NOVEMBER 1 2007 UPDATE

COMMITMENTS

Kelsie Vallies Washington Ladyhawks Gold Miller team will sign with University of Arkansas.

Britney Brogdon (2008 2B/OF) Georgia Lightning has committed to play at Lander University.

Roseville Heat 18 Gold commitments

Meghan Hudson (Pitcher 2008) and Allyssa James (1B 2008) have both verbally committed to Iona College, a D-I school in New Rochelle, New York that competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Brianna Melgard (Shortstop, Pitcher 2008) has verbally committed to Simpson College, a NAIA school in Redding, CA. Spring 2009 will be the inaugural season for softball at Simpson.

A TRIBUTE TO ROB WAY

By Don Minard, Worth Firecrackers

Rayburn, Rob Way of Minors Gold died today. I am not sure of all of the particulars but after
talking to Larry Minor it appears to be a heart attack. I have the highest regard for Rob and his
wife Nancy. They have provided a great place for many deserving girls to play in the Riverside
area. Rob and Nancy asked for nothing and gave everything to this game and to the players that
went through their program. Rob and Nancy worked harder for their players than anyone I know and did everything in their power to get them the scholarship that so many of their players needed in order to attend a 4 year university. They were everything that this game should be about and never thought about the incredible hours they gave to the game and the  girls that they loved. Rob and Nancy have been our partner in the Worth Tournament of Champions and the Worth Cup since our inaugural year. They have taken care of every aspect of the tournaments at the Winchester Fields. Larry Minor has been associated with many teams that have won ASA Championships but he will never have a championship team like Rob and Nancy Way.  (well said, Don, Rob was a champion in so many regards.)

PITCHER NEEDED FOR THE BATBUSTER

Central Cal Krush Gold is looking for a pitcher for the Batbusters Pre-Thanksgiving.  If you know of anyone and/or can throw message this on your site for Friday I’d appreciate it.  We are playing 5 games, 3 on Sat and 2 on Sunday.  They can email krush18g@earthlink.net or call me at 559-908-6253.  Matt Myers

ADD NOTE RE BATBUSTER

There will be games played for surf city at worthy park on Sat. & Sun. as well.

MORE RISING STARS COMMENTS

Rayburn,

This is Cyd Cooper...founder of Rising Stars Showcase Tournament.

You have never had a conversation with me for more then 3 minutes in all the years you have attended Rising Stars.  We treat you like a celebrity and with the utmost respect.

Over the years I have appreciated your comments as well as disagreeing with a lot of them.

I am not a computer junky and have never navigated your web site.  Friends from all over the country send me scrapings from various sites.

We just survived a difficult weekend with unexpected weather for this time of the year.

We haven't slept in several days. 

Marty Cooper & I are Tournament Founders, Funders and Directors of one of the most dedicated Showcase Tournaments in the country.  There are tournament directors that are gluttonis and host  Fall tournaments every legal weekend and I haven't heard any comments about that.

Furthermore,  you publish an email with NO SIGNATURE, allowing undeserved credibility, to a National audience about my Tournament.  I am all for Free Press...but any responsible reporter should qualify the source or at the very least circulate all sides.

Words are so easy to spew through a computer...........especially when you don't run tournaments.

The people who do run tournaments don't complain because they know better.  Ask Jim about the rain in New Jersey.  Ask Pennsburry about the rain.  God Bless Art Coleman who invented the word "SHOWCASE" (PENNSBURY, OVER 25 YEARS AGO)  .....We were rained out 3 consecutive years...and went back because it wasn't his fault. 

We try not to respond to these half-witted comments, but I am an old woman that can't keep her thoughts to herself.

Hope you give me equal consideration........

I am proud to sign,  and you may share with all,

Cyd Cooper

954-610-5366

SPY’s reply to Cyd:  My point is not to criticize Rising Stars per se.  But, this has been a disappointing season because of the four week window and for the first time in 11 years I have published criticisms of tournaments -- and did so with Gary Haning's tournament.  Since you don't read SPY, you may not have known that. I think there is a fair criticism of all major tournaments which tend to give the better attended fields to the star teams.  I would like to see you rotate teams on the three days.  For what it's worth, it cost me a thousand dollars to switch from San Diego to Rising Stars, hoping to see three days of softball, but only seeing one.  As said, you can't control the rain.  But, I was there for you. 

(Note:  Cyd has a good point.  I normally do not publish unsigned email; and had intended to hold the previous note for confirmation, but let it slip by.  I used it because there were several emails from readers who were critical about not playing at Bamford.  In fact, one reader sent the SPY article plus this message to Cyd:  Care to respond???  This mom is right, it seems the same teams get Bamford every time.  Maybe you should limit the number of teams to only Bamford. Believe me this mom is not the only one who sees it this way..A softballparent from VA (who did sign his name on the emails to me and to Rising Stars..And, Cyd has the last word: I have always liked you, respected you and have treated you with respect! You are welcome anytime to Rising Stars!!!!! p.s.   - I do listen to what people want and we are coming up with a rotating schedule so all teams will have some games at Bamford.   We always did it in the Summer, not October. Cyd

Mr. Hesse, I wanted to say a comment about the Rising Stars Tournament. I live 5 minutes from the Bamford Complex. Through the years I've been on the worst fields and the main fields. If your players do their e-mails and your on a team that puts out a good product the coaches will drive 10 minutes to see a legitimate prospect. When my players sign or commit I usually get rid of those players, my job is done! I'm going to Ronald McDonald with 10 really good ball players that are unknown so I give the coaches something to come watch.My pet peeve is to go to Showcase Tournaments and see entire teams committed or signed.My personal opinion at the Rising Stars Is that 75% of your team is committed you shouldn't be at Bamford and if your a new 16 or 18 team that don't have a good reputation of putting out college players your team should be at the other parks.Its easy to point the finger. The Rising Stars people do a great job. Its impossible to make every team happy.They weather is always in question, the price you pay to come see Paradise!

RISING STARS CORRECTION

According to an unsigned email, Melissa Schwartz, not Kasey O’Connor, scored the only run on an rbi by Melissa Mancuso 09 in Intensity Gold’s 1-0 win over TX Magic.  The uniform number we were given was for O’Connor.

NPF NEWS: Force Trade of Thorson Gains 3 Players and 1st Overall Pick

Allentown, Pa-  Owner/General Manager Tom Kleinman has announced the trade
of pitcher Kristina Thorson to the Chicago Bandits. In return for the 2007
Rookie of the Year, the Force acquired the services of OF Autumn Champion,
P Peaches James, P Amy Harre, and the first pick overall in upcoming 2008
NPF draft.

Champion, a 2005 graduate of the University of Arizona, finished the 2007
season batting .303 in limited at-bats. James, who graduated in 2004 from
the University of Nebraska, posted a 4.41 ERA in 38.1 innings of work for
the Bandits in 2007.

For Kleinman and the Force, Harre will be trusted with taking Thorson’s
role as the team’s number one pitcher in 2008. Out of Southern Illinois
University, Harre, a fan favorite who did Bandits’ television commentary
when not pitching, was the number one overall pick by the Bandits in 2005.
In her rookie season, she complied 1.21 ERA in 46.1 innings and recorded
nine saves. Her best year came in 2006 in which Harre turned in a 10-2
season with a 1.41 ERA over 114.1 innings and an All-NPF selection.

While 2007 was an off-season for Harre (2-3, 2.55 ERA, 41.1 innings), she
continues to pitch year-round as she plays during the winter in Australia
and faces that country’s national team, who will appear in Allentown in
June, as they prepare for the Beijing games.

“We feel Harre, who pitches year-around, will slide right into our number
one spot and she will regain her 2006 form,” said Kleinman.

Along with the three players, the Force obtained the number one pick in
the deal. This will give the Force the first two picks in the February
draft.

Kleinman is excited about having the top two picks. He noted, “By us
having the top two picks, it gives us more options as we prepare for the
upcoming season.”

The Force will not have to wait long to welcome Thorson back to ECTB
Stadium as a tentative schedule has the Bandits coming to town to open the
season on May 28th.

NOVEMBER 2

A turning point day in history. G W Bush defeats Kerry, 2004.  Truman defeats Dewey, 1948.  Jimmy Carter, Warren G Harding, James Garfield, Franklin Pierce and Andy Jackson won on this day.  The Spruce Goose made its only flight.  Sadly, Auschwitz began gassing inmates in great quantity, fearing exposure.  But, on this same day in 1917, the Balfour Declaration was adopted, favoring a Jewish State in Palestine.  Russia declared war on Turkey in 1914, accelerating the demise of the Romanov dynasty.

SOFTBALL IN HEAVEN

Two 90-year-old women, Rose and Barb, had been friends all of their lives.
When it was clear that Rose was dying, Barb visited her every day.

One day Barb said, "Rose, we both loved playing women's softball all our lives, and we played all through High School.
Please do me one favor: when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's women's soft-ball there."

Rose looked up at Barb from her deathbed and said, "Barb, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you."
Shortly after that, Rose passed on.

At midnight a few nights later, Barb was awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding  flash of white light and a voice calling out to her, "Barb, Barb."
"Who is it?" asked Barb, sitting up suddenly. "Who is it?"

"Barb -- it's me, Rose."

"You're not Rose. Rose just died."
"I'm telling you, it's me, Rose," insisted the voice.
"Rose! Where are you?"
"In Heaven," replied Rose. "I have some really good news and a little bad news."

"Tell me the good news first," said Barb.

"The good news," Rose said, "is that there's Softball in Heaven. Better yet, all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too. Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always springtime, and it never rains or snows. 
And best of all, we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired."

"That's fantastic," said Barb. "It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?"
"You're pitching Tuesday!

PUN INTENDED
by Warren Abel
1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got
married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception
was excellent.

2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll
serve you, but don't start anything."

3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.

4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his
arm and says: "A beer please, and one for the road."

6. Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other:
"Does this taste funny to you?"

7. "Doc, I can 't stop singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home!'"
"That sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome."
"Is it common?"
Well , "It' s Not Unusual."

8. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field.
Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning."
"I don't believe you,"says Dolly.
"It's true, no bull!" exclaims Daisy.

9. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids
were nothing to look at either.

10. Deja Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.

11. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day,
but I couldn't find any.

12. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident.
He shouted, "Doctor,, I can't feel my legs!"
The doctor replied, "I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!"

13. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.
14. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

15. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the
other and says "Dam!"

16. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a
fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once
again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

17. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and
were standing in the lobby discussing their recent
tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager
came out of the office and asked them to disperse.
"But why?" they asked, as they moved off.
"Because", he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in
an open foyer."

18. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption.
One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named
"Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name
him "Juan."

Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself
to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells
her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of
Ahmal. Her husband responds,"They're twins! If you've
seen Juan, you've seen Ahmal!"

19. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most
of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses
on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him
rather frail, and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad
breath. This made him...(Oh, man, this is so bad, it's
good)...

A super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

20. And finally, there was the person who sent twenty
different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least
ten of the puns would make them laugh.

No pun in ten did.

Unsigned seniors

Capri Ruiz, 08, Catcher, OF, CA Desperados 18 Gold, GPA 3.7, jlkwinone@yahoo.com

Sarah Gonzales, 08, Pitcher, 3b, 1b, CA Desperados 18 Gold, GPA 2.5, jlkwinone@yahoo.com 

Alyssa Derksen 2008; SS, LF, CF;  R/R

GPA 3.9;  SAT 1520 (rewrite Nov 3)

2007 Midget/19U National Championships - 3rd place

2006 Canadian Jr. National Team Finalist; 2006 Canada Cup Speed Competition Finalist

2006 & 2004 National Champions

a_derksen2@telus.net

Sarasota Heat-Dover  Unsigned Seniors 2008

Mark Dover    941-320-5586   Head Coach

www.eteamz.com/SarasotaHeat

Sarasota.Heat@comcast.net

Ronald McDonald Showcase

Nov. 2^nd-4^th, 2007

FRIDAY SK FIELD #6    7:45PM VS. AUSTIN STORM BLUE

FRIDAY SK FIELD #8    9:30PM VS. CS TIGERS TEAL

SATURDAY CF FIELD #1   11:30AM VS. MISSOURI RENEGADES

SATURDAY CF FIELD #1    4:45PM VS. MIDLOTHIAN QUEST

SUNDAY CF FIELD #7       8:00AM VS. TX STIX

Texas Impact

Manager Jay Reding

jay@tximpactsoftball.com

Spy Softball Home Page