Information about Premier Fastpitch Girls Softball

[cent]

Gary, interesting. So now no time off for the girls in the summer as they will play it looks like most of August with 18Gold in early August and your Premier event to follow. Or.......................is it your design to not have some of the top teams play ASA 18Gold and have your tournament the same weekend as 18Gold.

[kweimer]

I believe the Premier Tournament will run the same week as Gold Nationals.

[Redcup]

Another thought,Get the best umpires.ASA gets regional (local)umps,some are good,but the rest are just cashing a check.Good luck with this tourney!Long over due.

[LVTHEGAME]

I believe looking at 2010 that the Gold starts after Garys, on the 8th, so that means all players in the gold will do both or leave to go to Gold.

Since ASA has the best UMPs and all busy during that time, where will all the blues come from.

Is this organization Non Profit? We always talk about where the money goes, look at all the tourneys starting up. Its a business nothing more, which is ok, but lets call it right.

[kweimer]

I believe you will see the dates change to match up with Gold Nationals.

[wadeintothem]

Another thought,Get the best umpires.ASA gets regional (local)umps,some are good,but the rest are just cashing a check.Good luck with this tourney!Long over due.

As a point of clarification as to how umps get to nats...

"Regional" does not mean "local". Regions are big - Region 14 is CA, NV, and HI. A % are "local" and a % from the region and there is a % exchange (from all over the country) (which is how I went to Georgia).

The 18G is entirely different than that process (which is used at other nationals). 18G are NOT regional at all, they are hand selected throughout the nation, region by region through a committee in OKC. It is harder to get to the 18G tournament as an umpire than as a team IMO. It takes years to build the resume and reputation and even a little luck to even be considered by your regional UIC, let alone the committee in OKC.

I'm sure there are plenty of umps in so cal not working a national who wouldnt mind making a few bucks working this tourney. Truth be told, even I probably would want to work it if I wasnt going to be at a National. Surf City etc doesnt have a reputation for treating umpires great (like for example Cobb County does) but you dont hear many complaints about how he runs his tournies (from the umpire side). He'll be able to get umpires for this.

In terms of bringing in the "Best" umpires from around the country, thats a pretty expensive deal... I doubt you are going to see that. Most umpires will treat this much like a "alphabet" soup friendly, they wont know what uniforms to bring, so they will bring their HS stuff, baseball stuff, etc. Everyone will be mismatched. This is the same as when you work any tournament that is a "no name brand" tourney. They'll be able to work on their own mechanics (like when you work mens FP). I wouldnt count on umpires making this tournament great unless OCBB et all really want to pay out. I doubt they want to.

ASA Nationals are a completely different deal. They are run by a National UIC and you get a national eval that goes in your permanent file that can and will affect future assignments, including international assignments. You bring your A game. (not everyone has a "A" level game, but everyone does bring their "A" game, whatever that might be). No umpire would be impressed by this tourney. Even something like "NSA World Series" gets a few chuckles in umpire circles, its just not a big deal.

[wadeintothem]

First, this ABSOLUTELY IS NOT a Gary Haning vs ASA issue, I am one person, I have one team and after two consecutive bad Nationals that team barely qualifies for an invitation to what we are planning. A number of long-time Gold coaches have discussed this for years and now we are going to try and implement what we feel is a better way of doing things.

Sorcerer Gold
Gold Coast Hurricanes
Worth Firecrackers
So Cal Choppers
Corona Angels Marty
So Cal Athletics
Valley Breeze
Georgia Elite
East Cobb Bullets
AZ Hot Shots Gatti
Wichita Mustangs
Beverly Bandits
So Illinois Force
Texas Impact Gold
Virginia Shamrocks
Texas Glory
OC Batbusters
WEST

Don Minard
Bruce Richardson
Gary Haning

Once they are all set we will list the committees for elsewhere

It seems to me if your invites for "chosen" USA teams are their ASA performance, and then those teams are not going to play ASA anymore, I suppose the real challenge in the future is for your organization to simply not be marginalized as another "alphabet soup" org.

If you lose or give up your ASA sanction and your organization is no longer going/allowed to play ASA, then is seems to me you are actually paving the way for another team org to actually
step into your shoes and become the OC __{we're the new oc club now}__________ .

Despite your unimpressive finishes of late, you still draw the best. Why are the best drawn to the Batbusters? Your national championships. All this adds up to, what is IMO, a very few short years of impact at your disposal. I'm not sure if the ultimate goal is a statement to force the ASA voting body to do something, but I would imagine you power to influence wouldneed to be utilized very quickly - it will be gone soon.

Alternatively, if your goal is simply to be another alphabet soup org in a sea of many, I would imagine that within a few years, you wouldnt have a team capable of even qualifying for a national anyway. Those players will be migrating to ASA championship level orgs. The contention of a few on this board that no one cares about national championships is absolute
BS. If they didnt care, they wouldnt be on your team to begin with, they would be anywhere...
playing rec league, or whatever.

I admit, your team list is impressive. So you must ask, WHY is it an impressive list? Their ASA play. Thats the only reason we even know they exist.

IMO, there will be teams step up and take yours and their place at the ASA power table. Your
ASA championships you so proudly listed are what made your organization the established power house that it is. Without that, you have what? 1 man with a team not involved in ASA play.

IMO, that puts your org at about the "B" level within a few short years. You are definately throwing the dice. It will be interesting to watch. Your stated goal of taking the "good" gold teams you deem to invite from ASA is a fairly lofty ambition... The shock and awe of 2010 will be gone by 2011... as other teams that have been waiting on the side lines, place in OKC, and take the "premier" teams place; players migrating to the new hi caliber Championship Organizations. Without about 200 slots needed for championship level umpires in CA in 2010, the mostly scrub mismatched uninterested cash a check local yokel umpires you get will not make a good showing for you either... and I doubt you have the money to vet them, fly them from outside, and put them up for a week... and there is no "national flavor" to this which would cause them to step up. It would be plain to any umpire that this is a showcase, no matter what you call it.

Yes, ASA would be hurt in 2010 if those teams really decide to give up their ASA play and santion. That would suck. The list is more impressive than I originally thought.

But, soon, those teams will be memories for old timers, stories "remember when OC Batbusters were a good team?" type convos and new teams will be there taking yours and their place.

But, I almost doubt thats the real goal. It seems to me, the undertone of this is the want of
some changes in ASA. Since ASA is a voting body, you may well get that. Hell, even I think the
gold tourney is too long, wouldnt mind seeing college players excluded, etc. It would surely
be better for your organization than being relagated to a rec league team hosting a few
alphabet soup tournies.

Of course, your wallet may certainly prefer to be running your own alphabet soup org; dunno.

Better for the girls on your teams? Doubt it. But at least your teams dont have to travel anymore. That will be nice I'm sure.

Thats my .02.

[Redcup]

Wade,the reason they go play for GH is because all the big schools recruit from his team.The reason why all the big schools go to GH is because he gets all the stud players from everywhere.Same with all the other big name tb teams on the list.Dont worry your dear ASA will still be around,they just won't be mandating teams jump thru hoops for them...JMO

[wadeintothem]

I disagree spaz; the ONLY reason these teams are considered top are their rankings in ASA. That IS how you know. That is how they are defined. No one gives a rats @ss how someone places in IFA or Utrip or the new OCBB ABC Org or how they do in their invited members only org. Can anyone even name a top Utrip team? In 3 years will he simply download the order of finish and send out an email "please join us"? "You are now a top org" Cuz he wont be there...

The play in ASA defines them as the top org. The top players and coaches will be attracted to the top teams in ASA. That defines "top", not the other way around. They will get nods while the players from a FORMER top ASA team are still there; after that, they will move on to where the Top players go.

[Sftbll4ever]

From Spysoftball, a short list of college girls that were at Nationals:

College Pitchers and Players at Gold (sophomores who graduated 2008)



Hillary Bach, Arizona State, P for Corona Angels

Jessica Spigner, Tennessee, P for Georgia Elite

Monica Perry, unknown, 2008 graduate, P Georgia Elite

Shelby Allison, Bevill State CC, IF for Alabama Crusaders

Catherine Douglas, UAB, IF for Alabama Crusaders

Mandy Lowman, UAB, C for Alabama Crusaders

Tiffany Smith, UAB, OF for Alabama Crusaders

Katelyn Boyd, Arizona State, IF for Arizona Hot Shots

Kate Kuzma, Georgia Tech, C for Atlanta Vipers Seamon

Amber Hamilton, USC Upstate, P for Atlanta Vipers Seamon

Tyler Miller, Florida Tech, IF for Atlanta Vipers Seamon

Tiffany Phillips, Georgia Perimeter CC, IF for Atlanta Vipers Seamon

Sara Sandoval, Mesa CC, OF for Desert Thunder

Vangie Galindo, Maryland, OF for CA Cruisers

Justeen Maeva, released, IF for CA Cruisers

Michelle Takeda, Maryland, OF for CA Cruisers

Christina Zambrana, Arizona State, IF for CA Cruisers

Jennifer Fenton, Alabama, OF for East Cobb Bullets

Ashley Pauly, University of Georgia, SS for East Cobb Bullets

Jessica Sinclair, Georgia Tech, OF for East Cobb Bullets

Megan Denio, Long Beach State, OF for Explosion

Michelle Tait, Pacific/TBD, P for Explosion

Amanda Chidester, Michigan, IF/C for Finesse

Brogan Darwin, Central Michigan, C for Finesse

Lauren Histed, Ohio U,IF for Finesse

Shelby Burchell, Tennessee, C/IF for Fury Fastpitch

Amy Campbell, East Tennessee State,C/IF for Fury

Kamri Chester, Univ of Memphis, OF for Fury

Lisaira Daniels, Georgia, OF for Georgia Elite

Jessica Coan, Georgia Tech, P for Georgia Knockouts

Michelle Moultrie, Univ of Florida, OF for Gold Coast Hurricanes

Amy Gonzalez, Samford Univ, OF for Houston Power

Erin Arevalo, Georgia, P for Southern Force

Chanda Bell, Kentucky, P for Indy Dreams

Kristen Ohaver, Univ Southern Indiana, IF for Indy Dreams

Emily Sullivan, St Francis, IF for Indy Dreams

Alexandra Casey, William Carey Univ, OF for Louisiana Patriots

Lauren Capello, LSU, IF/C for LA Patriots

Sydney Wilson, Baylor, IF for LA Patriots

Lindsay Barrett, Wright State, C, Miami Valley Express

Carly Ivan, Urbana Univ, OF for Miami Valley Express

Jessica Simpson, Miami of Ohio, P for Miami Valley Express

Desiree Smith, Univ of Mary, C/SS for MN Irish

Erin Tjornhom, Iowa Lakes CC, OF for MN Irish

Kathryn Ayers, Lipscomb Univ, P for Nashville Cruisers

Jenny Bain, UT Martin, IF for Nashville Cruisers

Amy Buwalda, Motlow State CC, IF for Nashville Cruisers

Elizabeth Harris, Covenant College, C for Nashville Cruisers

Hannah Irwin, Belmont Univ, C for Nashville Cruisers

Riley Mashburn, Trevecca Nazarene Univ, P for Nashville Cruisers

Caroline Mason, Lipscomb Univ, OF for Nashvillel Cruisers

Jennifer Bohle, Creighton Univ, IF for Nebraska Gold

Jamie Gay, Univ of Nebraska at Lincoln, IF for Nebraska Gold

Ashley Hagemann, Univ of Nebraska at Lincoln, P for Nebraska gold

Nikki Haget, Univ of Nebraska at Lincoln, IF for Nebraska Gold

Kylie Hovinga, Creighton, P for Nebraska Gold

Christa Ruf, Creighton, OF for Nebraska Gold

Nikki Cognigni, Pittsburgh, IF for NJ Breakers

Cipolloni, Giannina, Virginia, IF for NJ Breakers

Alexis Nowell, South Florida, for NJ Breakers

Kirby Wright, Nebraska, C for NJ Breakers

Caroline DeVincenzi, Lewis & Clark, OF for Nor Cal Shockers

Sarah Neuhaus, Chicago University, P for Nor Cal Shockers

Kelly Sarginson, Loyola Marymount, IF for Nor Cal Shockers

Mary Claire Brenner, Oregon State, OF for NW Bullets Gold

Paige Hall, Oregon State, P for NW Bullets Gold

Baily Harris, U of Washington, P for NW Bullets Gold

Britny Cushing, Washburn, IF for Olathe Rockets

Sierra Lessel, Willamette Univ, OF for Oregon Reign

Kelly Murray, Manhattan, IF for Polar Crush

Powlowsky, Nastasha, Sienna, for Polar Crush

Tori Ferreria, Cal Baptist Univ, P for San Diego Renegades

Adrienne Monka, Northwestern, C/IF for So Cal Athletics

Rachel Brown, Harvard, P for So Cal Breakers

Hannah Clements, Utah, OF for So Cal Breakers

Alyssa Dronenberg, CSUSM, IF for So Cal Breakers

Kelly Majam, Hawaii, OF/P for So Cal Breakers

Lelani Bernardino, Memphis, OF for So Cal Choppers

Jessica Spigner, Tennessee, IF/P for So Cal Choppers

Hannah Klein, Seattle Univ, P/IF for So Cal Pumas

Sam Fischer, Loyola Marymount, IF for So Cal Pumas

Courtney Moore, Cal Poly, IF/OF for Sorcerer Phil

Ashley Fleming, Missouri, IF/OF for St Louis Chaos

Kelcie Matesa, St Louis University, P for St Louis Chaos

Kelsi Weseman, Georgia Tech, IF for Texas Blaze

Morgan Lukas, UTSA, P for Texas Express

Stephanie Shiflet, Southern Mississippi, OF for Texas Express

Brittany Griffiths, Arkansas, SS for Texas Glory Gold Shelton

Lisa Johnson, North Texas, IF for Texas Glory Gold Shelton

Elizabeth Perez, Cameron University, P for Texas Fusion

Hannah Schwarz, Texas A&M CC, OF for Texas Hawks

Brittany Arredondo, N/A, IF for Texas Impact

Nadia Taylor, Texas, C for Texas Impact

Lindsay Delamater, Chapman, P for The Next Level

Chelsea Troupe, UTEP, C for The Next Level

Sarah Vlahos, Palomar CC, IF for The Next Level