to - USSSA - United States Specialty Sports Association

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WINTER
2009
Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth
Sweep The Major World Series and
Championships
START 2010 WITH A BANG!
2010 WINTER NATIONALS
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January 16-17, 2010
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January 23-24, 2010
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UNITED STATES SPECIALTY
SPORTS ASSOCIATION
Message from Headquarters
Over the last year USSSA has focused
on continued development of our Girl’s
Fastpitch Program and Boy’s Baseball
Program. As the 2009 season comes
to a close, I am pleased to report that
our efforts have been very successful
and we are achieving unprecedented
results in both programs.
USSSA All-American Games - USSSA
International Baseball Program
USSSA Baseball rolled out several exciting programs this
season and has taken significant steps towards the development of our International Program. After holding several
regional tryouts in the 14U, 15U and 16 U divisions across the
country, 90 players in each division were invited and the top
thirty (30) individuals at each age division, per region, were
named to the “ABR All-Regional Team” and awarded customized ABR (Amateur Baseball Report) All-Regional Team rings
and invited to participate in the USSSA All-American Games
that were held on August 14th & 16th in Kissimmee, FL. at
the Osceola Sports Complex (Houston Astro’s Spring Training
Complex).
The top individuals at the USSSA All-American Games were
named “USSSA All-Americans.” The “First Team All-Americans”
at the 16U division have been named “Team USSSA” and
will compete internationally in Japan in 2010. As you may
have guessed, the USSSA All-American Games were an overwhelming success.
In addition, the 17th consecutive MCYSA/USSSA International
Baseball Championships were held in Crystal lakes Illinois, July
24th-Aug. 2nd, 2009. In all, 46 teams from Japan, Canada,
Panama, Brazil, Russia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic,
New Zealand, and from 20 different states
competed over 9 days.
6 USSSA TODAY
Global Sports Baseball
Global Sports – Baseball, a Division of USSSA also began play
in 2009. To help satisfy USSSA Baseball’s mission of “More Kids
Playing More Baseball” , Global Sports Baseball gives more
teams and more kids an opportunity to play the game they
love. In it’s 1st year of operation, Global Sports Baseball will
register over 11,000 teams in 2009. Global Sports Baseball
hosted 834 World Series Qualifiers this year and 49 World
Series Tournaments.
USSSA / National Professional Fastpitch –
USSSA Pride
Also in 2009, USSSA entered the new and exciting world of
Women’s Professional Fastpitch Softball. Seizing the opportunity to take the USSSA Fastpitch Softball Program to a new
level, the NPF’s (National Professional Fastpitch) Washington
Glory was made available to USSSA and relocated to Kissimmee
Fl. and renamed the USSSA Pride.
The USSSA Pride, featuring Team USA’s Monica Abbott,
Kelly Kretschman and Caitlin Lowe, all medalist’s in the 2008
Olympic Games, finished 2nd to the Rockford Thunder in the
2009 Championship Series. The Pride will become the centerpiece of the USSSA Fastpitch Program that is designed to
promote and encourage our young female athletes to follow
their dreams. In 2010, the Pride will host instructional camps
and clinics throughout the country.
It is a new and exciting time for the association and our
membership. As we turn towards the 2010 season, USSSA finds
itself in a unique position. We are an organization that is experiencing growth and opportunity in unstable economic times.
And, while there is concern for what the future holds, the one
constant remains our children. USSSA remains grounded in
our belief that children are our future. Keeping that
in mind, our future looks awfully bright.
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
8 Resmondo tops T&R Stucco in battle
of WORTH teams at Men’s Major World Series
Publisher, USSSA Today
Stafford Connor
Communications Director, USSSA
Tom O’Hara
24 Three Champions Crowned at
Design / Printing
REEDESIGN
Lebco Graphics
Conference USSSA Championships
Managing Editors
Greg Huchingson
Van Galeon
Contributing Writers
Mike Cisneros
Mike Cuzzone
Terry Folino
Rick Fortuna
Janeen Gondek
Gary Gooden
Brett Helmer
Lisa Iancin
Paul Jenkins
Scott Kuhnen
BJ Larson
Tim Law
Keri Lounge
Caitlyn Lowe
Mike Macenko
Raymond Moscoe
Dave Owens
Brenda Paulson
Bob Reed
Rick Robertson
Paul Rose
Katie Snee
Erin Statmore
Kirk Tarabokia
Matt Trebuchon
Dale Weiser
Will York
Photographers
Roy Dean
Scott Duffy
Dina T. Kwit
Larry Meraz
Michael McNutt
Pete Spatula
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.
76 Rain dampens playing fields but not the spirit of
the 25th Annual The Whole Enchilada
18 USSSA Slugfest 09 - An Avenue
for Ballplayers to Test New Bat
Technology For 2010
20USSSA Super Series - Behind the
Scene
30Latino Culture Celebrated at
Hispanic World Tournament
58 Columbus, IN Hosts Fastpitch
World Series
60MonsterBash 2009
62 Fall Ball, East Texas Style
64Make A Dream Foundation and
USSSA Helps Gavin Matusak Throw
First Pitch
34
Men’s ‘B’ Slow-Pitch
World Tournament
36 USSSA and Big League Dreams: A
66USSSA Baseball - 2009-A Year Of
Innovation, Adversity And Growth
mutually beneficial partnership
42 Faces of the NPF
47 The Cat Osterman Experience
68Cypress Spooktacular Scary Success
At Cypress Mounds
70ECB Astros - Lightning Strikes
Twice!
50Reebok Creates the Bat of Least
Resistance
74 USSSA Slowpitch Softball - Great
Lakes Men D Nationals
54 USSSA Fastpitch Softball - 13U
& 18U World Series Salisbury,
Maryland
56 Indiana Slammers Capture 18 And
Over World Series Championship
82 In the Spirit of Church Softball
84Breast Cancer Awareness Softball
Tournament
USSSA TODAY
7
Resmondo tops T&R Stucco
in battle of WORTH teams at
Men’s Major World Series
By Greg Huchingson
Presentation of the championship trophy- (l to r) Tournament Director Warren Bellm, Specialty Tank’s John Riccio, Travis Resmondo and Asst. UIC, Larry Lofton.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, FLORIDA – The USSSA Men’s Major World
Series is the premier event in slow-pitch softball and is showcased at Champions Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports
in Florida, which is the spring training home of the Atlanta
Braves.
8 USSSA TODAY
This year’s event was held Sept. 23-27 and marked the 10th
straight year for the Men’s Major World Series to be held in the
palatial stadium at Disney. It is the venue where legends are
made in men’s softball. The facilities are first class and fields
are kept in great condition. Field dimensions are 335 feet down
the lines, 385 feet in the power alleys,
and 400 feet to straight-away centerfield. Disney allows USSSA to cut out dirt
sliding surfaces around the bases inside
the grassy infield that is built for Major
League Baseball games.
After five days of spectacular defensive
plays, towering home runs and timely
hitting, a pair of WORTH-sponsored
teams based in the Sunshine State
were left standing for the championship game – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/
WORTH from Winter Haven, Fla. and
T&R Stucco/WORTH from Polk City, Fla.
Resmondo was expected to be there, as
the powerful team entered the World
Series with a 58-8 season record and
ranked Number 1 in the nation. The Sod
Boys were gunning for their fifth World
Championship in seven years, and were
especially hungry after settling for a
disappointing (for them) second place
finish in 2008. Resmondo won first place
in nine of the 13 Conference USSSA NIT’s
they entered during the 2009 regular
season, plus went undefeated to win
first place at the Conference USSSA
Championships held just three weeks
prior to the World Series.
T&R Stucco/Worth’s Troy Nance hoists the second place hardware along with manager Tim “Tiny” Taylor (left)
and coach Jackie Hayes. T&R Stucco was the first A team to make it to the championship game in recent history.
The 2009 Major World Series marked the 10th anniversary of Disney hosting this prestigous USSSA event.
10 USSSA TODAY
T&R Stucco was quite a different story.
They were the first Class A team to
make it to the championship game of
the Major World Series in recent history.
T&R Stucco entered the tournament
with a 42-16 season record. Sponsor
Troy Nance’s team had won first place in
two Conference USSSA NIT’s during the
regular season – Peach State and Space
City – but their were no Major teams
entered in either of those tournaments.
T&R Stucco was considered by many
to be the best Class A team in 2009,
although they finished a disappointing
third in the Class A World Tournament.
Top-seeded Resmondo won three
straight games to get to the championship game. They opened with a 17-9 win
over AJS/Easton of Fort Meyers, Florida
on the opening night of the tournament. That victory was followed with
an impressive 36-4 thrashing of Class A
World Tournament champion GTL/Stucco/
WORTH of Othello, Washington. In a
semi-final matchup on Friday night after
the Home Run Derby, Resmondo scored a
27-12 victory over T&R Stucco in a sneak
preview of the eventual championship
game.
2009 Major World Series Champions- Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth
As the Number 5 seed entering the tournament, T&R Stucco had a more difficult
path to the finals. Their opening game
was against Northwest Combat from
Seattle, Washington, a team which had
won the Men’s B World Tournament
just three days before the start of the
Major World Series. It was a see-saw
battle that T&R Stucco eventually held
on to win, 18-17. In the second round,
T&R Stucco beat arch-rival Jean Shoppe/
Easton from McKenzie, Tennessee –
who was the Number 4 seed entering
the tournament – by the exact same
18-17 score. That put T&R Stucco in the
winner’s bracket semi-finals, where they
lost to Resmondo.
World Series Co-MVPs ....Andy Purcell(left) and
Dennis Rulli, both from Resmondo. Purcell is
the first repeat MVP selection in the 39-year old
history of the tournament.
12 USSSA TODAY
Johnny McCraw- Combat stud and 2009 all-world.
After dropping to the loser’s bracket,
T&R Stucco beat Johnny Blaze/Combat
of Las Vegas, Nevada by a narrow 15-11
margin. Then, in the finals of the loser’s
bracket, T&R Stucco faced defending
Major World Champion Dan Smith/
Menosse/Benfield/Combat. The game
began late Saturday night, but had
to be postponed after five and a half
innings due to torrential thunderstorms.
T&R Stucco was leading 15-13 when the
game resumed play Sunday morning,
but they had only one turn at-bat left,
while Dan Smith had two innings left.
T&R Stucco pitcher Oscar Shipley shut
out Dan Smith in the bottom of the sixth
inning, before his teammates added
two insurance runs in the top of the
seventh to make the score 17-13. Dan
Smith loaded the based with two outs
in the bottom of the seventh inning
and had 2008 World Series MVP Johnny
McCraw at the plate representing the
tying run. But McGraw lined out to the
third-baseman to end the game.
USSSA CEO, Don DeDonatis, congratulates Resmondo’s Todd Martin who became the all-time hit leader in
USSSA Major World Series history. He surpassed the mark of 231 set by Ritch’s-Superior/TPS’ Ron Parnell.
Todd was later named to the all-world team for 2009.
The win had to be especially gratifying
for two members of the T&R Stucco
coaching staff. Jackie Hayes was the
field manager for many of Dan Smith’s
top teams over the years, including
the 2000 USSSA Major World Series
Champion squad. Tim “Tiny” Taylor
was an assistant coach on those teams.
Now, the trimmed-down Taylor is the
man running the show as the manager
of T&R Stucco, while Hayes is his lead
consultant.
That set the stage for the All-WORTH
Championship
Game.
WORTH
Representatives Tim Lord and Dennis
Turner had to be extremely please to see
two of their marquee teams battling for
the biggest prize in softball.
T&R Stucco failed to score in the top
of the first inning, and Resmondo
responded with four runs. T&R got on
the board with two runs in the top of
the second, but Resmondo exploded for
nine runs in the bottom of the frame
to take a commanding 13-2 lead. T&R
moved closer with four runs in the top of
the third, but Resmondo blew the game
wide open by putting up a 10-spot in
the bottom of the inning to go up 23-6.
T&R Stucco managed just one run in the
fourth inning, and when they failed to
score in the top of the fifth, the game
was stopped on the 15-run-rule, 23-7.
2009 All World Rick Baker-Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat.
14 USSSA TODAY
A historical event took place during the
championship game. With a base hit
in the fourth inning, Resmondo’s Todd
Martin became the all-time hit leader
in USSSA Major World Series history,
surpassing the mark of 231 set by Ron
Photo credit: Tom Smedes
2009 Major World Series Runner Up- T&R Stucco/Worth
Parnell of the old Ritch’s-Superior/TPS
teams of the 1990s.
Dan
Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat
settled for third place this year, GTL/
Stucco/WORTH came in fourth, and
Johnny Blaze/Combat finished fifth.
TaylorMade/Mizuno and Jean Shoppe/
Easton tied for seventh place, while
the rest of the Top 10 included Combat
USA/Elite from Seattle, Washington,
Suncoast/Reebok from Sarasota, Florida,
Blitz/Watanabe/Easton from Cincinnati,
Ohio and O&S/Povs/Hoffman/Combat
from St. Paul, Minnesota tied for ninth
place.
The beautiful Mystic Dunes was the host property again this year.
Jean Shoppe/Chaney’s/Easton’s Tim Cocco.
16 USSSA TODAY
Two players from Resmondo/WORTH
were named Co-Most Valuable Players
of the tournament – pitcher Andy
Purcell and third baseman Dennis Rulli.
Purcell went 12-of-14 with three home
runs and 14 RBIs while pitching every
inning of every game. Rulli went 15 of
16 (his only out came in his last at-bat
of the tournament) with a team-leading
13 runs scored and 12 RBIs. Interestingly,
both players are from California – Purcell
from NorCal and Rulli from SoCal – and
both will be inducted into the USSSA
Hall of Fame together at the Annual
National Convention this November.
Purcell became the first player in the
39-year history of the USSSA Major
World Series to be named the Most
Valuable Player twice. The first time he
won the honor was in 2003 when he also
shared it with a teammate, Jeff Wallace.
Brian Rainwater was named the
Outstanding Offensive Player of this
year’s World Series. Rainwater hit a
team-leading seven home runs and was
second on the team with 15 RBIs.
Shortstop Timmy Mattox of T&R Stucco
was named the Outstanding Defensive
Player of the tournament. Mattox was a
late-season pickup by the team and was
one of the main reasons they achieved
the lofty runnerup finish.
Rainwater and Tim Cocco from Jean
Shoppe/Easton shared the Home Run
Award, as each belted seven. Cocco was
also the winner of the Home Run Derby
on Friday night, when he beat out B.J.
Fulk of Resmondo/WORTH in the finals.
Frank Webb of Resmondo/WORTH was
named the manager of the All-World
Series Team. Players named to the prestigious squad were: catcher Jeff Wallace,
second baseman Greg Connell, middle
infielder Bryson Baker, shortstop Don
DeDonatis III, outfielders Bobby Hughes
and B.J. Fulk, and utility player Todd
Martin, of Resmondo/WORTH; pitcher
Oscar Shipley, second baseman Mitch
Mabe, middle infielder Randall Poplin,
shortstop Timmy Mattox, and third
baseman Rich Gulash, of T&R Stucco/
WORTH; catcher Johnny McGraw,
and outfielders Rick Baker and Brian
Wegman, of Dan Smith/Menossee/
Benfield/Combat;
third
baseman
Sam Lopez, and outfielders Donovan
Pokraka and Rick Sedlacek, of GTL/
Stucco/WORTH; infielder Chris Larsen
and utility player Ed Vega, of Johnny
Blaze/Combat; and catcher Tim Cocco,
of Jean Shoppe/Easton.
Resmondo’s Brian Rainwater accepts Offensive MVP from asst. UIC Larry Lofton.
The Tournament Director was Warren
Bellm of Minnesota, who also hosts the
popular Dudley Classic in his home state.
The Umpire-In-Chief was Rick Robertson
of Florida. The umpires who worked the
Major World Series were Chuck Beckwell
of Michigan, Carlos Childress of Florida,
Steve Christy of Kansas, Don Lombard
of Kansas, Jason Oberlag of Arkansas,
Duane Posavetz of Florida, Dan Sullivan
of New Hampshire and Tony Walczak of
Michigan.
Tournament Director, Warren Bellm, hands off
the Defensive MVP trophy to T&R Stucco/Worth’s
Timmy Mattox.
Resmondo’s Bobby Hughes accepts his all-world
award from Tournament Director, Warren Bellm.
USSSA TODAY 17
SLUGFEST
9
An Avenue for Ballplayers to Test
New Bat Technology For 2010
Worth Sports’ personnel included Bryson Baker,
Greg Connell, Russ Parton, Mike Cornell and
Denny Helmig.
Anaconda Sports was on hand selling the bats that
the players felt tested well in their hands. Lending
their years of softball expertise were: Dave Reed,
Mike Macenko and Kevin Schullstrom.
Combat’s (l to r) Johnny McCraw, Don Cooper and
Scott Brown.
It’s always good to have some Kendo wisdom at all
softball events.
Miken Sports’ Aaron Perdue.
Boombah’s Rick (RJ) Jackson handled the apparel
and footwear needs.
Louisville Slugger’s Cory Hahn.
Mizuno Sports’ Chad Robertson (left) and Larry
Brushett.
Easton’s Brett Helmer
18 USSSA TODAY
USSSA Super Series
505 teams / 1002 games
Behind the Scene
by Contributing Writers-Gary Gooden and Bob Reed
by Gary Gooden and Bob Reed
On September 24, in Orlando, Florida, 505 teams started to
play in the largest World Series event that has ever been held.
Everyone knows that Orlando is the home of Disney’s Magic
Kingdom, but there was no magic that took place for everything to fall into place for this event. It took hard work and a
lot of coordination on the part of many people.
The reality is that the event started to take shape in November
of 2008 at the USSSA National Convention with the awarding
of the sites for the 2009 World Series, NITs and National
Tournaments. Once these sites and dates were awarded, the
national office staff went to work listing events on the USSSA
website and the process was started in getting the 505 teams
qualified to participate in the event. State and local directors
worked hard to get the information packages together about
their tournaments and the requirements for teams to be able
to participate in a USSSA World Tournament.
20 USSSA TODAY
Throughout the Year; State, NIT’S and National Tournaments
were held for teams to qualify. At the same time, the national
office staff was hard at work keeping the paperwork, financial
and berth information up-to-date. With the expectation on
the number of people that would be traveling to the Orlando
area, USSSA was also working with local hotels and attractions to provide discounted rates to the participants. Laurie
Timmons coordinated with several hotels and resorts to establish a listing of USSSA host sites that teams could stay at and
receive travel money that they had won while participating in
USSSA events during the year. Laurie also worked with Osceola
County to show the economic impact that USSSA events bring
to the County.
As teams continue to qualify, the national office monitored
the numbers of teams to ensure that the events would have
enough fields to handle the number of teams entered. This
year was a challenge as many of the teams qualified over the
last month; additional sites were needed to accommodate the
large number of teams entered into the event. The Men’s “E”
World Tournament was closed when the total reached 256
which was the largest number of teams that could be accepted
into one bracket. As the event got closer and the true picture
developed, it was clear that the largest event in the history was
going to take place. Two additional playing sites were added
to the four sites that were already secured in advance.
Directors at Managers Meeting.
Dale McGregor at Womens Bracket.
You could say at this point we could use a little magic, as
there still were many things that needed to be completed in
a very short time frame. We now had our estimate of teams
and knew the number of fields that were going to be used for
the tournament; the next undertaking fell on Rick Robertson
and the National UIC staff to get enough umpires to cover the
event properly. The task of making sure that all the games
were covered fell upon Dale McGregor. With umpires traveling in from all over the country, Dale needed to do as much
as possible to put together crews for the events and allocate
where these umpires would be assigned prior to even knowing
the final schedule. Over 100 umpires participated in the 2009
Super Series covering over 1000 games with two umpires per
game. Dale spent several sleepless nights making sure that
umpires would not be a problem during the event, and just
when he was done and passing out schedules, he learned that
some umpires were not able to make the trip and another
round of moving umpires had to be completed. Dale is truly
one of the unsung volunteers that are only appreciated by
those that know the time and energy that he puts into making
the event successful.
Kevin Naegele, Executive Vice President, has the responsibility
to make sure that there are enough directors available to
help make the event run smoothly. Although Kevin worked
throughout the year putting together the people that would
be assigned to the event, the increase in size of the tournament and additional sites stretched the personnel to the limit.
Every site was covered with director(s) that needed to handle
the teams, umpires and work with the facilities throughout
the event. Most had to double as the tournament site director
and UIC, while working with the staff that was headquartered
at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
Disney and Neal Swanner addressing Managers.
Updating brackets at Disney.
22 USSSA TODAY
There was still one major obstacle that needed to be
completed, getting six tournaments scheduled and bracketed with 505 teams. Kelly Burke and Tom O’Hara worked on
getting the different tournaments into the system using the
fields and times that were available. The tournament directors, Neal Swanner, Dwight Gehring and Tammy Totland then
went through the brackets to verify team placement and time
conflicts. The goal was to make sure teams from the same state
were not meeting each other in the first or second round if
possible; and that there was enough travel time when teams
had to travel between sites after games. Travel problems are
almost impossible towards the end of the tournament as
teams in the losers’ bracket continue to play back to back. It
was a testament to these individuals that the tournament was
completed each night and on the final day within a couple of
hours of the scheduled times.
We are now to the week of the event, schedules are complete,
brackets drawn and printed, umpires scheduled and we are
almost to the magic moment of the tournament to begin. The
Tuesday night before the event, Neal held a meeting with the
directors to go over assignments and tasks that still needed to
be completed. Neal assigned directors to each complex, making
sure that the directors had softballs and brackets for each sites,
and that awards would be delivered to Disney Complex and
verified before Sunday’s Championship play. With several sites,
communications for such things as protests, how to handle
getting all the scores entered into the online system, and
communications between parks about teams running late or
weather situations were discussed and reviewed. Things are
in place and we are ready for the final walkthrough with the
staff at Disney and welcoming the teams.
Dustin Embrey and the staff at Disney rolled out the red carpet
to the USSSA and our teams. Disney Event Coordinators were
in place to support the USSSA staff in any way possible. The
coordination between all the different departments at the
Disney’s Wide World of Sports was incredible as situations
changed, they were able to adapt to things quickly. When rain
came on Saturday night, the staff was able to get the fields
back up and running so that enough games were completed
that night and we were able to finish the tournament in the
early afternoon on Sunday. This cooperation was also the same
at the other sites, Osceola, Fortune, Denn John, Seminole, and
Leesburg, which made for an enjoyable experience for both
the directors and teams. Without great partners an event this
large would not be successful.
We have made it to the night before the event, less than 24
hours before the start of the tournament and we are ready
to start registering teams for the event. It took a tremendous
effort to get teams checked in and get Disney passes with the
number of teams entered. Laurie coordinated the registration
with the help of the tournament directors. Before teams could
get into registration, they needed to go through a process to
ensure that they had completed all the paperwork needed.
The process was staffed by Disney personnel, with help from
Minnesota and New York umpires that volunteered to assist. At
6:00 PM the registration was closed and the manager meeting
was held to review the rules and regulations of the tournament and facilities that were being used. Upon the completion of the manager meeting, registration was reopened and
the umpire meeting was held to review assignments, rules and
regulations for the tournament.
Gary and Dale in tower at Disney.
Dale addressing umpires.
Regisitration.
At 8:00 AM on Thursday, September 24th, 34 games were
played, starting the USSSA Super Series World Tournaments.
Eventually 1002 games would be played and there would be
magical moments for six teams that were crowned USSSA
World Series Champions.
Thanks to Mr. Don DeDonatis, the USSSA Board of Directors,
and all of the directors that made this event a success. Only a
few have been mentioned individually, but without everyone
making an incredible commitment, the 2009 Super Series
Weekend would not have been such a success.
Stands starting to fill for managers meeting.
USSSA TODAY 23
by Dale Weiser
Three Champions Crowned
at Conference USSSA Championships
by Dale “DW” Weiser
The 2009 Conference Championships were again held in
Kissimmee, Florida at the spring training home of the Houston
Astros of Major League Baseball. The complex features 5 full
sized baseball fields measuring 330 feet down the lines, 390
feet to the gaps, and 410 feet to straight away centerfield. The
complex also features the USSSA office headquarters and the
USSSA Hall of Fame.
Resmondo 16
Player
AB
R
H
RBI
BB
LOB
Dedonatis, Don SS
4
0
1
0
0
0
Connell, Greg 2B
3
2
2
2
0
0
Wallace, Jeff C
4
1
2
1
0
1
Roe, Dale C
0
1
0
0
0
0
Resmondo-Specialty Tank-Worth went undefeated (3-0) and
beat Long Haul/Miken/Phonemasters 16-14 in the final game.
Resmondo run ruled Jean Shoppe and Long Haul to get to the
finals and were led by Conference Season Co-MVP’s Bryson
Baker and BJ Fulk.
Baker, Bryson MI
4
1
2
0
0
0
Rulli, Dennis 3B
4
2
3
1
0
0
Purcell, Andy P
1
2
1
1
3
0
Fulk, BJ RF
4
2
2
5
0
4
Hughes, Bobby CF
2
3
2
4
1
0
Resmondo dominated this tournament from start to finish.
They used some timely homeruns to power the offense. In the
final game Long Haul couldn’t muster enough offense to put
the needed pressure on Resmondo.
Rainwater, Brian LF
3
1
2
2
0
0
Krause, Howie 1B
3
0
0
0
0
0
Bisbee, Vince EH
3
1
1
0
0
1
35
16
18
16
4
6
Totals
Long Haul finishes 2nd and used a big top of the 7th to put
up enough runs to hold off Dan Smith 27-22 in the loser’s
bracket championship game. The Bombers played without
2nd baseman Jeremy Isenhower but proved for the 2nd time
this year they can play top notch stadium ball. Matt King was
making some great plays in centerfield. Robert Blackburn hit
some nasty line drive homers and JD Genter continues to be
the leader of an offense that is adapting to the baseball fields.
E - Connell; DP - LongHaul 2. LOB - LongHaul 3; Resmondo
6. 2B - Thiede; McCollum; King; Genter; Hall; Hartwick;
HR - Hall; Phelps; Connell; Rainwater; Hughes 2; Fulk;
2009 USSSA Conference Championship Box
Score - Major Division
Results from the Major Division of the 2009
Conference Championships
Long Haul 14
Score by Innings
R
H
E
Long Haul
0
9
3
0
1
0
0
14
17
0
Resmondo
1
2
6
6
1
0
-
16
18
1
1st
Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth
Winter Haven, FL
2nd
Long Haul/Miken/Phonemasters
Albertville, MN
0
3rd
Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat
San Jose, CA
0
0
4th
T&R Stucco/Worth
Polk City, FL
0
0
1
5th
Jean Shoppe/Chaneys/Easton/Sports55
McKenzie, TN
1
1
1
1
5th
Bud Light/TPS/LineDrive/Sports55
Plymouth, MI
1
2
1
1
0
4
1
1
0
0
0
Blackburn, Robert RF
4
2
2
2
0
0
Rhines, Mike 3B
2
0
0
0
0
0
Hartwick, Greg 3B
1
0
1
0
0
0
Buck, Geno P
3
2
2
1
0
0
Striebel, Scott LF
2
2
1
0
1
0
King, Matt CF
3
1
1
2
0
1
36
14
17
14
4
3
Player
AB
R
H
RBI
BB
LOB
Genter, JD MI
3
2
2
2
1
Hall, Jeff 2B
4
1
2
5
Thiede, Ryan 1B
4
1
2
Phelps, JC EH
3
1
Robbins, Ryan C
3
McCollum, Brett SS
Totals
24 USSSA TODAY
The Conference Championships were broken into three separate brackets. The Major, which as mentioned was won by
Resmondo. The ‘A’ division was won by Taylormade/Titan/
PAS/Mizuno who used a miraculous 12 run 7th inning to beat
Combat USA 29-28 in their first round game. Then Taylormade
stumbled in a loss to GTL (22-5) before turning on the defense
and defeating Johnny Blaze (14-6) and beating GTL in the
championship game (17-6). The second game, the “if” game,
of the championship was not played as GTL, which was short
handed already, left to catch flights.
Results from the ‘A’ Division
of the Conference Championships
1st
Taylormade/Titan/PAS/Mizuno
Spotsylvania, VA
2nd
GTL Cartel/Stucco/Worth/Elite
Othello, WA
3rd
Johnny Blaze/Combat/Elite
Las Vegas, NV
4th
Combat USA/Elite
Seattle, WA
5th
Wood Law/Combat
Dallas, TX
6th
Northwest Combat/Trojans
Seattle, WA
lines and 340 foot fences to centerfield. AJS was undefeated
in their championship run and used the pitching of Billy Barrett
and the contagious and acrobatic defensive play of shortstop
Luis Reyna and center fielder Adam Rockoff to shut down their
opponents.
Results from the ‘B’ Division
of the Conference Championships
In the third bracket, the ‘B’ division, A.J.S./Easton/3N2/DssBats
defeated WCS/LCV (8-3) in the championship game. The ‘B’
division was played at the Fortune Road softball complex
which had nice fields with 325 foot fence distance down the
1st
A.J.S./Easton/3N2/DssBats
Fort Myers, FL
2nd
WCS/LCV
Vista, CA
3rd
Fence Brokers/Illustrated Sportswear
Conway, AR
4th
PRI/MFAB/Insanity
Cincinnati, OH
5th
Diamondblade/Angle Inn Easton
Baltimore, MD
6th
Showcase/All American Restoration
Plymouth, MN
All Conference Awards
NAME
POSITION
OB
HR
RBI
TEAM
Andy Purcell
Pitcher
2 MVP / 8 All Tournament
742
37
157
Resmondo
Scott Nastally
Pitcher
3 All Tournament
683
18
87
Dan Smith
Jeff Wallace
Catcher
743
82
216
Resmondo
Hank Garris
Catcher
2 MVP / 1 OP / 2 All Tournament
818
39
134
Jean Shoppe
Vince Bisbee
Utility
731
42
122
Resmondo
Scott Brown
Utility
1 MVP / 1OP / 4 All Tournament
765
61
183
Dan Smith
Brett Helmer
Utility
755
50
154
Dan Smith
Brian Wegman
Utility
768
70
196
Dan Smith
Brian Puckett
Utility
1 OP / 2 All Tournament
724
47
160
Bud Light
Rusty Bumgardner
1st Base
4 All Tournament
725
68
188
Dan Smith
Eric Thompson
1st Base
5 All Tournament
762
4
69
Jean Shoppe
Greg Connell
2nd Base
703
88
242
Resmondo
Jeremy Isenhower
2nd Base
738
21
99
Long Haul
Todd Joerling
3rd Base
2 All Tournament
730
43
143
Jean Shoppe
Dennis Rulli
3rd Base
1 MVP / 1 DP / 1 OP / 3 All Tournament
724
37
184
Resmondo
Don Dedonatis III
Shortstop
5 DP / 7 All Tournament
754
21
88
Resmondo
Brett Mccollum
Shortstop
662
60
157
Long Haul
Bryson Baker
Middle Infield
2 MVP / 1 OP / 5 All Tournament
773
61
208
Resmondo
JD Genter
Middle Infield
725
41
101
Long Haul
BJ Fulk
Outfield
1 MVP / 1 DP / 5 All Tournament
749
57
164
Resmondo
Brian Rainwater
Outfield
739
65
194
Resmondo
Rick Baker
Outfield
752
35
136
Dan Smith
Jason Kendrick
Outfield
3 All Tournament
725
45
127
Dan Smith
Ryan Robbins
Outfield
1 OP / 3 All Tournament
755
31
90
Long Haul
Jason Branch
Outfield
3 All Tournament
712
33
69
T & R Stucco
Rick Sedlacek
Outfield
1 All Tournament
747
23
129
GTL
John Rector
2009
All Conference Manager
Hank Garris
2009
Batting Champion
818
39
134
Jean Shoppe
Greg Connell
2009
Home Run Champion
703
88
242
Resmondo
768
70
196
Dan Smith
Rick Baker
2009
Outstanding Defensive Player
Brian Wegman
2009
Outstanding Offensive Player
Resmondo
Dan Smith
Bryson Baker
2009
Most Valuable Player
773
61
208
Resmondo
BJ Fulk
2009
Most Valuable Player
749
57
164
Resmondo
USSSA TODAY 25
USSSA All Conference First Team
USSSA All Conference Second Team
USSSA All Conference B Team
26 USSSA TODAY
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2009 Conference Homerun Champion-Greg Connell. Rick Robertson (left), National
UIC, and Executive VP Danny Brown presented this years’ individual awards.
2009 Conference USSSA Batting Champion- Hank Garris
2009 Conference USSSA Outstanding Offensive Player- Brian Wegman
2009 Conference USSSA Outstanding Defensive Player- Rick Baker
2009 Conference USSSA Co-MVP- Bryson Baker
2009 Conference USSSA Co-MVP- BJ Fulk
The Conference USSSA awards banquet is one of many events coordinated by
headquarters’ staff (l to r) Laurie Timmons, Stacy Loving and Wendi Brockwell.
USSSA Executive VP, Danny Brown, hands off championship cup to Travis
Resmondo.
28 USSSA TODAY
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Latino Culture Celebrated at
Hispanic World Tournament
By Greg Huchingson
Park Bums from Sylmar, California. Jokers/GKI
Travel settled the issue in five innings with an
18-8 run-rule championship win.
“This World Championship is the culmination
of many years of hard work put in by these
guys,” said Pete Puente, manager of Jokers/
GKI Travel. “We are very proud to bring this
honor back to North Texas.”
Henry Hernandez of Jokers/GKI Travel was
named the Outstanding Offensive Player of the
division. Others Jokers named to the All-World
Tournament team were Corie Waldrep,
Luciano Castaneda, Edward Sanchez, Joseph
Urrutia and Victor Guadalupe. Other players
contributing to the championship effort were
Robert Avalos, Andy Bass, Justin Cloud, Russell
Graves, J.D. Handley, Mark Patino, David Rios,
Michael Rios, David Salas and Eric Salas.
LEAGUE CITY, TX – According to National Program Director
Bert Fun Frederick, the USSSA Hispanic World Tournament is
a celebration of the Latino culture. It is held on the closest
weekend to Dies y Seis de Septiembre, which is the day Mexico
declared its independence from Spain in 1810.
This year, 80 predominantly Hispanic teams from as far away
as Ogden, Utah; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Los Angeles,
California converged on the Big League Dreams complex in the
Houston suburb of League City, Texas for the big event, which
was held Sept. 11-13.
The largest division was Men’s Recreation, which featured a
55-team bracket. Jokers/GKI Travel from Ft. Worth, TX went
undefeated through seven games to capture the World
Championship. The Jokers opened with an 11-5 win over High
Voltage from Corpus Christi, TX, and followed that with wins
over Dream Team from Walnut, California (8-5), Texas Scorpions
from Houston (13-10) and Aftermath from Houston (10-4) to
advance to the semi-finals of the winner’s bracket. Next, the
Jokers beat one of the pre-tournament favorites, American
Gunite from El Monte, California (16-6) to advance to the king
seat game, where they beat Team Mexicanos from San Antonio
(13-6). That put the Jokers in the championship game against
30 USSSA TODAY
Second place in the Men’s Recreation division
went to the Park Bums from Sylmar, California.
After winning their first two games, the Park
Bums were sent to the loser’s bracket by SoCal
rival American Gunite (16-14). Park Bums and
American Gunite play in the same league
together at a Big League Dreams complex in
Southern California. After dropping to the
loser’s bracket, Park Bums reeled off consecutive wins over Bohika from Ft. Worth (23-8),
Dirty Habits from Edinburg, Texas (20-3),
Chicano Bulls from South El Monte, California (8-4), American
Gunite in a re-match (17-11), Punisher Softball from Humble,
Texas (7-0) and Team Mexicanos from San Antonio (14-3)
to reach the championship game. Park Bums ran out of gas
against Jokers/GKI Travel and settled for World Runnerup
honors with a 9-2 record.
Sean Munoz of Park Bums was named Outstanding Defensive
Player of the division. Teammates named to the All-World
Tournament team were Fernando Calderon, George Garcia,
Rene Rosete and Juan Carlos Sepulveda.
Team Mexicanos from San Antonio finished in third place
with a 4-2 record; Punisher Softball from Humble, Texas came
in fourth place at 5-2; Dream Team and American Gunite, a
pair of Southern California teams, tied for fifth place; and the
T-Baggers from Houston and Chicano Bulls from SoCal tied for
seventh place. The rest of the Top 10 included Ruthless Ink/
Los Curenos from Allen, Texas, Aftermath from Houston, LMB
from Austin, Texas and Dirty Habits from Edinburg, Texas tied
for ninth place.
Other players named to the All-World Tournament team
were Hector Iruegas, Rudy Molina and John Brown of Team
Budweiser, the King of Beers, invites your team to play in
Texas’ King of Softball Tournaments, the Fall Budweiser Softball
Festival in Bryan/College Station on November 14 and 15.
Brought to you by Jack Hilliard Distributing,
Bryan/College Station
The same great team that has brought your team 24
years of continuous sponsorship of the Spring Budweiser
Softball Festival, now sponsoring the Second Annual
Fall Festival
To enter your team, contact Greg Huchingson
at (979) 575-5669
Men’s Recreation Champions- Joker’s/GKI Travel- Fort Worth, Texas
Men’s Competitive Champions- Rios Sports Bar/Pizzini Sports-Corpus Christi,
Texas
Men’s Rereational Runner Up- Park Bums- Sylmar,California
Men’s Competitive Runner Up- Slapaho-Dickinson, Texas
Mexicanos, and Mike Escamilla and Alfonso Garcia of Punisher
Softball.
a 4-2 record and Team Steel from Corpus Christi finished fourth
at 3-2. Olmito Heat, also from the Rio Grande Valley, and MJ
Trucking from San Antonio tied for fifth place, while Zamora’s
All-Out Sports and Mares/AYS/TI Sports – a pair of Houston
teams – tied for seventh.
The most exciting finish of the weekend came in the Men’s
Competitive division, which featured 13 teams. Rios Sports Bar/
Pizzini Sports from Corpus Christi, Texas won their first three
games to advance to the championship game undefeated,
where they met Slapaho from nearby Dickinson, Texas who
emerged from the loser’s bracket. Rios/Pizzini had narrowly
defeated Slapaho (16-14) in the winner’s bracket finals. The
championship game was another close game that went into
extra innings, until Marcello Gonzales hit a solo walk-off home
run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give
Rios/Pizzini a 16-15 victory.
Rios/Pizzini won the tournament with a 4-0 record, while
Slapaho finished second at 4-2. Sandoval Trucking from San
Benito, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley came in third place with
32 USSSA TODAY
Paulie Maldonado of Rios/Pizzini was named winner of the
Andy Lujan Most Valuable Player Award. Juan Renteria, also
of Rios/Pizzini, was named the Outstanding Offensive Player of
the Division, while Manuel Galvan of Slapaho was named the
Outstanding Defensive Player.
Other players named the All-World Tournament team in the Men’s
Competitive division were Doug Waindel, L.C. Watson, Lucio
Govea, Jose Lopez and Marcello Gonzales, of Rios/Pizzini; J.T. Mark,
Ryan Vanlandigham, Chris Jones and Rob Strickland, of Slapaho;
Rick Pena, Lupe Garcia and John Rendan of Sandoval Trucking; and
Roland Salazar, Leo Medina and Chon Guajardo, of Team Steel.
Women Champions- Steel Unknowns- San Antonio, Texas
Women Runner Up- Lady Oops- Houston, Texas
The restaurants at Big League Dreams provided a great place to celebrate a
great finish.
Meeting of the truckers...Sandoval Trucking (left) and MJ Trucking.
The were 12 teams in the Women’s Division, which included
three Competitive teams and nine Recreation teams. When
Competitive teams played Recreation teams head-to-head,
the Competitive teams were required to spot their opponent
five runs. Steel Unknowns from San Antonio went undefeated
through four games to win the World Championship. The
Alamo City team defeated Static from Austin, Texas (21-5),
Too-Legit from Las Cruces, New Mexico (24-14) and Lady Oops
from Houston (3-2) to reach the championship game, where
they defeated Lady Oops again (12-1) to claim the crown.
manager Ory Flores was so overcome with joyous emotion, she
broke down in tears.
Team Toxic from Edinburg, Texas went 5-2 to finish in third
place. They were the highest finishing Women’s Recreation
team in the bracket. In their only other tournament of the year,
the Women’s E team went 0-2 in a trip to the same Big League
Dreams complex about a month prior to the Hispanic World.
The team made vast improvements before their trip to Worlds.
When presented with the third place trophy, Team Toxic
Too-Legit finished fourth with a 2-2 record, while the Diamond
Divas from McAllen, Texas and Fresh from Ogden, Utah tied for
fifth place; and Static from and the San Antonio Aces tied for
seventh place.
Jessica Sanchez of the Steel Unknowns was named Outstanding
Offensive Player of the division, while Ashley Verver of Lady
Oops was named the Outstanding Defensive Player.
Other members of the All-World Tournament team were
Bonnie Sosa, Santa Castro, Gina Perez and Hortencia Cabrera,
of Steel Unknowns; Maria Trimm, Angela Aguilar, Yvonne
Garcia and JonRhea Garcia, of Lady Oops; Adriana Carr, Cecilia
Garcia and Vicky Moya, of Team Toxic; and Jessica Apodaca
and Selina Portillo, of Too-Legit.
USSSA TODAY 33
Men’s ‘B’ Slow-Pitch
World Tournament
by Dale “DW” Weiser
Northwest Combat/Trojans out of Seattle, Washington came
to Florida and dominated the competition at the Men’s ‘B’
Slow-pitch World Tournament at Kissimmee, Florida’s Fortune
Road Softball Complex. NW Combat outscored their competition 91-26 in going an undefeated 5-0 in the tournament.
NW Combat never allowed more than 7 runs in a game during
their run. They were led by tournament MVP pitcher Derek
Warren and Defensive MVP third baseman Jeff Gare.
Combat used intense focus, speed, timely power, and a
suffocating defense to clean house and win the rings. The
Washington based club used a grand slam by veteran slugger
Shane McCullough to separate from a feisty Detroit Own’s
team to get themselves going in their first game, and never
looked back as they won by the mercy rule 4 times. The only
close game was a 7-5 victory over FBI in the heat of the day
Saturday when the ball was not going anywhere and scores
were down. NW Combat defeated Blitz/Watanabe/Weller/
Minges/Easton 18-1 on Saturday night in the winner’s final and
22-6 in the Championship game!
Blitz from Cincinnati, Ohio finishes a solid second after making
a nice run in the winner’s bracket and knocking off ‘B’ favorite
AJS (24-6) in the semi-finals. Blitz then made it back to the
championship game with an 11-10 win over WCS/LCV when
they threw the tying run out at the plate for the final out of
the game. Blitz was led by Offensive Tournament MVP Jason
Roesch.
WCS/LCV finishes third after beating FBI 25-17 early Sunday
morning.
Final Results from the ‘B’ World Tournament
1
NorthWest Combat / Trojans
WA
5-0
2
Blitz/Watanabe/Weller/Minges/Easton
OH
4-2
3
WCS / LCV
CA
6-2
4
Fence Brokers/Illustrated Sportswear
AR
5-2
5
A.J.S./Easton/3N2/Dssbats
FL
3-2
5
PRI/MFAB/Insanity
OH
2-2
7
Peak/Capital Mortgage/Tlg/Pm
CO
4-2
7
ATS/Combat/TYJA
AZ
3-2
9
Linedrive/Triplesss/Pipe/Easton
MI
3-2
9
Detroit’s Own / Tireshop
MI
3-2
9
Showcase/All American Restoration
MN
3-2
9
Tri-State/Apex
NJ
2-2
13
Logo Express/Bass Gloves
GA
2-2
13
AK Tile/Game On/Cooper Sports
OH
2-2
13
DCS
FL
2-2
13
Mad Softball
FL
2-2
17
Diamondblade/Angle Inn Easton
MD
1-2
17
CORBELL
TX
1-2
17
STL Swing
MO
1-2
17
Major League Softball
GA
1-2
17
Eagle Bonding/Easton
GA
1-2
17
EWS/BOOMBAH/SPORT PT/DLB
IL
0-2
17
Magic/S&S/Sports55/Easton
MA
0-2
17
EAP/Easton
OH
0-2
25
ATS Softball
SC
0-2
25
Off Regularly/Miken
FL
0-2
25
Anchor Down Ent/Easton
FL
0-2
25
Team Adrenaline
FL
0-2
25
PrimeTime/Easton
GA
0-2
25
PDC Printing
MI
0-2
34 USSSA TODAY
NW Combat
Blitz/Watanabe
B Worlds MVP- Northwest/Combat’s pitcher, Derek Warren.
SOFTBALL IS MY GAME
Hey Softballers,
I want
to start by saying the USSSA World
Championships in Kissimmee, Fla. a few
weeks ago was an awesome tournament – kudos to all the organizers and
competitors. All of the Easton teams
had great showings and represented the
brand with class.
With the season coming to an end,
several USSSA teams are looking to
shake up their rosters. Expect a lot of
player migration during the off-season.
You’re going to see a lot of new faces
on teams next year, particularly at the
Class-A level.
And speaking of change, the USSSA
national meetings will take place in late
November and early December to discuss
rule changes. Keep an eye out for any
changes that may affect your teams.
Check with your local and state directors
during the next couple of months to stay
in the loop.
I want to extend a hearty thanks to all
of the men’s and women’s college teams
for all their support in 2009, and I look
forward to a great 2010. I also want to
thank everyone involved in the Police
Softball World Series earlier this month
at Big League Dreams Sports Park in
Cathedral City, Calif. It never fails to
impress me the level of play year-in and
year-out. It’s an honor for Easton to be
the official sponsor. We love working
with the people that work so hard to
keep our streets safe.
A couple product updates for December:
Great news for all you fans of Easton’s
SCN2 CAT-Plus. We heard your cries for
the return of one of our most popular
bats of all time, and we’re pleased to
announce it’s back on the shelves. You
can purchase the CAT-Plus for $199 – a
great price for such a quality bat – at your
local sporting goods store right now.
Also, Easton’s new line of bats, including
the Synergy Speed Brett Helmer and the Stealth
Speed XL, are due out in mid-December just
in time for stocking stuffing for the softball
junkie or weekend warrior in your house. These
are great bats – particularly the Brett Helmer for
obvious reasons – that implement Easton’s cuttingedge technology.
On tap for December is the Toys for Tots tournament
at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.
This is a great event, in which we’ll
try to do our part to help the
kids. Representatives from the
United States Armed Forces
will be on hand to accept all
donations during the threeday tournament. We’re
hoping for a big turnout
and a fun weekend.
Something else to look
for in the coming months:
Earlier this year, the USSSA
announced the addition of a
fast-pitch women’s league,
and I’m happy to say the
new league will join the
USSSA next season
with a plethora of
teams eager to test
their skills on the
field. Expect Easton
to be in the mix.
Lastly, I’d like to
thank all of you for
taking the time to
read my column. I
hope you had a happy
and
healthy
2009
season, and we’ll see
you on the field in
2010.
Happy Hitting,
Brett
Helmer
USSSA TODAY 35
USSSA and Big League Dreams:
A mutually beneficial partnership
By Greg Huchingson
Millions of people flock to Las Vegas every year hoping
to beat the odds.
In January 2010, a new venture opening in the Mojave
Desert paradise that is a guaranteed winner – the latest
Big League Dreams sports complex.
And USSSA will be right there with them, helping make
it a success just like they have many times before.
“We pride ourselves in hosting events at the nicest facilities in the country, and Big League Dreams provides
precisely that kind of complex,” said Don DeDonatis,
Executive Director and CEO of USSSA. “We work with
them day-in and day-out to put on quality events for
our customers. The partnership is a win-win situation for
everybody. Teams love coming back.”
Big League Dreams is the brainchild of brothers Rick
and Jeff Odekirk. Their dream was to build and operate
a family recreational facility that would give average
youth and adult players an opportunity to have the feel
of playing in the big leagues.
“We are very pleased with our working arrangement
with USSSA,” said Jeff Odekirk. “They have many high
quality tournament directors who put on great events
in our parks. With the recent explosion of travel baseball, along with girls fast-pitch and of course adult slowpitch, our company is growing and USSSA has helped
with that growth.”
Most of the Big League Dreams complexes host adult
36 USSSA TODAY
slow-pitch softball leagues six nights a week – Sunday
through Friday. Those leagues are registered with
USSSA, but also incorporate Big League Dreams’ own
customized playing rules.
Outside promoters rent the complexes on weekends to
host events. It is estimated that USSSA fills 70 percent
of the weekend dates at all BLD facilities. In Southern
California alone, USSSA Baseball State Director Craig
Ciandella fills 80 percent of the four Big League Dreams
complexes.
“Craig was the first USSSA Director to rent from us, and
it has grown from there,” said Jeff Odekirk. “He does
an outstanding job with his tournaments, as do all the
USSSA directors. As we continue to grow across the
country, we expect USSSA to be there in those cities to
help with the growth.”
The admiration is mutual, from the perspective of USSSA
directors who rent from Big League Dreams.
“Working with Big League Dreams is great; they have by
far the finest facilities out here,” said Stacy Fish, USSSA’s
Southern California Fast-pitch State Director. “Their staff
is professional and so easy to work with. Everything is
ready to go when you get there. They make your job as
a tournament director so much easier.”
Fish hosted the 2009 USSSA Girls 16 & Under B and Girls 18
& Under B Fast-pitch World Series at Big League Dreams
in West Covina.
“We had 34 teams and everything went just awesome,” said
Fish. “Other parks out here have just or two fields. And many
of them don’t even have fences. Big League Dreams is a paradise compared to them.”
Big League Dreams is also big in Texas, where complexes
in League City (near Houston) and Mansfield (near DallasFort Worth) are the anchors of the Lone Star Shootout State
Championship Series.
Steve Navarro, who has been with Big League Dreams from
its inception, is currently the general manager at Mansfield
where he is assisted by Jeff Smith, Trey Shipman and others.
In League City, the general manager is Scott Sheldon and the
sports director is Phyllis Williford, Sheldon was an infielder with
the Oakland Athletics (1997) and Texas Rangers (1998-2001), as
well as playing with the Orix BlueWave in Japan (2002-2003).
On Sept. 6, 2000, Sheldon became only the third player in MLB
history to play all nine positions in a single game, joining Bert
Campaneris and Cesar Tovar.
Big League Dreams- League City, TX
With the help of their father, real estate developer Ron
Odekirk, Rick and Jeff opened the first Big League Dreams in
January 1998 in Cathedral City, California, 120 miles east of Los
Angeles. The park was an immediate hit, and many more Big
League Dreams parks soon popped up all across the Western
U.S.
The Odekirks are a baseball-loving family. Rick and Jeff both
played high school and college ball, and Rick even played
11 years of minor league ball in the organizations of the
Royals, Athletics, Reds, Rangers, Orioles and Indians. As a lefthanded pitcher, he reached as high as the AAA level with the
Oklahoma City 89ers (Rangers) in 1988 and Colorado Springs
Sky Sox (Indians) in 1989.
When Big League Dreams opens in Las Vegas early next year
it will mark the 10th complex nationwide. There are four in
Southern California – Cathedral City, Riverside, Chino Hills
and West Covina; two in Northern California – Redding and
Manteca; two in Texas – League City and Mansfield; and one
in Arizona – Gilbert. Other parks are in the planning stages in
other cities across the nation.
Big League Dreams- Mansfield, Texas
Ed Farmer will be the general manager of the Las Vegas
complex when it opens. Farmer has already opened three
Big League Dreams complexes for the company, including
Cathedral City, Calif., League City, Texas, and Gilbert, Arizona.
“We want to showcase the property so people can see how
magnificent the thing is,” said Farmer. “Cities that have Big
League Dreams become known as a sports mecca, with teams
are coming from all over simply to play at Big League Dreams.”
The parks bring many benefits to the regions in which they
operate. First and foremost is a top-quality playing experience
for local families through world-class facilities in a variety of
sports. A typical Big League Dreams facility offers baseball,
adult slow-pitch softball, girls fast-pitch softball, soccer, indoor
soccer, in-line hockey, basketball, flag football and sand volleyball for all ages.
Big League Dreams- Mansfield, Texas
USSSA TODAY 37
Big League Dreams is best-known for its baseball/softball fields
that are designed and built as replicas of famous, historic major
league stadiums. Youth and adults can play on a replica of:
• Chicago’s Wrigley Field
• The Bronx’s Yankee Stadium
• Boston’s Fenway Park
• St. Louis’ Sportsmans Park
• New York’s The Polo Grounds
• Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field
• Brooklyn’s Ebbets Fields
• Detroit’s Tiger Stadium
Big League Dreams- Cathedral City, California
• Cincinnati’s Crosley Field
• Arlington’s Rangers Ballpark
Huge economic benefits are created through multi-use facilities being booked almost every day of the year, more than a
year in advance for league play and special events. Examples
of past special events include: corporate and group events,
national tournaments, local tournaments, concerts, Easter
Sunrise services, July 4th celebrations, dog shows, art shows,
and many other local and regional events.
In addition, Big League Dreams features two on-site Stadium
Club Restaurants that serve everything from beer, to nachos,
to pizza, to specialty hamburgers. These climate-controlled
restaurants also have multiple televisions so patrons can
watch sporting events while enjoying their food and drinks.
In the center of each complex are batting cages for players to
warm-up in, and covered playgrounds for children.
The Sportsplex Operators and Developers Association (SODA)
named the Cathedral City Big League Dreams Sports Park the
Best New Sports Complex in America. Sports Illustrated said
Big League Dream’s “Replicas of Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park
and Wrigley field dazzle weekend warriors.” The Los Angeles
Times hailed the scaled-down replica stadiums as “bringing
dreams to life.” The Orange County Register said it is a place
where “players live out their fantasies.”
Scenes for the film “Benchwarmers” were shot at the Chino
Hills park’s scaled down Fenway Field.
All-Stars like Mike Piazza, Randy Johnson and Jason Giambi
played the first softball game at the original Big League
Dreams park to raise money for charity. However, the replica
field concept was designed to give the typical recreational
player the chance to live their dreams of playing in the big
leagues. Annually, millions of adult softball and youth baseball
players flock to the parks to enjoy their favorite sport on fields
like the pros use.
38 USSSA TODAY
Swinging
for the Fences
BIG CAT
STILL PROWLING THE SOFTBALL FIELDS
by Mike Macenko,
National Sales Mgr., Trump Softballs
At the end of September the bombs
have gone off and after the smoked
had cleared there were a number of
new National Champions crowned.
Congratulations to all of those teams
and especially their sponsors. Without
sponsors it would be pretty tough to play
softball on the weekends like so many
players do. It usually takes more than one
sponsor per team, and if you able to be a
single sponsor more power to you.
To me this is the most exciting time of
the year. When your top teams in each
division square off to see who it the best
in their class. No matter what happened
during the year, it all comes down to this
one last tournament. When you get to
this part of the season you want your
team to be jelling. That’s where everybody is on the same page and all cylinders are hitting in the engine. When
there are a couple players on a team that
might not have had the kind of year they
wanted to, can step up and play like there
is no tomorrow. It’s one of those things
where it doesn’t matter what happened
during the course of the season you need
to forget about what has happened in
the past and just focus at what is at hand.
That’s what so good about playing
for the championships at the end of the
year. You really want to do your best in
that final show. I have seen a number of
players over the years that had mediocre
40 USSSA TODAY
seasons and step up at the nationals about willing to do anything to win that
and hit like they were swinging with National Championship. In the last 20
their eyes closed and everything they hit years a number of things have changed in
went for a base hit or home run. These softball but where would we be if there
are the hitters that get you over that was not any sponsors at all. Even in the
hump. There is a number of teams that old Pro League you had to have sponsors.
have all their players hitting great the As a matter of fact some sponsors in that
whole season. Sorry to say but there is league sponsored more than one team
not too many teams that are fortunate just to keep the Pro League going because
enough to have things going their way they thought that was the right thing to
the entire season. Even the Men’s Major do. So you have to choose wisely when
World Series Champs Resmondo had ever you are switching teams because
some bumps in the road on their way to you have been offered more money or
another championship.
a chance to play on a
They had their bumps
winning team. Here is
early and got through
when the most importhem and were tough
tant part of teams
to beat the rest of the
winning championships
season. So as a player
comes in to play.. The
you want to be in
team chemistry. This is
the best shape when
where the coach and
September comes. If
sponsor might have to
you are a player that
get together to pick
might be struggling
their players. It’s their
now is your chance,
job then to see what
and if you have been Great sponsors of years past
they can do to improve
killing it all year, just keep on killing it.
their team. I am also a firm believer of if
This time of the year there is another it isn’t broke then why try to fix it.
reason you want to be playing good
Softball is a great game and we
and that is teams are always looking to should help each other to keep the
improve their teams for the following game on the right path. The upper levels
year. It’s no secret that players are of softball are like one big fraternity.
looking to jump ship because of more Everybody knows everyone. The players
money. You should always be looking jump teams or change teams (whatever
to play the best ball you can play so you you want to call it), And it happens every
can move up to that next level or get a year and will continue to happen as long
chance to play on one of the top teams as we have this sport. That is one way to
in the nation. Or you can play on a team change the scenery every year. So whatwhere it might take 2 or 3 years to accom- ever team you play for you should respect
plish their goals. Maybe you can help your sponsor first because they are why
recruit someone for your own team for we have this game. Play hard and always
the following year. So keep hustling and keep your head up. Even if you had the
practicing hard and you can do anything outrageously bad tournament of your
if you try hard enough.
life during the season you can make it all
This final tournament is when you try go away with your best performance at
and get it together one last time for the the National Championships.
season to try and win that last tournaNow is the time to sit back and analyze
ment. Once again without good spon- the season and see what was good and
sors where would we be at the end of bad. In November get right back at it.
the year? Playing your local pickup game Start back in the gym depending on
where nobody cares and there isn’t any where you live, work on your swing when
umpires. Now don’t get me wrong if that you get the chance to prepare yourself
is what I had to do I would do it, but for the next great year.
that is not the situation. We have great
Good Luck.
sponsors in the game today that are just
Keep Swingin’ Big
Ticket #40
By Raymond Moscoe
Champion two times. He was the
USSSA Softball Homerun Champ. He
won multiple Homerun Frequency
Titles.
John Carl (JC) Phelps passed way on
Friday, September 18th, 2009 at Wayne
County Hospital. John Carl is survived
by his wife, Myra Smith Phelps, mother,
Judith C. Phelps, children, Elizabeth
Phelps Hopper (Jansen), Jacob Christian
Phelps, stepchildren, Chris Grider,
Samantha Truong (Vinh), and Lyndsey
Grider. He is also survived by his fatherin-law, Bro. Jerry B. Smith and special
aunts Jerry Jones, Hilda Grider and Pam
Coffey. He was preceded in death by his
father, John Douglas Phelps, his paternal
grandparents, Carl and Elizabeth Phelps
and his maternal grandparents, Paul
and Belva Coffey.
John Carl was born May 20th, 1968 in
Louisville, KY. He was a member of
the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church.
Visitation was at H.E. Pruitt Memory
Chapel in Jamestown, KY on September
20th, 2009 and funeral services
were held at Mt. Pleasant Church on
September 21st, 2009. John Carl was laid
to rest in the Phelps family cemetery.
Brothers Bodie Emerson, Terry Sullivan
and Jerry Smith performed the services.
The Mt. Pleasant Choir provided special
songs and Steve Stapp played a melody
of music.
JC had spent most of his adult life
playing softball. Through the encouragement of Mike (Orby) Popplewell and
Glen Wooldridge, JC started his career.
JC received many awards through the
years of playing. He was selected to the
All World team 15 times throughout
his career. He was awarded 10 National
Titles. He won the National Batting
JC undoubtedly had his best year
in 2008 when he turned “40”. JC
was named to the All World Team
in Orlando, Florida in September
of 2008. The greatest honor he
had received in his 20 year career
was presented to him at the
awards banquet. He was awarded
the “Offensive Player of the Year” for
all softball players. JC was second in the
United States in On Base Percentage at
.782 and Home Runs with 81. He is one
of the few players to get second in the
three categories the players compete for
each year. JC rejoined the TPS Advisory
Staff for Louisville Slugger the same
year. He represented TPS in the 2009
World Softball League Stadium Power
Tour as one of the “TPS Bombers” with
his hitting partner JD Genter from
Chattanooga, TN. JC hit at major league
stadiums before major league games to
accumulate points for a grand prize at
the end of the year. There were 5 teams
made up of 10 elite softball players
competing for the sole prize at the end
of the season.
JC was also a representative for 3N2
sports. He completed a photo shoot in
April of 2009 for the 2010 magazine. JC
appears on the front cover of the 3N2
Magazine 2010 issue.
JC passed away the weekend prior to
the USSSA World Series that is held each
year in Kissimmee, Florida at Disney.
JC’s team and other teams paid tribute
to him by wearing shirts with his name
and number and hats with his name
and number. The softball world showed
their outpouring of love for JC during
the entire week and weekend.
JC’s friendly smile and kind words will
be missed by all. He was known to many
as the “big ticket”. His life impacted
people of all ages.
JC’s presence was felt at the 2009 Major World
Series, one week after JC’s death. JC’s 2008
team, GTL Worth, honored him by the entire
team wearing his #40 and his jersey hung in his
remembrance in the Long Haul dugout.
USSSA TODAY 41
Faces of the NPF
Featuring Megan Willis
Written by Lisa Iancin
Women’s College World Series in her sophomore and junior
years, achieving a third place finish in 2005. Willis’ most memorable college moments, however, were felt when playing in
front of fans at their home stadium. “We had record-breaking
attendances. Our stadium was filled with standing room only
in the outfield,” states Willis. The strong community support
from UT Softball is something that she still enjoys today. “At
almost every NPF game I played in this season, I saw a UT hat
in the stands,” reflects Willis.
As a part of an excellent college softball experience, being
the starting catcher at UT also served as Willis’ introduction
to phenom pitcher and future Rockford Thunder teammate,
Cat Osterman. As Longhorns teammates Osterman’s pitching
dominance, which later earned her a roster spot on Team USA,
was complimented by Willis’ game-calling behind the plate.
The familiarity between the two would once again deem
successful later in the professional ranks.
What does a national championship mean to a professional
athlete at the moment it is about to happen? While the last
pitch is being thrown to strike out the final batter, does the
ball slow down before reaching the catcher’s glove? When
everything that has been worked for is about to approach an
end, do images flash in the same moment of all the practices,
team meetings, photo shoots, wins, and losses? Does every
autograph scribble into one? What are the thoughts that run
through a player’s mind working to manipulate the outcome
of an unpredictable game? For Rockford Thunder catcher,
Megan Willis, the moment brings forth a confident closure to
an anticipated success yet new lessons learned from being a
teammate and winning.
Willis started out in softball at the age of 9 years old and went
right into the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), by playing
for the Arizona Hotshots. As she entered her high school
years, Willis joined the Worth Firecrackers traveling team out
of Southern California. In doing so she and her parents, Mike
Willis and DeLain Anderson, would make weekend trips from
Chandler, Arizona to increase her exposure opportunities in
front of college coaches. The efforts paid off when Willis was
recruited by Coach Connie Clark and received a full athletic
scholarship to the University of Texas, a turning point event
which opened the door of opportunity in her athletic career.
Willis comments, “Because of softball I met Austin, Texas. I
love Austin because the people are so down to earth, there is
great food and the place never sleeps.” The excitement of UT
spread onto the softball field as well. Representing the Big 12
Conference, Willis and the Texas Longhorns appeared at the
42 USSSA TODAY
Willis began her professional career in the NPF in 2007 as a
draft pick of the Chicago Bandits. Thinking back on her rookie
season Willis recalls, “I had no idea the competition was going
to be this good. In college, you think you’re the best and then
you join the older players who are also amazing. Every year
they stay in shape and show up in the summer to do their
thing.” Willis also finds the NPF unique by the camaraderie
within the league. “The one thing that we all have in common
is that we absolutely love softball. People get along from
different teams. It makes you want to come back for more,”
states Willis.
In 2008 she set aside her cleats to have a shot at the working
world while also getting married to AAA pitcher of the
Cincinnati Reds organization, Sam LeCure. It was in 2009 when
former college teammate, Osterman, called Willis to inquire
if her catcher would rejoin her on the field, this time with the
Rockford Thunder. Willis-LeCure states, “Cat approached me
to catch for her. She called my husband, Sam, and asked for
my glove.” In an instant, the familiar teammate dynamic resurfaced as Osterman went 11-1 in 2009 regular season play with
Willis upholding her end of the battery. “I know what pitches
she throws and she knows what kind of game I call. When you
have that trust, the pitcher doesn’t have to think anymore,”
explains Willis. Despite a history of working together, a
common fan might witness the movement of Osterman’s
pitches and wonder how Willis is able to judge its landing location. Similarly, NPF batters often miss as well. When asked if
it is sometimes difficult to catch Osterman, Willis replies, “No
way, because she always hits her spots. I know that her drop
ball will go exactly where it needs to. I’ve never caught anyone
Photos by Dina Kwit
with the amount of control as Cat. You need to just sit behind
me to see the ball move because you don’t get to see a ball
move like that ever.”
Being reunited with Osterman and the game marked only the
beginning of a season that shaped Willis’ outlook on what the
sport of softball means to her now. “Winning the Championship
was just icing on the cake. The Thunder girls got along so well
and many of us know we will stay friends,” reflects Willis.
Playing in a 46 regular game 3 month summer season meant
the Thunder competed with other NPF teams to average 5
games per week. Throughout the challenges that come up in
a season, the 2009 Rockford Thunder seemed to trust in their
ability to win. Willis explains, “Even when we were playing less
than .500 ball, we knew that we could win. One day, it would
be Angus saying, ‘we’re going to win’ or Spencer thinking ‘I
just have a feeling.’ We were a team that faced adversity, but
at the end of the day we decided the game is what matters
and that we were going to play for each other.” The determination set forth by the 2009 Rockford Thunder carried the
team to a NPF Championship after defeating the USSSA Pride
2-0 in the final game. At the moment the last strike was delivered by Cat Osterman, a unique excitement came over the
catcher awaiting the pitch. To Megan Willis the championship
encompassed a perfect season, one that went beyond batting
averages or the achievement of incentive bonuses. To Willis a
champion was made.
As the last of fans filtered out from Firestone Stadium, the field
lights began to fade. Traces of cleat marks etched a memory of
the past before brushing away into the preparation of next
season. When there are no longer any runs to score, no players
in market to uniform, the offseason leaves each Rockford
Thunder fan with glorious satisfaction, yet every NPF fan with
eager anticipation of 2010. In those waiting moments that span
over eight months, one NPF player’s thoughts are adorned with
certainty, an assurance of a brighter future. For Megan Willis,
a new knowledge is gained. In this case, enlightenment comes
from the game of softball and the lessons learned through a
sport that has given so much to her.
It is September just following a NPF championship and Willis
finds herself coaching a travel team called the 12U Plantinum
out of Austin, Texas. The young Texans taking the field appreciate Willis’ contribution to their program, knowing a professional athlete is on their side. However, Willis realizes the
flip-side of things. “My kids play for the game and for each
other, because they love softball. It reminds me of the reasons
why I play,” states Willis. The remark demonstrates a parallel,
illustrating the fine line between the experiences of a twelveand-under team and a 24 year old professional of the recent
championship-endeared Rockford Thunder.
Willis’ decision to accept a part-time volunteer softball
coaching position with the University of Texas combined
with her efforts with the 12U Platinum, reflect a recently felt
impression stamped by an NPF Championship. She states, “I
used to listen to what other people we’re telling me, about the
importance of finding a real job. However, at the same time,
I wasn’t listening to myself.” The decision to don a Rockford
Thunder jersey for the 2009 season became one of the best
decisions Willis admits to making thus far in her life. By coming
back to an environment of competition alongside a roster
full of success-driven women, Willis regained her love for the
game. Additionally, through conversations with teammate
and friend, Chelsea Spencer, Willis realized there was more to
life than being moderately content, but reasons to follow her
drive to become completely happy with each progressive decision in her life. In doing so, Willis has become reacquainted
with her own personal drive for happiness, finding a niche in
Texas as a softball coach and clinician.
The new outlook has already opened other doors as Willis has
recently positioned herself in three separate entities of the
sport, adding Triple Threat Softball, a nationally recognized
instructional clinics company founded by long-time teammate,
Cat Osterman and additional Team USA standouts Caitlin
Lowe and Kelly Kretschman. In retrospect, the hard work Willis
has endured behind the plate, has equally added to business
networking hours towards her ambition of building the sport
of softball throughout the United States.
Now that the 2009 NPF season has come to an end, Megan
Willis reminisces the recent moment when the Cowles Cup was
presented to the players of the 2009 Rockford Thunder whose
reaching arms pointed at the name of their team forever
engraved onto the traveling trophy. Inspired by the excitement
of these memories Willis explains, “This season has brought
me back to my roots, back to myself.” Her statements reveal
a sense of self-understanding, a realization of lessons learned
through hard work and the risk-taking trials that amount to a
championship season. The emotion is a message she would like
to pass on. She feels passionate about softball for the opportunities it has given her and now wants to give back. “I want to
encourage young players to go out and achieve their dreams,”
remarks Willis.
In the midst of success, Megan Willis smiles to herself and is
shinning. She sees herself as a free spirit. To others she is a
catcher, an honored teammate, a coach, and a symbol of
empowerment. However, when the final pitch of the 2009 NPF
Championship Series is caught, Megan Willis is another Face
of the NPF.
USSSA TODAY 43
Faces of the NPF
Featuring Caitlyn Lowe
When I look back on where I began in my softball
journey, there is no way I could have ever dreamed
of where I would end up. I started my softball
career at the age of 6 in a recreational T-ball league
for girls. Back then, the most exciting part of the
game was a toss up between running the bases and
getting the post-game snack. My dad coached me
through my Rec ball years and taught me many
valuable lessons. I learned to always hustle, never
give up, have the best attitude on the field, and
really just to love and respect the game of softball.
At the age of 12 I started to play travel ball in
Southern California. I began my journey of 4+
games in a day and loved every minute of it. I spent
almost every weekend on the field and was able
to learn the true meaning of COMPETITION. It is
always important for athletes to grow in a competitive environment. Nowadays, there are so many big
tournaments that showcase young athletes’ skills. I
was fortunate enough to witness the opening ceremonies of a USSSA softball tournament in Orlando
this past summer. Unbelievable! I don’t ever
remember having such a production for any tournament when I was little. USSSA made it possible for
softball heroes and legends (Lisa Fernandez, Stacey
Nuveman, Jennie Finch…) to attend and speak to
the young USSSA softball players. What a great way
to start off a tournament!
I was once that little kid, staring wide-eyed at
players like Laura Berg, Dot Richardson and Lisa
Fernandez. Growing up I was always the smallest
kid on my team, never growing much until high
school. My coaches always taught me how to utilize
my speed to work for base hits. I think a good lesson,
and one of my favorite facts about the game, for
kids starting out is that anyone can play the game
of softball. It doesn’t matter what size you are,
how tall, or how fast. A dream of mine growing
up was always to get a college scholarship. I was
lucky enough to achieve this dream my senior year
of high school. I signed my letter of intent to attend
the University of Arizona. When I was 12 years old
I remember watching them win a national title on
TV, and I always knew I wanted to do the same.
The four years I spent at the U of A were some of
the greatest of my life to date. We won 2 National
Titles! While playing softball in college teaches you
44 USSSA TODAY
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a lot about the game, the life lessons I took
away with me are priceless.
My second dream, aside from getting a
scholarship and playing in school, was to
play for Team USA. After watching the
Olympics in 2004 and wanting so badly to
be in their shoes, I made the team! It was so
exciting and a little terrifying at the same
time. I would be on a team with some of
my idols and we would be playing side by
side. I can’t express how much I learned
from playing with such a great group of
players. I can honestly say that I learned
something every day. We ended up going
on to win the silver medal in the 2008
Beijing Olympics. Thanks to my dad all of
my family was in attendance and able to
cherish those moments with me.
A post-college career in softball has always
been a touchy subject. Most players consider
their college days to be the peak of their
playing career. Now there is so much more
available to anyone who wants to continue
her softball playing days. We have a great
league that is growing every day. The NPF
or National Pro Fastpitch league showcases
some of the top softball talent from around
the country. I became a part of this league
for the very first time this summer. USSSA
decided to pick up a team and it was a
great partnership. The USSSA Pride fought
hard throughout the season and we were
able to finish in 2nd place. The NPF and
USSSA are looking to do great things in the
future as far as expanding the league to
make professional softball a greater opportunity for all. I can honestly say that there
is no greater competition that I know of
outside the NPF. We are challenged every
single game because of the depth of talent
in the league.
I feel very fortunate and blessed to have
learned from some great coaches and
played for some great teams. I’m thankful
that former athletes were able to pave
the way so that we are able to have the
opportunities that we enjoy today. Now
it is our turn to grow the sport of softball.
Many athletes are able to give back in the
form of lessons, holding clinics, or speaking
to young athletes. A couple of my teammates and I have come together to form
Triple Threat Softball to hold camps for this
reason. We need to make the sport better
than the day we stepped into the game
and for many more generations to come.
46 USSSA TODAY
The Cat
Osterman
Experience
by Tim Law
Are you looking for the ultimate softball experience? Then you
have found the right place. This multi-million dollar facility
has been designed to provide the best softball experience for
girls in age divisions 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-year-old and under.
The complex is located minutes south of Omaha in beautiful
Bellevue, Nebraska.
Being an Olympic Gold Medalist, Cat Osterman wanted to
provide an experience for all girl’s fastpitch softball players
like the one she had as an Olympian. The Cat Osterman
Experience does just that, starting with opening ceremonies
and ending with closing ceremonies and includes everything
in between. Players and coaches will be fed and housed
for the week onsite with 31 other teams from around the
nation, creating an “Olympic Village” type atmosphere. In the
“Player’s Village,” each team will stay in their own private, airconditioned team clubhouse and eat 3 catered meals per day
in the dining pavilion. A “Player’s Grill” that’s open until 10
o’clock every night (just in case you have a late night game or
get the munchies), an arcade, a giant outdoor movie screen
and a commons area are also part of the “Player’s Village.”
Throughout the week, various other activities will take place
in the “Player’s Village,” ranging from team building exercises
to nightly entertainment of karaoke, talent shows, and comedians. There is also a giant waterslide that will be open during
the day to play on. There will be plenty to do when your team
is not on the field.
The Cat Osterman Experience includes a state-of-the-art
complex consisting of world-class softball fields aptly named
the “Hall of Fame Fields” that are designed specifically for
girl’s fastpitch softball. The fields also include covered spectator seating, mist-cooled dugouts, individual team bullpens, bricked batter boxes and pitcher’s circles, as well as
Diamond-Pro infields.
The “Hall of Fame Fields,” will also be home to a 4,000 square
foot tournament headquarters building, referred to as “The
Barn.” Inside the Barn, you’ll find a Pro-Shop, General Store,
concessions area, an umpire’s lounge and an attached covered
USSSA TODAY 47
lifetime because of these experiences. I feel I would be very
ungrateful if I didn’t give back to the sport that has given me
so much, and I want to give these young girls an opportunity
to participate in something that in some small way re-creates
the softball experiences I have had, and provides them with
something they can cherish for the rest of their lives. I want
them to have an experience that has no equal when it comes
to fastpitch softball. You won’t find anything like this at a
weekend softball tournament, academy or camp. That’s why
it’s called the Cat Osterman Experience.”
Bellevue Mayor, Ed Babbitt, echoed Ms. Osterman’s enthusiasm.
“The City of Bellevue has been excited about this concept from
day one,” noted Mayor Babbitt. “We cannot wait to welcome
softball players and their families to our riverfront city for the
softball experience of a lifetime.”
“I want you to have an experience that has no equal
when it comes to fastpitch softball. You won’t find
anything like this at any weekend softball tournament, academy or camp. That is why it is called The Cat
Osterman Experience.”
-Cat Osterman
patio that provides a shaded dining area.
Part of the Cat Osterman Experience, and arguably the ultimate highlight of the week, includes an induction ceremony
where each participant will be individually inducted into the
U.S. Girls Softball Hall of Fame. Regardless of the outcome,
each participant is recognized and honored for their achievements, and will receive the coveted U.S. Girls Softball Hall of
Fame Bracelet and Pendant.
Family has always been an important part of Cat’s life and her
success. That was one of the main reasons why she chose to
play her college ball at The University of Texas. It was close
enough to home, making it possible for her family to come
and watch her play.
This same idea of the importance of families has been applied
at The Cat Osterman Experience, starting with the city of
Bellevue. One of the reasons it was chosen to host The Cat
Osterman Experience is because of its relatively central location within the U.S. and because of the numerous local attractions for families. Some of these local attractions consist of: The
Omaha Fun-Plex and Water Park, Henry Doorly Zoo and the
Sky Safari (nationally acclaimed); Omaha Children’s Museum;
Omaha Magic Theater; AK.SAR.BEN Aquarium & Nature
Center. And, for the adults who are looking for a little fun
and excitement of their own the complex is located 15 minutes
from Council Bluff, IA where you can enjoy some “down time”
at one of the local casinos.
The concept of stay-and-play facilities has actually been around
for a number of years, but they’ve mainly only been available
to boy’s baseball players.
These facilities have been a huge success amongst baseball
players ranging from 9-years-old and up, and in many cases
you have to sign up a few years in advance to secure your spot
at the tournament. Some people have said this concept will
never work for girl’s softball, but Cat, like she has done so
many times in her career, is out to prove them wrong.
She believes girl’s fastpitch softball is ready, and that young
women want the same opportunities that are readily available
to the boys.
At this point, you might be asking yourself so, what does an
experience like this cost? It’s surprisingly affordable; the standard all-inclusive price per player and coach for the six-day
experience is $599 (including meals and accommodations for
6 days, 8 games guaranteed, home and away jerseys, access
to site attractions and entertainment, etc). However, for the
inaugural season there is an early sign-up incentive that actually drops the price to $399 for each player and coach, and all
teams that sign-up by January 1st of 2010 are eligible for the
incentive.
There are two ways to register your team: 1) you can speak
to a representative of the Cat Osteman Experience by calling
the following toll-free number 1-888-888-1CAT (1-888-8881228); or 2) go online to www.catsvillage.com to review the
list of available dates, and get your team signed up. The Cat
Osterman Experience is limited to 32 teams each week and
limited spots are still available. So don’t miss out on this chance
to get your team signed up for the inaugural 2010 season. On Wednesday evenings, families will also be invited back to
the complex to participate in a “Family Night,” where families
can participate in a barbeque and live entertainment. There
will be fun and activities for everyone throughout the complex.
For USSSA registered teams, don’t forget to ask about our “No
Teammate Left Behind” program. This program has been able
to help individuals from across the country who have been
affected by the economic downturn be able to join us who
other wise would not be able to make it.
“Everyone deserves to have similar feelings and experiences
that they can turn to throughout their lives,” said Cat. “I have
forged memories and relationships that I will cherish for a
We truly believe that this will be an experience where memories
and relationships will be made that will last a lifetime. So, get
your team registered and we’ll see you and your team in 2010.
48 USSSA TODAY
Reebok Creates the
Bat of Least Resistance
By Michael Cisneros
Show up at a softball field with the new
Reebok Vector-O bat in hand and the
response is fairly predictable.
“What in the hell…?”
The Vector-O is the newest technology from
the newest name in slow pitch, Reebok. It
uses a combination of carbon and fiberglass that has one of the highest material
strength ratios on the market. The 13-inch
barrel has a slightly end-loaded feel. The
handle comes wrapped in a tackified cushioned grip. But the real news is in the taper.
#1 Leading Competitor Softball Bat
Flow Lines Around Shaft. Side View
The Vector-O uses strategically placed “O
Ports” in the handle to reduce drag and
maximize the swing’s potential through
the simple formula of drag affecting swing
speed affecting distance. As a pure, aeroReebok Vector O Softball Bat
dynamic concept for softball, the increased
Less Drag ➜ Faster Swing Speed ➜ More Distance Less drag is achieved when O ports are aligned to the swing.
bat speed helps determine how far the ball
travels. As a product, the Vector-O helps achieve increased bat speed.
tors. It has a 13-inch barrel designed exclusively for slow pitch, with an
end-loaded feel though it is not technically an end-loaded bat.
“The idea is, less drag, more swing speed, more distance,” Reebok
Director of Research and Development John Loiars said matter-offactly. “O-Port Technology is all about aerodynamics. Independent
wind tunnel analysis has shown our bat has 7% less drag than the
leading bat by the competition.”
It may sound incremental, but in this day of every company’s bats
reaching the performance limits, where extreme end-loading, shorter
barrels and stiffer handles make for 1% to 3% improvements, the
Reebok’s lab-tested 7% improvement should turn some heads.
And just because the Vector-O looks unlike anything ever seen at the
ballpark, don’t make the mistake of thinking the air ducts in the taper
are just the latest “gimmick.”
“Our main philosophy at Reebok is everything we do is high-end,” said
Loiars. “What you see our Major League Baseball players wear, our
college football players wear, that is made the same way as the gear
we make that the kids wear.
“We’re the new player in this game. It’s a tough challenge going
against entrenched competition that is going to fight tooth-and-nail
to keep their market share.”
Reebok, which moved from its original 1980s niche of aerobic shoes
into nearly every kind of athletic shoe, clothing and sports gear, made
the move into baseball and softball four years ago when they got
Loiars from Nike to start up the division. They have done extensive
testing on their bats both in the lab and in the field with the help of
Conference USSSA team Suncoast/Reebok, which has been swinging
the Dictator all season and will swing the Vector-O next year.
“The bat has been in the works for a least a year,” said Loiars. “Lee
Trotter and those guys will go hit, we’ll tweak it a bit, they’ll go hit
again, we’ll go test it…”
In the lab they fired balls from a cannon at velocities exceeding game
speeds aimed at the various stress points on the handle during a ballbat collision, to make sure cracks due to contact will not happen. The
goal, says Loiars, is to make a bat that will go past 2,000 hits without
failing.
The bat feels good and has a sharper tone than most of its competi-
50 USSSA TODAY
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive in terms of performance and durability,” says Loiars. “One thing that hitters could notice
is that their timing may be off initially when they first use the Vector-O
and they can experience balls being hit off the end of the bat. This is
due to their hands coming through the hitting zone slightly quicker
than usual due to the increased efficiency of their swing.”
As for any concern that the holes in the taper will weaken the bat or
make it more susceptible to breakage, Loiars explains:
“It’s a misperception that we took all of that weight out of the taper
and that it will break if you hit it. In order to give the taper durability
we had to double tube the taper. So the weight you would think had
been removed by making the holes is still there because of the reinforcement. A lot of people may think we took the weight out of the
taper, but the Vector-O is going to have relatively the same Moment of
Inertia as the Dictator or (new) Melee.”
The Vector-O has a Dec. 1 launch date and Loiars says it will work
whether your association uses Distance, Elite or Classic balls. “Reebok
makes all three, so we pay attention to that. The bats are designed to
work with all three.”
Loiars and Reebok know they have a good bat. But they are also pretty
sure they have a winner, for a number of reasons.
“Three reasons,” says Loiars, “One, this bat has visible technology and
one that the consumer can relate to. It’s not “my composite is 300%
better than yours” or “my sweet spot is bigger than yours” which the
typical consumer can not see, test for easily or understand completely.
The 3 ‘O-Ports’ are real and aerodynamics is a simple story to grasp;
secondly, the O-Technology is fully-patented and is protected by law.
No other bat manufacturer can engineer this type of technology in a
ball-bat. It is a technology that totally differentiates us from everyone
else and is not a one-hit wonder as several platforms off of this basic
design are being designed for many years of new introductions; lastly,
it’s a technology that really can work to enhance the efficiency of a
hitter’s swing. It’s not just smoke and mirrors like some bat marketing
stories are year in and year out.”
Vector-O
Dictator Plus
Melee
Reebok’s newest bat is designed around
the theory that less drag means a faster
swing and increased bat speed means more
distance. This theory is put into practice with
O-Technology, strategically placed ducts in the
taper of the barrel that allow air to flow through
the bat during the swing, reducing drag and
resistance. The technology was designed for
Prince Racquets and proven on rinks with the
Reebok Hockey O-Stick and fields with the
Reebok Lacrosse O-Handle.
Reebok’s first bat has gone through a couple
of generations since it was introduced three
years ago. The latest – and last – Dictator
retains the shape of the original version, with
a 13-inch barrel, traditional taper and thin
handle wrapped in Reebok tackified grip.
While the guys at Reebok are very excited
about the new technology of the Vector, they
also know that there is something to be said
for the tried and true traditional. That’s where
the Melee comes in. It will be released to the
public along with the Vector on Dec. 1, and
will be taking the place of the company’s
first flagship bat, the Dictator, in the Reebok
lineup.
The barrel is 13-inches long and made of a
high-strength blend of carbon and fiberglass
that is designed to feel soft but resist breaking.
It features a two-wall design that allows for
optimal flex and performance by maximizing
the energy transfer back into the ball during the
bat/ball collision. The taper is double-wrapped
for reinforcement and put through extensive
durability testing.
The bat is a deep, royal blue and the O-Ports
are pearl white, designed to stand out from a
distance.
Specs
• 13-inch two-wall barrel
• 3 O-Ports in taper
• Slight end load
• Thin handle with tacky grip
• 1.20 BPF, approved for USSSA
• Available in 26-30 oz
Review
Hitting with the Vector-O will play tricks on
your mind; you pick it up and gingerly swing it
wondering how it’s going to feel, if it is going to
sting your palms, maybe even if it is going to break.
But those things are all in your head, not in the bat.
The Vector-O has a nice feel to it – the 28 I swung is
an ounce heavier than my normal swing weight, but
the fact that it has a slight end-loaded feel instead
of the extreme end weighting many of the new bats
I’ve hit recently have, it was comfortable to swing.
I was assured I could swing as hard as I wanted
and everything would be OK, but must admit I was
a bit afraid to really hack on my first swing; instead
I kept my feet still, threw my hands out and took a
little three-quarter swing at the first pitch I saw. It
positively sang, making a sharp cracking sound and
jumping instantly to the outfield on a line, landing
between the outfielders some 280 feet away. It’s
been some time since I’ve hit a ball that sharply with
such minimal effort. The bat let me know I had hit it
right on the sweet spot, but even with additional hits
that weren’t as pure there was never a hint of sting
or any weird vibration or noise that made me
worry about hitting a bat with holes in the handle.
The Vector-O is designed for distance, but it’s not
just for power hitting. I was able to inside-out the ball to the
opposite field, hit it hard down both lines, loop it back through
the middle and drop line drives over the infield and in front of
the outfield. In fact, the most trouble I had was trying to hit
the ball too hard; the O-Ports cut drag in you swing up to 7%
(according to independent lab testing) and that much difference
in your normal swing speed will throw your timing off if what
you want to do is reach back and hit the ball as far as it will go.
The combination of the faster speed and a smaller sweet spot –
the barrel is an inch to inch-and-a-half shorter than most leading
slowpitch bats – means there will be a period of adjustment for
the hitter looking for consistently better results. But once you’ve
gotten the feel of it, you may discover that the Vector-O’s three
holes may be just what has been missing from your game.
The Dictator Plus is engineered with a
super-soft feel and explosive performance.
Optimal barrel flex is achieved by using an
exclusive blend of aerospace-grade carbon
and fiberglass which is compression molded
in a seamless construction, resulting in one
of the highest strength-to-weight ratios on
the market. It is slightly end-loaded for more
bat speed through the hitting zone but has
a traditional center-of-the-barrel sweet spot
location.
The bat is a deep, metallic burnt orange with
black and white accents.
Specs
• 13-inch barrel
The Melee is engineered with a super soft
feel and explosive performance. The Optimal
Barrel Flex is created by using an exclusive
aerospace carbon and fiberglass composite
that is compression molded for a seamless
construction, resulting in one of the highest
strength-to-weight ratios on the market.
The Melee features a 13-inch, slightly
end-loaded barrel, traditional taper and thin
handle with tackified grip tape. The bat is
bright blue with orange graphics in a super
hero graphic novel style type.
Specs
• Opti-Flex Composite
• 13-inch barrel
• Slight end load
• Opti-Flex Composite
• Slight end load
• Available in 26-28oz
Review
Reeboks are still fairly rare in Central Texas, but
I had seen the Dictator Plus in action before
having the chance to swing it myself. In fact, the
longest home run I had surrendered as a pitcher
in a tournament last year was to a 2008 green
Dictator Plus.
So there was some expectation of performance
before my first swing. I knew it would have pop.
I knew it would make a sharp, glassy sound
on contact. Everything else about it I learned
quickly.
The bat has a slight end load, but not enough of
one to move the sweet spot toward the end of
the barrel. The result is a slightly quicker swing,
but with the sweet spot in the same place as it is
with other bats I’m familiar with, there was no
adjustment period. I was able to hit sizzling line
drives with the first swings out of the wrapper.
Reebok’s design was to build a bat for power
hitters and the Dictator fills that bill. It is durable,
has a thin and stiff handle, and rewards the full,
fast swing. It can be used by base hitters as
well; making contact with a three-quarter
speed swing will still make the ball jump,
though probably not all the way out of the park unless you are a
remarkably strong hitter.
With its shorter barrel and smaller sweet spot than other brand
bats, it’s not necessarily the best one for novice hitters – unless
they are working at becoming better hitters. Consistent contact
to a particular spot on the barrel is the key to success with this
bat and if the hitter can learn to do that, they will be able to play
at a pretty high level.
The 2009 Dictator Plus is the last one Reebok will make,
replacing it with the Melee for 2010. It can be found on softball
gear websites at up to $100 below its original price, which
makes it a bargain for the level of performance.
• Available in 26-30 oz
Review
Hitting the Melee offers no revelation; it does
exactly what you expect it’s going to.
It feels much like the Dictator Plus – thin, stiff
handled with a slight end load – and has its sweet
spot is the same spot – right in the center of the
barrel. So you can get the bat around a bit quicker
than you might a balanced bat, but the sweet spot
won’t be out toward the end cap like in an extreme
end-load model.
It’s easy to swing, easy to hit (on the sweet spot)
and like the Dictator it performs right out of the
wrapper. We were able to put it right in a game
without practicing with it and it felt and performed
like an old friend.
One of the differences between the Melee and the
Dictator is the size of the sweet spot; the Dictator
rewards good, consistent contact with serious
pop. The Melee does as well, but it also allows
balls hit a bit off the spot to be taken deep to
all fields. It’s like a Dictator, only easier to use.
The carbon/fiberglass barrel is soft; not to the
touch, of course, but in how the ball feels when you
make contact. There is no sting, but there is information being
transferred from the ball down the bat to the hands and to the
brain – you’ll know not just that you hit it, but also how you hit
it and where you hit it. This is a feature that real good hitters will
appreciate as instant feedback allows for in-game adjustments
that can be critical in a tournament situation.
The Melee has a sharp sound and satisfying jump on balls
driven through the infield. It is designed, of course, to be a
distance bat, but with its larger sweet spot and feedback it will
likely be very popular with “punch-and-judy” hitters who will get
an extra step out of the box when they can tell by the contact if
they are going to drop the ball in front of the right fielder or if its
going to get over and drawn-in outfield’s head.
USSSA TODAY 51
Rick Robertson
National Umpire in Chief
over the past year. We lost a number of people and others dealt
with serious health issues. We just held our first Men’s Major
World Series without Jim McCarron former board member and
Director of Officials who passed away at the beginning of the
year. He used to run the press box during the series and even
though he complained about just about anything and everything he truly was sorely missed. The Friday before the Men’s
Major JC Phelps died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack
and his smile and booming voice was also missed by all. Our
thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Faye McCarron
and her boys and entire family. We also pray for Myra Phelps
and her family as I had a chance to visit with her and tell her
how much we miss JC. These people have had to deal with
everything when life changed so drastically and unexpectedly.
I personally had to face what my family, friends and I felt was
certainly a tragedy and the possibility of dying. I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a cancerous tumor on my
right kidney. I had successful surgery on June 23 and I am living
proof that with the power of prayer and a positive attitude we
can accomplish anything. I cannot thank everyone enough for
their thoughts and prayers, cards, letters, e-mails and phone
calls. I truly do appreciate everything.
We, as umpires, are just as guilty as anyone else when it comes
to taking anyone or anything for granted. We go about our
daily lives not even the least bit concerned most of the time
because everything seems to be going along just fine. Most
people whether they are a teacher, banker, CEO, janitor, police
officer, doctor, dentist, lawyer, service technician, soldier,
librarian, ball player, salesman, coach, father, mother, brother
or sister do not even think about what would happen if it all
would disappear in instant.
Dearth and tragedy knocked more than once at USSSA’s door
52 USSSA TODAY
I know, I, for one tend to look at life a bit different. I appreciate the little things more than ever before. The holding of a
hand, that hug or little kiss, that smile from a friend or a hello
from a stranger, or that thank you for just being you when you
need it most. Each has a bit more meaning now days. When
there is a questionable call made by one of my umpires I don’t
get as upset as I used to. I have to remember as we all do that
it is only a game as life is only a game and there are going to
be some great plays and great calls and some that are not as
great. We all need to just try and do the best we can each and
every day no matter what it is. Take the time to tell others that
you love them. Take time to appreciate the little things that
you know you have overlooked and most of all take time to
appreciate the ability God gave you to be whatever you want
to be in life. Remember, it can all disappear in instant and your
life will be changed forever.
The Essence of Sport
Why do we play the game? Is it berths,
points, prizes, cash, prestige/ego, or because
it is a great sport at either the competitive or
recreational levels?
While many people might answer “all
of the above,” it seems like more and more
teams play less and less just for the competitive or recreational fun of the game. In recent
years, we in S.W. Ohio have noticed a remarkable upswing in events offering enticements
of all sorts, but most especially cash.
Some people will argue that cash tournaments are a great way for many teams to help
offset the cost of playing the game. The only
problem with this argument is that “many”
teams don’t usually win the cash, while many
teams certainly do end up contributing to the
pool of money which is paid out.
Like any event, there are more losers than
winners. There are always less teams sharing
in the prize package than there are contributing to that prize package. The problem in
the case of cash tournaments is that in order
to offer cash prizes, which are often layered
on top of hardware awards as well, everyone’s
entry fees are increased in order to make
the payout. And, like Las Vegas, the house
must win, so the bulk of the money goes to
the tournament operator and the winning
teams…those that finish “in the money.”
So…I ask again. Why do you play the game?
If you are a golfer, let’s play that recreational scenario out. You drive to the course,
pay your greens fees, recreate for a few hours,
and upon completion, do they ask you into
the clubhouse to hand out trophies, plaques,
prizes, or your…money back?
In fact, those of us who play golf do so
because we enjoy it. Even those of us who
pretty much stink up the course have some
reason or another to keep going back. It could
be to get away from things, or to be sociable,
or to challenge ourselves. Sounds pretty much
like any sport you might choose, including
softball.
But, we pay good money, do all that socializing, and when we’re done we don’t expect
to get prizes, or money back unless we decide
to play in special events…where the price of
the round has been adjusted to allow for it.
And, like anything else, the more we have to
pay, the stronger the likelihood that we won’t
play as much.
This past season, and especially with the
local explosion of so-called cash tournaments,
what we saw was lots of teams competing
for that money and being willing to dole out
extra team funds in order to try to win the
cash payouts. The end result of this really ends
up being teams paying out big dollars for
events which are not championship play (NITs,
States, Nationals, or Worlds) and finding their
bank accounts depleted earlier in the year
than ever.
With the advent of more and more cash
tournaments, here in S.W. Ohio it was not
unusual for teams to have spent $1200 on
tournament entry fees before April was over!
But, you can bet that only a handful of teams
came away anywhere near to being ahead in
that proposition.
During these hard economic times with the
unemployment figures as high as they have
been, playing the game, especially late in the
year when championship play is under way,
has become more and more difficult from a
financial perspective.
by Scott Kuhnen
What that led to in my observation was
teams searching for players who could afford
to travel at the end of the year, when things
were really on the line. By the time the World
tournaments came around teams weren’t
looking for players who might play add to
their overall team strength, but players who
could even afford to travel.
I’d like to suggest that teams consider why
they play the game and do their best to get
their money’s worth each time out. Just like
everyone contributes to the lottery but very
few people actually win, I would argue that
it might be smarter to play the game for the
sake of the game, and not believe that paying
more money out is going to naturally lead to
more money back in.
A team’s budget will stretch much further
into the season if that team carefully picks
and chooses their events based on factors
other than whether or not they might “win
the $500” cash prize. Chances are pretty good
they won’t. However, if that team decides
to play at a specific venue or for a specific
cause or because of the competition that will
also be at that event, and then just goes out
expecting to get good games, that is both the
spirit of the game and much easier on the
team budget.
Play the game for the fun of it. Play the
game for competition. Play the game for the
sportsmanship it provides. Enjoy the game for
the game’s sake and work on those aspects
which will help you hone your team skills later
in the season when championship play starts
and I’m betting the season will last longer ,
the team will stay intact longer, and players
will actually enjoy the game more.
2009 USSSA A.E. Ramsey
College Scholarship Program
This year’s slate of USSSA A.E. Ramsey
College Scholarship applicants was truly
impressive. Nomination packages came from
57 student-athletes from 22 states in four
sports were received.
When USSSA CEO, Don DeDonatis, heard
this number had increased from just 19
applicants the year before, he immediately
increased the amount devoted to the program
by fifty percent.
According to DeDonatis, this program is
one of the most important aspects of our
leadership with respect to youth sports.
“We are delighted to share in our respective sports’ successes,” says DeDonatis, “and
Baseball
Jarrett M. Levine
Tyler W. Younger
Robert G. Knox, III
Joshua P. Redman
Jesse A. Wilkerson
Patrick D. Jensen
MI
VA
SC
NE
MI
MO
Dylan B. Cole
SC
Matthew L. Bagley
TX
Fast Pitch
Bailie A. Summers
TX
Brittany Favazza
MD
Christine D. Ulses
MO
Emelie C. McFarland MD
we hope that our growth only causes us to
offer more scholarships in the future.”
This year’s scholarships were awarded to
twenty-one fast pitch applicants from eleven
states; nine baseball applicants from seven
states; six slow pitch applicants from five
states, and two basketball applicants from
differing states.
“Our goal in 2009,” says Scott Kuhnen,
Chairman of the USSSA Scholarship program,
“was to spread as many scholarships as
widely as possible. The individual scholarship amounts are not necessarily as large as
in previous years, but the number of studentathletes positively affected is greater.”
Courtney R. Bezanson
Madison R. Koch
Rachel E. Bentzel
Ariel E. Olea
Jordan M. Hansen
Arielle L. Cox
Chelsea M. Mitchell
CO
MO
PA
AZ
NE
MI
VA
Samantha J. Reimer
Taylor N. Fernau
Linley C. Tate
Taylor R. Keal
Keri E. Lorbert
Brittanie N. Gardner
Janessa D. Putney
IA
NE
MO
MO
MO
KS
KS
However, according to Kuhnen, one of
the best features of the A.E. Ramsey College
Scholarship program is the fact that the
money is sent directly to the student and their
families instead of being sent to the schools,
where restrictions on spending are sometimes
imposed.
“By sending checks directly to the studentathletes,” explains Kuhnen, “they realize
maximum flexibility in spending. They can
devote it to books, tuition, housing, or just
the cost of living. They choose, instead of
someone in the school.”
“From all of us in USSSA,” says DeDonatis,
“Congratulations to the following winners.”
Mikala B. Anderson
Ellen D. Martin
Bridget M. Miller
Slow Pitch
Brittney L. Dunn
Elizabeth E. Mervar
Shelby M. Kretz
KS
MD
MI
OH
AZ
OH
Ashley N. Morgan
Marisa D. Redmond
Shelby L. Jackson
Basketball
Andrew W. Smith
Jason W. Humphrey
TN
MS
NM
NC
FL
USSSA TODAY 53
USSSA FASTPITCH SOFTBALL
13U & 18U World Series
Salisbury, Maryland
by Keri Lounge
Playing in a nationally recognized event
like the World Series is what softball
players’ work towards all season long. This
year the 13U and 18U USSSA Eastern World
Series was held in Salisbury, Maryland
at the award winning Henry S. Parker
Athletic Complex. With a beautiful complex
surrounded by numerous off the field
attractions, including the nearby beaches
of Ocean City, it was the perfect place for
all 47 teams to end a rewarding season.
The week started off strong with a lively
opening ceremony at Arthur W. Purdue
Stadium where the night before players
enjoyed watching the minor league
Delmarva Shorebirds take on the Bowling
Green Hot Rods. This year’s Hawaiian
themed opening ceremony began with a
welcome from state director Bill Dowell and
was followed by the introduction of all the
tournament umpires. The fun began with
the marching of the teams who demonstrated their team spirit with over the top
Hawaiian costumes. Teams then enjoyed
amusements on the infield of the stadium
which included inflatable Bongo trampolines, team karaoke displayed on the big
screen, inflatable tube slides, and bungee
cord basketball. Most of the coaches
throughout the week expressed how much
their team enjoyed the activities and theme
of the opening ceremony.
As much fun as the attractions throughout
the week were, softball was the true reason
teams traveled from 13 states and Canada
to the World Series. After three days of pool
play teams were then seeded into double
elimination championship bracket play. The
13U age bracket had an exciting outcome
when the number 6 seed Louisville Stunners
(KY) ended up as the 13U World Series
champions after defeating the number 8
seed Juniata Jaguars (PA) 12-1. Both teams
fought hard throughout the week but the
Stunners came out on top after outscoring
their opponents 58-10. Two of the Stunners
were recognized for outstanding tournament awards, Jordan Alvey for Tournament
54 USSSA TODAY
MVP and Taylor McClure for Offensive Tournament MVP. Four
of the Stunners were named to the All Tournament Team,
Taylor McClure, Marley Edwards, Morgan Harper, and Shelby
Dawson.
The 13U tournament finalists, Juniata Jaguars, also had some
outstanding performances throughout the week. Kayla
Sullenberger, Kristen Pray, Lauren Maguire, and Nicki Mihalik
all represented the Jaguars on the All Tournament Team. The
Jaguars coaching staff commented on what a great life experience the USSSA World Series was for their girls, coaches, and
parents. Their team motto for the week was, “you can have all
the talent in the world, but if you don’t have your hearts and
minds in it, talent means nothing.” This inspirational quote
must have worked to get the Jaguars all the way to the championship game.
Another team motto came from the 18U Churchville Lightning
(MD). Coach Jim Bilski disclosed that his team’s season long
motto was “just win the last game”. That was exactly what
the Churchville Lightning did to become the 18U World
Series champions. It was a long week, but nine games later,
outscoring their opponents 75-3, and defeating the Delaware
Diamonds 9-0 in the championship game the Churchville
Lightning were dubbed World Series Champions. This was
an extraordinary title for Jackie Amend, Lisa Bilski, Christine
Harvey, Kaela Mason, and Chelsie Oals to end their long time
Churchville Lightning careers. The experience was that much
better for Kaela Mason who belted a home run in her final
at bat for the Lightning. Savannah Snyder walked away with
Defensive Tournament MVP after catching all nine games for
the Lightning. Tournament MVP and Outstanding Pitcher
went to deserving Katie Ferguson who pitched 40 innings, had
48 strikeouts, and lead the team with a .522 batting average.
All tournament team awards went to Kaela Mason, Katie
Ferguson, Savannah Snyder, and Taylor Veasey. Coach Bilski
ended with a heartfelt thank you to USSSA for such a memorable event which is rightfully so after his team’s phenomenal
achievements.
The 18U tournament finalist, Delaware Diamonds also had
some outstanding achievements throughout the week. They
fought through 12 games to get to the championship. Kelsey
Doherty, Whitney Davis, Caroline Phillips, and Mary Paige
McManus made All Tournament Team. Whitney Davis also
walked away with Offensive Tournament MVP.
The 13U and 18U World Series brought a terrific end to an
accomplished season for many teams. Between the amusements and the amazing matchups on the softball fields the
environment in the softball complex went from nonstop,
on-the-go excitement to silence. At the end of the tournament
co-directors, Jeff Kittle and Jeff Moose, commented, “That
being at this prestigious event was a true testament to the
teams’ talent, dedication and love for the sport of fastpitch
softball. Every member of each team should be proud of themselves for the part that they played in the tournament.” To the
teams they expressed, “Treasure every moment on and off the
field. Whether your team brought home a trophy or not, the
memories you created will last a lifetime.”
13 & Under Tournament Awards
Player Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Jordan Alvey
STUNNERS 13
Offensive Tournament MVP
Taylor McClure
STUNNERS 13
Defensive Tournament MVP
Vicki Lattanzio
Dutchess Debs
All Tournament Team
Olivia Russell
OC Outrage
All Tournament Team
Taylor McClure
STUNNERS 13
All Tournament Team
Marley Edwards
STUNNERS 13
All Tournament Team
Jordan Prutzer
X-treme 14U
All Tournament Team
Natalie Dowzicky
X-treme 14U
All Tournament Team
Kayla Sullenberger
Juniata Jaguars
All Tournament Team
Morgan Harper
STUNNERS 13
All Tournament Team
Shelby Dawson
STUNNERS 13
All Tournament Team
Kristen Pray
Juniata Jaguars
All Tournament Team
Lauren Maguire
Juniata Jaguars
All Tournament Team
Nicki Mihalik
Juniata Jaguars
All Tournament Team
Casey Herzog
Dutchess Debs
All Tournament Team
Vicki Lattanzio
Dutchess Debs
All Tournament Team
Jamie Raccosta
Dutchess Debs
All Tournament Team
Felicia Lennon
CT Charmers
18 & Under Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Katie Ferguson
Churchville Lightning
Whitney Davis
Delaware Diamonds Black
Savannah Snyder
Outstanding Pitcher
Katie Ferguson
All Tournament Team
Kaela Mason
All Tournament Team
Katie Ferguson
All Tournament Team
Lauren Vitiello
N. Illinois Thunder-Purple
All Tournament Team
Savannah Snyder
All Tournament Team
Taylor Veasey
All Tournament Team
Maggie Daly
LT Blazers
All Tournament Team
Kelsey Doherty
All Tournament Team
Stephaine Polich
LT Blazers
All Tournament Team
Whitney Davis
All Tournament Team
Caroline Phillips
All Tournament Team
Mary Paige McManus
All Tournament Team
Liz Demitro
LT Blazers
All Tournament Team
Brittany Musolino
Montgomery Mavericks
All Tournament Team
Caitlin Whelan
Rampage Softball-Black
All Tournament Team
Jackie Kukuch
Montgomery Mavericks
USSSA TODAY 55
Indiana Slammers Capture 18 And
Over World Series Championship
by Brenda Paulson
1st Place - Indiana Slammers of Hobart, IN
Rockford, IL The Indiana Slammers 18 and Over women’s
fast-pitch team from Hobart, Indiana retained their 18 and
Over World Series Championship status at Rockford, Illinois’
Sportscore complex during the July 24th week-end when they
again captured the crown. The talent laden squad from the
Hoosier state bested the 25 team field, as they went undefeated (7-0) during tournament play.
Lady Rage of East Peoria, Illinois
The Slammers captured the title with an exciting 6 to 3 victory
over Lady Rage of East Peoria, Illinois, who advanced to the
championship contest by besting the MVSA Diamond Devils
of Shoreview, Minnesota. The Devils advanced to the semifinal by defeating the 4th place Hooters squad from Portage,
Michigan. Fifth Place honors went to the St. Louis Saints and
Southgate of White Cloud, Michigan.
Teams began with two rounds of pool play, which seen the
Slammers, The Rage, MVSA, Hooters, Illinois Alleycats, Aurora
Raiders, N. Illinois Lightning, and The Lady Hearts head their
pool play divisions.
Slammers & Lady Rage All-World Team members
56 USSSA TODAY
The Slammers were well represented on the all-tournament
team, which was headed by tournament MVP Sadie Conner
and Best Pitcher selection Casey Clutch Creakbaum, along
with teammates Torie Bunzell, Brittany Fisher, and Elizabeth
Smith. Lady Rage placed Defensive Player Catherine Zaworski,
Lindsey Hanna, and Bridget Fournie on the elite squad. Abby
Rehberger was selected best Offensive Player, which also seen
Rose Tusa, and Jenna Johnson of MVSA represented. Hooters
placed Kristin Larsen and Heather Han on the select squad,
along with Germaine Fairchild and Colleen Daily from the St.
Louis Saints. The team’s final selection was Jessica Wojcik of
the Southgate Pirates.
As the Indiana Slammers stretched their 2009 USSSA record
to 21-0, their coach, Bob Zivic was chosen as the World Series
tournament manager, while the Lady Rage took home the
Team Sportsmanship Award.
MVSA Diamond Devils All-World Team members
18 & Over Tournament Awards
Corey Clutch Creakbaum - Outstanding Pitcher, Catherine Zaworski - Defensive
MVP, Sadie Conner - MVP
Saints & BABS All-World Team members
Hooters All-World Team members
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Sadie Conner
Indiana Slammers
Abby Rehberger
MVSA Diamond Devils
Catherine Zaworski
Lady Rage
Outstanding Pitcher
Casey Creakbaum
Indiana Slammers
All Tournament Team
Jessica Wojcik
Southgate Pirate BABS
All Tournament Team
Elizabeth Smith
Indiana Slammers
All Tournament Team
Katie Brandt
Southgate Pirate BABS
All Tournament Team
Jenna Johnson
MVSA Diamond Devils
All Tournament Team
Amber Roth
MVSA Diamond Devils
All Tournament Team
Heather Han
Hooters
All Tournament Team
Colleen Dailey
St Louis Saints
All Tournament Team
Kristin Larsen
Hooters
All Tournament Team
Brittaney Fisher
Indiana Slammers
All Tournament Team
Lindsey Hamma
Lady Rage
All Tournament Team
Bridget Fournie
Lady Rage
All Tournament Team
Torie Bunzell
Indiana Slammers
All Tournament Team
Rose Tusa
MVSA Diamond Devils
All Tournament Team
Jen Stahlhut
St Louis Saints
All Tournament Team
Germaine Fairchild
Lady Rage
USSSA TODAY 57
Columbus, IN
Hosts Fastpitch World Series
photos by Michael McNutt
Girls Fastpitch 11 & under Tournament Awards
Arkansas Heat- Champions
Arkansas Heat’s All Tournament
selections.
Mississauga North Tigers- Third
Place
Pittsburgh lady RoadrunnersRunner Up
Arkansas Heat’s coaching staff.
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Chase Nelson
Arkansas Heat
Braxton Burnside
Arkansas Heat
Morgan Crawford
Pittsburgh Lady Roadrunners Blue
Outstanding Pitcher
Chase Nelson
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Chase Nelson
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Savanna Mayo
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Samantha Scott
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Claire Brown
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Madison Manley
Arkansas Heat
All Tournament Team
Janelle Brown
Mississauga North Tigers 1997
All Tournament Team
Taylor Kangas
All Tournament Team
Natalie David
Southern Indiana Crush-Orange
All Tournament Team
Kate Webster
All Tournament Team
Haley Winiger
All Tournament Team
Mackenzie Mangum
All Tournament Team
Linda Rush
All Tournament Team
Allie Taylor
All Tournament Team
Madeline Wensel
All Tournament Team
Alicia Bassila
Girls Fastpitch 11 & under Order of Finish
Place State
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Arkansas Heat
FPGirls11UOpen
8
0
0
60
9
7.5
1.12
6.37
10
650
Team
Runs
Allowed Avg Runs Avg Allow Avg Diff Max Runs
USSSA
Points
1
AR
2
PAW
FPGirls11UOpen
8
2
0
84
27
8.4
2.7
5.7
15
350
3
ON
FPGirls11UOpen
7
2
0
52
29
5.77
3.22
2.55
10
300
4
IN
FPGirls11UOpen
4
3
0
37
25
5.28
3.57
1.71
14
250
5
MO
Esprit
FPGirls11UOpen
4
3
0
43
31
6.14
4.42
1.71
14
200
5
IN
Indy Blast ‘97
FPGirls11UOpen
2
3
0
20
26
4
5.2
-1.2
6
200
7
IL
St. Charles Comets
FPGirls11UOpen
6
4
0
34
25
3.4
2.5
0.9
7
150
7
MI
Compuware 11s
FPGirls11UOpen
5
6
0
34
67
3.09
6.09
-3
8
150
9
IL
Orland Park A’s
FPGirls11UOpen
3
2
0
27
14
5.4
2.8
2.6
12
110
9
IN
Indiana Diamonds
FPGirls11UOpen
3
4
0
35
38
5
5.42
-0.4
10
110
9
MI
MBS Jets Yellow
FPGirls11UOpen
2
4
0
14
35
2.33
5.83
-3.5
6
110
9
IL
Tinley Park Bobcats
FPGirls11UOpen
1
5
0
31
52
5.16
8.66
-3.5
11
110
58 USSSA TODAY
Girls 16& under B Tournament Awards
Indiana Edgewood Elite Brigade- Champions
Kentucky Louisville Magic- Runner Up
Ohio Lady Charmers- Third Place
Edgewood Elite Brigade celebrates
their championship.
Ohio Miami Sting- Fourth Place
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Lexi Jones
Edgewood Elite Brigade
Kayrn Buckel
Jessie Little
Lady Charmers
Outstanding Pitcher
Allison Foster
Louisville Magic
All Tournament Team
Kelsi Allen
All Tournament Team
Allison Foster
Louisville Magic
All Tournament Team
Nichole Frazier
All Tournament Team
Danielle Payson
All Tournament Team
Jordan Baker
Miamisburg Sting
All Tournament Team
Shelby Kerwin
Miamisburg Sting
All Tournament Team
Sarah Eodice
Lady Charmers
All Tournament Team
Kaley Bell
Miamisburg Sting
All Tournament Team
Meghan Mccreery
Louisville Magic
All Tournament Team
Brittany Kaiser
Louisville Magic
All Tournament Team
Jessie Little
Lady Charmers
All Tournament Team
Leanna Pittsenbarger
Lady Charmers
All Tournament Team
Anna Fanelli
All Tournament Team
Lexi Jones
All Tournament Team
Kim Jamros
Louisville Magic
Girls 16& under B World Series Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
IN
FPGirls16&UB
8
2
0
49
23
4.9
2.3
2.6
10
650
2
KY
Louisville Magic
FPGirls16&UB
9
2
0
69
28
6.27
2.54
3.72
15
350
3
OHS
Lady Charmers
FPGirls16&UB
10
3
0
44
18
3.38
1.38
2
8
300
4
OHS
Miamisburg Sting
FPGirls16&UB
6
4
0
31
24
3.1
2.4
0.7
9
250
5
OK
Oklahoma Storm
FPGirls16&UB
8
2
0
49
27
4.9
2.7
2.2
9
200
5
OHN
FPGirls15UOpen
5
3
0
32
23
4
2.87
1.12
10
0
7
IL
Vernon Hills Stingers
FPGirls16&UB
5
4
0
33
19
3.66
2.11
1.55
8
150
7
IL
Tinley Park Rockers Platinum
FPGirls16&UB
4
5
0
32
34
3.55
3.77
-0.2
6
150
9
IL
Illinois Xplosion
FPGirls16&UB
6
3
0
31
23
3.44
2.55
0.88
11
110
9
MD
FPGirls16&UB
5
3
0
40
18
5
2.25
2.75
9
110
9
VA
Back River Surge
FPGirls16&UB
5
3
0
45
35
5.62
4.37
1.25
15
110
9
IL
Roselle Rampage
FPGirls16&UB
4
4
0
21
25
2.62
3.12
-0.5
6
110
Central Park Crushers 15U
USSSA TODAY 59
MonsterBash
2009
by BJ Larson
The 2009 Monster Bash was marked by teams, teams, and
more teams enjoying the best of softball and the best of the
Halloween spirit. Originally begun in Basehor, Kansas with 24
fastpitch teams, the Monster Bash has grown to a three week
festival of costumes, dugouts, and great competition.
from fun and entertaining to methodical and maniacal. As
a testament to even the competitiveness of the parents and
coaches, this one contest has become the centerpiece of the
event. Each season brings a new level of creativity and an
investment in time by these dedicated teams.
As usual, the contests were as hotly contested as the softball.
For the Dugout Decorating contest, the evolution has been
The Team Dance-off was added to the docket in 2008. This
event has quickly become a team favorite. Each team tries
60 USSSA TODAY
to incorporate the theme of their costumes into a uniquely
choreographed dance. The highlight (and key to success) has
been the incorporation of the coaching staff (no matter how
little rhythm they actually possess or display).
The 2009 edition brought out 127 teams from four states to
compete for the various titles. Mother Nature left her impression with cold temperatures, but the parents, fans, and players
would not be deterred.
C Monster Bash
Baseball Monster Bash
The “kickoff” party is always the “C” level Fastpitch Event.
In 2007, MSP offered the first “C” level event at Adair Park
in Independence with a debut of 37 teams. For the 2009
edition, 77 teams braved and unseasonably cold, early October
weekend. The only thing the temperatures couldn’t cool was
the spirit of the teams.
The Baseball Monster Bash has seen the greatest growth
over the last three years of any of the events. In its inaugural
season (2005), there were 32 teams in attendance. By 2007 it
had grown to 90 teams, with the explosion coming this season
at 144 teams. Teams from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri,
Minnesota, and Nebraska all converged on Kansas City for this
great fall event.
A/B Monster Bash
The Monster Bash has become perennially the most competitive event in the Midwest. Not only is it that, but it is one of
the most fun events with the many activities. Combining those
two aspects as generated a must attend event for teams in any
age group.
2010 and Beyond
This event has become a staple of Fastpitch/Baseball in Kansas
City in the fall. We always welcome teams from all corners that
find the fun and camaraderie to their liking. For more information on the upcoming season’s event, please go to http://www.
playmsp.com/monsterbash.aspx.
Contest Award Winners
C Monster Bash
Spirit Award
Dugout Decorating Contest
Dance-Off
Pumpkin Carving
Champion
Topeka Chics 10U
Extreme Softball Club 12U
Gecko Girls 12U
Smithville Sting 10U
Runner-Up
Sizzle Red 10U
Vipers-Pine 12U
Topeka Chics 10U
KC Pride 12U
3rd Place
Electric Shock 12U
Red Hots 12U
Topeka Zone 10U
Sizzle Red 10U
A/B Monster Bash
Spirit Award
Dance-Off
Pumpkin Carving
Champion
Missouri Pride 14A
Southside Vipers 12B
Liberty Venom 12B
Missouri Pride 14A
Runner-Up
Blue Springs Blaze 14B
KC Blaze 12B
DS Angels-Roberts 12B
Venom 14B
3rd Place
Northland Chill 12B
KC Vandals 12A
Northland Chill 12B
Axis 10U
Baseball Monster Bash
Spirit Award
Dance-Off
Pumpkin Carving
Champion
KC Rays 13AA
JC Hawks 13AAA
Abarca Aces 13AA
Cedar Rapids Reds 9U
Runner-Up
Dirt Dawg 12AA
KC Rays 13AA
Topeka Cyclones 11AA
Fury 9U
3rd Place
Abarca Aces 13AA
Kansas Mudcats 12AA
Cedar Rapids Reds 9U
Lightning 9U
USSSA TODAY 61
Fall Ball, East Texas Style
by Dave Owens
cases the girls will find a new team because they become
too old for the team they currently play for. This becomes a
time for new teams to be formed and some girls to find new
teams and new teammates. New excitement is experienced
by coaches, players, and parents. The teams will use the fall
season and experience to prepare for the following Spring/
Summer Championship Season.
As the new school year approaches and the end of the Summer
Heat begin to fade, you know that the Fall Fast Pitch Season
is almost here. Every year for the past 15 years, Longview
has hosted “The Central East Texas Fall Fast Pitch League”.
Approximately 15 years ago, a group of representatives from
Gladewater, Kilgore, Gilmer, Hallsville, Carthage, Elysian Fields,
Marshall, Henderson, Diana, and Longview met to discuss the
beginning of a new Fall Fast Pitch League, and how many
teams would play and be scheduled. At the beginning, no city
had the resources to host every team that would be scheduled. After all, these were girls’ softball teams and there were
few fields designated for girls’ softball. The schedule would be
prepared so that the different cities would host various teams
on Saturdays. The games were to be played for the most part
on Saturdays only. The suspected problems did pop up such
as teams showing up with not enough players or not showing
up at all, thus creating frustrations for the team that did show
up. Even though this was not a major problem, it was one
that required some scheduling adjustments and the idea that
at least three teams should be scheduled for a site from the
same age group was proposed. This helped in case a team did
not show up, and then the remaining two teams could play a
double-header. All teams scheduled at the various locations
would always play at least two games on a Saturday.
Another problem from the beginning was the field preparations. This was done by the Dads and Coaches, who volunteered
to rake, mow and mark the fields to be used at the various locations. This was the reason some teams stopped volunteering
their fields to be used for games as often. Fewer fields were
becoming available each year for scheduling, which was good
in a way since this meant more teams at fewer locations.
The goals and advantages of playing Fall Ball: The Fall Season
is a season of change, not only for the cooler approaching
temperatures, but the makeup of the teams change as the Fall
Season brings the time for the age classifications to change.
In some cases teams will move up a class or the makeup of
the team will change because of age reclassification. In many
62 USSSA TODAY
The Central East Texas League was formed with that idea from
the start, to play the fall season with the Spring/Summer ages
as the Official Fall age. It gave the new team and Coach an
extra season of experience to get ready for the Spring/Summer
playoff run. As the League continued through the years, it
was easy to see that was the best choice to develop teams and
prepare them for their High School Years. It began to show
up as teams that played Fall League in the Central East Texas
League began to show up in the UIL Playoffs regularly. Many
girls who participated in the first Fall Season went on to earn
College Scholarships and played at the College Level. The first
group that started as 10 and under has graduated from college
and has started a new chapter in their lives with careers and
families. It makes those who have been a part of the program
proud to have hopefully made a positive contribution to the
lives of the young ladies.
The 2009 Fall Season begins the 15th season for The Central
East Texas League and times have improved for the league and
those who administer it. Now all the teams meet at one central
location for most teams and the number of teams playing has
increased through the years. The Central Location is Longview
with eight outstanding fields in a single location at The Lear
Park Complex. The teams are now able to schedule from 10
to 12 games over a six week span, and can play 2 to 4 games
on a Saturday. They can also pick time preferences and the
Saturdays they can play. This allows teams who might be 2
to 3 hours away to play 12 games on three Saturdays and not
have to pay tournament prices or hotel stays for overnights. It
also allows teams from West Monroe, Louisiana to play teams
from Whitehouse, and others who travel from the opposite
direction.
The City of Longview Parks and Recreation Department
Maintenance Division prep the fields for the Saturday Games
and will also touch up the fields during the day on Saturdays
to keep the fields in the best playing condition.
As we near the final half of the 2009 Fall Season of The Central
East Texas League, we plan to finish the second half with a
bang. The final five Saturdays will include three Tournaments
with a “Kids Helping Kids” theme. The three tournaments will
be “Coats for Kids”, “Thanks 4 Giving Food Drive” and “Toys
for Tots” weekends, all pointed to helping those who are less
fortunate and in need. That should be every adult’s goal who
is involved with the youth, “To Teach Our Kids to Take Care Of
each Other.” Looking back, I think we are succeeding in this
and are making progress.
775 N. Hwy. 287
Mansfield, Texas
For Reservations:
817-539-0707
Call For Special Softball Rate
3 miles from Big League Dreams–Mansfield
Make A Dream Foundation
and USSSA Helps Gavin
Matusak Throw First Pitch
We had Gavin practicing throwing a softball for weeks before
we left for Florida. But when he actually saw the size of the
stadium, and all the people that were watching he definitely
became a little frightened. With the help of a few Pride players
and his cousin at his side he made it out there to throw the first
pitch without an incident. Everyone at the pride stadium made
us feel welcome, and really showed a great deal of professionalism. The team themselves couldn’t have been more helpful
and caring to us.
He definitely loves to watch the Indiana Rebels and his cousin
Brittney play softball and since throwing out the first pitch he
always wants to go onto the field. Without the support and
the prayers of the Indiana Rebels 12u team, the Indiana Rebels
Organization, the Make a Dream Foundation and of course
the USSSA this experience would never have happened.
Gavin returns to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago every
month for a checkup. So far the news has been good. Meaning
that nothing is getting worse but we are always reminded
that we have a long road ahead of us. Being three years old
he has had more procedures and open-heart surgeries than
most of us will ever encounter in a lifetime. Our Family would
like to thank everyone involved in this experience. Gavin will
always be reminded of all the support and kindness everyone
has shown for him and to our family from the USSSA. Thanks
again. The Matusak family
Rick, Melissa, Dylan, Gavin, Caden
64 USSSA TODAY
USSSA BASEBALL
2009-A Year Of Innovation,
Adversity And Growth
Rick Fortuna, Executive VP Baseball Operations
2009 proved to be another challenging and exciting year for
USSSA Baseball.
The innovative new program, Global Sports Baseball, was
introduced along with the challenge to all of our directors to
grow the baseball program for the 13th consecutive year.
Global Sports Baseball proved to be an exciting new addition
to USSSA line-up. Teams responded to the new program immediately. Over 10,000 teams registered to play Global Sports
Baseball in 2009. With a stream-lined qualifying system and
an innovative open drop down World Series format, Global
Sports Baseball hit the ground running. Over 500 teams played
in a Global Sports World Series this first season. With over 500
teams in their World Series, Global Sports Baseball ranked as
the second largest World Series program in the country, behind
only USSSA Baseball! Not a bad rookie season.
Top State registrations for Global Sports
Baseball in 2009
State
# of Teams registered
Texas
1295
Georgia
609
S. California
580
Missouri
545
North Carolina
519
Louisiana
512
The baseball season began with adversity. Four directors with
large programs left USSSA to form a new organization to
66 USSSA TODAY
compete with USSSA in prime states. This led many to speculate on the future of USSSA Baseball and whether it would be
possible to continue the unprecedented growth of previous
years.
The challenge went out to all directors to push through the
adversity and continue to grow. The directors responded in
true championship fashion. USSSA Baseball grew for the 13th
consecutive year. Team registrations, World Series participation and total revenue all increased in 2009.
Congratulations to all baseball directors for the great job and
hard work in 2009!
16u National Team
Evan East
Greg Fettes
Joey Filomeno
Max Foody
Peyton Fuller
Mike Grindstaff
Nathan Harsh
Brendon Hayden
Mark Johnson
Jake Junis
Isaac Kent
Kyle Klosak
Sam Mahar
Jacob Milliman
LJ Newman
Nolan Peterson
Cody Sharp
Trevor Theissen
Joey Wabick
Carter White
Jesse Winker
Hunter Wood
15u National Team
Santino Alteri
Max Beerman
Ty Buttrey
Leslie Cabiling
Ahmad Christian
Joshua Ferry
Bryant Hodge
Jacob Hornbacher
Skylar Janisse
Alexander Juday
Calvin Mathews
Max McDowell
Ford Moore
Robbie Morris
David Petrino
Stewart Rich
Jake Roberts
John Stinnett
John Stoothoff
Mitchell Traver
Lawrence Walkley
Walker Weickel
Lorenzo Wright
The USSSA All-American Games took place in August in Kissimmee, FL.
The top players from the event were selected to play for Team USSSA in
international competition in 2010. The USSSA 16u National Team will
compete in Japan in July. The USSSA 15u and 14u National Teams will
compete in the inaugural USSSA “Gold Medal Games” in Kissimmee, FL
in August.
14u National Team
Jordan Aboites
Alan Archer
Alex Hagner
LJ Hatch
Clinton Hollon
Allan Hooker
Hayden Krimmer
Jimmy Liu
Collon Maxfield
Zachary Morgan
Aaron Morris
Matt Railey
Alexis Rivera
Zach Ryan
Ryan Spaulding
Kody Swackhammer
Samuel Thomas
Adam Valencia
Drew Ward
Nick Washington
Brody Weiss
Braxton Wilks
Eric Williams
CYPRESS SPOOKTACULAR
SCARY SUCCESS AT CYPRESS MOUNDS
by Katie Snee
Cypress Mounds Baseball Complex has a reputation for hosting great youth baseball tournaments
and the Cypress Spooktacular USSSA NIT held over
the weekend of October 17th & 18th was no exception. Fifty teams representing Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas participated in 8 different age
divisions. According to Tournament Director Brent
Guilbeaux, “The weather was outstanding and a
good time was had by all.”
The USSSA 7-CP-AA Cajun Crushers currently ranked
Number One in the nation won their age division
outscoring their opponents 74 to 22 while going 5 –
0 in the tournament.
The 8-CP championship featured two of the top
three ranked USSSA 8-CP-AA teams in the nation.
Bullets (#3) bested Captains Baseball (#2) by a score
of 11 – 7 to take the title.
The 9 Open Championship was won by the 9AA
Warthawgs who beat the two top ten nationally
ranked teams to take the title. They beat the 9AA
Warhawk Baseball (#9) 9 – 8 in the semi-final game
and the 9U Natchitoches Thunder (#8) 9 – 1 in the
championship game.
The Southern Sliders (14AA) and Mustangs Baseball
(12 MAJ) advanced to their titles allowing an average
of 2 or less runs per game in the tournament.
The staff at Cypress Mounds in the spirit of the
season put together a mini-haunted house for kids
aged 8 and under with complimentary face painting.
The effort headed up by Office Manager Katie Snee
was designed to give the younger siblings of the
ballplayers a treat. One parent stopped by to say
“how thoughtful it was to do that for the kids.” At
Cypress Mounds we aspire to the Louisiana tradition
of providing Lagniappe (a little something extra) in
everything we do. We want our customer service to
meet the expectations set by our first class facility at
all time.
68 USSSA TODAY
Age Division
7U – CP
8U – CP
9U Open
10U Open
11U Open
12U Open
14 AA
14 MAJ
Place
Team
Hometown
Tournament Record
Champion
Cajun Crushers
Youngsville, La.
5-0
Runner-Up
Louisiana Naturals
Denham Springs, La.
2–3
Champion
Bullets
Baton Rouge, La.
4–0
Runner-Up
Captains Baseball
Mamou, La.
2–2
Champion
Warthawgs
St. Amant, La.
4–0
Runner-Up
Natchitoches Thunder
Natchitoches, La.
2–2
Champion
Louisiana Bandits
Metairie, La.
4–0–1
Runner-Up
Legendz 10’s Blue
Zachary, La.
4–1
Champion
Outlaw Baseball
Brandon, Miss.
4–0
Runner-Up
Warriors Baseball
Natchitoches, La.
1–3
Champion
Mustangs Baseball
Luling, La.
5–0
Runner-Up
Gladiator Baseball
Beaumont, Texas
4–1
Champion
Southern Sliders
Broussard, La.
4–0
Runner-Up
Ascension Mets
Gonzales, La.
4–1
Champion
Mississippi Magic
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Runner-Up
Louisiana Rays
Denham Springs, La.
3–0–1
3–1
USSSA TODAY 69
Lightning Strikes Twice!
by Matt Trebuchon
13U East Cobb Astros – 2009 Elite World Champions
14U East Cobb Astros – 2009 Elite World Champions
Something to ponder…what has odds of something
like 1 in 9 million and is harder to do than qualifying
for the Elite World Series?
Winning the Elite in back to back years? This has
been accomplished multiple times. Win it three out
of four years…already been done. No, try winning
the Elite World Series twice in the same year…that’s
right...for the first time in the history of the Elite, two teams
from the same club have won their respective divisions in the
same year.
Yes, lightning did strike twice for the East Cobb Astros baseball
club located in Marietta, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. Not
only did the 14U Astros capture their third Elite World Series
crown in four years (2006, 2007, and 2009) but the younger
13U Astros picked up their first Elite Title.
The 14U Astros started their run with an opening round 3-2
loss to Ostingers Baseball Academy of Lithia, Florida and
from that moment on, East Cobb never looked back reeling
off eight straight wins by defeating California’s All-American
Sports Academy 6-5; Dynasty Black from Kingwood, Texas 10-0;
D-bat Mustangs from North Texas 8-0; Southwest Florida’s Yard
Dawgs 2-0; Cleveland, North Carolina’s Indians 9-1; another win
over the Yard Dawgs 4-2; a semi-final win over the Louisiana
70 USSSA TODAY
Tigers 4-0 and a championship triumph over Team
Orlando 9-5.
For the week, the 14U East Cobb Astros outscored
their opponents 57-11 scoring an average of 6.3
runs per game with a pitching staff that allowed a
stingy 1.2 runs per game. It’s hard to lose when you
only have to score two runs a game. Head Coach,
Dave Roberts has already set his 2010 roster with the goal of
repeating as he did in 2006 and 2007.
The 13U Astros chose to take no prisoners by running the
table with a perfect 9-0 record outscoring their opponents
76-26. The week started off with a 12-7 win over the O-town
Warriors from Orlando. This first victory was followed by wins
against Tennessee’s Knoxville Stars 14-0; the Banditos Black
from Houston, Texas 7-3; Spring, Texas’ BLBA Stampede 4-3;
New Jersey’s Tri-State Arsenal 10-0; and back to back wins
over Phoenix Arizona’s Nitro 8-2 and 3-1; a semifinal win over
the HB Nitro Elite from Huntington Beach, California 8-6 and
a championship prevail over Terror Baseball from Thibodaux,
Louisiana 12-4.
This was Head Coach, Tony Cowards second appearance in the
Elite finishing a respectable 3rd last year. Like his counterpart,
Tony also has his 2010 roster ready to go with one goal in
sight…repeat!
THE BASEBALL PLACE TO BE IN 2010
CYPRESS MOUNDS BASEBALL COMPLEX
USSSA SANCTIONED NIT TOURNAMENTS
--Tentave Schedule-March 6 & 7
ILS SONT PARTIS
7 - 14 Open
March 13 & 14
RED STICK RUMBLE
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
March 20 & 21
MARSH MADNESS
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
March 27 & 28
MUDBUG MEMORIAL
7/8U, 9U, 10 - 14AAA/MAJ
April 3rd
EASTER ELITE
7 - 14 Open
April 10 & 11
RUMBLE ON THE RIVER
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
April 17 & 18
CYPRESS SPECTACULAR
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
April 24 & 25
SPRING SIZZLER
7/8U, 9U, 10 - 14AAA/MAJ
May 1 & 2
TRIPLE PLAY THRILLER
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
May 8 & 9
MOTHER’S DAY CLASSIC
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
May 15 & 16
BAYOU BRAWL
7/8U, 10 - 13AAA/MAJ, 14AAA/MAJ (60/90)
May 21, 22 & 23
GOVERNOR’S GAMES II
(GLOBAL SPORTS SUPER NIT)
7, 9, 11 & 13 Open
May 28, 29 & 30
GOVERNOR’S GAMES II
(GLOBAL SPORTS SUPER NIT)
8, 10, 12 & 14 Open
June 5 & 6
CAPITAL CITY CHALLENGE
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
June 12 & 13
FLEUR de LIS FURY
7/8U, 9 - 14AA
June 18, 19 & 20
LA SOUTH STATE TOURNAMENT 8U-CP, 9U, 10 - 14 MAJOR
June 25, 26 & 27
CAJUN CLASSIC (60/90 - STATE)
7/8U, 9 - 12 AA, 14 – 60/90 STATE
July 1, 2, 3 & 4
FREEDOM FEST
7 - 14 Open
www.CYPRESSMOUNDS.com
E-mail us at [email protected]
The Legacy Begins
West Houston is about to have a new
home for baseball and softball… Legacy
Sports Park. The complex will open Spring
2010 and will be host to weekend youth
tournaments as well as State and World
Series events.
Located just West of Houston in Waller,
Texas, the park is only minutes away from
Cy-Fair and Katy areas. With easy access
off of Hwy 290, the park is conveniently
located and will be well worth the drive
from anywhere in the state.
The idea behind the complex is to provide
the best fields for youth baseball and
softball players as well as an atmosphere
for friends and family to view the games
with little obstruction. With 6 baseball
72 USSSA TODAY
fields currently under construction, the
complex is set to expand to 30 baseball
fields and 24 softball fields over the next
18 months.
Field construction is being done by Matt
Webb owner of Athletic Field Specialists.
All fields will have beautiful Alabama clay
and the same sports grass as many college
and professional fields. Baseball fields
will have real clay mounds, no temporary
mounds. Fields are being constructed
with a “no obstruction” concept for fans
so that there are no poles to block the
view of the field. Fans will also be able
to enjoy a panoramic view of the games
from Oak tree shaded observation hills.
Legacy believes that all players deserve
to have the best field conditions possible
and plans to provide them at the same
cost or below the “competition”.
In addition to building top rate fields,
Legacy will also be home to a Sports
Academy for both baseball and softball with instructors from local colleges.
Players in the academy will get exposure
and instruction that can carry them to
the next level of their sport. During the
summer months as well as school breaks,
Legacy Academy will offer camps, clinics
and college showcase events.
To follow the progress and for additional
information on Legacy Sports Park, visit them
on the web at www.legacysportspark.com.
USSSA SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL
Great Lakes Men D Nationals
photos by Michael McNutt
Ohio ITEK-Champions
West Virginia Financial Solutions- Runner Up
Ohio American Dream- Third Place
74 USSSA TODAY
Great Lakes Men D Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament CO-MVP
Danny Biederman
ITEX
Defensive Tournament
CO-MVP
Danny Biederman
ITEX
All Tournament Team
James Lowe
MJ Lowe
All Tournament Team
Eric Marshall
ITEX
All Tournament Team
Chris Schiavone
Extreme/Turner Property
Services Gr
All Tournament Team
Bob Jones
MJ Lowe
All Tournament Team
Casey Stewart
Tiger Fitness
All Tournament Team
Mike Beckett
ITEX
All Tournament Team
Nate Chau
ITEX
All Tournament Team
Gary Martin
ITEX
All Tournament Team
Chris Wessel
American Dream
All Tournament Team
Tony Payne
American Dream
Great Lakes Men D Nationals Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
OHC
ITEX
SPMensD
7
1
0
102
44
12.7
5.5
7.25
19
600
2
WV
Financial Solutions
SPMensD
6
2
0
73
72
9.12
9
0.12
19
225
3
OHO
American Dream
SPMensD
6
2
0
66
54
8.25
6.75
1.5
16
200
4
OHC
MJ Lowe
SPMensD
5
2
0
55
43
7.85
6.14
1.71
13
175
5
OHO
Extreme/Turner Property Services
SPMensD
4
2
0
47
38
7.83
6.33
1.5
12
155
5
KY
Tiger Fitness
SPMensD
3
2
0
57
47
11.4
9.4
2
17
155
7
OHC
Zero Tolerance Softball
SPMensD
4
2
0
41
51
6.83
8.5
-1.6
13
130
7
IN
Southern Indiana Softball Club
SPMensD
3
2
0
52
37
10.4
7.4
3
22
130
9
KY
Southside Softball/Quality Exterior
SPMensD
4
2
0
57
43
9.5
7.16
2.33
16
110
9
OHO
Black Sheep Tavern/Cincy Impact
SPMensD
4
2
0
49
45
8.16
7.5
0.66
14
110
9
IN
Vaughn Communications
SPMensD
4
2
0
60
65
10
10.8
-0.8
14
110
9
OHO
Backyard Bar/Cousin Construction
SPMensD
3
2
0
71
40
14.2
8
6.2
22
110
13
OHO
Queen City Accoustical/Schmoe’s
SPMensD
4
2
0
71
47
11.8
7.83
4
20
70
13
OHS
Ourplace/Caretakerii
SPMensD
2
2
0
45
34
11.2
8.5
2.75
16
70
13
KY
Barnstormers
SPMensD
2
2
0
36
23
9
5.75
3.25
20
70
13
OHS
Down N Dirty
SPMensD
2
2
0
31
33
7.75
8.25
-0.5
13
70
USSSA TODAY 75
Rain Dampens Playing Fields But Not The Spirit of the
25th Annual The Whole Enchilada
Las Cruces, New Mexico
photos by Larry Meraz and Pete Spatula
Michigan Skulls Shark Club- Men C Champions
New Mexico Sun Devils- Men C Runner Up
Tournament founder and CEO, Bert
“FUN” Frederick (left) and USSSA
EVP and HOF, Kevin Naegele.
Meet the 2009 Enchilada Girls.
Men C Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
MI
Skulls Shark Club Pritchard
SPMensD
6
1
0
133
87
19
12.4
6.57
24
0
2
NM
Sundevils
SPMensC
5
2
0
125
94
17.8
13.4
4.42
33
30
3
TXW
ELITE
SPMensC
6
2
0
140
84
17.5
10.5
7
25
0
4
TXW
Hitmen Empire
SPMensD
3
2
0
69
68
13.8
13.6
0.20
19
40
5
TXW
Tequila
SPMensD
3
2
0
65
67
13
13.4
-0.4
17
30
5
NM
Tournament Balls
SPMensC
2
2
0
81
67
20.2
16.7
3.5
25
0
7
TXW
MESTIZO
SPMensD
3
2
0
66
66
13.2
13.2
0
14
0
7
NM
Raw Dawgs
SPMensD
3
2
0
74
59
14.8
11.8
3
24
20
9
TXW
Double E Trucking/DEECO
SPMensD
2
2
0
42
46
10.5
11.5
-1
18
10
9
NM
Team Ruthless
SPMensC
2
2
0
55
54
13.7
13.5
0.25
19
5
9
NM
Team 590/Don’t Ask
SPMensC
1
2
0
42
42
14
14
0
16
5
9
TXS
What the Hell
SPMensD
1
2
0
33
39
11
13
-2
12
10
Men C Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Mike Martinez
Sundevils
76 USSSA TODAY
Texas TKO- Men D Champions
Tournament director, Scott Cameron (left) and
UIC Bill Harper are able to take time out to
view a womens game.
Chopper and the reunion of the Rhinos Softball Club.
Worth Sports’ Russ Parton was on hand
for equipment sales. Worth is the proud
sponsor of The Whole Enchilada.
Men D Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
TXS
TKO
SPMensD
8
0
0
103
34
12.8
4.25
8.62
17
40
2
NM
Too Sick
SPMensE
11
2
0
159
68
12.2
5.23
7
23
60
3
CAS
Don’t Trip
SPMensD
6
2
0
88
54
11
6.75
4.25
22
25
4
NM
Fo’Shizzle
SPMensD
8
2
0
135
78
13.5
7.8
5.7
19
0
5
NM
LC Sportsline
SPMensE
5
2
0
88
66
12.5
9.42
3.14
17
30
5
NM
Sudden Impact/Bud Light
SPMensD
4
2
0
68
41
11.3
6.83
4.5
24
15
7
NM
KO Cartel
SPMensE
8
2
0
126
78
12.6
7.8
4.8
25
20
7
TXS
SA Canes
SPMensD
7
2
0
114
82
12.6
9.11
3.55
26
10
9
CO
Mile High Softball
SPMensD
8
2
0
146
74
14.6
7.4
7.2
26
5
9
NM
Marty’s Crew
SPMensD
5
2
0
70
60
10
8.57
1.42
19
5
9
NM
Donkey Punch
SPMensD
4
2
0
86
53
14.3
8.83
5.5
27
5
9
TXW
Latinos
SPMensD
4
2
0
59
51
9.83
8.5
1.33
15
5
13
AZ
Cryptic Illusions
SPMensA
7
2
0
114
61
12.6
6.77
5.88
27
0
13
TXW
Teresoz
SPMensD
5
2
0
88
51
12.5
7.28
5.28
25
0
13
TXS
Coors Light Wizards
SPMensD
4
2
0
77
58
12.8
9.66
3.16
27
0
13
TXW
Outlaws
SPMensD
4
2
0
60
48
10
8
2
20
0
Men D Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Eddie Ortiz
Team Force
Tournament MVP
Eduardo Ortiz
TKO
Citriano Guzman
TKO
Issac Molina
Too Sick
USSSA TODAY 77
Women C Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
AZ
Who’s Next Softball
SPWomenC
5
0
0
72
16
14.4
3.2
11.2
19
40
2
AZ
Gotchya Back
SPWomenD
5
2
0
83
69
11.8
9.85
2
20
60
3
NM
Albuquerque Affliction
SPWomenC
2
2
0
45
34
11.2
8.5
2.75
14
25
4
NM
Fury
SPWomenC
3
2
0
64
54
12.8
10.8
2
21
20
5
TXW
Sucias
SPWomenD
3
2
0
55
54
11
10.8
0.19
17
30
5
TXW
Just Us
SPWomenD
2
2
0
36
44
9
11
-2
21
30
7
NM
The Angry Beavers
SPWomenC
2
2
0
53
42
13.2
10.5
2.75
26
10
7
NM
Too Legit
SPWomenD
1
2
0
31
42
10.3
14
-3.6
17
20
9
TXW
Massizo
SPWomenD
1
2
0
36
43
12
14.3
-2.3
18
10
9
NM
Lady Warriors
SPWomenD
1
2
0
28
51
9.33
17
-7.6
14
10
9
NM
Rattlers
SPWomenC
1
2
0
46
38
15.3
12.6
2.66
21
5
9
TXW
Team Sike
SPWomenC
0
2
0
14
29
7
14.5
-7.5
11
5
13
TXW
West Texas Fury
SPWomenD
0
2
0
6
34
3
17
-14
3
0
13
AZ
The Other Team
SPWomenC
0
2
0
0
19
0
9.5
-9.5
0
0
Women C Tournament Awards
Players Name
Cara Shinjo
Juanita Ketterling
Melissa Gamboa
Gotchya Back
78 USSSA TODAY
Plays For
Reserve 10 or More Team Rooms
and the Coaches Room is FREE!
(not valid for individual reservations)
Hotel & Suites
Main Gate East
to all sport complexes
* Convenient
Cafe featuring Breakfast Buffet
* Vineyard
(kids 10 and under eat FREE, 2 per room, with
purchase of adult meal)
Choice Food
* People’s
Court
Amenities Include:
* Mini-Refrigerator
* Microwave
Laundry Facilities
* Coin
Wireless Internet
* Free
Expanded and Upgraded Game Room
* Newly
Special Rates for Umpires
Terri O’Neal 407-997-4340
www.SeralagoHotel.com/USSSA
Award winning director Chad Calek
along with Executive Producer
Rena Thornton have released their
long awaited documentary
44 Core The Movie on DVD.
True Player Entertainment with 44 Core Productions
are proud to release 44 Core The Movie. Filmed
during the 2005 season, 44 Core followed a “C”
team from start to finish.
44 Core captures the subculture of Men’s slow pitch
Softball with the men who play, coach an sponsor
this uniquely American Sport.
While over 8 million slow pitch softball players compete in the
United States each year, 44 Core focuses on an extremely heated
rivalry between Terry and Rock, two Omaha, NE based coaches/
sponsors of their own teams, who have both earned reputations as
being nothing short of relentless in their pursuit of victory. All the
things that these two men seem to have in common are replaced by
the one commonality they can not escape... Terry is Rock’s father.
Can a son overcome his desire to step out of his father’s shadow to
become his own man and earn his father’s respect? Will a father
ever recognize his son as an equal in Omaha softball? And to both
father and son, what is the ultimate cost and value of being called
the best? 44 Core attempts to answer these questions.
DVD Extras include Rusty Bumgardner hitting out of Minute
Maid Stadium, extended footage and more.
44 Core The Movie is available for purchase on their website
www.44core.com as well as amazon.com under 44 Core The Movie.
IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE!
Women D Order of Finish
Place State
Team
Team Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
USSSA
Points
1
OHN
Petroset/Tri County/Hub Victor
SPWomenD
7
0
0
103
43
14.7
6.14
8.57
26
40
2
AZ
Benchwarmers
SPWomenE
6
2
0
113
59
14.1
7.37
6.75
31
60
3
AZ
Chittakahs
SPWomenD
7
2
0
98
50
10.8
5.55
5.33
21
25
4
NM
X24
SPWomenD
8
2
0
136
74
13.6
7.4
6.2
27
20
5
NM
Breakers
SPWomenD
5
2
0
90
46
12.8
6.57
6.28
21
15
5
CO
Twisters/Rodriguez Custom Glove
SPWomenD
4
2
0
82
54
13.6
9
4.66
28
15
7
NM
Venom
SPWomenD
6
2
0
95
68
11.8
8.5
3.37
20
10
7
TXS
Steel Punishers
SPWomenD
5
2
0
71
53
10.1
7.57
2.57
17
10
9
TXW
EP-Athletics
SPWomenD
4
2
0
51
35
8.5
5.83
2.66
16
5
9
NM
IDK
SPWomenE
3
2
0
64
51
12.8
10.2
2.6
18
0
9
NM
Lady Astros-Hobbs
SPWomenD
3
2
0
50
30
10
6
4
21
5
9
NM
L&E Quality Builders
SPWomenE
3
2
0
42
48
8.4
9.6
-1.2
15
10
13
AZ
Gettin’ Loose
SPWomenD
4
2
0
67
29
11.1
4.83
6.33
21
0
13
NM
Here For Beer
SPWomenD
4
2
0
56
49
9.33
8.16
1.16
15
0
13
CO
Chix with Stixx
SPWomenD
3
2
0
44
52
8.8
10.4
-1.6
16
0
13
TXS
Ball Busters
SPWomenD
3
2
0
85
32
17
6.4
10.6
33
0
17
CO
Rub Some Dirt On It
SPWomenD
3
2
0
48
50
9.6
10
-0.4
14
0
17
NM
Tailgators
SPWomenD
3
2
0
66
35
13.2
7
6.2
20
0
17
NM
McMillan Oilers (ROS)
SPWomenD
3
2
0
65
57
13
11.4
1.6
16
0
17
AZ
Dirty Skirts
SPWomenA
3
2
0
33
34
6.6
6.8
-0.2
10
0
17
CO
Fo Sho
SPWomenD
2
3
0
36
38
7.2
7.6
-0.3
16
0
17
NM
Fully Loaded Alamo
SPWomenD
2
2
0
47
31
11.7
7.75
4
19
0
17
NM
Inferno
SPWomenD
2
2
0
31
35
7.75
8.75
-1
14
0
17
TXW
Outlaws
SPWomenD
2
2
0
41
50
10.2
12.5
-2.2
18
0
Women D Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Susan Mani
Petroset/Tri County/Hub Victor
Noelia Lozano
Benchwarmers
80 USSSA TODAY
In the Spirit of
Church Softball
by Terry Folino
Tournament Volunteer staff USSSA working for the community and Habitat for
Humanity staff – worked over 1,000 volunteer hours to put on the 2 day event,
with over 100 games in 4 divisions of play
Think Church Softball is dying or dead? Think again!
In S.W. Ohio, church softball is alive and well, in large part
thanks to Ohio State Church Director, Terry Folino, and the
dedicated church softball teams that support the USSSA church
program throughout the summer months.
Each year Terry pours heart and soul into a program which
has special meaning for him from his earliest days with USSSA
softball.
Starting, back in 1981, with an invitation to become the coach
of the Peace Lutheran softball team, and with encouragement
from his wife, Karen (a decision she never realized would
change their future!), Terry threw great energy and spirit into
the game.
With added encouragement from Peace Lutheran Church
pastor, Richard Poock, a special bond was created which led
their softball team to do many special activities, both on and
off the field for the next 15 years, impacting many lives along
the way.
One of the many activities involved traveling to tournaments
and helping others in the community by being involved in the
Peace Lutheran’s adopt-a-family program during the holidays.
It was this combination of activities that created the basis for
a Christian softball tournament that benefits the community.
“This event has now turned into our most rewarding event,”
explains Folino, “the long-standing USSSA “Christian Softball
Nationals.” The event has been held over the long Labor Day
weekend for the past fourteen years now.
The Christian Nationals draw church teams that are very
competitive as well as those that simply love coming to
Beavercreek, Ohio’s beautiful Rotary Park and helping to
support the cause. There are divisions of play for men and
mixed couples Christian teams. These teams bring their fami82 USSSA TODAY
lies and spend a nice holiday weekend together fellowshipping with other Christian athletes on the softball field.
In addition to a six-game minimum tournament format, the
event features a free pig roast lunch for the participants, skills
contest for Home Run Derby and fastest runners, and a great
array of raffle prizes of all sorts to appeal to all attendees.
The USSSA Christian Nationals is hosted by Peace Lutheran
Church. The event is co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans, who provides matching funds to help increase the
proceeds back to the beneficiary. Over the past 14 years this
event has raised over $79,000 for charity, including $10,724
this year. This year the beneficiary was Habitat for Humanity
– Greene County Ohio.
This event wraps up the USSSA church softball program in
Ohio, which also includes the Ohio State Championships and
the Great Lakes National Church Championship.
Folino states, “My goal, as the Ohio USSSA Church Director,
is to offer one major Church tournament each month, July
for the State, August for the Nationals, and then Labor Day
weekend for the benefit event.”
This year’s event was also renamed in honor of Skip Wilson,
long-time local supporter of the event. Skip Wilson was the
co-chairman of the event for the last 5 years and really loved
working with the people and organizing the Habitat volunteers
and the concession stands to support the event. He was always
so impressed with the Christian fellowship that was demonstrated by all the players and attendees at this tournament.
Skip Wilson recently lost his courageous battle with cancer,
smiling even through his last pain- filled days, having full Faith
that he would be with his Lord and Savior. The tournament
committee felt that is would be a great honor and privilege
to keep his presence felt at this event by naming the event in
his honor.
Community Alliance Church, Butler, PA Men Gold
Champions
Buckeye Christian Church, Grove City, Ohio – Coed Gold Champions
Fastest Christian Woman, Jessica
Deal, Middlesex, PA Lutheran
First Church of Christ, Xenia, Ohio, Men Silver
Champions
Peace Lutheran Church, Beavercreek, Ohio – Coed Silver Champions
Pig Roast enjoyed by all participants
Skip’s wife, Teri Wilson, picked up his considerable duties and
carried his energy onward. She and their family members
(many of which were in the volunteer photo) picked up the
torch carried it throughout the weekend.
According to Folino, “Skip loved life, but more importantly he
loved His Lord and Savior, and we hope to keep his Spirit alive
through this softball event.”
Ohio USSSA Church softball is proud to be a part of this event,
and hopes that it can serve as a motivator for all of our church
softball tournaments as we strive to promote Christian fellowship through the game of softball.
There were 26 Christian Teams participating from Michigan,
Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and all over Ohio. After
playing 4 games of pool play, teams are divided into Gold
and Silver divisions for a Double Elimination Championship
bracket, allowing for some very fairly competed games.
In the Men’s Division:
Gold Bracket:
1
Community Alliance Church, Butler, PA
2
Northridge Freewill Baptist Church, Northridge, OH
3
Grove City Nazarene, Grove City, OH
According to Terry, all denominations are welcome to attend
this fun and worthwhile event. Teams of all skills are encouraged to play, as the format works well to ensure that teams
will play for the four different championships against other
teams of comparable skills.
4
First Baptist, Vandalia, OH
“We hope teams will come with the spirit of fellowship and
generosity which makes for a great and rewarding experience,” says Folino.
The “spirit” of the weekend is less about competition (though
everyone tries their best and demonstrates their God given
talents that each has been blessed with to the fullest) and
more about fellowship and giving.
A tournament containing this many “special events” happening
took over 1,000 volunteer hours from over 35 different people
to provide a special weekend for all involved.
In addition to the labor, many financial sponsors donated
to this very special event and without their help this event
would not have been as successful as it was: Peace Lutheran
Church, Thrivent Financial, American Family Insurance, Player’s
Warehouse, Tanel 360, Alley Cats Designs, and many others
support this special event.
Silver Bracket:
1
First Church of Christ, Xenia, OH
2
Fountain of Truth, London, OH
3
Buckeye Christian Church, Grove City, OH
4
Peace Lutheran Church, Beavercreek, OH
In the Mixed Couples Division:
Gold Bracket:
1
Buckeye Christian Church, Grove City, OH
2
Calvary Baptist, London, KY
3
Middlesex Area Lutherans, Middlesex, PA
4
St. Andrews Methodist, Beavercreek, OH
Silver Bracket:
1
Peace Lutheran, Beavercreek, OH
2
Grace of God, Columbus, OH
3
Grace Lutheran, Toledo, OH
4
Grace Lutheran, Muncie, IN
USSSA TODAY 83
Breast Cancer Awareness
Softball Tournament
by Janeen Gondek
This was the 4th year for the tournament, and I began it as a result of a
very close friend of mine being diag-
nosed with breast cancer at 27 years
of age with no family history. I chose
a softball tournament because it is the
blood that runs through my veins. I have
been playing softball for 33 years, and
thought the best way to send a message
of personal responsibility for your health
was to get information and distribute it
at the tournament. The tournament has
doubled in size in the 4 years and began
as a women’s tournament. We now
have a men’s division as well. I chose
USSSA because of NJ State Director Kirk
Tarabokia, and his willingness to see
that the tournament is a success from
beginning to end. Without his help and
the umpires that volunteer their time
for this event, it would not be possible. I
hope that in the coming years, we gain
much more corporate sponsorship, and
can eventually begin an organization
of our own quite possibly with USSSA
called Save 2nd Base. I would also like
to say a special thank you to The Mercer
County Park Commission, and Ewing
Recreation Department for the donation of the park and use of the softball
fields. Next years tournament will be on
Columbus Day Weekend, and will hopefully be the biggest and best yet.
Lightning Stryker, 1st Place
Slammer - 2nd Place
J&D Trucking
Kerwins Brew Crew - 2nd place
84 USSSA TODAY
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