I just absolutely refuse to complain about the weather.
I sat in air conditioning all summer in 2012 and vowed that I would not complain about winter or spring weather but just endure or enjoy whatever came my way. I didn't promise myself that I would not get occasionally frustrated with the weather though. For example: today I arose and watched the weather forecast. The fella said that the rain would continue through the early morning hours and quit by 10 or so. I went to a cafe for a cup of coffee and at about 9:30 headed to Poynette to look at our fields. I pulled off onto the shoulder of U.S. Highway 51 and just watched it rain. The water was shedding itself off the outfield of our varsity field. However, that means it drains onto the rightfield and rightcenter field areas of our JV softball field and also onto our JV baseball field. It was easy to see that the JV field would be unplayable due to all the "sheetwater" in the outfield. The infield would have been perfect if it were wiffle ball instead of fastpitch softball. The varsity infield looked to me as though it would survive even more rain.
The rain stopped about 10:30 and the infield had a puddle by second base. At about noon I headed back to town (I live four miles north of the fields). I walked out onto the varsity field and again was amazed at how solid it was. One small puddle produced about three gallons of water scooped up with a coal bin shovel and dumped into a five-gallon bucket. After that it took about 2 and half gallons of diamond dry and the infield was set to go. I applied the chalk lines and headed into the school to tell our AD we were good to go. About an half hour later I left the high school and walked out into a very fine mist. That's then when I felt a twang of frustration. "We'll make it," I thought to myself.
Lake Mills arrived and both of us took infield. We had the coach/umpire/captains meeting and it started to rain lightly. We got going. It rained lightly off and on and we got in seven innings. The infield never got greasy. The batter's boxes were firm and so was the pitcher landing area.
It's supposed to be cold and wet again tomorrow but we are planniing on hosting Belleville. They played a Major League baseball game in Cleveland today at 28 degrees aboves zero. Wisconsin girls are as resilient or more so than Major League baseball players or at least they ought to be.
There were some other games played today as well. Weyauwega-Fremont upended Pacelli 7-3 at Zenoff Park in Stevens Point. Columbus kept pace with Poynette in the Capitol North with a 7-3 win over Lakeside Lutheran. Kaila Witthun had a good day with the stick as she two hits and three rbi. Freshman pitcher Megan Wiersma fanned four.
On Saturday afternoon, Stratford and Thorp are playing in Poynette and it appears that Whitnall will join them. If we can locate a fourth team, each team would get two games and it would only cost each team $120 plus two games balls or so. Each team would pay for one umpire. We are not assessing a field use fee. We just want people to get some games in. You can call me at 608-219-two, two, seven five or contact Brad Ceranski at Thorp High School. You will have to act fast.
The Poynete Softball Organization will be hosting our 2nd Annual Summer Fastpitch Jamboree June 21-23. We have one 10-Under opening and one 14-Under opening. All the age divisions will feature 12 teams. You can see the information here.
In Janesville the youth softbal organization will be hosting three events this season. On May 11-12 the Janesville May Melee will be open to 10, 12 and 14-Under teams. There is a $400 entry fee and a four-game guarantee. On June 1-2 the State Cyclone Clash will feature 10, 12. 14, and 16-Under divisions and it's a $400 entry and four-game guarantee. The final event is the Summer Slam on July 27-28 where 10, 12, 14, and 16-Under teams will compete with a $350 entry fee and three-game guarantee. Contact them here at jybsa.softball@gmail.com .
The Wautoma Softball Program is hosting a girls 17-U Fastpitch softball Tournament in Wautoma on Saturday, July 27th, 2013. It is a one day tournament. Cost is $200 and teams will play a minimum of three games. Contact Keith Koslowski at 920-240-6543 for more information.
Here is a highlight for you. Last night in Luxemburg, Shawano's Whitney Boda, a senior SS hit for the cycle an 11-10 season-opening loss to Luxemburg-Casco. Boda opened the game with a triple off the center-field fence, had a bunt single in the 3rd, , a long HR over the LF fence in the 7th and, later in Shawano’s eight-run 7th, a double to LF. I'd say that's a pretty good night. One that constitutes a "forever memory." And to commemorate it I've sent her a Fastpitch Chronicle "Hit for the Cycle" certificate.
I also sent Fastpitch Chronicle certificates to Dave Bjorge in Arcadia to present to Taylor Haines for her no-hitter the other day and her 21-Strikeout performance last season.
That's it for tonight!
Keep it Rising!
Bob
Tag(s): Bulletins
