The Inside Pitch Official Newsletter of the Amateur Softball Association of America
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
May 2010 The Inside Pitch Official Newsletter of the Amateur Softball Association of America A note from Amateur Softball Association President Andy Dooley I would like to NEXT GENERATION begin this month by saying “Thank Field set for 2010 Junior Women’s NT Selection Camp you” to the local associations that have welcomed me since I became president. You are all to be congratulated for the outstanding job you do each and every day for this organization. The National Office staff continues to work very hard each and every day to improve Register ASA as well as other nationwide events, programs and opportunities. If you have issues, by all means, please contact them with your concerns. They are happy to help. As we begin to qualify teams for our National Championship play, Team USA celebrates a victory at the 2007 ISF Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under) please make sure that your teams have all the necessary paperwork The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) The 17 athletes selected for the 2010 completed. Make sure they are of America announced on May 5 the 42 USA Softball Junior Women’s National prepared to advance to the next athletes who have accepted an invitation Team will be announced on June 15. The level. to attend the 2010 USA Softball Junior team will compete later this year at the Women’s National Team selection camp, III Pan American Softball Championship I want to encourage each and June 10-13, at the Olympic Training (18-and-under), August 6-15, in Bogota, every association to please promote Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The athletes, Colombia. The event serves as a qualifier your territory Nationals because it who are age 18 and under, represent for the International Softball Federation is important for teams that do not 13 states: Arizona, California, Florida, (ISF) IX Jr. Women’s World Championship qualify for our ASA/USA Softball Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, (19-and-under), December 6-17, 2011, in Nationals to know they still have an Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas Cape Town, South Africa. opportunity to play. and Utah. To be eligible for selection, athletes Lastly, I would like for each ‘JWNT’ continued on page 6 Commissioner and their staffs to make as many visits to their leagues and perspective leagues as possible. Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 11 If we do not reach out, another organization will. If we do not make ASA of PA names National Tournament Liberty Mutual Washington ace contacts, we are not doing all that Sanders as interim news and notes Reponsible Sports becomes first ever head of Junior Community Grant to win three USA we can for our teams and umpires. Olympic program Period ends May 31 Softball Collegiate Thank you! Player of the Week awards in one season And keep up the good work. IN THIS ISSUE IN A note from The Inside Pitch editor Meet USA Softball athletes at World Cup Jamie Blanchard The Amateur Softball the Women’s Futures National Association (ASA) of America Team during a private meet and Welcome to the May 2010 edition of recently announced that five greet. The teams will eat dinner The Inside Pitch, the official newsletter of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of public autograph sessions will with the Ultimate Fans then sign America. be held during the 2010 KFC autographs following their 7 p.m. The season is in full swing at the ASA World Cup of Softball, July 22-26, game. Hall of Fame Complex here at the national in Oklahoma City, Okla. All three Autograph sessions are headquarters in Oklahoma City. After the Big USA Softball National Teams subject to cancelation. 12 Championship tournament this weekend, competing during the World Cup we will begin looking toward the Women’s will participate in at least one Become an Ultimate Fan College World Series and the World Cup of signing during the event. Softball as well as exciting Junior Olympic All session reserved ($75) for the World Cup (JO) play. and general admission ($40) Ultimate Fan Zone passes We would love to have you join us for tickets are on sale now at are still on sale for the 2010 some of the events that are taking place here, World Cup of Softball, although especially the World Cup, which is the only SoftballOutlet.com or by calling 800-654-8337. Ultimate Fan Zone a limited number remain. The chance to see international fast pitch and premium pass with the Nike 2008 slow pitch this year in the U.S. Also, we just passes are $275-$325. Olympic Team authentic jersey announced that there will be an autograph The Women’s Futures National signing each day of the World Cup, July 22- team will sign autographs on is $325 through SoftballOutlet. 26, making it even better event. opening night following their com while a regular pass with a For those of you who will not be able to 9 p.m. game with Japan. The replica jersey is $275. join us here, we hope that you will support Women’s National Team will also Not only will Ultimate Fans the World Cup by watching the action live sign autographs July 25 following watch the action from the best on ESPN. Seven games, including three their 7 p.m. game with Japan. seats in the ASA Hall of Fame on Saturday, will be aired. The complete Both will also sign autographs Stadium, both premium and TV schedule is on the World Cup page of July 26 after their final match ups, regular pass holders will also USASoftball.com. meet the 2010 USA Softball Also, we plan to cover the event not only either the third place game at 4 p.m. or the Championship Game Women’s National Team as well as we have in the past, with recaps on both as members of the 2010 USA of our websites, ASASoftball.com and at 8 p.m. USASoftball.com, but also throughout the The Men’s Slow Pitch National Softball Futures National Team. day on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Team will hold an autograph Both teams will be signing Make sure that you are a fan or follower if you signing following the 3 p.m. autographs at a special reception want the inside scoop on the event including Border Battle on July 25. open only to Ultimate Fans on live photo and score updates. Ultimate Fan Zone pass July 25. For those of you who want a sneak peak holders will also have the Fan zone questions can be of the 2010 Women’s National Team and opportunity to meet both the directed to Jamie Blanchard at the 2010 Women’s Futures National Team, Women’s National Team and [email protected]. the teams will participate in exhibitions in Canton and Ashland, Ohio, on June 16-17. More information is on USASoftball.com. Although we are embarking on a very The Inside Pitch busy time here in the National Office, with Official newsletter of the Amateur Softball Association several members traveling for various 2801 Northeast 50th Street • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111 championships and training camps, we are Phone (405) 424-5266 • Fax (405) 425-3855 still here to help your association be the best Web site www.asasoftball.com it can be. Please feel free to reach out to us at anytime. Editor Jamie Blanchard • E-mail [email protected] Talk to you next month. Assistant Editors Julie Bartel and Holly Krivokapich Page 2 THE INSIDE Pitch May 2010 News & Notes from the National Office Construction continues at ASA Hall of Fame Complex Although severe weather conditions including multiple snowstorms has pushed back the opening date until later this summer, construction continues on the new structure at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America’s Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. The new facility will enhance the existing structures already at the Complex by providing a meeting space with restroom access as well as public restrooms. Future plans for renovations include restrooms at field level beside dugouts on the Stadium Field. Plans also include Construction at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. curb and gutter system on fields 3 and 4 around the outfield fence. that is now more than 5k, with more giveaways in the future. Julie Bartel welcomes ASA Softball hits 17,000 To become a fan on Facebook, go to daughter Olivia Jane fans on Facebook page www.facebook.com/asausasoftball Julie Bartel, the Director of Marketing and click “Like”. and Communications, and her husband Tiffany Cooper of Portland, Ore., Jon welcomed their first child, daughter became the 17,000 ASA fan on Facebook Olivia Jane Bartel, on April 22 at 8:12 when she joined on April 26. To mark the Story ideas needed for p.m. Olivia was delivered at 8 pounds 11 occasion, a significant landmark toward ounces and 20.5 inches long. hitting 20k before July’s World Cup of June Balls and Strikes The first 2010 issue of Balls and Softball, the National Office sent Cooper As of April 13, Bartel has been on a prize pack that included athlete Strikes Online Magazine came out in maternity leave, and is not expected to posters, lanyards, pins and a USA Softball March. Inside the 45-page issue were return to the National Office until later visor. stories including a Q&A with the newest this summer. Please direct all marketing member of the Women’s National questions to Assistant Director of “Softball is so fun to watch when Team, Eileen Canney, and a profile on Marketing and Communications Holly the girls rally together and make some Natalie Innocenzi, the ASA Umpire who Krivokapich at [email protected] fantastic plays,” she said in an e-mail.