The Fastpitch Chronicle

Play Ball!

Hello Again Fastpitch Aficionados!

Thursday will most likely see the some of the first, if not the first high school fastpitch games played in Wisconsin this season. It will be the 25th day of the season. I'm quite sure that in all the years that the WIAA has sponsored girl's softball that April 4th is the latest first-day for outside in Wisconsin games ever. 

People are scrambling not so much to get games played this week but rather just get on some groomed or un groomed dirt to field some ground balls, run some bases, pitch off dirt and all that the game entails on dirt. In Poynette we have a diamond/field that you could rent and play a game on or practice on Friday of this week (tomorrow). I may even have a very competitive team available from the northwoods that would play against you. You rent the field and pay for the umpires and the diamond is yours to play on. Call me at 608-two, one nine, two, two, seven, five if interested.

Here, we have chiseled, chopped, plowed, shoveled and tossed ice off the fields, out of our in-ground dugouts that went through the winter without covers. We have thrown water out of puddles and we've waited for a few warmer days for the frost to work it's way out of the ground. Today we could have taken infield, heck we could have played a game at 5:00 PM but we stayed off just to make sure that tomorrow sees dry dirt on the top of our infield. Tomorrow we'll take to the diamond and put in a hard 3 and half hours of work as we have what will now be our season opener on Friday.

Up in Pepin the Pepin/Alma Eagles plowed their entire playing surfaces off during the first week of practice. It paid off as they have been on Haines Field most of the week and switched a game vs Boyceville tomorrow. In DeForest their grounds people cleared snow off their fields but as of today they were still under water. The soil in DeForest is Antigo Silt Loam (black dirt=another form of black gold) as in Poynette we have pure sand which allows moisture to seep deep and evaporate quickly. It's great for drying out ball yards but not so good at raising high-yielding crops. I always hear the difference at the "Know It All Center: here in Poynette (Front Bench at the local BP/Amoco station where all the people in the know hang out).

I'm working diligently on the new fastpitchchronicle.net site so it looks good when it launches soon. It will be partnered with wispsorts.net and that promises to be a good situation for everyone - me, wissports and you, the fastpitch aficionados out there who take the time to read these diatribes.

I'm always looking to learn more, looking to learn or discover better technique that suits the athleticism of the girls who play here, always looking for ideas to improve the program here. I have never claimed to be "The King of Fastpitch Softball." I have written some commentaries entitled "If I were the King of Fastpitch Here is What I'd do" but since I'm not the King they are just my thoughts, my opinions. I'm not afraid to say what my opinion is and I'm not hesitant to try to change things that make the game better for high school aged players. I'm also not hesitant to point out facts that many overlook or never thought about. I always try to have an ear for the people who have thoughts and opinions about the state of the game, things they think need to be changed or added or tweaked. They often see these Bulletins and this web site as a place to make their voices heard.

In the coming days, weeks, months etc. I'll write about a myriad of things. Many of the topics will be those that other coaches, fans etc. have asked me to point out, to write about to bring things to light. Commentary and discourse is good for the sport. Getting the sport more public awareness and publicity is really what The Fastpitch Chronicle is about. Some will probably argue that but the fact is people click into this web site to read more, learn more, see more and get More Fastpitch.

If there are topics or issues you 'd like to see addressed within the pages of this web site just e-mail me or call me. I'll consider everything.

These bulletins will include highlights from games played across the state. The only way I really can highlight player achievement though is if the coaches, fans etc. send me the information. I don't have time to glean all that information off the pages at wissports.net as there is just so much there to see. Send me the information when somebody tosses a no-hitter and especially if it is a seven-inning or longer no-hitter (five inning no-hitters are actually sort of incomplete - they are surely no-hitters and perfect games when they occur but seven-inning gems are just that - gems!). Did you have a kid who had a key game-winning hit? Send me that information. 

The web site at fastpitchchronicle.net will include a Documents page whereby coaches who ask for access will be able to print out Fastpitch Chronicle Award Certificates. All it will take is a piece of paper in your choice of color and poundage and a click on the print button on your computer screen and the certificate is yours to place the correct information on. I'll no longer have to mail you the award.

It's late but I'm back into the "swing of things here" at the Fastpitch Chronicle. It's great to have control of what appears on the site. I'm looking forward to helping everyone promote and publicize your teams and programs.

Here is a note to JV, JVR and 9th grade coaches as well as middle level coaches. If you type up game summaries, highlights from your games etc. and you e-mail them to me I promise to post them on the Summary Page of fastpitchchronicle.net.

Head Coaches are urged to forward a team profile to be posted here. Take a look at the ones already posted at www.fastpitchchronicle.com/profiles.html and do one about your team. It's the only way you'll get the kind of attention your program deserves.

Have a great day and as always,

Keep it Rising!