RONALD MCDONALD RECAP
ADDITIONAL SCORES
Texas Hawks Gold (Dutton) 3 - Full Count – 0
Texas Hawks Gold (Dutton) 4 – Texas Connection Gold – 3
Texas Hawks Gold (Dutton) 15 – Rainer Jets Gold – 0
Texas Hawks Gold (Dutton) 1 – Xtreme Mavericks Gold – 3
Texas Hawks Gold (Dutton) 4 – Texas Bandits Gold – 2
Tulsa Elite
Tulsa Elite Gold's Fall results: (12-8)
Tulsa Elite Invite at Okla State: (1-1)
L - Oklahoma Jitterbugs Gold
W - Oklahoma Dynamites Gold
Elite October Showcase: (4-1)
W - Texas Intimadators Gold
L - Texas Storm Gold-DeMarini
W - Louisiana United Gold
W - MC Elite Gold-Drude
W - Round Rock Blaze Gold
Ft Worth Batbusters Invite: (2-3)
L - Texas Eclipse Gold
L - Kansas City Peppers Gold
W - Ft Worth BB Gold- CARD
W - Texas Travelers Gold
L - Okla Jitterbugs Gold
Tulsa Elite Gold's Ronald McDonald Scores
Tulsa Elite
Gold vs Missouri Renegades Gold W 14-1 (Practice Game)
Tulsa Elite Gold vs East Cobb Bullets Gold L 0-12 (Practice Game)
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Florida Seminole Gold W 6-4 (Practice Game)
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Texas Express Gold L 2-3
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Texas Comets Gold W 6-3
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Texas Sting Gold L 1-2
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Ft Worth Batbusters W 3-2
Tulsa Elite Gold vs Iowa I-Club Orange W 4-1
GAME AND TEAM NOTES
GOLD COAST HURRICANES
Already one of the better Gold teams in the country, and a certain power in Sector 1, the Hurricanes unveiled two additional pitchers SPY had not seen, and they drew heavy attention from the college coaches. The GCH already had Brittany Bowles (Georgia), Shaina Dent (North Florida) and Kara Clauss (08). Now they have two tall, athletically built blondes – a right-hander Hannah Rogers (2010) and a 2009 lefty Kylie Vry. Both have the grades to enroll in any school. Most of the questions SPY received from college coaches were about Vry. Kylie is from Des Moines, Iowa, and commutes to play for the Hurricanes. Pitching coach Kim Gwydir explained the reason for the many change-ups, at different speeds with different movement; Kylie had hurt her hand and had difficulty with her curve which is her best pitch. The Hurricanes have 10 committed players, three uncommitted 08s, four 09s who all played well in this last of the exposure tournaments, and the four 2010 players. The GCH did not go undefeated but SPY would put them against any Gold team anywhere.
TX Eclipse 3, GC Hurricanes 1. Hannah Rogers held off the hard-hitting Eclipse with a very good drop but Brooke Lathan, 09 shortstop, tagged her for a two-run homer. Katherine Espinosa 09 and Carlie Thomas 2010 pitched for Eclipse.
GC Hurricanes 3, Storm DeMarini Gold 2. Hard loss for Storm pitcher Anne Marie Taylor (see below) who notched 11 Ks but lost to GCH Brittany Bowles and Kylie Vry in another headline game. Brooke Asher 2010 C/SS drew notice with timely hitting for GCH.
Gold Coast Hurricanes 5, Impact Gold 0. Stoney Burke’s Impact Gold has a roster full of established players but they were inconsistent at the RM. Bailey Watts and Bree Brown kept the game scoreless into the 4th, but Impact couldn’t solve Brittany Bowles and Kylie Vry. GCH broke it open with 5 runs. Ali Grant (Michigan State) scored; Allie Jest (Kentucky) walked and scored; Clara Kendall singled and scored; and Amanda Lonergan walked/rbi, prompting Impact to put Brown in the circle. Shayla Jackson (Florida State) singled in a run and Chelsey Trotto (Stetson) drew an rbi walk to close out the scoring.
EAST COBB BULLETS
Like many multinational corporations, the East Cobb Bullets have strengthened by going the merger route with Georgia Xtreme and drawing players from Georgia Fire to form a new team. The coaches say, “We really feel good about this group that we have put together and anticipate a tremendous summer. Today was a great start, scoring 33 runs and giving up 3 in our first three games, with this new team. Truthfully, we thought we could win in all in 16U with our Xtreme team in Seattle and were probably just one pitcher away, but now we have the hitting, pitching and defense to do some major damage.” SPY’s assessment after Seattle was that Xtreme, coached by Bo Rush who now coaches EC Bullets, was a pitcher away.
The Bullets
were 7-0-1 for the weekend, scoring 59 runs, while allowing 6, the first
tournament with the newly merged team between the EC Bullets Gold and Ga Xtreme
Gold, with very good results. There are 5 girls from the EC Bullets Gold, 4 from
the Ga Xtreme Gold, 4 from the Fire Gold (although no merger with them) and 1
from TX and 2 who played 16U last year.
The scores in Houston:
Won 10-3 vs Fl Pembroke Pines Thunder
Won 12-0 vs Tulsa Elite Gold
Won 11-0 vs Virgina Legends Gold
Tied 1-1 vs Tx Storm Demarini
Won 5-1 vs Tx Magic Gold
Won 7-1 vs Easton Elite Gold
Won 8-0 vs GT Shockers Gold
Won 5-0 vs Tx Eclipse Gold
The ECB came to Houston with pitchers who caused some excitement among the college coaches, starting with ever-dependable Hope Rush 09 who had carried the team at Seattle. Several college coaches and I were seriously impressed with 6’1’ Lori Spingola, 2010, who has speed, movement and location. A good low rise but she says she thinks her curve is her best pitch. Definite D1 prospect.
East Cobb Bullets 5, TX Eclipse 0. Brittany Broome (2009) had a two RBI double, and Kelli Wheeler (2008 verbal to the University of North Carolina) and Sharon Swanson (2009) had one RBI each. The winning pitcher was Lori Spingola (2010) who pitched four innings and gave up only two hits. Katherine Espinosa and Carlie Thomas pitched for Eclipse.
East Cobb Bullets 11, VA Legends 0. Hope Rush, who draws on a screwball, had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the 1st. Hope drove in 2 runs followed by Kelli Wheeler’s 2-run homer, for a 5-0 score. The Legends put two on with one out, again no score. Lori Spingola shut them down with 6 Ks after that. Emily Whitaker drove in two runs, 7-0, and SPY left.
East Cobb Bullets 12, Tulsa Elite 0. Hope Rush started; Lori Spingola finished. Jeneva Nelson 2010 pitched for Elite in this practice game.
East Cobb Bullets 10, Pembroke Pines Thunder 0. Hope Rush started; Lori Spingola finished. Rush, Kelli Wheeler, Sharon Swanson and Hannah Graham had 2 rbi each, Jessica Sinclair one.
East Cobb Bullets 1, Storm DeMarini Gold 1. One of the best RM games. Lefty Anne Marie Thomas reminded me of another pitcher, same size with the same verve and determination, so I went to another field and picked up Jocelyn Forest, winner of the 2002 WCWS for Cal, and we watched Anne Marie together. ECB countered with 2010 Lori Spingola, and these youngsters put on a show for the many observers. Spignola works in the 57-63 range as does 2009 Thomas who puts real spin on her curve ball, striking out seven Bullets. Leslie LeJune broke the scoring ice in the 4th, coming home on Kelsi Kettler’s double to center. Hope Rush relieved Spingola as planned after four. The Bullets tied the game on Rush’s rbi in the 5th.
BEVERLY BANDITS 16U
Our attention was drawn to this crew for several reasons. First, this summer they were the 14U Aurelios (pizza parlor); now part of Bill Conroy’s Bandits empire, they are playing 16U – and their three young pitchers were throwing from 43 feet for the first time. Second, the three pitchers are candidates for D1. The team makes defensive mistakes, and lost leads in both games I watched. Some parents disagree on how the three should be ranked – Caitlin Santefort, Meg Kelly, and Teagan Walsh. My money would be on Walsh, who plays 1st and 3rd and hits, making it as a highly recruited pitcher. Teagan, a tall 2011 15-yr old blonde with a good stride, likes to work her curve and drop inside, fading away on lefties. The umpire who worked the Elite game said he was impressed with the movement and location of Teagan’s pitches. Santefort also made a strong impression from the circle. Kelly is a pitcher (we saw her briefly in relief) but this so-obviously-Irish youngster is a whiz at 3rd, with hard, flat throws to 1st. A question among coaches was whether Conroy will let this team stay together at 16U or will he pull key players up to his Gold and 18A. Whatever he does, he needs to provide the Bandits with uniforms with numbers on them.
Elite Easton Sullivan 8, Bandits 5. Elite scored a run in the top of the 1st, but Walsh ended the inning with 2 Ks, then struck out the side in the 2nd. The Bandits loaded the bases in the 2nd, and Faith Johnson doubled in 2 runs. Ali Vadeboncover homered. Two consecutive errors at short started to unravel the Bandits. Alyssa Ramirez and Amber Miller had 2 rbi each.
MC Elite Gold 7, Bandits 5. Caitlin Santefort pitched for the Bandits, who had a 3-1 lead, thanks to 2 rbi by Ali Vadeboncover 2010. Teagan Walsh’s rbi made it 4-1 and the Bandits broke a pickle for their fifth run. Cree Smith jacked Santefort’s first pitch in the top of the 5th, 5-2. When Elite loaded the bases, Walsh took 3rd and Kelly went to the circle. Kaycee Bryan drew an rbi walk, 5-3. Lyndsey Henson singled in a run, 5-4. An error in center tied the game, and Taylor Brown doubled in two runs for the 7-5 lead.
DAVIE POWER BLACK
Power-Black-6
Texas Fusion-5
Keima
Davis 2009 OF/SS, Homerun
Karina Rios 2011 P/3B,3innings 0 runs 1 hit WP
Krista Rodgers 2009 OF,Defensive Player of the game with a game saving catch
Power-Black-4 Katey Heat Gold-2
Katey
Lantz 2011 2B, 2-3 1 RBI
Maria Gilreath 2008 C, 1-2 1 RBI
Savana Lucas 2011 SS/3B, 1-2 double
Stephanie Kujawa 2009 OF, 1-2
Keima Davis 2009 OF/SS 2-3
Power-Black-4 Impact Gold-4
Maria
Gilreath 2008 C, 1-2 1 RBI
Katey Lantz 2011 2B, 1-2 1 run scored
Savana Lucas 2011 SS/3B, 1-2 Game tying RBI
Karina Rios 2011 P/3B,
Power-Black-0 Third Coast Thunder-0
Lindsey
Croft 2008 P, 5 innings 1 hit 0 runs
Center Fielder for Third Coast made a spectacular catch
running down a bomb in center field off the bat of Keima Davis.
Power-Black-8 Texas Easton-Elite-4
Kelsey
Hensel 2008 OF/1B, 2-3 RBI
Keima Davis 2009 OF/SS, 3B RBI
Kristen Froelich 2008 SS/OF, 1b RBI
Stephanie Kujawa 2009 OF, 1-2 RBI, threw out runner
at the plate from left field.
Karina Rios 2011, P/3B, 2-3 2 doubles/2 RBI's
Brie Rojas 2009 2B, 2 run triple
Power-Black-5 Missouri Renegades-1
Samantha Ruffolo 2011 OF, 1-2 SB
Keima Davis 2009 OF/3B, 2-3, 2 run homerun
Kristen Froelich 2008 SS/OF, 2 run double
Stephanie Kujawa 2009 OF, 2-3 with a double
High Intensity
Wichita Mustangs (5) VS High Intensity (1)
High Intensity (13) vs Mystixx Garza (0)
MC Elite Gold (4) vs High Intensity (0)
High Intensity (13) vs Bluff City Bombers (3)
The coach reports: “The young lady you witnessed making the great play in the outfield against the Mystixx was Number 8 Monica Zeringue Zeringue. She had a great tournament batting 409 with a 480 OBP scored 8 runs had 8 singles and a double. She had 8 RBI and played errorless in the field. This young lady is a 2008 and does not have a scholarship offer yet.”
In this game, Maria Dodge started for the Floridians. Not a pretty game, with runs scored on passed balls and errors, the crushing blow ending the three inning affair a 2-run triple. At game time, we counted only nine players in the Mystixx dugout, and seemingly there was no relief for their pitcher. Mystixx did get a yeoman effort from Erica Brody in left field.
High Intensity played eight games at Ronald McDonald (three practice, five regular). We finished with 6 wins and 2 losses. Autumn Norris (slapper) (2008) was our leading hitter. She batted 800 with a 815 OBP. She had 20 hits scored 10 runs and had 3 RBIs. She did not have a strike out. She stole 2 bases. (We had only 10 players so we were not aggressive on the base paths to limit potential injuries.) She played a great third base with 7 PO, 15 A, and only 1 E. She is an outstanding 3rd or 2nd Base and also plays great in the outfield. This young lady has a ACT of 30 and does not have an offer.
IMPACT GOLD
Last game: Impact Gold def Tulsa Shootout 8 – 0
Top of 1st Impact scored 5. Lexy Bennett doubled with 2 outs; Nadia Taylor scored Lexy with a hard single to left advancing to second when the left fielder missed played the ball. Nadia moved to third on a past ball, scoring on a hard hit by Meagan May misplayed by the short stop. Nicole Morgan Singled, then Anna Hernandez singled, scoring Meagan May. Taylor Petty singled, Scoring Nicole Morgan and Anna Hernandez. Rachael Fox pitched 3 up 3 down.
Top of 2nd, Lexy got on with a two out error by the center fielder, Nadia Taylor scored Lexy on a hard shot to left, Then Meagan May doubled to score Nadia Taylor Rachel Fox held again Top of 3rd, Anna Hernandez led off with a single and Gabby Banda with the RBI Single to score Hernandez. Meagan May doubled in the 4th. Bailey Watts closed.
Impact Gold 4, Davie Power Black 4. Impact was ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the 6th, having led 3-1 in the 4th. Krista Rodgers had driven in Wykeima Davis with a run to reach 4-3. Savana Lucas drove in Kelsey Hensel with the tying run. Bree Brown pitched for Impact. Crystal Alaniz relieved. Alyssa Garcia had a 2 rbi single and another rbi; Meagan May also had an rbi for Impact. (Note: the Impact scorekeeper had the game at 4-3 Impact.)
Impact Gold 7, Bama Gold 0. In this game, Impact lived up to its hitting potential, with doubles by Anna Hernandez and Shelbi Tucker. Rachel Fox won.
Impact 5, Seminoles 0. Impact scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Megan Coronado and Jami Schkade singled; Gabby Banda sacrificed; Shelbi Tucker drove in a run; Lexi Bennett brought home a run with a sac fly; and Nadia Taylor drove in Tucker. Meagan May doubled in Bennett with the final run in the bottom of the 5th. `
NJ Inferno 5, Gulf Coast Explosion 0
Cassie Reilly-Boccia jacked a 3-run homer. Jennifer Ortega had an rbi double. Olivia Galati pitched.
Tulsa Elite 4, FL Seminoles 0
Kacie Ryal drove in Shana Westover with one run; Katrina Loy (09) had an rbi; Maddelyn Fraley scored; Jordan Patrick drove in Javen Henson. Jeneva Nelson 2010 pitched. Kristina Conger 09 pitched for the Seminoles.
West Jersey Witches vs FL Hi Intensity
SPY did not obtain a final score for this practice game. For the Witches, Katie Trotter 09 drove in Kelly Schymanski , and Nicole Hagerty drove in Trotter.
TX Avengers 5, Pembroke Pines Thunder 5.
Alexis Casey pitched for Thunder. The Avengers tied the game on a score in the 5th by Taylor Hoagland 09. Jessica Chastka pitched for the Schutt Avengers.
Wichita Mustangs 6, Pemhroke Pines Thunder 1
Brittany Perez 2011 pitched for the Floridians. Sarah Wedell, the Mustangs ace, secured the victory when Nikki Armagost 09 drove in 3 runs for the final margin.
FL Seminoles 3, Wichita Mustangs 0
Game was tied 0-0 in the 6th. Melinda Dulkowski scored on a double by Kaylyn Graydon, who scored the second run on a passed ball. Phlyscia Powell walked and scored the final run. Lauren Throop doubled.
CF Blaze 2, MO Renegades 0
Kelley Bauer pitched for the Renegades. Teri Lyles 09 pitched for Cy Fair Blaze (as distinguished from two Round Rock Blaze teams). Kristina Cordova reached on an error and scored the first run on an rbi by Lyles. After Blaze loaded the bases, the Renegades staved off two scoring attempts with outs at home but Tenesha Skrine made it home on an error.
Austin Storm Blue 4, FL Sarasota Heat 1
Amanda Wilhelm drove in Erikka Murphy with a run and Whitney Bradley scored while SPY was watching. Ashley Quigley pitched for the Sarasota Heat.
TX Travelers Gold 8, TX Storm Hendrickson 3
Travelers were leading 4-3 behind Bradie Baker 09 when SPY drove up. Kerstie Rowan drove in a run. Brianna Rodriguez singled. There were two on when Sandy James lofted a high fly to center, which was dropped, and three runs scored. Rowan’s speed on the bases is impressive.
LA Voodoo 6, GT Shockers 0
Bethany Pinkston and Megan Bond, both 09, pitched for Voodoo.
TX Magic Gold 4, TX Glory 0
The Magic were up 4-0 in the top of the 4th. Depending on whom you asked, either Courtney Repka or Nicole Gremillion tripled and scored the final run.
Storm DeMarini Gold 6, Bama Gold 0. Cami Newsome pitched for the Texans; Tori Spencer 09 pitched for Bama. A really bright youngster with the grades for a career in medicine, we thought Tori pitched a better game than the score showed – and, with a future in softball as well, we urged her to keep working.
NJ Inferno 9, Houston Power 0. Under the reversion rule used in most tournaments, the score would have reverted back to the last full inning, at which time Inferno led 2-0. But, the tournament director urged us to report the score extant when time expired. Joanna Krienitz was in the Power circle when the game ended. Olivia Galati pitched for Inferno. Galati had two triples and 3 rbi.
Sudden Impact 8, NJ Inferno 0. An rbi single by Presley Modisette made the score 7-0, and Caitlyn Ivy drove in the final run.
West Jersey Witches 4, Storm DeMarini 18A 0. The Witches led 3-0 in the top of the 2nd. Katie Trotter had nailed a 2-run triple. An rbi by pitcher Kelly Schymanski 09 upped the score to 4-0.
Sudden Impact 3, Storm DeMarini 18A 0. Stephanie Drewry doubled and scored on a passed ball. #18, not listed in the coaches’ book, jacked a 2-run homer.
Texas Aces Gold 6, Explosion 0. Michaela Adams 2010 pitched for Aces. Holly Anderson drove in Kelsea Orsak and scored on Molly Fichtner’s rbi. With bases loaded, Brittany Taylor drew an rbi walk on a 3-2 count. Kalyn Harris singled in two runs.
Houston Power 3, VA Legends 1. Kristin Martinez pitched for Power; Chelsea Henline for Legends. Jessica Arana and Stephanie Shiflet had rbi for Houston.
Houston Power 8, Wichita Mustangs 0. Best power display of the weekend for John Glowacz’s crew. Kristin Martinez had a 3-0 lead when SPY arrived in the top of the 3rd. Power broke loose in the 5th with four runs. Stephanie Shiflet walked, was sacrificed to 2nd by Martinez, a hit batsman put two on before Allison Tarbox singled in a run. Jessica Arana singled in two runs and scored on a passed ball. A double by #21 in the final inning produced the 8-0 score.
FL Ultimate vs Cy Fair. Tenisha Dixon drove in two runs. We don’t have the final score.
Wichita Mustangs 7, Storm DeMarini Gold 2. Given their success at earlier tournaments, and the strength in their roster, Storm was surprisingly inconsistent in this tournament. For Wichita, Madison
Resley jacked a grand slam, while Kayla Sears and #13 had solo homers. However, this was the score when time expired, and we reported it as suggested by the tournament. Under revert back rules, Storm says it won 2-1. TX Storm DeMarini reported that the Mustangs scored 4 in the top of the top of the 4th; and the game ended with TX Storm bases loaded 1 out in the bottom of the 4th. The Mustangs say they scored six runs.
TX Glory Gold 4, Storm DeMarini Gold 0. Tied 0-0 in the 3rd, Glory scored four runs. Two Glory runs scored when Kallan Thompson’s fly was dropped in center field, 3-0. Brittany Caruthers drove in the final.
TX Eclipse Gold 0, Bama Gold 0. Strongly contested game which featured good defense, never more so than in the bottom of the 6th when Eclipse loaded the bases with no outs but didn’t score. Very credible effort by 08 Elizabeth Allred who struck out two batters in that saga, and the third batter flied out to center.
TX Glory Gold 3, Hawks 5. This score was incorrectly reported as Glory winning 5-3. Angela White and Laura Ramos pitched for Glory. Lissa Pappas homered. Lindsay Brown pitched for Hawks (not Hawks Dutton) and drove in three runs with a triple. The count went to 4-0 then Rachel Felker accounted for the final Hawks run, 5-0. Glory rebounded, including the Pappas home run in the bottom of the 6th.
Tulsa Elite Gold's Scores & Highlights: (5-3)
Game 1: vs Missouri Renegades Gold W 14-1 (Practice Game)
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) gets the Win allowing only 2 hits, with Jeneva Nelson (So.) relieving the final two innings and allowing zero hits.
Jessica Waggoner (Sr.) went 3-for-3 with a HR, 4 RBIs and scored twice; Javen Henson (So.) went 3-for-3 scored 2 runs; Katrina Loy (Jr.) went 3-for-3 and scored twice and Hannah Martin (Jr.) went 2-for-2 with a triple, single and BB
Game 2: vs East Cobb Bullets Gold L 0-12 (Practice Game)
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) picks up the loss
Game 3: vs Florida Seminole Gold W
6-4 (Practice Game)
Jeneva Nelson (So.) picks up the Win allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run through three, with Cayce Coleman (Jr.) relieving the final three innings and allowing three hits.
Javen Henson (So.) went 2-for-2 with a double, SB and a run; Kacie Ryal (Sr.) went 2-for-2 and scored 1 run; Cayce Coleman (Jr.) went 2-for- 2.
Game 4: vs Texas Express Gold L 2-3
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) picks up the relief win, allowing only two hits and no runs through the final four innings
Game 5: vs Texas Comets Gold W 6-3
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) throws three No-Hit innings to pick up the Win, while Jeneva Nelson (So.) relieved the final 4 innings allowing only 3 hits.
Hannah Martin (Jr.) went 2-for-3; Javen Henson (So.) went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored 1 run; Maddelyn Frayley (Sr.) hit a 3-Run HR; Cayce Coleman (Jr.) pitched 3 no-hit innings
Game 6: vs Texas Sting Gold L 1-2
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) allows only 2 hits and no runs through 3 innings pitched; Jeneva Nelson (So.) picks up the loss.
Jordan Patrick (Jr.) went 2-for-2; Javen Henson (So.) went 2-for-2;
Game 7: vs Ft Worth Batbusters W 3-2
Cayce Coleman (Jr.) picks up the Win, allowing 2 hits and zero runs through the final 3 innings after Jeneva Nelson (So.) allowed only one hit and 1 earned run through the first 3 innings.
Hannah Martin (Jr.) went 2-for-3; Shana Westover (Sr.) went 2-for-2; Kacie Ryal (Sr.) went 2-for-2; Cayce Coleman (Jr.) went 2-for-2
Game 8: vs Iowa I-Club Orange W 4-1
Jeneva Nelson (So.) throws a one-hitter and picks up the win
Michealia Wilson (Sr.) went 2-for-2; Jordan Patrick (Jr.) went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
COMMENT BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Rayburn
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for honoring us with your presence at the 2007 Ronald McDonald Tournament. I am only sad that I did not get more time to spend with you.
I trust and pray that you have a safe journey home to Washington. As I am sure that you are aware, the Ronald McDonald Tournament sends all profits to the RM House in Houston. We have raised over $200,000.00 in our 17 years and this year should put us over $300,000.00. Although most teams think of this as an exposure tournament with 238 college coaches this year, I still have my eye on the goal of providing much needed help to all the very ill children and their families.
We require our Impact Gold kids with assistance from the Houston softball community to provide dinner twice a year for the families of the House, the next of which will be in two weeks.
Thank you again for participating in 2007, we hope that you will come next year.
Sidebar
With two deep-rooted reservations, I thoroughly enjoyed the Ronald McDonald tournament. Very good competition in a nine-field complex (there were one or two more sites but I got so lost Friday morning going to the Dyes alternate I never ventured out again), decent umpires, two good concession stands, a tent for college coaches with food, ample seating and ample parking (despite the size of the vehicles Texans seem to favor), teams shifting fields so that all had a chance to play on the four fields with the ASA-standard fences; vendors aplenty; brilliant sunshine, and, a well-managed tournament, thanks to Jonathan Lampl and a cadre of volunteers. You felt good just driving across Cypresswoods Drive which takes you through the Champions complex of mega-mansions – nothing under 5 mil – and you know the American dream is alive (providing you strike oil or whatever).
The more than 200 college coaches who attended – and were seen at all the sites – saw not just players in whom they had developed an interest during previous tournaments, but, saw some promising new talent among the many 14s and 16s moving up. The college coaches guide was very well put together, generally comprehensive. But, travel ball coaches and tournament directors everywhere need to ensure that commitments are posted, data integral to the recruiting process. If they had advice to offer, it would be to put ASA-regulation fences on all the fields. A bunt compounded by errors went for a “home run” on a 350 foot field, and some other home runs were questionable.
Like Surf City, Rising Stars and some other tournaments, the Ronald McDonald managers contend that scores are unimportant, and do not post a leader board. Yet, the teams will be sending emails to SPY for a week because they want their scores posted.
The buzz: several travel ball coaches said they complained about the four-week window and asked the college coaches who had voted for it. Curiously, none of the travel ball people who talked to SPY found a single college coach who would admit having voted for the NFCA proposition. Of course, NFCA adamantly refuses to disclose the vote.
The reservations: I am geographically challenged, and have gotten incredibly lost in Houston on other occasions, so I rented a Pontiac with Onstar, and bought a GPS. Without the GPS, I would never have found Dyes Park on Friday. I once drove a Land Rover along an elephant trail in Tanganyika that had fewer turns. (The trail led to an elephant graveyard; when their teeth rot, they go there to die). But, I got to Dyes and watched some competitive practice games. Unfortunately, while watching one game, I took a crushing hit in the back of the neck from a foul ball and am in a hell of a lot of pain. Had trouble afterward finding the hotel; Route 249, the Tomball Parkway, is shown on GPS, but the arterial roads leading to the hotels, also called Rte 249 don’t show. The Hilton, a very good hotel, advised by phone that their little patch off the ramp does not make the GPS screen. I made a left turn off the ramp – wrong way on a fast street. Although the average Texan drives like a bat out of hell in the parking lots, and zips around you on the Tomball at 100 mph, traffic came to a halt so I could turn around – accompanied by a cascade of horns, flashing lights, and any number of motorists who waved the Jolly Roger at me. Every fifth Texan has paralysis of the middle finger.
Finally, I am very grateful to Jonathan for the golf cart. Funny, I was seldom alone – not just college coaches seeking a ride across the complex but finding that the cushy seat beats sitting on metal bleachers and was an upscale way to watch a game.
Apologize for the delay in posting. Laptop went on the fritz in Houston, and spent Monday morning trying to make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor to look at my swollen neck. Turned on the PC; found 585 emails. As George Patton would say, Ta das.
rfh