OCTOBER 25 UPDATE

Fort Lauderdale , 3am .

 

Steak, beaujolais, sour mash bourbon, single malt scotch – all age well.  Spymasters do not.  Having trouble resetting the body clock after that 25 hour return from China .  Having to rise at 4am Friday to catch a plane to Florida for first games at 1pm was counter-productive; too tired to watch 6pm and 8pm games.  Now, up at 3am to try reduce a pile of email which once again exceeds 300.

 

CHINA

All the hits on this web site during the games are much appreciated.  Apparently, we were the only source for all the games – and got e-mail from Australia , Canada , Argentina and of course the USA .  Thanks, people.  Made sitting in that stadium from 8am to 10pm every day worthwhile, and somehow justified my $3,000 out of pocket expense.

 

Why did we lose?  I read some comments by people who weren’t there.  Will offer SPY’s views in the next day or two.

 

WASHINGTON

Upfront, I know Teresa Wilson and her staff, and a number of past and present players.  I respect them and consider them friends.  But, that is not why SPY has refrained from comment on this story.  Frankly, I am not sure what the story is, and, having read all the newspaper stories which some readers have sent to me, I have very profound questions as to what the Post-Intelligencer thinks the story is.  Stripped of all the speculation and innuendo, there is obviously an issue between the state pharmaceutical board and one doctor.  I was a bylined investigative reporter for several years, and an intelligence analyst for 30 years.  Frankly, some parts of those newspaper stories don’t “hang” and serve to remind me of the scenario well depicted in Paul Newman’s Absence of Malice.  .  The newspaper wants to nail someone’s hide to the door.  Having talked to several official and unofficial sources, I know that certain “representations” are not accurate.  Responsible agencies are investigating this matter, and SPY will wait for official pronouncements from the authoritative bodies.  In sum, when I know enough to make an informed, intelligent comment, I will.  I am not there yet.

 

JOCELYN MCCALLUM

Joss told me two years ago in Canada that she wanted to receive an education in the United States .  While several US universities made known to the Australian Softball Federation that they would be interested in recruiting her – and they have to work through those federations – Joss decided she wanted to attend the University of Arizona, and tells SPY that she began researching the university and exchanging e-mails.

 

Joss’s Mother informed me in China as did Australian coaches that she has been accepted academically at Arizona , and Joss said she would like to enroll in January.

 

But, at the time we left China , Joss did not have a commitment to a softball scholarship.

 

Moreover, Joss has never visited the Arizona campus.

 

SPY reported what the Mother and Joss had to say.  And, while we reported Joss as “Arizona-bound” given her reported academic acceptance, SPY did not say she had a scholarship, or a commitment from the athletic department.  Our inquiries on the latter issue were unanswered.

 

US coaches are governed by NCAA rules and cannot comment officially until the signing period, November 15.  The key person in this scenario who has not been heard from is Mike Candrea.    Arizona has Alicia Hollowell, and now has Tarryn Mowatt committed.  The Wildcats got good performances from Wendy Allen, and, our presumption is that Leslie Wolfe is still in the fold.

 

So, at this time, no one, including Joss McCallum, knows where she may fit into Mike’s plans – if anywhere -- and he isn’t talking.

 

Would Joss go to Arizona without a scholarship?  She says she would like to be a student at Arizona , and thinks she would fit in academically.  But, Joss comes from a single parent home, and attending university in the USA without a softball scholarship is not possible.

 

After the final game, Joss came up to the press box and discussed her options.  First preference is to enroll in Arizona in January as a scholarship athlete.  But, both she and her mother said that, if this does not come to fruition, she will explore opportunities with other US universities – even if this means delaying enrollment until August.

 

Can she pitch?  A US official professed a belief that there are 15-20 pitchers in the US who are better than Jocelyn McCallum.  But, recruitable pitchers not yet in college?  I don’t think so.  Joss threw a curve ball which didn’t break and a rise ball which hung to the USA team and paid the price – two homeruns.  On the other hand, I watched her strike out 14 of the 21 Japanese batters she faced – a game she lost on two errors.  Sounds like a familiar refrain when it comes to playing Japan .  Monica Abbott had 10 Ks and also lost on errors to Japan .  Every pitch Joss throws could be improved – by a good pitching coach.  Having watched Catherine Osterman, Jennie Finch, Alicia Hollowell and Keira Goerl at the same age and level of development, I think they were better at that point in their careers.  But, make no mistake, this Aussie has the potential.

 

COMMITMENTS

Taryne Mowatt, P, OC Batbusters, to University of Arizona

Marjorie Johnson, P, Tulsa Eagles Gold, to Oklahoma State University

Sabrina Roberts, P/1B of the Birmingham Vipers to the University of North Alabama

Tiffany Garcia, P, Texas Storm Gold to LSU

Christa Raley, C, 3B, Texas Storm Gold to University of Houston

Barbie Love, P, Texas Storm Gold to University of Houston

Lindsay Perry, OF, Texas Storm Gold to University of Arkansas

Deserea Griffin, 3B, SS, Texas Storm Gold to University Louisiana-Lafayette

Amanda Scarborough, P, 1B, OF, Texas Storm Gold to Texas A&M University

Shanna Smith, 3rd, Carolina Cardinals, to North Carolina State

Rachel Folden, C.3rd, CA Thunder 18 Gold, to Marshall University

Mary Hecker, 3rd, C, 1st, CA Breeze Gold (Van Meter), to University of Pittsburgh

Stephanie Churchwell   SS, OC Batbusters Davis, to Northwestern Uni
Ashley Esparza, RHP, OC Batbusters Davis, to Penn State
Jessica Josker, RF, OC Batbusters Davis, to South Carolina
Alexis Garcia, 1B, OC Batbusters Davis, to Wisconsin
Jessica Curtis*, 3B-OF, OC Batbusters Davis/Cruisers, to Villanova

Tiffany MacDonald   Florida State University     " Washington Ladyhawks"

Lauren Sandelin      University Of Pacific         " Washington Ladyhawks"

Emily Everett, P, Minor’s Gold 18U, to CA Baptist University

Stephanie Savre, 1st, So. Cal. Athletics (Ringor), to Virginia Tech. University

Beth Nolan, Tampa Mustangs Gold, to East Carolina University

Carly Griffin , Tamps Mustangs Gold, to Univ of South Florida

Katie Johnson , Texas Elite, to University of Alabama

Christine Navarro, American Pastime, to Towson University

Michelle B rock, OF, GA Fire Gold, to N GA College & State University

Brittany Barnes, P,2nd, GA Fire Gold, to N Ga College & State University

Marissa Nichols, P,OF, So Cal Athletics Ringor, to UNLV

 

COACHING POSITION AVAILABLE

Rick Reynolds, Colorado Northwestern, is seeking an assistant.  Position plays $5,000 plus meals and housing.  Wants the assistant on board by January. rick.reynolds@cncc.edu

 

PITCHER AVAILABLE

Freshman pitcher Liz Hall from Vienna , VA , who played for Joe Botti’s Beach Girls, has obtained her release from UTEP and is seeking a school in the Southeast.

 

CADETS TAKE PRIDE TO PROJECT PRIDE
1st Regiment Commander Derrick Yohe accepts a "thank-you" handshake from Project Pride Board Vice President Phil Alagia after presenting Project Pride a ceremonial check for $1571 for monies raised by the Corps of Cadets in support of the non-profit organization that awards scholarships to youths in Newark and supports a number of other activities for the local students. Cadet Yohe led a march on of approximately 400 cadets who attended Pride Bowl XXV in support of the Sprint football team in Newark , N.J. , Sunday, Oct. 5. They marched on the field at the Newark Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium (turned into a football field for the day) as part of the pre-game ceremonies for a crowd of more than 5,100 spectators. The Color Guard, a contingent of Rabble Rousers, the Cannon Crew, two of the Army mules and WKDT members were also participants in the pageantry. This is the fourth time the Sprint team has played in the Pride Bowl and the second Army-Navy match-up, which Navy won 14-0. (USMA DOIM/John Pellino)  (SPY note: Alagia heads Pride softball.  The picture didn’t take.)

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

From a reader

> > An extremely modest man was in the hospital for a series of tests, the

>last

> > of which had left his bodily systems extremely upset.

> >

> > Upon making several false alarm trips to the bathroom, he decided the

>latest

> > episode was another and stayed put. He suddenly filled his bed with

>diarrhea

> > and was embarrassed beyond his ability to remain rational.

> >

> > In a complete loss of composure he jumped out of bed, gathered up the bed

> > sheets, and threw them out the hospital window.

> >

> > A drunk was walking by the hospital when the sheets landed on him. He

> > started yelling, cursing, and swinging his arms violently trying to get

>the

> > unknown things off, and ended up with the soiled sheets in a tangled pile

>at

> > his feet.

> >

> > As the drunk stood there, unsteady on his feet, staring down at the

>sheets,

> > a hospital security guard (barely containing his laughter) who had watched

> > the whole incident walked up and asked, "What the heck is going on here?"

> >

> > The drunk, still staring down replied: "I think I just beat the shit out

>of

> > a ghost"

> >

> > Happy Halloween

 

End

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