Written by Bob on March 9th, 2010
“…I am not afraid to take a bruise if it will keep the ball off of the screen.” – Derek Arsenie
SASKATOON, SK, CANADA – Ask any athlete in the world and most will say that representing their country in international competition is the ultimate honor. And that goes for Derek Arsenie as well.
Arsenie is a 19-year-old catcher on the 40-man roster of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team pool. He aspires to help lead his country to the gold medal in the International Softball Federation XIII World Championships in 2013.
“My goal is to make the team and contribute in anyway possible towards winning a gold medal at the next ISF worlds,” Arsenie said. “If fastball gets into the Olympics in 2020 I hope to make the national team again and win the Olympics, but there is a lot of work to do to get to these goals.”
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Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball | No Responses »
Tags: Canada Men's Fastball, Canada Senior Men's National Team, International Softball Federation World Tournament, ISF World Championship, Saskatoon men's fastball
Written by Bob on March 9th, 2010
Don Bates, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s National Team program.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada – When Don Bates evaluates a young ball player’s potential to make the roster of Canada’s most elite men’s fastball team, one criteria stands out: The ability to make the “jump.”
In 2009, Softball Canada appointed Bates as Head Coach of the Men’s National Team program. Now the work begins. Bates and his coaching staff must scour Canada searching for top talent to bring Canada back to prominence in international play.
Back to winning the gold medal in the International Softball Federation World Championship. And he has three years in which to achieve that goal. The ISF XIII Men’s World Championship takes place August, 2013 at North Shore City, New Zealand.
And a priority is to find young talent, who can step in and replace the program’s retiring stars. A 40-man pool has been established with several young players on it.
But the questions loom. Can this young talent – as young as age 19 – make the jump to compete against the best fastball played on the planet? Can they succeed against the likes of New Zealand? Australia? Japan? The USA?
“The hardest thing for the younger players is making the jump from junior to senior ball,” Bates said. “Some keep improving, some plateau.”
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Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball | 1 Response »
Tags: International Softball Federation, ISF Men's World Championship, Softball Canada
Written by Bob on March 8th, 2010
YUCAIPA, CA – Amy Reason has much to smile and feel good about lately.
Amy, a shooting guard on the Yucaipa Thunderbirds girl’s basketball team, received one of the highest honors a high school athlete can receive when she was selected as a Second-Team, All-Citrus Belt League performer.
“I was shocked, I didn’t think I would get it,” said Amy, a senior. “It is an honor and made me feel really good about myself to find out I’m on that team.”
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Posted in Basketball - high school, Yucaipa, Yucaipa High School Sports | No Responses »
Tags: Citrus Belt League Girl's Basketball, Yucaipa High School Athletics, Yucaipa High School Varsity Girl's Basketball, Yucaipa Thunderbirds Girl's Basketball
Written by Bob on March 8th, 2010
“…Nobody can say to me, ‘you’re too old to play; get out of here.’” – Ron Lewis
MONTGOMERY, AL – Ron Lewis, Jr. wonders sometimes whether it’s worth it. Worth it to be on a fastpitch softball diamond on a particularly hot, muggy, Alabama Saturday afternoon after already playing four games.
He’s tired. His teammates are tired.
But all the 42-year-old Lewis has to do for motivation is glance over at the man playing first base crouched like a cat ready to spring. Then he just smiles and thinks, if dad can do it so can we.
Dad would be, Ron Lewis, Sr.
“He is inspirational and he makes me proud,” says Ron Lewis, Jr. “Growing up, my dad was like a Superman, and I saw how hard he worked. He has set the bar for me and my (teammates).”
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Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball | 2 Responses »
Tags: Blue and Gray Invitational Tournament, Montgomery Alabama Men's Fastpitch, Untied States Air Force Softball
Written by Bob on March 7th, 2010
MONTGOMERY, AL – We live busy lives. We complain about work overload.
Well, you won’t hear Robert Gray complain about being overworked. And if anyone has a right to complain, Gray does.
Search high and low if you like. But finding anyone more dedicated to men’s fastpitch softball in the southeastern U.S. than the 67-year-old Gray, well, that’s going to be hard to do.
Try these work hats on for size:
Gray has served as an International Softball Congress (ISC) Regional Commissioner for 21 years; Secretary of the ISC for five two-year terms; Assistant Chairman of the ISC Hall of Fame; and game controller for the AAU International Tournament.
“It keeps me busy,” Gray said, “with all the telephone calls and emails. I also spend one week at the ISC World Tournament. And one week at the AAU tournament (Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida)…” Click to continue »
Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball | No Responses »
Tags: Alabama men's fastpitch softball, Blue and Gray Invitational Tournament, Clearwater Bombers, fast-pitch softball, International Softball Congress, Montgomery Alabama
Written by Bob on March 6th, 2010
YUCAIPA, CA – The Yucaipa Thunderbirds (2-0) won their second consecutive game in the El Segundo Tournament, by defeating the host El Segundo Eagles, 11-2, Saturday at Yucaipa. Click to continue »
Posted in High School Baseball, Yucaipa, Yucaipa High School Sports | No Responses »
Tags: El Segundo Baseball Tournament, El Segundo High School Baseball, Yucaipa High School Baseball
Written by Bob on March 5th, 2010
SANTA ANA, CA – The Santa Monica Vikings girl’s basketball team defeated the Fontana Summit Sky Hawks, 69-63, in the CIF-Southern Section Div. 1A championship game, Thursday, at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.
See both teams in action by visiting the game’s photo gallery:
Click Here For Photo Gallery
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Tags: CIF-Southern Section Division 1A Girls Basketball, Fontana Summit Girls Basketball, Fontana Summit High School Athletics, Mater Dei High School, Santa Monica High School Athletics, Santa Monica High School Girls Basketball
Written by Bob on March 3rd, 2010
“Fastpitch is still the greatest game in the world.” – Herb Wisdom
TUMACACORI, ARIZ – Herb Wisdom had a choice, straddle the saddle or don the catcher’s gear.
He chose the later and has no regrets. But back in 1957, the 18-year-old Arizona cowboy was on his way to following in his dad’s footsteps as a rodeo cowboy.
Fastpitch softball? Not on Wisdom’s radar. That is until he enlisted in the Navy. And from 1958 to 1962, during his stint, he played with and against some of the greatest pitchers and players the Armed Forces had to offer. Click to continue »
Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball, Yucaipa | 1 Response »
Tags: International Softball Congress, ISC World Tournamant, NAFA Fastpitch, NAFA World Series, Tumacacori Arizona
Written by Bob on March 3rd, 2010
“…One girl told me, ‘if he plays slowpitch, I’m going to leave him.’” –George Connor
By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
ST. PAUL, MINN – A dead arm. It’s the best thing that ever happened to George “Buzz” Connor’s ball playing career.
Back in 1969, the then 36-year-old Connor’s baseball pitching arm went dead. Nothing left overhand. The solution? Start whipping the ball underhanded to home plate. And that’s exactly what Connor did.
“My arm just went dead pitching baseball,” said Connor. “My catcher Hap Holmgren said, ‘you’re going to start throwing softball.’” Click to continue »
Posted in Mens & Boys Fastpitch Softball, Yucaipa, senior citizens | No Responses »
Tags: International Softball Congress, ISC Hall of Fame, Minnesota Sports Federation, Old Timers’ Fastpitch Softball Association of St. Paul, St. Paul Men's fast-pitch softball
Written by Bob on March 1st, 2010
Sophomore, Kodi Lavrusky, left, scored the 76th goal of her high school career to set a new school record, breaking the previous mark of 75 set by Sarai Stamper, who now serves as the Thunderbirds assistant coach.
Photo By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
YUCAIPA, CA – The Saugus Centurions put an end to Yucaipa’s dreams of reaching the championship of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs with a convincing 5-2 victory over the Thunderbirds on Friday in a quarter-final contest. Click to continue »
Posted in Yucaipa, Yucaipa High School Sports | No Responses »
Tags: CIF-Southern Section Girls Soccer Playoffs, Saugus High School Athletics, Saugus High School Girls Soccer, Yucaipa High School Athletics, Yucaipa High School Girl's Soccer
