DAMan

Agenda really? I was not the original post of this thread. Point is maybe just entertainment, but like you it seems to poke you in the wrong spot. I do know softball and know the teams in the golden triangle viewing area. As far as a bug, no bug, no anything. I promise this in a few years when your not following softball none of this will matter, enjoy it now but dont read more in to it than there is. oh and some possible names to combine Orange Crush and GT Shockers are: 1. GTO's 2. Or -ockers (gold) 3. Shockers Crush GOLD 4. Beaumont Best Gold Somebody tell BC i've found his old paddle My dog ate it.

Weed, be gone. How U been doing? Just got back from NM doing what my wife made me promise her I would do. Nice country. Enjoyed the two days.

Hey BHBLUE, wanna work a Sunday only tournament in Beaumont on the 13th of Sept? Let me know. Thanks, glen

Thought I would share this with U. What are Ur thoughts? THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM USFA Reply-to: [email protected] Coaches/Parents/Players/Umpires: This is a very important issue concerning the 14U age division. Please take a moment and read this in its entirety and give me your opinion about the 14U age division and if you feel USFA should move the 14U division to 43. I personally feel this would be a big mistake and a detriment to the 14U players and ultimately the sport in the long run and I explain why below, but we will listen to your opinions and take actions accordingly. By now, most of you have probably heard that the High School pitching distance rules have recently changed from 40 feet to 43 feet which I feel was long overdue for the 16-18year olds who will soon transition to college. Because of this change, USFA has mandated that beginning Sep 1st we will also change our pitching distance to 43 feet for the 16U & 18U divisions. Now with that said, we have had several inquiries about the 14U division since many of the 14U players will also be competing at the JV or Varsity level. So what about 14U? Do we move all the 14U division to 43 foot – only the 14U A division or leave them all at 40foot? Please read me comments below before giving me your opinion. A few other organizations have made the hasty decision to move the 14U division to 43 because it might be the popular thing for the moment. But they are doing this without regard for the long term negative affects this will have on the pitchers and hitters and the overall game at 14U and beyond. Moving the 14U division to 43 feet just because they may play JV or Varsity at 43 feet is not a decision USFA is taking lightly, nor should you. Please indulge me while I will explain why. As someone who lives in Florida and has witnessed 43 foot pitching in High School for the past 4 years in addition to having been a pitching coach for numerous players at that level and as the father of a former DI pitcher, I can tell you that 43 foot has proved to be a very good thing for many of my older seasoned varsity pitchers because it helped prepare them for the next level while at the same time has been a detriment to many of the younger varsity and JV pitchers as well as most hitters who faced lesser quality pitching. My concerns with moving 14U travel ball to 43 feet is that it won't give those pitchers the opportunity to develop proper mechanics, form, pitch movement and most importantly mental stability at a time that is most important in their growth and development as pitchers. So instead of seeing these kids develop their spins, release, movement and leg drive, you'll start seeing more shoulder, elbow and knee injuries which I can tell you I've seen much more of here in Florida from many many young pitchers who subconsciously try to overthrow rather than truly pitch when faced with 43 feet in HS. And that's from 14yr old – 9th graders. Some states will have kids pitching at 43 feet in HS as young as 12yr old - 7th graders. HS at 43 feet for these young pitchers is a concern for me but not nearly as big of an issue as travel ball at 43 feet. Although the pitching will be weaker in HS from the younger players, so will the hitting since most HS teams only have a few decent hitters. But throwing at 43 feet in travel ball they'll face much better hitters and consequently we'll see a great deal more pitching injuries not to mention a lower quality of pitching in the long run because pitchers will have had only 2 years at the 12U level to develop before being thrown to the wolves and expected to perform. 14U pitchers need to fully develop and learn to pitch -- not just throw before trying to muscle the ball another three feet. To me this would be a huge mistake, and you're just asking for pitching injuries, but again we'll listen to your thoughts and make our decision accordingly. Now as far as the hitting goes: Consider that the average varsity High School pitcher throws 52-56mph with some movement and the average JV pitcher throws 47-53 with barely any movement. Less than 5% of High School pitchers ever break 60mph consistently if at all and fewer yet have a command of their pitches at that speed. Remember I'm talking about 8th – 12th grade HS pitchers, not the above average 10th-12th grade travel ball pitchers (again, the roughly 5% that are taking lessons, pitching 5 days a week and are hoping to be recruited for college – not the 95% of HS pitchers that never pitch in travel ball or are the 3rd or 4th pitcher). Anyway, when you take that average HS pitcher, move her back 3 feet giving the batter more reaction time, you in essence take 2-3 mph off her pitches and now that same HS pitcher seems like she's pitching 50-54 or roughly the same speed as a good 10U or 12U travel ball pitcher. That's basically what you'll get at the 14U level from 13-14 yr old players if 14U is moved to 43 feet. Yes, the offense will increase because your facing weaker pitching. Your hitters will become much weaker because now instead of facing a true 52-55mph pitcher with decent movement at 40 feet, you'll be facing what seems like 48-52mph with virtually no movement at 43 feet. One of the purposes for travel ball is prepare the kids for the next level. However if 14U is moved to 43 feet you'll basically be moving backwards in pitching speed from 12U (40ft) to 14U because most pitchers between 12U & 14U aren't becoming faster, they are developing their pitches better. The faster speed (high 50s – low 60s) and movement rarely become consistent until their bodies have developed better at around 15 or 16. Hopefully you're all still reading at this point because I feel this is a very critical decision that affects not only your young pitchers but also the hitting and the overall game at the 14U level and beyond. I personally feel like by moving the 14U age division to 43 we would be moving more toward rec ball than college ball and I think it's a mistake. Not to mention the almost certain increase in pitching injuries, but I want to hear your opinions. Please take some time – talk to college coaches & players and ask their thoughts. I haven't spoken to one pitching coach or college pitcher that thinks it's a good idea for a 12-14yr old to throw at 43 feet. So what about 14U? Do we move all the 14U division to 43 foot – only the 14U A division or leave them all at 40foot? Please give me your opinion. Thank You for your time and we look forward to hearing from you Jeff Strode, Vice President Eastern United States United States Fastpitch Association Office:(850) 729-7481 Cell: (850) 420-7974 [email protected] [Hidden Content]

OMG ! You and Sports Reporter are one of the same ! LOL Help me BHBLUE ! He did stir the pot, didn't he?

From my experience, which is umpiring and seeing the teams and coaches, I say Verde and Trout would make an excellent pair to get this started as coaches. JMHO

Looked good to me all week long. CONGRATULATIONS LADIES

When I win the lottery, I will buy the coach, the players will come.

What U doing this Sat.? Got three games at Crush fields, actually WOS field. Team from CA coming in. From what I here Jeff's cooking on the pit! kHell, that outa bring them out of the woods for that.

What U doing this Sat.? Got three games at Crush fields, actually WOS field. Team from CA coming in.

ROFLMAO U going Nats in Beaumont?

Got you covered and Thanks.

Any updates? Last I heard, between 55 and 65, that was on Sunday.

The batter kicking the ball into fair territory was a different play.....and yes FOUL. No, FOWL ;D

Just moved to Texas! Now this is a state that knows how to live! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. It's beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here. June 14th: Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshipper. June 30th: Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing the lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here. July 10th: The temperature hasn't been below 100 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least, it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat is taking longer than I expected. July 15th: Fell asleep by the community pool (got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this. July 20th: I missed Lomita (my cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car at noon, Lomita had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag, then popped like a water balloon. The car now smells like Kibbles and Shxxs. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat. Good ol' Mr. Sun strikes again. July 25th: The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer! And it's hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the Fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts. July 30th: Been sleeping outside on the patio for 3 nights now, $225,000 house and I can't even go inside. Lomita is the lucky one. Why did I ever come here? Aug. 4th: It's 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85. I hate this stupid state. Aug. 8th: If another wise a$$ cracks, 'Hot enough for you today?' I'm going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work, the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat! Aug. 9th: Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and when I sat on the seats in the car, I thought my a$$ was on fire. My skin melted to the seat. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and a$$ . . . Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried a$$, and baked cat. Aug 10th: The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It's been too hot to do crap for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn state? Water rationing will be next, so my $1700 worth of cactus will just dry up and blow over. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat. Aug. 14th: Welcome to HELL! Temperature got to 115 today. Cactus are dead. Forgot to crack the window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and guess what he asked me... "Hot enough for you today?" My sister had to spend $1,500 to bail me out of jail. Freaking Texas. What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here? Will write later to let you know how the trial goes.

Do they get mileage? $20.00 a game won't pay for gasoline and meals while there, much less lodging. NOPE

U should be able to use them. I am sure the rec ball league would allow it.

Just talked to a friend of mine who is umpiring in the SA tournament, in the 105-107 degree range. They are making 20.00 dollars a game. Not being put in motels, on their own. WOW, dedication.

That was the problem. FOWL.

Your team did play well on Sunday what having to play 6 games. I had, I think 3 of those games and went out in the game before the championship game. Did not fall out, but would have if I had tried to continue. Definiately not 100% today either. Having an artiogram done Wed at 9:00 am. Don't anticipate any problems but did have to drop out of the New Orleans and Beaumont Nats. If everything goes well, I will probably be out one day of the 18U event. Maybe to help Bubba coach. ;D

Did not get to see the Crush gals in either division as I also had to leave due to heat. Collins group was always one game ahead or behind me on my field. Watched a portion of the OCG game withe United. Way to come back gals. Congrats to the Crush organization and to all the teams that endured that heat and humidity. It was brutal.

To Date 25 teams are signed up for 18U in Beaumont.

S&B, I answered, but from my laptop and for some reason it does not allow me on SETXsports. In USFA, if the rule is not stated in the 8 page rule book, then umpires are told to revert to NFHS ruling: Rule 3 Section 6 Penalty:

S&B, I answered, but from my laptop and for some reason it does not allow me on SETXsports. In USFA, if the rule is not stated in the 8 page rule book, then umpires are told to revert to NFHS ruling: In the case you stated, an unreported sub., the rule is the first offense is just a warning. On the 2nd violation is where the penalty is inforced. Penalty is same as in ASA, or IFA.

TASO/UIL for Texas, but NFHS is governing body. Johnny, Would be hard to do with so many tournaments and pre-season play with 3A verus 4A and 5A. Would have to change out every inning.