MORE OCTOBER 20 UPDATES
COMMITMENTS
Christine Simper, Cal Thunder Gold, Outfield, verbally committed to Baylor University
Jessica Barr, 1b & OF for TeamSmith Gold has committed to the University of Tulsa
Roxanne Struble C/3b/SS, teamsmith, St. John's University
Tiffany Wright OF/SS , teamsmith, UC Santa Barbara
Lillian Hammond,OF, Chattanooga Yankettes, to the University of Tennessee
Sam Floyd , P/IF/OF,Yankettes, to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Sarah Vaughn, SS, Yankettes, to University of Tennessee
Kristin Gallant, P,1st, So Cal Spoilers, to George Washington University, DC
Alison Hess, Nebraska Firestix and Beach Girls Gold to University of Toledo.
Cal Lite
Elaina Nordstrom - University of Houston
Brittany Birnbaum - Coastal Carolina
Brittany Crail - University of New Mexico
Samantha Davis - Southern Mississippi
Alexandra Kotcheff - Notre Dame
ASA NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING
The 73rd ASA National Council Meeting will be held in Mobile, AL, November 6-12.
While any number of JO-related proposals may be introduced, we are not hearing a drumbeat for major changes – although the code must be amended in one respect. Two of the 64 teams given Gold berths are host teams. When Gold moves to the ASA Hall of Fame complex in 2006, and ASA itself is the national host, not a local association, the host team provision should be eliminated. One option would be to give automatic berths to the top six finishers. Another would be to give those two berths to the top two teams at 18A. Obviously, ASA could also amend the formula to add two additional regional or sector berths, but I for one am fearful if ASA starts tinkering with the formula.
What I would most like to see from ASA cannot be legislated – respect for the JO program, JO teams, and JO players. And, respect by JO officials for their own Code.
Awarding a 65th berth to the Miami Valley Express was wrong. If that team, which made no other effort to qualify, was denied a chance to play for a regional berth because the coach was given incorrect information by an ASA official, levy a fine on the ASA official. So, they threatened to sue. ASA has been sued before, and the courts have upheld ASA’s authority to set its rules. ASA did not announce the decision; some of us became aware of it when we saw 65 teams on the Georgia web site. If it was such a good decision, why not tell the people it affected the most? Instead, SPY did.
As unwilling as ASA was to enforce the 64-team provision in the Code, it was unmerciful in enforcing the Code on violations of the pickup player rule. Two Gold teams were disqualified. I was in the rotunda at Marietta; the decisions to disqualify were correct.
But, there is an underlying fault here. Both coaches reportedly relied on local ASA officials, who by Code must approve all pickup players. More, ASA rep Dan Highland said there were other pickup players who were picked up in violation of the Code – but did not play and their teams continued in the Gold tournament. I asked how so many players were incorrectly approved by local commissioners, and the answer was that they relied on poor or incorrect information. Nonsense! With the exceptions of Regions 7 and 14, none of those Commissioners have so many teams going to 16, 18 or Gold nationals that they and the JO commissioner should be able to compare the rosters which they have previously signed before signing pickup player forms. It’s called caring enough to exercise your responsibility.
The indifference which some ASA officials – local and national -- show to the Code and to JO ball in general is palpable. The face of American softball is a girl in pigtails.
The tournament in Marietta was also notable for the lack of respect for Gold tradition. For several years, the top four returning teams have been pre-seeded in the elimination bracket – an incentive for finishing at the top. ASA officials could have told the coaches at their luncheon they were abandoning the practice; Highland made all kinds of other announcements. But, no one was told of this break with Gold tradition until teams finishing their pools began the draw. When they complained, they were rebuffed. It was distressing to hear the disparaging remarks made by various ASA officials and commissioners about Gold coaches. I know the remarks were not meant for publication, so I won’t name names. My problem is that those negative remarks reflect true feelings. (SPY will probably be banned from the press box at future Gold tournaments so they can ridicule Gold coaches without being overheard.)
Question: who punishes ASA commissioners for their screw-ups? I know there is a special counsel to hear complaints, and I remember when ASA descended on Rick Beach. But, will any of the Commissioners who contributed to the problems at Marietta suffer any form of punishment? I think they should reimburse the travel expenses of the two disqualified teams if they failed to compare rosters and detect the ineligible players before the teams spent $10,000 or so for travel. There really should be term limits for commissioners. There is need to reinstate the national office of JO Director.
Finally, I would liked to have seen ASA executive director Ron Radigonda at Gold nationals. I don’t know what official role he had in Athens, amidst all the USOC and ISF officials, but his presence at Marietta would have gone a long way to demonstrate that ASA cares about the JO program.
DENNIS FRADY
Dennis Frady is back at 1st for the OC Batbusters. Dennis is not only tall enough to look Gary Haning in the eye, he actually knows what those hand signals mean.
ARIZONA STATE
All the names which people cited as possible coaches at Washington are now circulating through the softball rumor mill vis a vis the successor to Linda Wells as head coach of the Sun Devils. I know people who will state categorically that certain people have received letters, while another source says no letters have been sent. Over the weekend in Phoenix and Tucson, I met sources who gave me chapter and verse about the strengths and weaknesses of coaches around the country – without knowing whether any of them will actually apply. A few coaches have told me of their prospective interest, but SPY has no inside information on their chances. (Sometimes I feel like I am back on the job; players, coaches and parents at all levels of the game provide all kinds of information – then ask me to keep it confidential.)
I can tell possible candidates that the 2004-5 Sun Devils team has high potential. I watched the squad scrimmage last Friday. Linda Wells has four capable pitchers – Desiree Serrano, Andrea Werschky, and newcomers Katie Burkhart and Mindy Cowles (who can make her low rise work at 43 feet and plays well at 1st). (Bre DeSanta didn’t return) There is versatility in the infield, with options at all positions. Rhiannon Baca at short and Kristen Crenshaw at 2nd turned three double plays, while Jen McCard performed ably at 2nd and 3rd. Phelan Wright is gone, with her big bat, but Sharee Zaleski and Val Sevilla can provide artillery. How will they do? Too early. Mike Candrea is back at Arizona and I am told Taryne Mowatt and Alicia Hollowell were impressive this past weekend. I want to see Linda have a great year and, given all that she has put into our sport, go out a winner.
THE RED SOX
OUTPLAYED THE Yankees for four history making games. The Bosox were quite simply the better team when it counted – and won through teamwork. My skin is thicker than I thought; sitting in a sports bar in Santa Monica full of heckling, cheering Sox fans – and able to objectively agree they won on the merits. Do wish they would shave and get haircuts before the Series. Scruffiest crew since Brando led all those bikers.
THE RIDE THROUGH LIFE
Alice Rodriguez sent this “thought for the day”
Good
motto to live by ...
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely
in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly
used up, totally worn out and screaming
WOO HOO - What a Ride!"
NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP WEEK
(FROM A SPY READER NAMED MIKE MULCAHY, OBVIOUSLY IRISH)
Subject: Irish Luck - Remember to send it back!
His name was
Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a
living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He
dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his
waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free
himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and
terrifying death.
The next day,
a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly
dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy
Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to
repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't
accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied waving off the
offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family
hovel.
"Is that your
son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the
farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make
you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will
enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man
we both will be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son
attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital
Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as
the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years
afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with
pneumonia.
What saved
his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once
said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you
don't need the money.
Love like
you've never been hurt.
Dance like
nobody's watching.
Sing like
nobody's listening.
Live like
it's Heaven on Earth.
It's National
Friendship Week. Send this to
everyone you
consider A FRIEND.
Pass this on,
and brighten someone's day.
AN IRISH
FRIENDSHIP WISH: You had better send
this back!!
Good Luck!
I hope it
works...
May there
always be work for your hands to do;
May your
purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun
always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow
be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand
of a friend always be near you;
May God fill
your heart with gladness to cheer you.
OK, this is
what you have to do... Send this to all of your friends.
But - you
HAVE to send this within 1 hour from when you open it!
Now.....Make
A wish!! I hope you made your wish!
Now then, if
you send to:
1 person ---
your wish will be granted in 1 year
3 people ---
6 months
5 people ---
3 months
6 people ---
1 month
7 people ---
2 weeks
8 people ---
1 week
9 people --- 5 days
10 people --- 3 days
12 people --- 2 days
15 people --- 1 day
20 people --- 3 hours
If you delete this after you read it, you will have 1 year of bad luck!
But, if you send it to 2 of your friends, you will automatically have 3 years
good luck!!!
end