There is a DIFFERENCE [-11.5] KNOW the difference between the industry leader and the industry standard. Step up SYNGE to the plate, knowing you’re ready for the high heat from 43 feet. FEEL the difference between lining a rise ball into the gap and FASTPITCH FASTPITCH + dribbling one back to the circle. Experience patented technologies that produce lighter B [-10] swing weights, faster swing speeds and the ultimate vibration reduction. There’s a difference between being the game changer and the automatic out, between victory and defeat. BE the difference. SYNERGY SPEED FASTPITCH FASTPITCH + [-10] [-10] STEALTH SPEED STEALTH KNOW•FEEL•BE FASTPITCH FASTPITCH THE DIFFERENCE Balls & Strikes EASTONSOFTBALL.com SoftballMagazine 1 Balls & Strikes SoftballMagazine 2 Balls & Strikes SoftballMagazine December 2010 5 Greetings from the President 6 Enough Said Wins Women’s Open For Second Consecutive Year Nikki Hall Named MVP and Batting Champion. 7 Dan Smith/Menosee/ShirtsandLogos.com Beats Crowned Men’s A Champion Champion beats Long Haul twice to win title 8 Hooters Championship Series presented by Worth Three teams left Oklahoma City with a National Champion title to their name. 12 USA Softball Update Catch up with your favorite red, white and blue team! 13 Association Profile Florida ASA 14 Shreveport Welcomes ASA With a Little Southern Hospitality 2010 ASA National Council Meeting a success. 18 Meet the 2011 National Softball Hall of Fame Class Ten members to be inducted at next year’s Induction in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 22 ASA 2011 Rule Changes 25 2010 ASA National Champions 26 2011 ASA National Championships 3 27 2010 ASA By the Numbers A look into the success of the 2010 season. Executive Director 28 Veterans Park and Athletic Complex Named Complex of the Year Ron Radigonda Complex from College Station, Texas wins 5th annual honor. 30 Texas ASA Gives Back Editor Association gives back to communities at annual business meetings. Holly Krivokapich 32 News and Notes Check out what is going on with the ASA and USA Softball. Contributors Julie Bartel 34 2011 Official Gear Catalog A preview of some of your favorites and new product from officialgear.com Jamie Blanchard Andy Dooley 38 Second Glance See if you can find the six differences in these photos. Tim Hipps Brandon Penny 39 Army Mom Battles Breast Cancer with Gold Moments in Armed Forces Sun Mom of ASA Athlete the real hero of the team. Bill Plummer 41 A Decade Later: Dot Richardson Two-time Olympian Richardson and her story Old Hat Creative 44 National Office Profiles Meet one of our newest employees and a face that may be familiar www.oldhatcreative.com 45 Wanted: 10 ASA-Generated Youth Programs in 2011 Batters Up USA provides softball opportunities to those who may otherwise may not have one. The Official Publication of The Amateur Softball Association / USA Softball Balls and Strikes Softball Magazine is published annually by the Amateur Softball Association 2801 N.E. 50th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, (405) 424-5266. Balls and Strikes Softball® is a federally registered trademark of the Amateur Softball Association of America © Amateur Softball Association 2010 Visit us on the Internet: www.asasoftball.com & www.usasoftball.com Nike Softball Camps For more information or to Register 1-800-NIKE-CAMP (1-800-645-3226) USSPORTSCAMPS.COM/SOFTBALL 4 NIKE Softball Camps Sponsored by USA Softball West eeastast University of the Pacific, CA FairfieldFairfield University,University, CTCT Cal State Monterey Bay, CA CurryCurry College,College, MAMA UC Santa Barbara, CA AmherstAmherst College,College, MAMA Just Softball – Mt. Sac, CA GettysburgGettysburg College,College, PAPA Twin Creeks, CA SUNYSUNY Cortland,Cortland, NYNY UNR & the Reno Sports Complex, NV AdelphiAdelphi University,University, NYNY Willamette University, OR TheThe LawrencevilleLawrenceville School,School, NJNJ San Diego City College, CA NewNew JerseyJersey Jackals,Jackals, NJNJ Whitworth University, WA TheThe CollegeCollege ofof NewNew Jersey,Jersey, NJNJ SalisburySalisbury University,University, MDMD Central ShepherdShepherd University,University, WVWV Regis University, CO GreensboroGreensboro College,College, NCNC University of Dallas, TX ColumbusColumbus State,State, GAGA Utah State, UT SoutheasternSoutheastern University,University, FLFL Principia College, IL The NCAA does not endorse or affiliate with camps/services. The parent/guardian of a Butler University, IN prospective student-athlete should ensure that programs are in compliance with NCAA UniversityBalls & Strikes of Wisconsin-Platteville, WI bylaws. Nike and the Swoosh design are trademarks of Nike, Inc. and its affiliates and Softball are used under license from Nike, Inc. NIKE is the title sponsor of the camps and has no University ofMagazine Wisconsin-Parkside, WI control over the operation of the camps or the acts or omissions of US Sports Camps. GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT! AS wE wrap uP the 2010 season and prepare for 2011 let me say THANKS to all of YOU who help make the Amateur Softball Association the best softball organization in the nation! Without your continued support and dedication, we would not be where we are today as the nation’s leader in softball. We just wrapped up our 79th Annual Council Meeting in Shreveport, La. Its hard to believe we are coming up on 80 years of success. The longevity of the ASA would not be possible without each and every one of you. I know you all spend countless hours away from family, friends and other obligations and I hope during the Holidays, you get some of that time back. The ASA Equipment Standards committee has made incredible 5 progress in the slow pitch game and we are looking forward to the same results in the future for fast pitch. At ASA, we pride ourselves in being the industry leader in equipment safety and keeping the integrity of the game our utmost priority. Teams have repeatedly communicated with us that we have the best championship play tournaments across the country so it is my promise to you that we will continue to work hard and maintain this status at all levels. I encourage all championship participants, coaches and administrators to work with your local association com- missioners and give them feedback on how we can improve ASA each and every day. In closing, as president, it is an honor and privilege to serve you and work with you on a daily basis. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous 2011. Andy Dooley, President Amateur Softball Association of America Balls & Strikes SoftballMagazine Enough Said Wins Women’s open For second consecutive Year Enough Said went undefeated give up. It looked like the Derby Girls with a 3-0 record to claim the ASA would cut the lead in the sixth when 2010 Women’s Open Women’s Open National Championship they loaded up the bases. However a fly All-American Team title defeating Derby Girls/Combat out left runners stranded. (3-2), 12-4, in the title game at the ASA Enough Said scored three unan- IF Christian Camp, Armed Forces Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma swered runs in the top of the seventh to IF Nikki Hall, Enough Said City on Oct. 3. Enough Said worked take away a 12-4 victory and National IF Christian Dowling, Derby Girls its way through the winner’s bracket Championship performance for the sec- with two wins against Derby Girls, the ond consecutive year. Nikki Hall, who IF Stacie Symonds, Enough Said Championship victory, an 18-7 victory, was later named the Batting Champion, OF Shannika Taylor, Armed Forces and a 7-5 win over Armed Forces. was ecstatic about the weekend and OF Tracy Bougere, Enough Said Enough Said earned its spot in the very thankful to her teammate, coach OF Aree Jenkins, Enough Said Championship Game after defeating and the ASA. Hall finished the tourna- OF Jessie Griffin, Enough Said Armed Forces 7-5. Armed Forces and ment 9-for-11 with six runs scored and UT Jamie McCoy, LOA Derby Girls/Combat then met up to five RBI, hitting .818. avoid elimination and earn a spot in the “The chemistry of our team is the UT Misty Smith, Derby Girls title game. key to our success,” Hall said. “We’ve UT Diana Williams, Enough Said Derby Girls staved off elimination never let each other down and we al- C Erin Brown, Derby Girls defeating the Armed Forces 18-15. The ways pick each other up. That’s the key P Deb Tix, Derby Girls Derby Girls took an early 11-2 lead in to our success. I am just so surprised HR Champion Christan Dowling, the first and would hold the lead the en- by my success this weekend. I have Derby Girls (5 HR) 6 tire game. The Armed Forces wouldn’t been in slump the past three tourna- go down without a fight scoring four ments and what better time to perform Batting Champion Nikki Hall, runs in the top of the seventh to than the ASA nationals. Everything Enough Said (.818) threaten but the Derby Girls held their worked out so well and I am just so MVP Nikki Hall, Enough Said lead for the win. Misty Smith of the appreciative. I cannot even express Derby Girls was 2-for-3 with four RBI to how great it is. I want to give out hugs lead the team. With a victory, the Derby to the organization, my coaches and Girls moved on to face Enough Said for teammates. Mostly, my teammates Click here for action the Championship game. who I owe it all to. They have picked photos from the event! Enough Said and Derby Girls both me up my entire season and I have to put a run up in the first with Enough thank them for everything.