
against Peak. Given both teams recent
play, Peak had recently won the Longs
Peak Cup NIT only two weeks earlier,
most expected a Peak victory but the
Junkies came out on fire and played solid
defense as they were the only team to
hold Peak to less than 20 runs in a game
with their 27-12 run rule victory.
Peak won a hard fought victory
against Colorado Springs rival SCH
20-19 to make it back to the championship where the Junkies defense all but
deserted them as Peak double dipped
20-9 and 27-22 to take the championship.
Peak was led on defense by tournament
MVP Steve Garcia who kept batters off
balance all day on the hill and averaged
better than 21 runs a game, an impressive total in C ball.
Twenty five teams met in men’s D and
competition was top flight as teams really
worked to earn each victory in the bracket.
Colorado requires D NIT winners to play up
the remainder of the year and so the field
was wide open with no clear favorites.
Visiting Cheyenne Softball Club
rattled off a couple of early wins before
dropping a third round decision to the
veteran led Showboats 17-10, a portend
of things to come. Meanwhile, the
bottom of the bracket was a free-for-all
as two teams that don’t play all the much
surprised most observers as they met in
the quarters where Jamo defeated Team
JP Power 20-6.
Sunday morning opened with teams
ready to go big or go home as it was basically single elimination play in the losers
bracket. Cheyenne proved more than up
to the task as they got on a roll beating
a game Team Voltage 24-18 before
knocking off western Colorado power
Addiction followed by back to back to
back wins over JP Power, Colorado Mush
and Jamo on their way to the championship and a rematch with Showboats.
Adrenaline carried the Wyoming boys in
the first game as they handled Showboats
easily 24-14 but the long day caught up
with them in the ‘if’ as Showboats rolled
24-4. A veteran team, Showboats was
led by MVP Chad Balken and with an
average age of 35 the bright lights and
big stage of Worlds in Kissimmee aren’t
likely to worry them as they make their
first trip to Disney.
While a few teams have established
themselves in E this year, it was a couple
of new comers and relative unknowns
that stood atop the 19 team E division
when all was said and done. Playing in
only their second tournament, Shape
Your Life dominated nearly every game
they played with high level defense and
punch and judy hitting. In fact they only
gave up five runs on their way to the ‘hill’
as they beat Who’z Next 14-0, followed
it up with a 17-0 victory over Hit Squad
and then dominated Detox 24-5. Most
observers expected a tough game against
Mares Metals who while new to tournament play, has been playing late into
every tournament they’ve entered so far
but the Shape Your Life crew proved too
strong as they notched another shutout
with a 14-0 thumping. Mares proved it’s
‘metal’ making quick work of third place
finisher Infamous/ AA Concrete 14-8 to
make a return appearance against SYL
where everybody fully expected another
quick result.
A hard fought defensive
battle eventually led to the 10-5 Mares
victory setting up an ‘if’ game where the
Mares sticks proved too much for Shape
Your Life as they fell 16-10. Mares was
led by newcomer Adrian Trujillo in an
MVP performance as they broke through
with the win after three consecutive
third place finishes to open their season.
Colorado runs an open women’s division with an equalizer and the 15 teams
meeting in women’s were very evenly
matched. Late entry ECI of Olathe,
Kansas who made a last minute change
in plans when their tournament in Texas
was canceled looked flat out scary in early
games as they scored 31 in their opening
game and followed that up with 26 in
the next. They were the talk of the tournament until they ran into early season
NIT winner ByU who handled them easily
15-4 to reach the winners bracket final.
Meanwhile the other half of the
bracket featured perennial power
Pitchers/ H&K Screenprinting playing
shorthanded but handling teams nonetheless as they reached the winners
bracket final with wins over D teams
Mojo in Motion and Just 4 Show. Pitchers
blended their veteran leadership with a
youth infusion as they beat ByU handily
14-2 to reach the final. ByU proved
their spirit as they bested Loveland rival
Just 4 Show 15-9 to earn a rematch with
Pitchers. The undefeated team held a
lead most of the game and was up 21-14
late before a furious ByU comeback led
them to a 29-24 victory. The ‘if’ game
went as many of them do with it being
very late and both teams spent after a
long day of playing ball. In the end, ByU
led by MVP Gabi Rendon was the better
team eaking out a 13-12 victory to claim
the final title of the night.
A big thank you to the more than
seventy teams that came out and made
the event a success, the City of Loveland
who had the fields in ‘sweetheart’ shape
and to tournament staff; UIC Billy Harper
and site directors Janet Dooley and Bill
Lomelino. Rocky Mountain USSSA hopes
to welcome you back for the 31st annual
Sweetheart City Classic in 2012!
USSSA TODAY 91
Behind The Walls
by Kevin Naegele
“It’s Been A While Since I’ve Stood On Grass”
It’s been a long time since I have written for a softball publication. Maybe it was writer’s block but this is a story that has to
be told.
A few years back I was approached by the New Mexico
Correctional Department about building a field using inmate
discretionary funds. No tax payer dollars. Proceeds from the
inmate commissary. It would be the first grass field in the state
prison system and it’s located in my home town of Hobbs, New
Mexico. My role was simple. I was asked by my wife, Valerie
who is the contract monitor for the State of New Mexico
Corrections Department to help layout the field dimension for
the privately run facility which has the largest prison population in the state. After meeting with employees of the GEO
group which runs the facility the field was designed and the
work began using inmates.
Inmate Jessie Ramos
After the field was completed with new sod the inmates had
the opportunity to see their new ball field. One inmate with
tears in his eyes told my wife that it was the first time he had
stood on grass in over 25 years.
“The Outsiders”
To celebrate the opening of the field the facility again
approached me to have one of our local teams come inside
the prison and face a team made up of inmates. It was not the
first time we had sent a team inside. Previous exhibitions were
far from competitive and the outsiders usually destroyed the
inmates.
We contacted DJ Gambino who manages the Young Guns. DJ
put his team together and they agreed to come inside and play
the inmates. DJ was aware that no outside team has ever lost.
The plan was to play a double header. We instructed the team
to meet outside the entrance to be given instructions before
coming inside. This pre-game was given by one of the wardens.
No cell phones, no girlfriends, no beer between game and look
the inmates in the eye and just show them respect. The Young
Guns were mostly former college and high school baseball
players from the area.
From left to right: Gang Unit Investigator, David Martinez, USSSA Executive VP,
Kevin Naegele and Warden James Janecka.
After being screened by metal detectors the players and two
of our local umpires followed the warden through the hallways of one of the cellblocks. As we went through the doors
we could hear the constant and repetitive “ping” sound. The
players immediately noticed that sound. The inmates were
hitting with the old aluminum bats. One player said, “no one
uses those anymore”. As we approached the field the players
were humbled by seeing the inmates in their prison attire. No
cleats. Just prison issued tennis shoes.
The outsiders were also fixated with the tall razor wired fence.
It was the homerun porch. A short right field “porch” was very
noticeable. The inmates appeared to have been warming up
92 USSSA TODAY
Inmate Catcher Paul Lasner and USSSA umpire Rudy Cisneros
for hours. They were ready.
The local team began to warm up and some began playing
catch with the inmates. The umpires got the managers together
and went over the ground rules and the game began. The plan
was to play one and then eat a meal that was been cooked on
outdoor pits by other inmates. Then after eating the teams
would play the second game of the double header.
“Lets Play Three”
The first game was just like the previous trips inside the walls.
While outsiders defeated the inmates, it was much closer than
previous games. The players interacted well together and the
Young Guns even allowed the inmates to use their composite
bats. After the first game the teams sat together and ate
hamburgers and hotdogs prepared by other inmates.
Not every inmate can play. There are some bad boys inside
who are given the opportunity to play and are locked down
23 hours a day. The inmates who played the outsiders have to
be on good behavior and earn the right. You could tell that
everyone of them cherished this opportunity. They seem to be
having a good time and enjoyed visiting with the outsiders
during the meal. Some of the Young Guns help with hitting
between games. As some of the players and inmates finished
their meal to prepare for the next game some began playing
catch with a football and running patterns in the outfield.
Young Gun player Chris Aldaco help Inmate Manual Arreguin with hitting
The next game was quite different. With the composite bats
and confidence the inmates struck early and got an early
lead. The outsiders also learned that inmate Jessie Ramos had
a “hose” and could roam the outfield with ease even in his
tennis shoes. The Young Guns came back late but not enough.
It was the first loss ever by an outside team against a prison
team.
This had to be settled. No one wanted it to end like this. The
Young Guns wanted to play three. The prisoners were told there
would only be two but when one of the outsiders proposed a
third game one inmate replied, “sure, we got nowhere to go”
which had everyone laughing.
“I Don’t Feel Like I’m Serving Life”
Before the last game, one inmate named Paul Lasner
approached my wife and told her how much this meant to him
and that for the first time since his incarceration that he didn’t
feel like his was serving a life sentence.
Lunch
He was serving his sentence after a murder conviction out of
the Clovis area.
The third game was played and the inmates still with the
momentum from the last game held on to defeat the Young
Guns. The teams exchanged “high fives” and the inmates
thanked the players for coming inside. Both teams appeared
to have learned a lot not just about softball but about what
they have and what they miss.
A few weeks after the event, some of the inmates were
released but Paul who was serving life was murdered himself
inside a prison cell.
We all learned a lot that day.
Kevin Naegele is the USSSA Executive Vice President for Slow
Pitch Operations for the Western U.S.
Postgame Handshake
USSSA TODAY 93
SUPER BOWL OF SOFTBALL
USSSA Slow Pitch Softball Invitational
October 7-9, 2011
Divisions of Play: Men’s B, Men’s C, Men’s D, Men’s E
Women’s C, Women’s D, Women’s E
Entry Fee: $315
Information: Bert Frederick 575-647-3034 or email [email protected]
&
at
Celebration, FL
2011 USSSA Junior Golf
National Championship
August 12th-14th, 2011
The phenomenal Mystic Dunes Golf Club opened its greens summer of 2001
and is located just 2 miles south of the Walt Disney World Resort on Old Lake
Wilson Road/ CR 545.
Mystic Dunes was designed by Champions Tour Professional and NBC golf
analyst, Gary Koch. The challenging yet fun course consists of two distinctly
different layouts that take advantage of the unique topography, offering the
golfer a fantastic and memorable experience. It is here USSSA has chosen to
host its FIRST JUNIOR GOLF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP on the weekend of
August 12th-14th.
Your $350 Entry Fee will garner you 54 holes of Championship play as well
as two nights lodging at the beautiful Mystic Dunes Resort. Your 1,445 square
foot, two (2) bedroom condo, comes complete with kitchen and two full baths,
plus washer/dryer in each condo unit (see layout). IF
accommodations are not a necessity, your National
Tournament Entry Fee will be $200. Also of note, if you are interested in additional
nights stay at Mystic Dunes, USSSA can provide that at a $99 per night cost.
To make this the ultimate golf vacation, USSSA can provide you with Disney and
Universal Studio tickets at a discounted price.
USSSA will also conduct an Awards Banquet on Saturday night at the Mystic Dunes
Club House, where we will recognize the various State Point Champions!
For additional information, contact USSSA Golf National Director Robert Boudreaux at
337.278.8431 or [email protected]. See you in August!
USSSA Gator Classic
Junior Golf Championship
by Robert Boudreaux
Boys 12-14. (L-R) Nick Dartez, Peter Mata.
Copper Mill Golf Course in Zachary,
Louisiana served as the host for the
USSSA Golf Junior Tour event on the
weekend of May 28-29. Some 13 golfers
from throughout the State of Louisiana
braved the tough South Louisiana
layout, and high temperatures, and
provided the USSSA multi-sports organization a great junior golf event.
Louisiana USSSA and Lafayette Coca
Cola served as the official sponsors for
this junior golf outing, and with the help
of PGA Professional, Charles Anderson,
the USSSA conducted another quality
junior golf event.
In Boys 15-18 competition, Jordan Cole,
Gibsland, LA, distanced the field as the
North Louisiana competitor posted
98 USSSA TODAY
Boys 15-18. (L-R) Jordan Cole, Skye Mejia, Quinn Burkhalter.
scores of 76 and 74 (150 total), to claim
a five stroke win over second place
finisher, Skye Mejia, Lafayette (77-78155). Claiming the third place hardware
was Quinn Burkhalter, Lake Charles,
who posted 81, 78 and a 159 total. Cole’s
Championship effort included 22 pars
and 5 birdies over the two day event.
In Boys 12-14 action, Baaton Rouge
golfers, Peter Mata and Nick Dartez,
completed the 36 hole event with identical 158 totals, with Mata capturing a
playoff win on the first hole by recording
a birdie on the par 5, first hole. Claiming
the third place was Zack Burkhalter,
Lake Charles, with a 223 (122-101) two
day total. Mata’s effort included 21 pars
and two birdies, while Dartez recorded
21 pars and three birdies.
Boys 9-11 action only saw one competitor, Matthew Houston, however young
Houston did not complete the event
due to illness.
USSSA is a multi-sports organization and
offers competition in Youth and Adult
Baseball, Basketball, Fast Pitch Softball,
Flag Football, Karate, Lacrosse, Slow
Pitch Softball, Soccer, Tae Kwan Do,
Volleyball, Wrestling and now Junior
Golf.
For additional information on USSSA
Golf, please go to www.usssa.com or
email [email protected] . We
hope to see you at a future USSSA sports
event.
USSSA Big Wag
Junior Golf Championship
by Robert Boudreaux
Seventeen golfers from throughout
Louisiana braved 100+ degree temperatures and the tough layout of Squirrel
Run GC, New Iberia, on the weekend of
June 4-5. Louisiana USSSA and Lafayette
Coca served as the official sponsors
of this event. Louisiana USSSA would
also like to thank Paul Theriot, PGA
Professional, for his assistance with this
championship event.
In Boys 15-18 competition, Ryan
Desormeaux, Broussard, distanced the
ten player field as the South Louisiana
competitor posted scores of 76 and 79
(155 total), to claim a seven stroke win
over second place finisher, Nick Hollier,
Abbeville (87-75-162). Claiming the third
place award was Skye Mejia, Lafayette,
who posted 83, 80 and a 163 total.
Desormeaux’s two day efforts included
19 pars, and five (5) birdies. Hollier’s
second day 75 vaulted the Vermilion
Catholic High School golfer from fifth
place to second, and his two day efforts
included 15 pars, and five birdies.
In Boys 12-14 action, Lake Charles native,
Austin Campbell, completed the 36
hole event with a 163 total (83-80), and
defeated second place finisher Zac Ciesla
(99-99-198), Lake Charles. Claiming third
place was Dylan Domingue, Lafayette,
with a 228 (111-117) two day total.
Campbell’s efforts included 17 pars and
two birdies.
Boys 9-11 action only saw two competitors, but competition was keen, as only
one stroke separated the two players
over the two day, 18 hole competition. Matthew Houston, Lake Charles,
managed to post an outstanding two
day (18 holes) total of 121 (57-64) and
Girls 15-18. L-R. Olivia Hansen, Emily Pellerin.
Boys 12-14. Seated, Austin Campbell.
L-R. Zac Ciesla, Dylan Domingue.
Boys 15-18. Seated, Ryan Desormeaux.
L-R. Skye Mejia, Nick Hollier.
Boys 9-11. L-R. Jake Outlaw, Matthew Houston.
claimed a one stroke victory over Jake
Outlaw, Baker, who posted a 122 (62-60)
two day score.
In Girls 15-18, Emily Pellerin, New Iberia,
posted a two day total of 207 (111-96) and
captured a one stroke victory over Olivia
Hansen, Lake Charles, 208 (106-102).
With two months remaining in the 20102011 competition year, the following
golfers lead their respective Age Group
Rankings. Skye Mejia, Lafayette, Boys
15-18, 8700 points; Jevon Perry, Iowa,
Boys 12-14, 3600 points; Daniel Pillai,
Metairie, Boys 9-11, 2800 points; and
Maura Maher, Lafayette, Girls 15-18,
2500 points.
For additional information on USSSA
Golf, please go to www.usssa.com or
email [email protected]. We hope
to see you at a future USSSA sports event.
USSSA TODAY 99
Richland Area Softball Association
by Samantha C. Fichter
Many dreams are left in the mind of
the creator and never end up a reality;
however, that was not the case for
Richland Township Liason, Paul Hetrick.
His dream was to find a way to provide
a softball program and build a softball
complex for girls in the Quakertown
School District community to play on. It
all started in 2004 when a group gathered on Sunday nights to discuss how
to turn this dream into reality. The
group consisted of numerous dedicated members including Gordan Bryan,
Carolyn Budwig, Joe Jackewicz, Scott
Moll and Tim Taggert; with Hetrick as
the driving force. After researching, they
found that the Richland Township area
had an abundant amount of programs
for boys but none strictly for girls.
“I always remember one thing Paul
said early on. “Every girl who wants to
play will play” meaning even if the girl
had no glove, money or bat we would
not let that stop her from playing, we
will make it happen. We had “water ice”
nights where every girl got free water
ice after the games and “bring a buddy”
night to help get new girls involved,” said
President of RASA Softball, Bill Coblentz.
With this in mind a plan was created
by the group, accompanied by a model
of what is now; Veterans Park, located
in Quakertown, PA. Approval of this
proposal was granted by the Richland
Township after a long battle and agreement on the Richland Area Softball
Association (RASA) paying for a portion
of the $2,000,000 cost. The portion being
over $600,000.
The fields that are currently located
at Veterans Park did not exist back in
2005 when RASA was first developed,
it was merely a dream. Even though
this was the case, it did not stop the
extremely dedicated men and women
who were determined to organize a
softball program for girls; whether fields
were available or not. Luckily RASA was
able to use various school fields that
were located throughout the township
and made use of what equipment was
available to them. Thanks to Hetrick’s
numerous contacts, RASA received donations, sponsors and eventually qualified
for several grants to help improve the
softball complex.
“The organization now has over
300 girls participating and has fielded
about 24-26 local teams during the last
five years,” said Vice President of RASA
Softball, Raymond Fox. On top of that,
RASA has estimated on a yearly basis
that approximately 40,000 people and
250-400 teams visit Veterans Park in a
year.
The RASA organization does not
only provide a softball program for girls.
They have linked up with United States
Specialty Sports Association (USSSA)
to hold travel tournaments from early
April through October, helped support
the Special Olympics, added an adult
women’s league, host Pride of the
Diamond summer camps, held a fall ball
program for the recreational teams and
offer a free winter clinic for all the local
girls annually. “The softball complex also
benefits the surrounding community as
well, on any given weekend every restaurant, convenience store and local hotels
are very busy,” said Bill Coblentz.
Veterans Park had its first season
in 2007 and since has been utilized by
thousands of girls of all ages who all
share a love for the game of softball.
Tournaments are hosted in order to pay
the park bills, and to keep this dream
alive. “The tournaments held have
featured teams from as far away as
California, Alaska and Canada,” said Fox.
“To sum it up, Paul Hetrick, through
his dedication and vision has made a
forever lasting imprint on our community
and hundreds of girls,” said Bill Coblentz.
“Most of us who are involved now still
don’t fully realize how much hard work
it takes to run the organization. It is softball 365.”
USSSA Spring Thaw
Junior Golf Tournament
USSSA Spring Thaw presented by Paul
Davis Restoration, held on April 16th17th was a weekend to remember! It
was the first New Jersey junior golf event
in the newly revamped USSSA National
Junior Golf Tour. New Jersey has 4
100 USSSA TODAY
planned events for the 2011 season, April
16th-17th, June 18th-19th, July 16th-17th
& July 30th-31st. It was an atypical early
spring day with temperatures struggling
to reach 50 degrees with strong winds
and rain in the forecast. The tournament
was held at Galloping Hill Golf Course.
Galloping Hill Golf Course sprawls across
271 acres in Kenilworth and Union, NJ.
Characterized by its natural terrain of
rolling hills and valleys, the course often
referred to as “The Hill”, has a reputation
as one of the most challenging courses
in the area. The 18 hole course features
6680 yards of golf from the longest tees
for a par of 71. A challenging course for
some of the best adults in the area, but
by Kirk
Tarabokia
our NJ Juniors were up for the challenge.
There were two age groups competing
in match play in the Spring Thaw, 9-11
age boys and 12-14 age boys. Vincent
Palazzolo in the 12 – 14 age group and
Kyle Spielman in the 9 -11 age group rose
to the challenge to win their age classes.
Both the boys showed class and skill in
earning the championship.
We are so grateful to our title
sponsor, Paul Davis Restoration. With
their generous sponsorship we were able
to offer very discounted entry fees to
help get the tour started. We also want
to thank the Linden Elks lodge for sponsoring two holes to support the Junior
Golf cause.
4 NIGHTS ~ 4 PEOPLE
ALL INCLUSIVE
$598!
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Flip Flop.
Flip
6300 Seawall • Galveston • TX
victoriancondo.com
www.facebook.com/galvestonvictorian
800.231.6363
Valid thru 08.31.2011.
Rates not valid with other discounts.
Inclusive rates include all fees and taxes.
14 day advance payment.
Save
up to
25%
on your car insurance
It’s easy with Nationwide Family Plan®.
If saving on your car insurance sounds good, then Nationwide Family Plan is going to
sound great. It allows parents to share some of the discounts they’ve earned with their
young drivers, and save up to 25%, compared to leading competitors.
Plus, when you add the special members-only discount you receive just for being a
member of the United States Specialty Sports Association, you’ll save even more. Don’t
wait any longer. Contact us to start taking advantage of the savings you deserve today.
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Nationwide may make a financial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers. Products Underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Nationwide Insurance Company of America, Nationwide
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