Bob's Fastpitch Bulletins
Chula Vista to be venue for three indoor tournaments
by
,
10/11/2009
John Roth, a huge friend of fastpitch softball and Coordinator for the Xplozion Softball Club has annnounced three indoor tournaments that he will be coordinating at Chula Vista Resort's facility just north of Wisconsin Dells on Highway 13.
Roth, who ran the first-ever indoor tournament at Chula Vista last winter was so impressed by what took place there that he has embarked on a three-tournament schedule.
The first one will take place in November and is called Fall Xplozion in the Dome. The dates are November 27-28 and 29 and the tournament is open to any and all teams interested in taking part. The age categories are 10U through 18U but entries are limited to a total of 32 teams inclusive of all age categories.
The entry fee is $400 which includes a four-game guarantee. In addition to that Wisconsin NAFA Director Bob Tomlinson has also announced that a NAFA National Tournament berth for next summer will be available in each age bracket.
The other two tournaments will take place over the December Holiday time. The first will be on December 26-27 and 28 and is open to 14U through 18U with the same 32-team limit which is inclusive to all age categories. The entry fee for that event is also $400 with a four-game guarantee and a NAFA National Tournament berth for the summer of 2010.
The final event for 2009 will be December 28-29 and 30th and is open to 10U, 12U and 14U. The entry fee is $400 with a four-game guarantee and a NAFA National Tournament berth for summer 2010.
John Roth can be contacted by calling 920-344-5732 or by e-mailing to
xplozionsb@gmail.com. You can also write to John Roth at 479 Fuller Street, Columbus, WI 53925.
Bob Tomlinson can be contacted at
faspich1@aol.com or 608-635-4552.
The Fastpitch Bulletin Volume 8, Number 52
by
,
8/5/2009
[size=3 font="times new roman"]High and Tight!
[size=3 font="times new roman"]
[size=3 font="times new roman"]Ken Dischler, Head Coach at Chequamegon High School (new consolidation of Park Falls and Glidden) has some game shorts for sale at a reasonable, very reasonable price.
[size=3 font="times new roman"]
[size=3 font="times new roman"]I saw Ken at our one-day softball clinic in Gilman back on July 22
nd. We had a great morning there and in the process of conversing he told me about his shorts.
[size=3 font="times new roman"]
[size=3 font="times new roman"]Here is his note to me.
[size=3 font="times new roman"]
Hi Bob,
Here's the shorts I've got for sale if you could pass the word:
16+ pairs of Bristol softball shorts. Silver/gray with black waistband and black piping. Asking $100.
20+ pairs of Bike softball shorts. Silver w/black pinstripes, belt loops. Asking $100.
Contact Ken Dischler, 715-492-0980 or
coachd@teamfca.com.
Thanks,
Ken
If interested in more information contact Ken ASAP.
Have a great day and
Keep it Rising!
Bob
The Fastpitch Bulletin Volume 8, Number 51 -- July 29, 2009
by
,
7/29/2009
My friend Tim Husted sent me this press release. I chose to use it as a Bulletin as well as an Opening Pitch Blog item. Have a great day as you Keep it Rising! -- Bob
Like many teams, The
Danes Travel Softball Program has limited roster spots for talented players for the 2010 summer season and is looking to add players this fall to compete in fall and dome softball to prepare for the 2010 summer season. Unlike many teams, we don’t believe that a tryout is an effective way for players/families to make important decisions.
The Danes are looking for strong athletes who have the honest goal of playing college softball and are willing to make a commitment to learn and prepare for that goal. The Danes are not for everyone, but for players who like intense softball, top coaching, strong committed teammates and a focus on player development; the Danes is a proven program with a resume of long term success in providing that experience.
In their 14
th year, the Danes will support only one 18U team, to ensure that every player who wears the Danes uniform and associates with the Danes is recognized as playing in an elite program. We have tremendous goodwill and brand value in the Danes name, we take care to ensure that every player, coach and parent who represents our program helps to increase that brand value as an program of excellence.
Since the pitching distance of 43 feet will be the HS standard either in 2010 or 2011; we are open to players from the 2011, 2012 graduation years and 2010s who are committed to playing softball at the college level. We can also help 2010’s through fall softball to find college playing opportunities.
All Danes players will be coached by Tim Husted and a strong experienced Danes coaching staff. Coach Husted has coached at the college level, has developed all of the current Danes alumni and is well respected as a clinician for many college clinics. Coach Husted does not have any children on the team and is an unpaid volunteer coach. His returning staff will include 2 coaches with strong background in both softball and the Danes Style Sheet and before spring will hire a Danes alumni/former college player to serve as an assistant coach as well. With 4 experienced coaches on staff, the individual coaching opportunities for players is second to none.
The Danes are unique, and instead of tryouts; we’d ask you
contact us to learn more about our team, our approach and our goals. In that process we’ll want to get to know the player, their goals and ambition and determine if there is a mutually beneficial opportunity.
We will ask all interested players to compete in fall ball on available weekends to get to know the team and our style before making final decisions on roster commitments. Certainly many players may worry about the loss of other opportunities, I can assure you teams will be looking for players well into the winter season.
We believe that “club” softball has become too generic to honestly describe the current options. Within the Club softball umbrella, there are many A, B, C and D level teams and many are simply community coaches with open rosters. The Danes are
not just another club team like the many listed for tryouts this fall.
The Danes have a proven history of developing players not only who compete in college softball, but who are accoladed with post season awards like All Region and All American. The Danes are not coaching for the benefit of a single high school program, solely to win a ASA State Tournament or for their daughter’s opportunity. The Danes have a proven history of coaching for the benefits of the individual players in our program, our goal is to maximize the opportunities for each player’s future success in softball through teaching of proper mechanics, strategy and game understanding.
We believe that the time, talent and treasures that go into a program like the Danes are truly an investment in the long term sustainable success of the student-athlete not only as a softball player through their college career but as a lifelong member of a larger community. In the process of learning about the Danes, we’ll open our family to you; allowing you to discuss the program with current and former players and families. We’ll allow you to ask questions and be candid in our response. Our goal is to find the right kids to fill out our roster, not just the best kids. We believe that the right kids with our coaching/approach is a much better team than the best kids at a 2 hour tryout.
If you want more information, check out our web site at
www.danesfastpitch.org and fill out a player prospect form. We’ll contact you quickly and discuss our team, answer questions and start the process to determine if we can meet your needs and help you to achieve your goals as an elite softball player.
The Fastpitch Bulletin Volume 8, Number 50 July 28,2009
by
,
7/28/2009
Hello Everyone - Everywhere I go the number one question I get is: "So when are we moving to 43 feet?"
I don't have that answer and I have little to do with getting it (if anything).
My survey of 300 respondents indicates that 63% think we should move to 43 feet in 2010. The WFSCA is conducting a survey of just WFSCA member head coaches but I have not heard from Rich Frost yet on how that survey is going.
I have not talked to Marcy Thurwachter about her thoughts on it either. However, knowing how the political system works within the WIAA, I'd guess that the WIAA Coaches Advisory Committee will meet this fall and talk about it and the process will proceed from there.
As for the Capitol Area Fall League, I'll be surveying the team leaders very soon to find out if they want to move to 43 feet this fall even if we have no definitive information on when Wisconsin will make the move. Remember, the state must move there no later than 2011.
I heard some interesting conversation about that issue while taking part in the Wisconsin Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame inductions on Saturday. The conversation that took place involved a respected and noteworthy umpire or two, a very respected and noteworthy collegiate pitching coach who, during his playing career, was a world-class pitcher for such teams as Pay n' Pak, the Farm Tavern and others.
Speaking of respected and noteworthy umpires -- our Fastpitch Chronicle/WSN umpire answer man, John Peterson received the Wisconsin Amateur Softball Association Umpire of the Year Award for the year 2008. Congratulations to John for that honor. It surely is well deserved. It was a pleasure sharing time with him at that induction ceremony on Saturday.\
Two other noteworthy Hall of Fame inductees were Joann Krueger and Jean Rivette. Both were interesting and well deserving of the honor.
That's about it for this Bulletin. Watch for upcoming bulletins that will be geared toward technology in the game today.
Have a great week! and as always
Keep it Rising!
Bob
The Fastpitch Bulletin Volume 8, Number 49 July 15, 2009
by
,
7/15/2009
Up and in!
Hello Everyone – It’s midweek and time for another Fastpitch Bulletin which will include some thoughts and some announcements that others have requested me to make for them.
First – Pepin is holding a summer tournament on the weekend of July 24-25-26 and has a couple of open spots that they’d like to fill in order to complete a tournament bracket. Matt, head coach at Pepin is working hard to assure everyone that the tourney in Pepin will be a notable one for all the teams involved. Matt has told me that he has two openings for the 14-U division and one opening for the 18-U division.
Speaking of Pepin – I was in that community last week conducting a two-day fastpitch camp for players from Pepin, Spring Valley and Durand. It’s a treat to go there and work with those kids and coaches. Matt from Pepin, Earl from Spring Valley and the legendary Jim Haines from Pepin (now the principal at Greenwood) are great fastpitch people. They run a great show there and have a fantastic facility. The softball was good, the food was great and the chatter was superb!
I’ll be in Gilman on Wednesday of next week so I’m really looking forward to that trip as well. Brian Phelps does a fantastic job up there!
John Roth is busily getting ready for the annual End of Summer Xplozion tournament in Columbus (and some other venues as well). In addition to that he is working on some projects that will give players some opportunities to play some fastpitch in the late fall and winter (indoors) as well as working on some new summer fastpitch projects as well. There are many people in the state that work tirelessly for the game and the players who play it and John is surely one of them. Keep watching upcoming bulletins for some announcements from John about the projects he’s working on.
I’ve posted some tournament results on the Opening Pitch Blog of the WSN site so be sure to check those out.
Have a great day!
Keep it Rising!
Bob