Just a bit high and outside!
Hello Fastpitch Fans,
As promised we will publish the Fastpitch Chronicle Group’s list of Division 3 teams that could make it to the sectional level and beyond. The list surely isn’t complete but gets the conversation going and the interest up.
Here is a random list of Division 3 teams the FPC Group compiled. Keep in mind this is not a ranking. That will come very soon as 2016 marks the 16th consecutive year that the Fastpitch Chronicle Group will be compiling and posting statewide rankings in all four divisions. The FPC rankings are not connected to the WFSCA rankings which will be in it’s second year. The WFSCA rankings are a coach based ranking where coaches can vote for teams that results in rankings. However, coaches can only rank in the division that they compete in the WIAA Tournament in. The Fastpitch Chronicle Group’s rankings consists of rankers from across the gammit of fastpitch enthusiasts such as coaches, former coaches, umpires, sports writers, fans who travel to many ball yards to watch games and more.
Here’s the list for Division 3 in alphabetical order:
Arcadia, Algoma, Amherst, Brodhead, Cambridge, Chequamegon, Cuba City, Elk Mound, Grantsburg, Horicon, Iola-Scandinavia, Iowa-Grant, Laconia, Lake Country Lutheran, Lakeside Lutheran, Lomira,Luther, Marshall, Mineral Point, Oconto, Pacelli, Phillips, Poynette, Prairie du Chien, Random Lake, Shiocton, Stratford, Westby, Weyauwega-Fremont, Wisconsin Heights
If you think there are others we didn’t list, don’t get ticked off just email me and we’ll take a look but be sure to give us some data to consider as well.
In action yesterday of note, Kylie Hoffman got her senior season off toe a rousing start by throwing a no-hitter at Marshall in a 4-0 win. She allowed one base runner that reached on an error and was thrown out attempting to steal on the next pitch. She facd 21 batters (the minimum) fanned 10 and went 2x3 with a single and home run. Senior righthander Dani Gumz absorbed the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, walked two and fanned two. Wisconsin Heights senior righthander Macenzie Kraemer recorded a one-hit shutout against Argyle. She took a no-hitter to the bottom of the seventh with two outs but relinquished a hit. She walked one and fanned 14. Argyle committed five errors in the game.
Here are some answers to the situations from a few Bulletins ago about gloves and mitts. A player may wear a mitt (catcher of first base mitt) in the field provided it meets the dimension limitations on the size of gloves and mitts. The catcher can use any size mitt she can get her hands on and into.
We had a Demarini CF4 black break into two pieces today. It was of course, several years old and was well used. Cold weather and a lot of contacts are two factors that affect bats. Be careful with those expensive pieces of equipment.
Speaking of equipment, I’ve had reports of players being hit in the fac with line drives already this season. There are protective masks to prevent busted up young faces. Each to their own. I require all infielders and pitchers to wear one. We’ve staved off several serious facial accidents since we put that requirement in and so has Shawano in a scrimmage in Poynette two years ago when their third sacker took a missle squarely in the facemask. She picked up the mask, stuck it back on, smiled and went back to playing third base. The first game afer instituting our mandatory defensive facemask rule in 2013 our then senior pitcher took a line shot directly on the facemask. When I got out to the circle (in a hurry by the way) and asked her is she was Ok she said, “Yes and thanks for making me get this mask!”
Just a reminder – Wisconsin now follows the NFHS rule on where on deck batters must stand. They must stand in the on deck circle in front of their team bench/in the circle on the team bench side of the infield.
Have a great day and
Keep it Rising!
Bob
