The Ultimate Act of Sportsmanship

Central Washington Offers the Ultimate Act of Sportsmanship

Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her career. Central Washington senior Mallory Holtman was already her school's career leader in them. But when a twist of fate and a torn knee ligament brought them face to face with each other and face to face with the end of their playing days, they combined on a home run trot that celebrated the collective human spirit far more than individual athletic achievement.


Sara Tucholsky got a lift from the opposition in scoring her first homer.
Both schools compete as Division II softball programs in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Neither has ever reached the NCAA tournament at the Division II level. But when they arrived for Saturday's conference doubleheader at Central Washington's 300-seat stadium in Ellensburg, a small town 100 miles and a mountain range removed from Seattle, the hosts resided one game behind the visitors at the top of the conference standings. As was the case at dozens of other diamonds across the map, two largely anonymous groups prepared to play the most meaningful games of their seasons.

It was a typical Saturday of softball in April, right down to a few overzealous fans heckling an easy target, the diminutive Tucholsky, when she came to the plate in the top of the second inning of the second game with two runners on base and the game still scoreless after Western Oregon's 8-1 win in the first game of the afternoon.

"I just remember trying to block them out," Tucholsky said of the hecklers. "The first pitch I took, it was a strike. And then I really don't remember where the home run pitch was at all; [I] just remember hitting it, and I knew it was out."

A part-time starter in the outfield throughout her four years, Tucholsky had been caught in a numbers game this season on a deep roster that entered the weekend hitting better than .280 and having won nine games in a row. Prior to the pitch she sent over the center-field fence, she had just three hits in 34 at-bats this season. And in that respect, her hitting heroics would have made for a pleasing, if familiar, story line on their own: an unsung player steps up in one of her final games and lifts her team's postseason chances.

But it was what happened after an overly excited Tucholsky missed first base on her home run trot and reversed direction to tag the bag that proved unforgettable.

"Sara is small -- she's like 5-2, really tiny," Western Oregon coach Pam Knox said. "So you would never think that she would hit a home run. The score was 0-0, and Sara hit a shot over center field. And I'm coaching third and I'm high-fiving the other two runners that came by -- then all of a sudden, I look up, and I'm like, 'Where's Sara?' And I look over, and she's in a heap beyond first base."
While she was doubling back to tag first base, Tucholsky's right knee gave out. The two runners who had been on base already had crossed home plate, leaving her the only offensive player on the field of play, even as she lay crumpled in the dirt a few feet from first base and a long way from home plate. First-base coach Shannon Prochaska -- Tucholsky's teammate for three seasons and the only voice she later remembered hearing in the ensuing conversation -- checked to see whether she could crawl back to the base under her own power.

As one of the umpires involved in the game between Central Washington and Western Oregon confirmed in an e-mail to ESPN.com, the rule in question was misinterpreted on the field after Tucholsky's injury and later clarified by the NCAA.
According to page 105, rule 8.5.3.2 of the NCAA softball rule book, "If an injury to a batter-runner or runner prevents her from proceeding to an awarded base, the ball is dead and the substitution can be made. The substitute must legally touch all awarded or missed bases not previously touched."

As Knox explained, "It went through my mind, I thought, 'If I touch her, she's going to kill me.' It's her only home run in four years. I didn't want to take that from her, but at the same time, I was worried about her."

Umpires confirmed that the only option available under the rules was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run. Any assistance from coaches or trainers while she was an active runner would result in an out. So without any choice, Knox prepared to make the substitution, taking both the run and the memory from Tucholsky.

"And right then," Knox said, "I heard, 'Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?'"

The voice belonged to Holtman, a four-year starter who owns just about every major offensive record there is to claim in Central Washington's record book. She also is staring down a pair of knee surgeries as soon as the season ends. Her knees ache after every game, but having already used a redshirt season earlier in her career, and ready to move on to graduate school and coaching at Central, she put the operations on hold so as to avoid missing any of her final season. Now, with her own opportunity for a first postseason appearance very much hinging on the outcome of the game -- her final game at home -- she stepped up to help a player she knew only as an opponent for four years.

"Honestly, it's one of those things that I hope anyone would do it for me," Holtman said. "She hit the ball over her fence. She's a senior; it's her last year. … I don't know, it's just one of those things I guess that maybe because compared to everyone on the field at the time, I had been playing longer and knew we could touch her, it was my idea first. But I think anyone who knew that we could touch her would have offered to do it, just because it's the right thing to do. She was obviously in agony."

Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Tucholsky off the ground and supported her weight between them as they began a slow trip around the bases, stopping at each one so Tucholsky's left foot could secure her passage onward. Even with Tucholsky feeling the pain of what trainers subsequently came to believe was a torn ACL (she was scheduled for tests to confirm the injury on Monday), the surreal quality of perhaps the longest and most crowded home run trot in the game's history hit all three players.

"We all started to laugh at one point, I think when we touched the first base," Holtman said. "I don't know what it looked like to observers, but it was kind of funny because Liz and I were carrying her on both sides and we'd get to a base and gently, barely tap her left foot, and we'd all of a sudden start to get the giggles a little bit."

Accompanied by a standing ovation from the fans, they finally reached home plate and passed the home run hitter into the arms of her own teammates.
Then Holtman and Wallace returned to their positions and tried to win the game.

Sara Tucholsky got a lift from Central Washington's Liz Wallace, left, and Mallory Holtman.
Hollywood would have a difficult time deciding how such a script should end, whether to leave Tucholsky's home run as the decisive blow or reward the selfless actions of her opponents. Reality has less room for such philosophical quandaries. Central Washington did rally for two runs in the bottom of the second -- runs that might have tied the game had Knox been forced to replace Tucholsky -- but Western Oregon held on for a 4-2 win.

But unlike a movie, the credits didn't roll after the final out, and the story that continues has little to do with those final scores.

"It kept everything in perspective and the fact that we're never bigger than the game," Knox said of the experience. "It was such a lesson that we learned -- that it's not all about winning. And we forget that, because as coaches, we're always trying to get to the top. We forget that. But I will never, ever forget this moment. It's changed me, and I'm sure it's changed my players."

For her part, Holtman seems not altogether sure what all the fuss is about. She seems to genuinely believe that any player in her position on any field on any day would have done the same thing. Which helps explains why it did happen on that day and on that field.

And she appreciates the knowledge that while the results of Saturday's game and her senior season soon will fade into the dust and depth of old media guides and Internet archives, the story of what happened in her final game at home will live on far longer.

"I think that happening on Senior Day, it showed the character of our team," Holtman said. "Because granted I thought of it, but everyone else would have done it. It's something people will talk about for Senior Day. They won't talk about who got hits and what happened and who won; they'll talk about that. And it's kind of a nice way to go out, because it shows what our program is about and the kind of people we have here."

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Source: ESPN / Graham Hays

Photos: Stephen Katin (top photo) Blake Wolf (bottom photo)

Pretty Tough...for Girls, Coaches and Parents!

Pretty Tough...for Girls, Coaches and Parents!

In one of our previous postings, we used some great material from Pretty Tough, a website that encourages young women to lead active and healthy lifestyles. The intern who edits our Facebook page noted Pretty Tough recently became one of our Friends, so we wanted to introduce what they have to offer to all of you as well.

Pay a visit to the Pretty Tough website and you will see it offers specialty content for all types of competitive sports, cool products and services, as well as an online community. Pretty Tough is for girls, parents, coaches, and anyone interested in playing sports or motivating, inspiring, and cheering on female athletes.

Click >> Pretty Tough

New Twist on Softball Gaining Popularity Around the Nation

New Twist on Softball Gaining Popularity Around the Nation
Arena Softball, a new indoor sport recently featured in the Sacramento Business Journal, is catching on in cities around the country and even around the world.

There's a new sport known as Arena Softball that is catching on quickly, and as a recent feature story in the Sacramento Business Journal shows, it is becoming a national phenomenon. Founded by Greg Joseph with the help of local business developer Chris Vrame in 2003, the indoor sport has grown immensely in only five years.

The game is played on a regulation softball diamond, and players use all of the softball skills they're used to. The twist is a tight spring loaded net that encloses the entire softball field, so every hit is in play. Although Joseph found it was difficult at first to turn a profit with a new game, Arena Softball is now profitable and has gained interest internationally. The softball-inspired game is in its second season in the Minneapolis suburb of Eagan, Minnesota, and there are advanced plans to take Arena Softball to Hartford, Connecticut and Spokane, Washington. The game even has someone from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates interested.Arena Softball is still the biggest hit back in Roseville, CA, a city near Sacramento, where it began.

According to the Sacramento Business Journal article, there are approximately 800 people coming to the indoor softball complex every day, with 106 different teams playing. Joseph aims to open a second complex in the Pacific Northwest, and a third in Elk Grove or Natomas, California.

The formation of the International Arena Softball Association has inspired much of the national and international interest in the sport, which allows leagues from around the world to participate for a fee that helps further promote the sport. The next items on the agenda for Joseph and his new twist on the game of softball are to invest in improvements for their leased warehouse, and promote corporate team-building events Arena Softball currently operates with two softball fields, batting cages, pitching tunnels, concessions, video arcade, pro shop and a baseball academy. They offer softball leagues, field rentals, birthday parties, special events and corporate team-building, with 106 teams playing and 800 people visiting the arena every day.

To view the full article in the Sacramento Business Journal, go to http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/03/03/story9.html?page=1.

For more information about this new take on softball, visit www.arenasoftball.com.

About Arena Softball:
Arena Softball, the brainchild of Greg Joseph, is a new twist on the old favorite, with a regulation softball diamond and all of the softball skills everyone is used to. The twist is a tight spring loaded net that encloses the entire field, so every hit is in play. There are no foul balls, no more standing in the outfield with no action, careening balls are played off the net, and outfielders have the ability to throw runners out. Double plays, and even triple plays, are always within reach. And with just 40 feet of outfield, everyone stays with the action.

To make the game even more fun, the scoring has been modified and one or two of the rules have been changed, but everyone gets the hang of these rules within a couple of innings. It's a game for the young and not so young, for men and women, and it's a game that everyone can play, no matter what their skill levels are. It's a game that people love instantly, and come back to play again.

Read the Post Below on Choosing the Best Cleats for Your Style of Play

Need help Choosing the Proper Softball Cleats for Your Style of Play?

Choosing the Best Softball Cleats

Cleats are sports shoes with outsole traction devices. They provide support, stability, and traction while playing. Though most cleats have these qualities, specific cleats are to be used for different sports. Even if you play all sports, you should still get a separate pair for each.

It is therefore important to make sure that the cleats you want to buy are appropriate for the sport you play. Softball is one of the most common and popular game that requires cleats. Proper cleats for this game can easily be purchased with the following considerations.Softball cleats are usually manufactured in two types: detachable and molded. Detachable cleats are the cleats commonly used by more experienced players. As the name implies, detachable cleats' spikes are removable. They can be removed from the outer sole and replaced with other studs depending on the surface of the playing field. The studs can either be made with rubber, metal, or hard plastic. Metal cleats are often used on hard playing grounds while rubber and plastic are adopted for turf playing fields.

Though adaptable for any playing field, detachable cleats are harder to maintain and clean. As opposed to the detachable cleats, the studs of molded cleats protrude from the outer sole. These studs are usually of hard plastic or rubber. They are molded and do not detach from the shoe. They are also easier to clean and maintain, hence, advisable for playing who are just beginning to learn the sport.The kind of material used on the cleats is also important. This could spell the difference between a so-so and superb performance.

Materials for softball cleats range from the more expensive leather to the cheaper varieties made of synthetic materials. Even if leather is expensive, it is durable, breathable, and flexible. In time, it molds according to feet's shape, thus providing ample support and comfort. Synthetic materials in cleats don't allow feet to breathe and are less able to stand strain and long wear. However, they are cheaper and could be good enough for beginners like kids. The design of the cleats is also an important matter. Design does not mean the aesthetic of the shoe but rather it's cut. A higher cut ankle (3/4) offers added support for the feet and prevents ankle and connective tissue injuries. Most major league players prefer this cut although some feel restricted by the height. For those who want easier movement, a lower cut design provides freedom and ease of movement.

Most players agree that cleat height is a matter of comfort and preference.Having good and proper cleats is essential to any softball game or any game, for that matter. Poorly cared-for cleats usually result in bad games and poor performance. Proper maintenance and care for the cleats ensure that the cleats can resist and withstand long wear, dirt, and ground impact. So aside from having fresher looking cleats, proper maintenance also ensures many good games to come.

For more on about softball cleats, click >> Bases Loaded Softball

Need Help Choosing the Proper Softball Cleats

Cleats are sports shoes with outsole traction devices. They provide support, stability, and traction while playing. Though most cleats have these qualities, specific cleats are to be used for different sports.

Even if you play all sports, you should still get a separate pair for each. It is therefore important to make sure that the cleats you want to buy are appropriate for the sport you play. Softball is one of the most common and popular game that requires cleats. Proper cleats for this game can easily be purchased with the following considerations.Softball cleats are usually manufactured in two types: detachable and molded. Detachable cleats are the cleats commonly used by more experienced players. As the name implies, detachable cleats' spikes are removable.

They can be removed from the outer sole and replaced with other studs depending on the surface of the playing field. The studs can either be made with rubber, metal, or hard plastic. Metal cleats are often used on hard playing grounds while rubber and plastic are adopted for turf playing fields. Though adaptable for any playing field, detachable cleats are harder to maintain and clean.

As opposed to the detachable cleats, the studs of molded cleats protrude from the outer sole. These studs are usually of hard plastic or rubber. They are molded and do not detach from the shoe. They are also easier to clean and maintain, hence, advisable for playing who are just beginning to learn the sport.The kind of material used on the cleats is also important. This could spell the difference between a so-so and superb performance. Materials for softball cleats range from the more expensive leather to the cheaper varieties made of synthetic materials. Even if leather is expensive, it is durable, breathable, and flexible. In time, it molds according to feet's shape, thus providing ample support and comfort.

Synthetic materials in cleats don't allow feet to breathe and are less able to stand strain and long wear. However, they are cheaper and could be good enough for beginners like kids. The design of the cleats is also an important matter. Design does not mean the aesthetic of the shoe but rather it's cut. A higher cut ankle (3/4) offers added support for the feet and prevents ankle and connective tissue injuries. Most major league players prefer this cut although some feel restricted by the height. For those who want easier movement, a lower cut design provides freedom and ease of movement.

Most players agree that cleat height is a matter of comfort and preference.Having good and proper cleats is essential to any softball game or any game, for that matter. Poorly cared-for cleats usually result in bad games and poor performance. Proper maintenance and care for the cleats ensure that the cleats can resist and withstand long wear, dirt, and ground impact. So aside from having fresher looking cleats, proper maintenance also ensures many good games to come.

For more valuable information on softball, please visit Bases Loaded Softball

Defending Against the Bunt

Defensive Bunt Coverage

-by Softball Authority Coach Jim Moyer

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To be a solid fastpitch softball defensive team, your team must be well-drilled in fastpitch softball bunt coverage. This article will discuss the standard scheme that works best for your base defense. Moreso than other softball skills, practice and repetition will be paramount in executing bunt coverage, as this play requires an inordinate amount of team chemistry.

The typical layout of your defensive unit should have the 1st baseman playing in towards home about 3-5 feet. The 2nd baseman and Shortstop should be positioned somewhere behind the baseline (depending on the age and level of competition). The 3rd baseman should be positioned about 10-12 feet inside the bag towards home plate. This base positioning dictates that the 3rd baseman, 1st baseman, pitcher and catcher are the four players in position to field the ball. The ideal player to field the ball is the 3rd baseman. She needs to be the General on the field on bunt coverage plays as she is the player moving towards the play at 1st base and she should have the best vision of the entire play. As she is charging the ball, she needs to make the call as to who will field the ball. How many times have we seen 2 or more players converge on the ball and think the other player will make the play only to make no play at all? Too many!

The 3rd baseman should be charging the ball and call the position of the player that is in the best position to make the play.Probably the hardest bunt to field is the ball placed about 6 feet in front of home plate and down the 1st baseline. This is a prime example where team chemistry will come in to play. The 3rd baseman will have to quickly assess who has the best play on the ball.

Typically, the catcher would be the preferred choice since her momentum is headed towards 1st base; however, she may have been slow getting out of her position.Softball Bunt Coverage - No Runners on BaseWith no runners on base, 1st, Pitcher, Catcher, and 3rd are going to crash the ball. The 2nd baseman has the responsibility to cover 1st base and receive the throw. The rightfielder should take an angle to about 20 - 30 feet behind 1st base and near the foul line to cut off any errant throws. It's critical for the rightfielder to maintain a safe distance behind 1st base otherwise the errant throw to 1st base could well end up in the right field corner for a homerun. The centerfielder should take an angle to be positioned behind the rightfielder to help with retrieving an errant throw. The shortstop should head to 2nd base in case of an error at 1st base.

The leftfielder should take an angle to position herself behind the shortstop.Softball Bunt Coverage - Runner on 1st BaseTAKE THE OUT AT 1ST BASE!!! Don't even consider going for the lead runner and trying to get the out at 2nd base. It's fools gold and you would be lucky to make that play 10% of the time. All of the player's positioning is the same except for the shortstop and leftfielder. This is the MOST DISCIPLINED PLAY the shortstop will have to make.

Her instinct is to cover 2nd base for a steal, however, if she does that and the bunt is put in play, it will turn into a foot race between her and the runner to get to 3rd base (If the runner on 1st sees the shortstop at 2nd, she just continues running to 3rd knowing it's going to be a very difficult play for shortstop to run from 2nd to 3rd and be in position to make a catch and tag). To play this correctly, position the shortstop 5 feet closer to 2nd base so she is in position to cover the steal without having to break to the base prior to knowing if the ball is successfully bunted. If the ball is not bunted, she covers 2nd base for the steal. If the ball is successfully bunted she covers 3rd base. She can't cheat to cover 3rd base either, or if the runner on 1st is stealing the shortstop will be out of position to take the throw. The leftfielder will take an angle to be about 20 - 30 feet behind 3rd base and on the left field foul line to back up an errant throw.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Runners on 1st and 2nd BaseAgain, TAKE THE OUT AT 1ST BASE!!! Depending on the age and skill level of your team, it may be possible to get the lead runner at 3rd base. If the bunt is very short so the catcher can make a quick play, of if the bunt is too hard and the pitcher or 1st baseman can make a quick play, it COULD be possible to get the runner out at 3rd base. However, the odds are certainly not in your favor, and if the play is unsuccessful the result is having the bases loaded. Coverage on this play is the same as the coverage for a runner on 1st base coverage. The noted exception is the rightfielder needs to know on an overthrow she should be prepared to throw the ball home. Also, the leftfielder needs to take her backup position behind 3rd base in case the play is attempted at 3rd base.Softball Bunt Coverage - Bases LoadedThe unique thing about this play is that either 1st base or Catcher needs to make the call as to where to throw the ball. The 3rd baseman and pitcher have a much more difficult time knowing how close the runner is to home plate.

Also unique for this play, is that the catcher needs more discipline. She must immediately determine if another fielder can play the ball and toss it to her for the force out at home. If this is the case, she needs to take a 1st baseman's stance at the plate and be prepared to receive the throw and then throw to 1st base for a double play. She must also determine if she is the only player that can make a play on the ball and get the out at either home or 1st base. This is a pressure play on the defense, but with a fair amount of practice should be able to make the play at home on a fairly routine basis.

If there is ever ANY DOUBT about making the out at home, the fielders must take the out at 1st base.Softball Bunt Coverage - Look for the Double PlayWhen runners are on base and the bunt play is on, this is an ideal time to look for the double play. Typically the runners, especially a trailing runner, will take sizeable leadoffs on when the bunt is on. Train your players to react to a bunt that is popped up in the air. The easiest runner to double up is generally a runner on 1st base. Catch the pop up and fire the ball to 1st base for the force out. The lead runner is usually in a good enough position to be able to return to her base safely, however she probably is out of position to be able to advance when you throw to 1st for the double play.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Take the OutAlmost without exception, your team is far better off taking the out at 1st base. Considering the difficulty of getting the lead runner and the position you leave yourself in if the play is not successful, it's hardly ever worth the risk of going for the lead runner. I would submit the only time when it is imperative to get the lead runner is when the game-winning run is on 3rd base. Even if it is the game tying run on 3rd base, I would strongly consider taking the out at 1st base and allowing the runner on 3rd to score. If you go for the out at home and are unsuccessful, you have allowed the game to be tied and allowed the winning run on base or advance on the bases without getting an out. As a coach, you are finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and that's not a good thing.Remember that the key to having a successful fastpitch defense is to make a very high percentage of easy outs.

You must avoid giving up big innings to your opponent. In fastpitch softball, one big offensive inning can very easily decide the game. If you repeatedly play for the lead runner, you will consistently give up big innings. Further, if you can NOT shut down your opponents bunting game, you don't have much of a chance to win. In another article on this site, I tell the story of bunting 10 batters in a row one inning. Trust me, you don't want to be the team that sees 10 bunts in a row. That means your team can't cover the bunt, and you can't win the game. For the best way to practice your softball bunt coverage scheme please refer to the article

The Bunting Game located at My Softball Coach. Coach Jim Moyer was our first "Softball Authority" coache who advice and tips periodically appear on NFGFS.

Senior Spotlight: Meet Lesley Warn

A Senior Year to Remember Might Cap a Career to Remember

Lesley Warn of Deering, who plans to attend Wheaton next year, will be counted on to keep a young team in contention this season as it attempts to contend in Western Class A.
Also in High School Sports

Rick Melanson, the softball coach at Noble High, first saw Lesley Warn pitch three years ago as she entered her freshman year at Deering High as the No. 1 pitcher.
The teams have played once a year since and, said Melanson, "We still haven´t scored a run off her. I can hardly wait for her to graduate." Well, that will be this year.

Warn comes into her senior season as one of the region´s most touted pitchers. Headed for Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., she brings a 38-8 career record into her final spring.
Grunting with every pitch, Warn has 22 career shutouts, 453 strikeouts in 319 innings and an earned-run average under 1.00. She´s also a pretty good hitter in the middle of the lineup, with a .333 average last year.

Rams Coach Tige Curran, in likely his final season, expects this to be her best year.
"She´s just so much more confident," he said. "She´s bigger, stronger and healthier than she´s ever been.

"She´s worked very hard on her conditioning the last two summers and she really looks great. She´s just very strong."

And the Rams will rely heavily on Warn. Coming off a 13-4 season, Deering graduated several key contributors and will field a young lineup. Warn will be needed to keep the score down.
"She knows what´s expected and what she can do," said Curran.
Warn isn´t concerned.

"We´ve got a lot of young girls who are very athletic," she said. "We´ll try to compete the best we can. I think we´ll do well."

Warn started pitching in Little League. Soon she gave up all other sports -- she played soccer and basketball -- and concentrated solely on softball. She jokes that she gave up the others because "soccer and basketball have a lot of running," but the truth is she just loves to pitch.

She works at it year-round, taking only about a month or two off at the end of the summer.
"She´s the hardest-working pitcher/athlete that I´ve worked with," said Lynn Coutts, an assistant softball coach at the University of Maine who has taught one-hour individual lessons to Warn for five years. "Not only does she come in here for her lessons, but she works so hard outside of them. She´s in the training center three more times a week. She works with a personal trainer.

"She´s just a very dedicated athlete, very coachable, very smart. And she loves softball."
Warn has been a first-team All-SMAA pitcher each of her first three seasons. She burst on the scene as a sophomore, going 15-2 as the Rams reached the Western Class A semifinals. That was a tough loss; Warn got only one out and gave up eight runs in a 12-5 loss to Scarborough.
"That was a disaster," she said. "But afterward I learned that it wasn´t just my fault. Softball is a team sport and it´s never just on one person. One thing I learned is to not let games get out of hand that quickly."

At times, said Curran, "You learn from unpleasant situations."

Warn certainly has been steadily improving. Senior teammate Brittany Young, who is moving to shortstop from the outfield to provide leadership there, said the Rams have great confidence in Warn. She remembers facing her in middle school. Now, said Young, "She can do a lot more with the ball. She´s just a lot stronger."

Warn throws a fastball in the high 50s, a riser and a change-up -- all staples of a good high school pitcher. She also can throw a drop pitch, screwball and curve.
Mentally, she said, "I think I´ve become more focused, trying to keep the team together when things might not be going right."

Curran said her change is noticed. "She´s gone from being a little girl to a very confident young woman," he said.

Warn never considered how far softball could take her, only that she knew it could get her noticed. Coutts said Wheaton, a top-tier Division III program, is a good fit, as does Curran.
"She wants to be a college student and at a D-3 school she can do that," he said. "She can play at a high-level program and still take advantage of all the other cultural opportunities that will be presented to her."

Warn looked around but in the end chose Wheaton because "the school fit my personality."

Editors Note: Is there someone on your team who you think should be featured on Senior Spotlight, send us the information or furnish a web link.

Source: Portland Press Herald -by Mike Lowe

Is Your Softball Pre-Game Routine a Superstition or Ritual

Is Your Softball Pre-Game Routine a Superstition or Ritual?

Whether it’s wearing the same socks every game or tapping home plate twice before each pitch, many softball athletes have a particular routine they always follow. Is the behavior based on superstition or reason? Read on to learn the difference and find tips on how to give yourself a routine for optimal performance.

Superstition is the belief that something has significant power or “luck” with no logical reasoning behind it. For example, wearing the same hair band before a game or chewing the same flavored gum and believing that these things, not you, are what make you a winner.

A routine or ritual is when an athlete intentionally prepares for a certain event or task using meaningful actions. Having a pre-game routine helps many athletes visualize, prepare, and focus on what is necessary to be successful because they can control the steps of the routine and feel confident in their preparation.

According to sport psychology consultant Matt Krug, President of Midwest Institute of Performance, Inc., pre-game routines are important because they help transfer comfortable feelings or “confidence” to less familiar, more anxious situations. “Everybody has rituals or routines that they go through in their daily life from what they eat for breakfast to what television show they come home to everyday. If there’s a change in this routine, it makes you feel out of sync and a little uneasy.

When you have a home game, maybe you have the same locker, drink from the same water fountain, or eat the same pre-game meal. Having a set routine is helpful especially if you can create that same situation when you’re on the road and may be feeling less comfortable.

Krug suggests you find your own pre-game routine that will help you prepare for each game. You’ll feel confident and comfortable no matter who or where you are competing. When you think about what routine is best for you, Krug suggests three requirements that every pre-game routine should meet:

1. The routine should be something you can do in any imaginable place-at home, on the road, at a tournament, in the playoffs. Also, it should be something you can do at any time, morning, noon, or night. This way, you always know you can do it no matter what the circumstances.
2. The routine should be considered extremely important and you should give yourself enough time to complete it at your own pace. If you’re traveling to a game, make sure you get there in plenty of time to do your routine.
3. Make the routine personal to YOU. It should be something you can do no matter what happens. For example, if it’s a prayer, a quick run, or a stretch, it should be something no one can take from you no matter where you are or who you are competing against.

So, find your own pre-game routine that will help you begin each game with the focus, energy, and confidence to compete at your best! Here are some examples of pre-game routines and rituals for athletes of different sports. What works for them may, or may not, work for you. . .it’s all individual!

Source: Pretty Tough, a great site for women athletes

Picture: Marvin Terry

How Can You Determine The Best Bat For You, Both In Terms of Length and Weight

How can you determine the best bat for you, both in terms of length and weight? The optimum bat for you is the heaviest bat you can swing without loss of significant speed.

Not withstanding your brand and model preference, the two best methods to determine whether a bat's right for you are: 1.) With you arms at your sides, the bat should be long enough to reach your wrist. 2.) You should be able to control the bat one-handed with either hand when whipping the bat back and forth.

Not to get to technical, but bats are often referred to as -9, -10 or 10-drop. The 'minus 10' simply means the bat is 10 ounces lighter than the length of the bat in inches. A -10 bat could be a 34"/24 oz. or a 30"/20 oz. The 'drop' means the same thing - a '10-drop' is 10 oz. lighter than the length of the bat in inches.

A lighter bat will give you faster bat speed. There is a formula used to calculate energy exchange from one object to another, the speed of the exchange is much more important than the weight.

Additional reference article: Choosing the Right Bat for You

Player Safety Tip: Why You Should Use A Mouth Piece

Player Safety Tip: Why You Should Use A Mouth Piece

You probably know someone, or know somebody who knows someone who has been hit in the mouth by a batter ball. Perhaps it has happened to you!

In fast pitch softball, the pitcher, 3rd baseman and 1st baseman, as you well know, play quite close to the batter and occasionally reaction times are just not fast enough. In other cases, a bad hop might shoot up and nail you big time right in the kisser. More often than not, the result of being hit in the mouth is broken teeth or worse yet, teeth knocked completely out.

Mouth pieces have been successfully used in all types of contact sports for years and have a proven "prevention" track record. They are readily available in all sporting goods outlets and are affordable with a price range of $2-$20.

All it takes is one bad hop or frozen rope line drive and a mouth piece will pay for itself in unnecessary trauma, not to mention thousands of dollars in dental costs. We urge you to consider wearing one. A toothbrush can get the dirt out of your teeth...a mouth piece can keep your teeth out of the dirt. Get one and get used to wearing it. Avoiding an injury situation before it happens is better than treating it after it happens.

Here's one of the better mouth pieces available by Shock Doctor. Click to purchase >> Mouth Piece

A Fun and Effective Base Running Drill

Base Running Drill "3-2-1"

Here's a very simple, yet very effective drill. And it's lot's of fun,too.

Place three balls equal distance apart, about three fourths of the way from third to home. Have a runner (team 1) and have a fielder on third base and one on 2nd base (team 2).

When you (or your coach) says "go", the runner must reach 2nd base before the fielder fields and throws the ball to the fielder at second base. All throws must be accurate. If the fielder gets the throw to second base before the runner gets there, the fielder scores 1 point. If the runner gets there first, they get 1 point. Repeat, and repeat...

Great for building an accurate throwing arm and for developing base running skills.

The Largest College Recruiting Service on the Web

The Largest College Recruiting Service
on the Web

Register with "beRecruited" for FREE and join the Internet's largest college recruiting service and athletic scholarship network.

beRecruited says it has been the choice for more than 150,000 athletes from all 50 states and 30 different countries. You can connect with over 25,000 NCAA coaches from divisions I, II, and III of which more than 9,000 are registered users of its service.

According to its website, each year, beRecruited is visited millions of times; and each day beRecruited.com makes over 4,000 college recruiting connections.

Here's what you can expect:

Gain instant exposure to its network of registered NCAA & college coache Search among all the colleges in the US by location, size, major, etc. Connect instantly with NCAA coaches using our exclusive recruiting tools Get recruited, play at the NCAA level & earn your athletic scholarship

To enroll, click >> Be Recruited

Order Out of Chaos: Beating the Odds

Editors Note: This morning we came across this wonderful story in the Bainbridge Island Review of a young lady who is beating the odds.

Order Out of Chaos
By John Becerra, Jr. - Bainbridge Island Review

Brittany Wisner has overcome a nightmare childhood to be a standout member of the Bainbridge fastpitch team.

When people talk about Brittany Wisner, one of the first things they mention is how hard she works and how much she talks – which is quite a bit.

“She’s loud, but in a good way,” teammate and friend Lindsay Willmann said.
Head coach Liz McCloskey said she was impressed with her from the moment she appeared on the field, even to the consternation of others.

“Some people questioned my thought of putting her on varsity because she was very outspoken because some people perceive that as being cocky and having a big head,” she said. “But that’s just her being a leader and loving the game and putting everything she has into it.”

Currently, Brittany is a starter for the Bainbridge fastpitch team and has been since her first game as a freshman at second base, quickly moving over to catcher and ensconcing herself at the position en route to being a two-year captain, a two-time All-Metro and All-Kitsap News Group selection.

That recognition comes from how hard she works at improving her overall game, from hitting off the pitching machine to fielding endless grounders to work on her overall fitness level.

Click for the full story >> Order Out of Chaos

Sheil Douty's Softball Tips on Successful Game Preparation

Sheila Douty's Softball Tips on Successful Game Preparation

When it comes to preparing for competition, softball's Sheila Douty must be doing something right. The veteran star first-baseman knows the secret to success as she has helped lead Team USA to nearly 20 gold medals in international competition over the course of her career.

Two of those golds came at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, where Douty proved to be one of the key components to American domination. At the 1996 Games, she had the highest batting average on the team at .393 and led all U.S. players with 11 hits and nine RBIs over the course of the tournament. Her third homerun of those Olympics was a game-winning blast versus rival China.

Douty talks about the process she goes through prior to each game in order to best prepare herself, both physically and mentally, for success.
Keys to successful game preparation

Tip #1: Begin to mentally prepare yourself the night before a game."Game preparation is like a ritual to me and I feel it is definitely a factor in how well I perform in a game. I like to visualize the night before as I drift off to sleep. I picture myself at the plate hitting all types of pitches, perfectly."

Tip #2: Prior to leaving for the field, begin relaxing and visualizing, mentally preparing for competition."About an hour and a half to two hours before we leave for a game I start to get ready. I try to be fully dressed and ready to go at least 45 minutes before the departure time. At this time, I find myself a quiet place to lie down and visualize. I visualize hitting, fielding, what the field looks like, the crowd. I do relaxation breathing exercises."

Tip #3: Begin to focus and take things seriously once you're at the competition site."When we get to the field I am serious. I don't joke around much before or during a game as my concentration is too focused."

Tip #4: Get a good warm-up in."My preparation at the field is usually just for warming up. I jog, stretch, do a few agilities and sprints, throw a few balls, field a few grounders, and spend some time on the tee warming up."

Tip #5: Right before game-time, visualize situations and scout the competition."The last thing I do is to visualize different pitches and "dry swing" for each one. I also try to watch the other pitcher warming up so I know what she is like on that given day. Because of the way things are set up at certain tournaments, this is not always possible. At the very least I watch enough to pick up her release points on different pitches."