NOVEMBER 16 UPDATES

COMMITMENTS

Angela St. Croix , USA Athletics 18 gold Steve McNee signed a letter of Intent to play for Vanguard University

Nicole Laakso, Catcher USA Fastball Grand Rapids, MI has signed with Saginaw Valley State University for 07/08 season.

CA Lionette signings

Jessica Amador  07'  C signed with Seattle University

Meaghan Mawn  07'   SS signed with Miami of Ohio Univ.

Devon Lindsay   07'  P  signed with Dartmouth

Texas Glory signings

Krystle Huey - GLORY-GOLD Oklahoma University
Natalie Villarreal - GLORY-GOLD Texas A&M University
Sarah McCloud - GLORY-GOLD University of Georgia
Kristen Adkins - GLORY GOLD University of Florida
Amy Hooks - Glory Gold University of Texas
Brianna Love - Glory Gold University of Louisiana Monroe
Amanda Locke - Glory Gold University of Alabama
Sara Stinson - Iowa State University
Whitney Wilson - Sam Houston State University
Meghan Krieg - Louisiana Tech University
Mallory Mitchell - Minnesota University
Jammie Weidert - Minnesota University
Natalie Neal - Minnesota University
Casey Campanella - Houston Baptist University
Wanda Malone - Louisiana Tech University
Samantha Stampley - Navaro Jr. College
Jordan Vanatta - Baylor University
Danielle Vaji - University of Illinois
Rachel Grimes - Angelo State University
Alix Dean - Angelo State University

Colorado Quicksilver-Roberts

Amber Aragon-Autobee- Regis

Ashley Langoni (2008) - Committed to LSU

Colorado Quicksilver-Zornacki

Kaylyn James- University Northern Colorado

Ashley Martinez- Adams State

Tristian Pangburn- Mesa State

Kendra Zornacki- Metro State

UMBC Commitments

Stephanie Weigaman  P  Riveria Beach Spirit, ArchBishop Spalding HS,  MD
Lauren Brummell  LF,2B, P  Richmond Rampage, Hanover HS,  VA
Sloane Van Meter  C/CF    Wagner's,  Archbishop Spalding HS,   MD
Lynn Pronobis  CF/2B  Bayside Blues RER, McDonough HS,   MD
Jenn Hilchey  UT/OF   NJ Itensity Gold/Lady Orioles, Centennial HS,  MD
Dani Martinez  C/DH   Riveria Beach Spirit, Anne Arundel CC, MD, North
County HS MD

So Cal Explosion Gold Class of 2007

Alex Holmes - LHP University of California, Davis

Megan Bush - SS University of Florida

Shaunice Harris - 3B University of Florida

Priscilla Curiel - OF-2B Cal State San Bernardino

Dani Manko - OF/2B University of North Carolina

Sarah Rice - C Arizona State University

Mandy Urfer - 1B Arizona State University

Blazing Angels

Sam DiPompo - SS/P (Berlin, NJ) - Towson University

Amanda Olender - P (South Amboy, NJ) - Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

Ali Shepherd - 3B/1B/SS (Phila, PA) - LaSalle University

CA-  Salinas Wildcats Gold Early Signing Period
Emily Helbig C, 1B                   Canisius College
Lauren Hope  OF                       Canisius College
Kelly McDonald 3B, C, OF       SF State
Kelsey Wood  C, OF                  SF State
Kendra Wood  P, Utility             SF State
McKenna Coelho  3B, 1B         SF State
Alison Ford   3B, 1B                 Bucknell

Illinois Outlaws Gold

JAPAN CUP

Yokohoma, Japan --- The 2006 USA Softball Women’s National Team has arrived in Japan and is gearing up for the 2006 Japan Cup that begins on Friday, November 17. The U.S. will be looking for its third title of the year after capturing the II World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City and the XI ISF Women’s World Championship in Beijing, China. The Red, White and Blue will kick-off competition at 11 p.m. CST on Thursday night versus China who finished fourth at the World Championships. On Friday at 8 p.m. CST the U.S. will face Holland before closing out the round-robin portion of the competition on Friday at 12:30 a.m. CST against host Japan. The finals of the 2006 Japan Cup begin at 7:30 p.m. CST on Saturday night with the #3 seed facing the #4 seed for the bronze medal. The grand final is schedule for 10 p.m. CST and will be the #1 seed versus the #2 seed.

The U.S. has won the Japan Cup two out of the last three years but are not the defending champions this year. Japan took the 2005 Japan Cup with a 3-0 win over the U.S. in the finals. Japan is the only team to beat the U.S. in 2006 – a 3-1 loss at the World Championships – but the U.S. rebounded for a 3-0 win in the gold medal game to secure its sixth consecutive World Championship.

Follow the progress of the USA Softball National Team while their competing at the 2006 Japan Cup by logging on to the USA Softball website at www.usasoftball.com.

COMMISSIONER SOUGHT FOR COLORADO

Oklahoma City, OK----The Amateur Softball Association, a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization, seeks applicants for the position of Commissioner for the Colorado ASA local association.
The ASA Commissioner should be an individual who is interested in serving as the principal liaison between the local association and the ASA National Office. Those interested in the complete duties of an ASA Commissioner may review them on the ASA website at www.asasoftball.com under the About ASA section and ASA Code Article 305.
A panel will interview and make their recommendation of an interim commissioner to the ASA Board of Directors for confirmation.
The ASA was founded in 1933 and has evolved into the strongest softball organization in the country. The growth and development of the association led the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to name the ASA as the National Governing Body of Softball, pursuant to the Amateur Sports Act of 1978.
Those interested in serving as the ASA Commissioner for the Colorado ASA local association should forward a resume to:
Amateur Softball Association
c/o Craig Cress, Director of Membership Services
2801 NE 50th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
ccress@softball.org or fax: 405-424-3855
A candidates résumé must be received at the National Office by November 30, 2006. Any questions regarding this position should be directed to Craig Cress, Director of Membership Services for the Amateur Softball Association.

ASA YOLSON

As Al Jolson, this cantor’s son was a Broadway and Hollywood headliner from the 1920’s until the early 50’s.  Jolson shot to fame doing “black face” – politically incorrect today but Jolson began when minstrel shows were all the rage in towns large and small.  Watching “The Jolson Story” late night, another politically incorrect manifestation related to that movie came to mind.  Larry Parks was catapulted into fame, earning an Academy Award nomination in the late 40’s.  But his fame came at a price.  This was the era when Congressmen Richard Nixon, Everett Dirksen and Jeannette Rankin were lying down beside J Edgar Hoover, looking under every Hollywood bed for Communists.  HUAC blacklisted some top screenwriters like Dalton Trumbo, who with others later reclaimed a role at the top of the motion picture industry.  Parks’ admission that he had once been a member of the Communist party during the Depression doomed his career.

W C HANDY

The bluesmeister’s bio was also on late night – and contained as many historical inaccuracies as the Jolson film.  But, you didn’t mind.  This film, one of the few in which blacks played all the leading roles, featured the singing of Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey and Mahalia Jackson.  Cab Calloway was under utilized.  The music was the story: Beale Street Blues, Basin Street Blues, South Rampart Street Parade, and of course Handy’s masterpiece, The St Louis Blues.  This was the music of New Orleans, Memphis, St Louis and Kansas City – some historians think the blues and jazz are the only original American contributions to the world of music – and much of that music was created by black people.  Nobody was called African American in those days – but I don’t think many people listened to Handy’s music, or Louis Armstrong’s interpretations, and pondered whether the artist was black or colored.  You listen to Peanuts Hucko tracking Pee Wee Irwin through the register on Saints, or Will Freeman’s mournful trombone on St James Infirmary or Mugsy Spanier’s signature riff on Summit Ridge Drive – they put their souls into their music.  Never did justice to these artists, but I played a little horn at Blackie Leonard’s after-hours saloon.  Piano-man was named Honey Bear and he was also white, but that didn’t matter – the music and the Jack both flowed smooth.  Still have the two trumpets and the 1879 Wurlitzer cornet, which was ideal for playing Dixieland.  Carp’s Club had a sign out front--open 9pm until fistfight.

LEAVE ON A GRACE NOTE

A bit of wisdom from my very wise father:  when the dispute has been resolved, always leave on a grace note.  Sadly, Nancy Pelosi failed that test today.  While some aides tried to spin the situation by saying Speaker-to-be Pelosi merely endorsed Jack Murtha for Majority Leader (some even saying the loss was intentional), the cable channels were chock full of reports from Democrats that Pelosi plumped for Murtha at social events, meetings and most famously when meeting with the 40-odd new Members about their committee assignments.  The pressure was so intent that Charlie Rangel, who would sacrifice his first-born to be chairman of Ways and Means, issued a statement after a call from Pelosi saying that his previous statement praising long-time House stalwart Steny Hoyer was not meant to be an endorsement.  Whatever, more than 60% of the Democrats repudiated Pelosi’s choice and chose Hoyer by secret ballot (149-86).  Pelosi and Hoyer haven’t exchanged birthday cards since 2001 when she beat him for Minority Whip – which led her to the Speaker’s chair.  Surprising for a very calculating politician, Pelosi used her press conference to praise Murtha, saying what a fine leader he would have made, and, glossing over the fact that Murtha’s critics contend he used his position as ranking minority member on defense appropriations to dole out pork, named him chairman of the subcommittee on defense appropriations.  Hoyer, who had to be mindful that, if he won that 2001 vote, he would be Speaker-elect today, was much more gracious.  Republicans were quick to note that Newt Gingrich, as Speaker-elect in 1994, very much wanted Robert Walker as his Number Two but did not intervene when Tom Delay sought and won the majority leader’s job.  In the next 24 hours, Pelosi will end a long-time cat fight with fellow Californian Jane Harman, ranking Dem on Intelligence, whom Pelosi will not name as the new chair.  West Wing melodramas have moved up the street to Capitol Hill.

Dead N.C. Candidate Easily Wins Election

AP

MONROE, N.C. (Nov. 11) - A candidate for a county board who appeared in newspaper ads the weekend before the election sailed to victory with 12,000 votes - despite being dead for a month.

Sam Duncan was the top vote-getter Tuesday for two seats on Union County's Soil and Water Conservation board.

Although county elections officials knew of Duncan's death, no one told the voters.

"We are instructed that it's not our job to do that," said Shirley Secrest, elections director.

The Democratic Party ran newspaper endorsement ads about Duncan and literature distributed near the polls included his name. Party officials said they didn't know Duncan had died.

Former sheriff Frank McGuirt said he was one of the voters who helped Duncan edge out the sitting chairman who had served for about a dozen years.

"I was shocked to know that poor Sam was gone," McGuirt said. "I guess I had just missed that obituary."

Duncan's seat will be filled by appointment, officials said.

end

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