Hello Fastpitch Folks
It has been a cold week in only two days of time and with temperatures running more than 30 degrees lower than they were a week ago. Ah yes, fastpitch in Wisconsin.
The tentative Saturday schedule for the 2015 and 29th annual Poynette Fastpitch Jamboree is posted on the website herein. If you are connected with one of the 48 teams involved in this year's event be sure to check it out. The Friday schedule is not posted yet but will be by mid-morning on Wednesday. Spread the word that the work is about done.
I spoke with new head softball coach Jamie Segorski of Escanaba (MI) High School tonight. He's interested in playing some games in Poynette in late March or early April of 2016. He's looking for team that might be interested in single games or doublheaders on Friday and Saturday. He may be interested in the early bird event we have had the past two years as well.
Here is a scenario for you to consider. Runner at first when batter hits a ball to third base. The throw to first in an attempt to retire the batter-runner is high and wide left and goes out of play (no extended sideline fence). The ball is dead and the umpire awards the runner from first home and the batter-runner third base. What's your call?
Here is another one for you. Pitcher has a bag of Gorilla Gold in her back pocket. Umpire says that she can't keep it in her pocket and says the bag must be on the ground inside the pitcher's circle. What's your call?
And yet another one. After the game begins in the top of the first inning the second batter steps in to bat when the home team stops things and says that the wrong number is batting. A close look at the lineup card indicates that the second batter's name is correct on the official lineup card but her number is wrong. What's your call in this case?
And her is yet another one. Batter hits towering shot right down the leftfield line. The ball strikes the outside edge of the foul pole and bounces to the foul side of the pole but clears the fence. The foul pole is one of those with a pretty good sized (diameter) pipe and a wing that extends to the fair side of the playing area. What's your call.
Oh, and here is another one. Batter hits line drive that hits third sacker in the defensive face mask. The ball bounces off that girl's mask, hits the pipe on the top of the sideline fence and goes out of play. What's your call?
Another one for you. Batter hits line drive that strikes the front edge of the pitcher's plate and bounces back toward home plate. The ball crosses the first baseline and stops in foul territory. Your call is?
There are some good events on the weekend including Ashwaubenon and Portage. If you know of others send me an email so I can get those some publicity.
On Monday a sports broadcaster from the CBS affiliate in Madison was in Poynette to talk about the evolution of high school girl's fastpitch in Wisconsin. I guess they figured I should be able to remember lots since I've been around since 1979 and have watched and been a part of all the changes the game has experienced? What are some?
Season regulations that limited teams to just 12 regular season games prior to the tournament series starting. One class of softball in the firstthree years of WIAA sposnored fastptich (1976 when Madison West defeated Elmwood 27-8 for the state championship; 1977 when Elmwood beat Sheboygan South 15-13 and 1978 when Loyal beat Madison LaFollette 8-6). Two classes of softball in 1979 and 1980; three classes from 1981 (Kimberly in Class A, Northwestern in Class B and Bayfield in Class C won titles in 81) through 2001; four classes since the WISAA schools were admitted to the WIAA in 2002. Wooden bats used by girls in the early days and heavy metal bats by the others. No windmillers or slingshot artists in the early days to windmillers in the mid 60 mph range now.
The regular season limit of 12 games continued for several years and then went to 14 games. That rule remained in effect for quite a few years when the WIAA allowed 16 games but they had to be played on 14 dates and none of the dates could be followed by a school day. In the early days and until quite recently really, softball teams were not supposed to be released from school early to go play games, yet the golf teams, tennis teams, track and field teams and baseball teams could leave early. Then the schedule went to 18 games but with that same stipulation. Then it went to 20 with multiple game days until we have ultimately reached a regular season limit on games at 26.
Double first bases were not in existence in the early years. Heck either were complete uniforms as many teams played in jeans, PE shorts etc. Most JV games were not really games at all but a two or three inning event following the varsity game.
The balls were white -- yes white and they remained white until the early part of the 21st century.
In 1988 bat technology changed and continues to change. Easton's SX-10 was the first higher tech bat made from something other than 7160 or whatever that number was aluminum. Then came a ceramic bat followed by more technology where today bats cost upwards of $350 and $400.
The pitcher's plate moved from 40' to 43' in an effort to generate more offense. The book remains out on whether that works more often than not and depends on the competitiveness of the two teams engaged in the game.
Summer fastpitch opportunities for girls was virtually non-existent in the early days and really didn't take hold unitil the early 1990s. Now, kids pay big bucks to lots of summer programs to travel around the state, midwest and nation to play.
The state tournament was played on a four-diamond complex in Waukesha where the infields were grass and the outfield fences were 300' with no temporary fences. The bench areas were well, well beyond first and third base and had no covers on them. Teams were forced to bring tarps to hang on the fences for shelter from the elements whether it be rain or a hot sun. The backstops had nets hanging out over the home plate area where the net was actually right above the catcher and umpire so there was never an F-2 behind home plate. There were later special little coaching boxes for the coaches chalked along the sideline that the defensive coach could stand in if he or she chose to do so (I refused to stand in there as it made it feel like a T-ball game).
Now the state tournament is played on one great facility where diehard fans can watch every pitch.
More to come!
Have a great day!
Keep it Rising!
Bob
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