NOVEMBER 14 2007 UPDATE
THE GOLD POWER SHIFT
The Gold realignment enacted last week by the ASA Council has more profound impact than simply placing Gold in the same territorial alignment as other ASA divisions because the Council also realigned Gold regions to conform with the pattern used in the territorial scheme.
Under the Sector scheme, the 64 teams at Nationals included 22 from Sector 4, 16 from Sector 3, 16 from Sector 2, and 10 from Sector 1. (Note: we distributed the four returning berths and the two national qualifier berths to their home sectors, but, teams which qualified out of sector, eg, the Shamrocks and GA Xtreme, among others, were included in the totals for the sectors where they qualified.)
Overlaying the territorial scheme on the 2007 Nationals, the Western territory had 28 teams, the Southern territory 21, the Northern territory 9 and Eastern 6. With the new regional alignment, the Western territory has 21 berths, the Southern 24, Northern 9 and Eastern 8. Two berths will still be competed at the National Qualifier in OKC. (Note: the 28 figure for Western teams in 2007 includes the four returning teams, plus three teams who qualified elsewhere)
Sector 1 had the South Atlantic and Southern States, Regions 4 and 5, which had 3 regionally-qualified teams at Gold nationals; those regions are now part of the Southern Territory, while the Eastern Territory adds Region 9, which had one team at Nationals, while keeping Regions 1,2,3, which had three teams who qualified regionally.
Literally translated into practical terms, the Eastern Territory (23 teams) includes the Shamrocks, the Beach Girls, the Virginia Legends, Polar Crush Gold, Miami Valley Express and NJ Nightmare, from the 2007 tournament, but their former Sector 1 opponents who were at Gold 2007 Atlanta Vipers, Gold Coast Hurricanes, Lady Gators Gold, TN Eagles, Carolina Lady Blues and East Cobb Bullets are now in the Southern Territory. There are four regional berths, and 4 territorial berths. All but the Shamrocks and Nightmare qualified in regional tournaments; the Nightmare in Sector 1 and Shamrocks in Sector 2. Also expected to compete strongly within the Territory: Jersey Intensity and NJ Inferno. Other possibilities: Blazing Angels, Vienna Stars and Ashburn Stars, Wagners, etc. The Eastern territory could attract teams from other areas.
The Southern Territory (116 teams) blends the Southeast, Deep South and Southwest. Two of the stronger teams from former Sector 3 AZ Hotshots Gold Gatti and Desert Thunder are now in the Western territory. Two CA teams and the GA Xtreme qualified from Sector 3 in 2007, and the Raiders and So Cal Explosion are now Western, while Xtreme is Southern. Other 2007 Gold who moved west from Sector 3 are AZ Suncats, AZ Hotshots Neuman, and CO Stars. Three former Sector 1 teams who have been moved into the Southern Territory, along with all those Texans, are the East Cobb Bullets, Davie Power Black and GC Hurricanes, who have proven in fall tournaments they can beat anyone else in the territory. TX Impact Gold, Storm DeMarini Gold, Houston Power, LA Voodoo, High Intensity, GA Elite, Sudden Impact, Texas Eclipse, Tulsa Elite, Texas Glory, Texas Storm Dixon, Cy Fair Intruders, MC Elite, Texas Aces and Texas Magic among others give this Territory a full card of teams to compete for 12 territorial berths, four regional berths, and 8 supplemental berths (5 in Region 7/Texas). Few if any teams from other territories are likely to throw chips in this pot but some of the marginal teams from Southern might well show up in Eastern or Northern.
The Northern Territory has 30 Gold teams. Nine teams who competed at Gold 2007 are in the Northern Territory which essentially replaces Sector 2; 16 teams at 2007 Gold were from former Sector 2 when Regions 6 and 9 were included. But, the Shamrocks were outsiders. The two Oklahoma teams (OK Babes, Tulsa Eagles) who won the National Qualifier may well compete in OKC again but they are now aligned with the Southern territory, as are Katy Heat, Voodoo and OK Ultimate Gold. Miami Valley Express moves into the Eastern territory. Northern is comprised of four regions (8,10,11,12), and has four territorial berths and one supplemental regional berth (12). Returning are Beverly Bandits who may well be formidable again with returning college players; Wichita Mustangs Gold, KC Peppers, Nebraska Sizzle, IL Southern Force, Omaha Quakes, St Louis Chaos, Minnesota Irish and MI Finesse. Since at least five teams will win regional berths, the four Northern territorial tournament berths could attract outsiders.
The Western territory (regions 13, 14, 15) includes the Rocky Mountains, Pacific Coast and Northwest. There are three regional slots, 6 supplemental regional slots, and 12 territorial berths. And, 150 claimants will compete for these 21 berths. As noted, AZ Hotshots Gatti and Desert Thunder are very strong. All of the 2007 competitors should still be in the hunt: Worth Firecrackers, OC Batbusters, CA Cruisers, Valley Breeze, AZ Suncats, AZ Hotshots Neuman, CO Stars, Cal Raiders, So Cal Explosion, San Diego Renegades, Victory, Jets, So Cal Athletics, Strike Zone Ford, Corona Angels Marty, Corona Angels Genovese, Sorcerer Gold, So Cal Choppers, San Jose Sting, San Jose Strikkers, So Cal Breakers, So Cal Pumas, Nor Cal Shockers, Glacier NW Gold, All American Sports Academy, NW Bullets and Washington Lady Hawks were in the 2007 tournament. Looking back at the fall, expect WA Lake Breeze, WA Bullets and Spokane Sliders to stand up and be counted.
In the past, non-sector teams avoided Sector 4, and the expectation is that teams from other territories will avoid the power-laden Western territory.
On paper, there could be 9 Northern and 8 Eastern teams, almost one-fourth of the 2008 tournament. Given that ASA will permit territorial cross-overs, only the eight regional slots are certain to represent those two territories. If there are no cross-overs, the 2008 tournament, on paper, should be more reflective of where Gold softball is strongest. But, there are 150 teams competing for 21 Western berths and 116 teams competing for 24 Southern berths.
The certain prospect is that there will be a scramble.
COMMITMENTS
Sarah Maple 2008 2B (TX Elite Easton Gold) to Coastal Carolina University
Randa Perry (2008, Briarcrest Christian School); a P/1B/OF for the Bluff City Bombers has signed with University of Arkansas-Monticello
Yorktown VA High School announced the signing of two of four-year softball starters. Shortstop Briana Hanafin and catcher Lauren Wilson both signed national letters of intent today. Hanafin, an all-district, all-region and all-state selection, signed with Baylor University while Wilson, also an all-district/all-region selection, signed with George Washington University.
All American Sports Academy 18 Gold
Shasta Cornelison 08' Committed to Montana State University (Billings)
Oregon Reign Gold infielder 2nd base, Megan Peterson (2008) signed Western Oregon University
Nichole Parada 2008 Pitcher, OC Impact, has committed to Humboldt State University.
Maleeya Coleman 2008 Third Coast Thunder-Gold Pitcher has
committed to
Kent State University
Davie Power-Black 2008 Signed Players
Lindsey Croft-P U.A.B
Kelsey Hensel-UTL-Virginia Tech
Kristen Froelich-SS-Virginia Tech
Tampa Mustangs
Kim
Mazzapica- P/UT Ball State
Brittany Knipp-OF
Stetson University
Becky Vyzas- C/UT
University of Tampa
Ashley Mclain-P/OF
Florida International University
Gina Kafalas- OF-
University of South Florida
Danielle Moreda 1B/3B St Leo University
Dianne Gonzalez-OF/UT St. Leo
University
Jenny Welch-C/UT
Florida International University
Courtney Flach 1B/2B/OF South Florida CC
WASHINGTON LADYHAWKS GOLD - MILLER 2008 NLI
Mikyala Endicott, P, signed with
University of Oregon
( verbal
while with Oregon Panthers)
Kelsie Vallies, P, signed with
University of Arkansas
Lindsey Bright, OF, signed with
Fordham University
Jordan Jewett, OF, signed with
University of North Carolina Greensboro
NFCA TO AWARD OVER 200 COACHES EASTON VICTORY CLUB AWARDS
STARKVILLE, Miss. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association will present Easton Victory Club awards during the NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas to over 200 coaches who achieved coaching milestones during the 2007 softball season.
The Easton Victory Club honors head coaches who eclipsed the 100-win, 200-win, 300-win, 400-win marks and beyond during the previous year.
Mike Candrea surpassed the 1,300-win plateau after guiding Arizona to a second straight national title, eighth overall, in his 27th season as a head coach at the Division I and junior college levels. A trio of coaches passed the 1,100-win mark in 2007. Iowas Gayle Blevins and LSUs Yvette Girouard both reached the milestone in their 28th seasons, while Joyce Compton of South Carolina accomplished the feat following her 32nd year as a head coach.
Chris Bellotto of Florida Southern achieved her 1,000th career win during a 2007 campaign, her 26th, in which she lead the Mocs to a second straight top-eight national finish.
Robert Maglione, following his 12th season at Sacramento City College and 27th as a junior college coach, topped the Cal JC listing as he earned his 1,000th career win during a 2007 campaign in which his team topped the Northern California standings while going on to finish fourth at the California state championship.
Virginia Tech head coach Scot Thomas will be one of those honored. Thomas picked up his 400th win last year when the Hokies blanked Stetson 3-0 on March 4, 2007. He enters his 13th season with a record of 434-288.
Those coaches who reached milestone victories will be honored at the Easton Victory Club luncheon Thursday, Nov. 29, at 12:15 p.m. PST. A complete list of award winners can be found at <http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1149>.
NPF NEWS
ROCKFORD, Ill. The Rockford Thunder has re-signed second baseman Lindsay Gardner, team General Manager Aaron M. Moore announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
I am very excited to be playing in the NPF again this year and being able to play in Rockford where we have the most loyal and energetic fans in the league is icing on the cake, exclaimed Gardner. Im looking forward to 2008 and hopefully bringing a league championship to Rockford!
Gardner, who turns 28 in February, played in all 44 games last season for the Thunder. She made 41 starts on the year, which was good enough for third on the team. Gardner, like many on the team, struggled to get it going offensively for much of the season. She finished the year hitting at a .192 clip with 23 hits and 11 runs batted in. Her biggest hit of the season came on opening night when she drilled a Jennie Finch pitch to left field to drive in the winning run.