TENNESSEE A S A The Newsletter of the TennesseeINSIDER Amateur Softball Association • Vol. 3/No. 1 • FEB. 2012 Adult, JO state tournament participation also show increase during year JO individual, team registrations up in 2011 VEN WITH A DOWN ECONOMY, the Tennessee ASA had an up year, accordingE to James Ellis, who starts his seventh year as commissioner in 2012. “2011 proved to be a great year despite a slight reduction in adult teams and umpires,” said Ellis. “Our adult totals decreased by 72 teams and the umpire numbers were 18 less than 2010. However, we had an increase in both JO individual registrations (188) and team registrations. We were able to increase our JO numbers by about 531 teams and also increased our state tournament participation in both the JO and adult programs. In addition, we had an increase in the number of umpires selected for national championships.” Ellis was especially pleased with the work of his staff at the association’s annual meeting in December in Hendersonville. Ellis said he acted in more of a bystander role because the people (umpire-in-chief Phillip Davidson, deputy state commis- Team Watley, sponsored by former USA Olympian Natasha Watley, won the ASA sioner Dave LeMarbre and Chattanooga Girls’ 10-under Fast Pitch National Championship in a 31-team field in Johnson JO commissioner Kim Swafford) handled City. The championship was one of the highlights of the Tennessee ASA in 2011. their responsibilities in a professional, (Photo by Mike Carmo). upbeat manner and made the meeting a teams, 2,572 JO teams, which was an In 2011, ASA registered 100,571 adult success. The meeting concluded with the increase of 531, and 424 umpires, which teams (2,573 decrease), 80,232 JO teams induction of nine new people into the was a decrease of 18. Tennessee also had (3,730 increase) and 31,195 umpires (de- Tennessee ASA Hall of Fame. an increase of 188 in individual registra- crease of 1,303). Individual registrations In 2011, Tennessee registered 811 adult tions totaling 1,278. totaled 373,016, an increase of 10,883 from 2010. o Inside * Comments from Commish .... 2 2011 Hall of Fame inductees .. 2 TN tourney sets record .......... 3 Tennessee ASA Benefits ....... 4 State ASA Directory ............ 5-6 TN standout Abbott in book .. 7 TN Umpires stay busy ........... 8 2011 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES. L to R Front: Heather Jennings accepting for James 2012 State Tournaments ......... 9 “Skip” Evans (Manager), Mrs. Buck Brown accepting for Buck Brown (Player), Derwin Helton accepting for Lawrence “LA” Tucker (Meritorious Service), Back Row: Paul Potter (Player), Billy Green (Player), Joe Lockhart (Player), Tommy Everette (Player), Mal Stalcup (Player), Jack Armstrong (Meritorious Service), and Commissioner Ellis. (Please see story pg. 2) Tennessee ASA INSIDER/FEB. 2012 The meeting was capped off by our an- nual Hall of Fame induction, and again we had a splendid induction with nine Comments From people enshrined. In the future, past Hall of Famers will be able to submit nomina- tions to the Tennessee ASA Hall of Fame. the Commish We had a turnout of around 120 people for the ceremonies at the beautiful, new Hendersonville Library—a $13 million James Ellis, facility that opened in October 2008 with Tennessee ASA Commissioner 38,000 square feet of space. The facility represents a joint effort by the City of Hendersonville, Sumner County, and Thanks to Tennessee ASA staff, smooth private donors. I was pleased with the induction, as ceremony gave 2011 inductees their due I would imagine so were the inductees HERE ARE TIMES AS AN ASA com- Swafford all stepped up and handled their and their family members. The people missioner that you smile with pride responsibilities in a professional manner honored deserved their recognition, and aboutT the work and effort of your staff. to ensure that we had one of our best fall the Tennessee ASA was glad to give them You count on them throughout the meetings since I was named commissioner their due. year because no one person can run the seven years ago. Just as it takes teamwork on the field Tennessee ASA. I was extremely pleased It makes a commissioner feel good to to have a winning season, it takes team- with the efforts of three members of our know he has people he can count on, and work off the field to have an association staff during the fall meeting in December. I certainly felt good knowing they had that provides services to the thousands It was a busy time as expected, but Dave everything under control and were taking of people who look to the Tennessee ASA LeMarbre, Phillip Davidson and Kim care of business. for leadership. I am a fortunate person with people I I am a fortunate person with people I work with who care about work with who care about the services we the services we provide to the teams and umpires. We all are provide to the teams and umpires. We all looking forward to another season of softball—the Tennessee are looking forward to another season of ASA way. softball—the Tennessee ASA way. Stalcup, Everette headline 2011 Hall inductees THE TENNESSEE AMATEUR Softball and Buck Brown (Player), Fastpitch Paul and Meritorious Service Lawrence “LA” Association hosted its 6th Annual Hall Potter, Billy Green, Joe Lockhart (Player), Tucker and Jack Armstrong. o of Fame Induction on Dec. 3 at the new Hendersonville Public Library. An esti- E. Mac Stalcup, Jr. mated 120 attendees were on hand as a Mac’s playing career spanned 32 years, from 1965-1996. He played slow pitch total of nine individuals were inducted softball with Trailways, Rudder Construction, and Grassy Valley out of Knoxville, into an elite class. Maryville-based Rule & Lee, Kobax, Golden Gallon and Thurman-Bryant from “This banquet was undoubtedly the Chattanooga, and Starpath from Kentucky. During his career, Mac played on 14 ASA best yet,” stated commissioner Ellis. “To State Championship teams, nine ASA Regional Championship teams, and played be able to host this prestigious event in in 18 ASA Major and Super Division National Tournaments. Mac was named All- such a beautiful new $13-million facility Tournament in numerous ASA State Tournaments, Smoky Mountain Classic, Pic-O- and to have 120 attendees was perfect Dixie, Conway Twitty Classic, the Stroh’s Invitational, and numerous other National as the Tennessee ASA Annual Meeting Tournaments. He was selected to the All- American or All-Tournament teams at least came to a close. I would like to thank our once in four decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. In 1990 Mac won the batting title sponsor, Top Prospect Network, the Hall (30-35) with (.857) and the home run title with eight. of Fame Committee, Hendersonvile Parks Tommy Everette Director Dave LeMarbre, and the City of Tommy’s playing career started in 1966 and ended in 1989. During his 24-year Hendersonville for allowing us to pay career, he played with Trailways and Rudder Construction from Knoxville, Le-Al- tribute to these well-deserving individu- Co from Lebanon, and Thurman-Bryant from Chattanooga. Tommy also played als in such a remarkable setting.” basketball for Carson-Newman from 1966-1969. He won a total of 14 ASA State Teammates Mac Stalcup and Tommy championships, eight ASA Region championships, and played in 10 ASA National Everette from Lebanon-based men’s slow- Championship Tournaments. He was named to the ASA National Tournament pitch powerhouse Le-Al-Co entered the All-American team twice, including 1983 when he was named to the first team. Hall together. The categories and induct- He received All-Tournament awards in Tennessee ASA State Tournaments, Pic- ees were: Slowpitch James “Skip” Evans O-Dixie, ASA Region Tournaments, Stroh’s Invitational, Conway Twitty Classic, (Manager), Tommy Everette, Mac Stalcup, Smoky Mountain Classic, and ASA National Tournaments. Page 2 Tennessee ASA INSIDER/FEB. 2012 Chattanooga hosts largest tournament in ASA history 172 teams compete in 16-Under ASA National HE 2011 ASA 16-U National Fast Pitch Championship was hosted inT Chattanooga, Tenn., July 31-Aug. 7. The 172-team event was the largest ASA National Championship ever and, with Chattanooga’s rich ASA softball history, there could not have been a more appro- priate venue. The tournament boasted teams from 38 states and as far away as Seattle and Honolulu. More than 200 college coaches also attended to view potential recruits. The tournament needed all 516 games as The Next Level from Temecula, CA took the Georgia Impact to the “if” game and earned the much coveted ASA National Champion banner. “Congratulations to The Next Level from Temecula, Calif.,” Kim Swafford, director of the tourney, said following the event. “A true national champion has been crowned. Thank you to all of the teams, parents and fans for joining us this year. Along with the great city of Chattanooga, our goal was to provide great entertain- The Next Level from Temecula, Calif., persevered over 172 teams to take the top ment and the perfect atmosphere for com- spot in the ASA 16-U Fast Pitch National Championship, July 31-Aug. 7 in Chat- petitive softball. We think we succeeded tanooga. Teams from 38 states competed in the largest national in ASA history. (Please see ASA NATIONAL pg. 7) (Photo by Mike Carmo) Tennessee ASA Briefs 2011 was historic year volunteers to ensure that we shine when offering more Class B and Class C/Rec teams visit from as far away as Hawaii tournaments as well as additional in- for the Tennessee ASA and all across America and these cities vitational and qualifying tournaments 2011 WAS A HISTORIC YEAR for the have stepped to the forefront.