FONTANA, CA – A.B. Miller High School hosted the Citrus Belt League Track and Field Finals, Wednesday, May 5th. Check out my photo gallery of the event. Pictures are available for purchase.
Citrus Belt League Finals Photo Gallery
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Check out Photos of Citrus Belt League Track & Field Finals
Friday, May 7th, 2010Old Mustang Bob learns valuable lesson
Monday, April 19th, 2010
This cowboy gets dumped by a wild bronc. Could Bob be next?
Photo By BOB OTTO
www.ottoinfocus.com
YUCAIPA, CA – I announced rather proudly my latest plan. I’m going to adopt and train a wild Mustang I said. My son advised me to buy more life insurance. And my wife said, “I’m afraid you’ll fall off and get hurt.”
“So you think I’m too old?” I asked my wife, in a bit of a huff.
“Yes,” she said without a hint of doubt, or a blink of her eye.
Now here’s the thing with men. As we age we don’t like being told we’re too old for anything. Be it job, sports, sex, and yes, even training a wild Mustang.
Click to continue »
Momentum building for the ISC World Tournament, thanks in large part to the Booster Club
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010“…the World Tournament is more than just a softball tournament; it’s a community event that will impact various parts of our area…” – Kyle Beane, president of Midland Explorers Booster Club
botto3@verizon.net
MIDLAND, MI – One man with one good idea can bring about profound change.
Lefty Bartos is one such man. In February 1986 Bartos conceived the idea to form a booster club to help support major men’s fastpitch softball in Midland.
And from his idea sprang the Midland Explorers Booster Club. The club recently celebrated its 24th year of existence. And it’s still going strong.
Lefty has retired after many years of service to the club. But he hasn’t been forgotten.
“I’m not sure who was on the original committee that began the process, but Lefty was the driving force behind it,” said Kyle Beane, president of the Booster Club. “It was created to help support a major men’s fastpitch team in Midland that would carry on the tradition of Midland McArdles, Valley Mechanical, and the Dow AC’s.
“But without Lefty there would be no Explorers.”
Cathedral City Classic
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
YUCAIPA, CA – I’m heading down to the lower desert for the “Cathedral City Classic,” women’s college Div. I fast-pitch softball tournament in Cathedral City.
The tournament runs from today through Sunday and is being held at Big League Dreams Park.
Click her for tournament website
This is quite a game we get to play
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Where are some of the next generation of fastpitch pitchers coming from? Fargo, North Dakota.
Photo By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
FARGO, ND – When Kyle Koterba left his Montana home to attend college in North Dakota, he intended to play baseball.
Sometimes though, the best of plans get waylaid. But you won’t find Koterba crying and bemoaning his fate that he never played college baseball. On the contrary, he found a sport much more to his liking: fastpitch softball.
“I came to college intending to play baseball, but gave up on it when I played my first fastpitch,” said the 32-year-old Koterba. “And I have no regrets.”
Kyle Beane gets it
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Kyle Beane,left, pictured with his father, Clint. Kyle is the Co-chairperson of the 2010 ISC World Tournament and plays for the Midland Explorers, which is managed by his dad.
Photo By Maddy Flanagan
www.maddysphotos.com
Story By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
YUCAIPA, CA – I don’t know what Kyle Beane does for a living. But I suspect it has something to do with sales or marketing.
Beane along with Dave Lach are the Co-chairmen of the 2010 International Softball Congress World Tournament to be held in Midland, Michigan, Aug. 14-21. And I am learning fast that it would be hard to find two finer promoters for the tournament – and the sport of men’s fastpitch softball.
Recently Beane sent an email to several people including myself. He asked for help in promoting the world tournament by writing a series of stories about the 48 teams playing in the tournament.
“…Throughout the course of the ISC, and leading up to it, we’re hoping to do some things that other hosts haven’t done,” Bean said in his email. “One thing is to provide a unique team profile, article, and feature on our website of all 48 teams…. probably starting around May 1st, and adding three to four per week leading up to the beginning of the tournament.”
What a great idea. And one long overdue. Click to continue »
The fastpitch diehards of Omaha
Thursday, February 11th, 2010By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
OMAHA, NE – The game has shrunk. The numbers of teams have dwindled. But yet in Omaha the fastpitch diehards carry on – especially the likes of Matt Christensen, Darren Dubsky, and Rick Nice.
Abandon their summer passion? No way.
Put men’s fastpitch softball in a coffin, lower it into the grave, shovel dirt over it, and just walk away?
Not on their lives.
Yes, the numbers are down, says Christensen, from about 60 teams in the Omaha City League 20 years ago to just six now.
The solution to reverse the dwindling numbers? A youth movement, say the three diehards.
Christensen is no Pollyanna. He realizes that 21st century youngsters have a glut of recreational options. Thus some must be coaxed into the sport. Sort of like dangling a carrot in front of a horse’s nose. It takes work, but it can be done. And he’s proven it.
He took an age 23-under team comprised of local Nebraska kids and a pitcher from Mexico to the ISC World Tournament in 2005. And from that experience he’s come away optimistic.
“A lot of the kids continue to play and it was probably the highest caliber of ball that they have seen,” said Christensen, who managed the 2008 A&L Farms team in the International Softball Congress World Tournament. And he currently catches for the Omaha Fastpitch Club.
2010 California Classic Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament
Monday, February 8th, 2010SAN DIEGO, CA – Eight teams have committed to play in the 2010 California Classic men’s fastpitch softball tournament that will feature some of the finest teams from the U.S., Canada, and California.
This is a must see event for men’s fastpitch softball fans. So mark your calendar for June 19-20, and plan to attend the 12-team tournament to be held at Sportsplex USA in Santee, Calif. Some of the game’s finest pitchers, hitters, and top-ranked teams will be battling it out for the championship.
Committed Teams To Date:
California A’s
Bakersfield Silverhawks
IAC
California Builders
Rude Pac
Portland, Oregon
Vancouver Meralomas (Canada)
Broken Bow, Nebraska
The tournament is filling up fast and looks to be a very competitive tournament on the west coast. Four teams are needed to fill out the 12-team bracket, so for interested managers, please see the contact information listed below.
The California Classic has an added incentive as the highest placing Western Region team playing with an International Softball Congress qualifying roster will receive a berth to the International Softball Congress World Tournament to be held in Midland, Michigan, Aug. 13-21.
TOURNAMENT SPECIFICS:
Name: 2010 California Classic
What: California Classic Men’s ISC Fastpitch Softball Tournament
Who: Hosted by the California A’s and Bakersfield Silverhawks
When: June 19-20, 2010
Where: SportsplexUSA Complex, 9951 Riverwalk Drive, Santee, CA.
How Much: Entry Fee: $450
Format: Round Robin Single Elimination with a 4 Game Guarantee
Who To Contact: David Weldin: davidw@expressinsurance.com;
Bobby McCormick: mccormickservices10@yahoo.com;
Chris McGehee: garageworks@bak.rr.com
Click Here For Sportsplex USA Complex
For information on the International Softball Congress
For Fastpitchwest website
For Al Doran’s Fastpitch website
Minnesota Vikings exact sweet revenge
Monday, January 18th, 2010YUCAIPA, CA – Take that Cowboys. How sweet the taste of victory. And even sweeter the taste of revenge.
Minnesota Vikings fans are celebrating – no we’re actually ecstatic about the 34-3 thrashing the Vikings dealt the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in the NFC playoffs.
It’s been a long time coming. Remember the “Hail Mary,” pass? Click to continue »
Time For the Garcia Women To Start Walking
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010By BOB OTTO
botto3@verizon.net
YUCAIPA, CA – My wife came home from work yesterday saying that the women of the Garcia Insurance Company have resolved to get in shape. Some have signed up and joined fitness clubs. With unflinching determination they’re committed to dieting, exercising, and losing weight in 2010.
To this I say: “Not very likely.” Click to continue »