Conference hbahba::cam_sports

    
    	We lost the Class C state champeenship (USSA) by one run
    	last year.  We were the undefeated team in the finals and
    	got beat twice (double elimination).
    
    	We took 7th or 8th in the ASA state tourney....
    
    Claybroon

    
    After playing baseball in HS and college, I was more or less forced to
    accept softball as the adult application of putting a bat to a ball. I
    grew to love it, and over the course of 18 years have been lucky to
    play infield on some excellent teams, in some extremely well-organized
    tournaments (the Coors tourneys out here in the West I've always had
    good experiences with), and with a lot of guys whose idea of the basic
    tools goes beyond bats-balls-beercans. 
    
    Two years ago, however, I rediscovered baseball, via the Mens Senior
    Baseball League. At the age of 37, I began to play hardball again, and
    it was like discovering the fountain of youth. The uniform. The cleats.
    The -little- ball that hurts like hell when you don't get out of the
    way of a pitch fast enough. The feel of the bat when you connect on the
    sweet spot and drive the pitch into the gap. 
    
    I have to tell you--nice though the game is, I'm not going back to 
    playing softball until I'm 60.
    
    Kat
    
    PS: The base note is hilarious.
     

>    
>    Two years ago, however, I rediscovered baseball, via the Mens Senior
>    Baseball League. At the age of 37, I began to play hardball again, and
>    it was like discovering the fountain of youth. The uniform. The cleats.
>    The -little- ball that hurts like hell when you don't get out of the
>    way of a pitch fast enough. The feel of the bat when you connect on the
>    sweet spot and drive the pitch into the gap. 
    
More and more of these leagues are popping up, I've heard.....     

    If you had played rugby you wouldn't have had to compromise when you
    left HS.

�    If you had played rugby you wouldn't have had to compromise when you
�    left HS.

Yea, he wouldn't be able to walk well enough to play anything....

    
    
    >it was like discovering the fountain of youth. The uniform. The cleats.
    >The -little- ball that hurts like hell when you don't get out of the
    >way of a pitch fast enough. The feel of the bat when you connecton the
    >sweet spot and drive the pitch into the gap.
    
    .. to stare at the pitcher, and just before he makes his pitch, give
    him a wink. That's my dream.
    
    
    

>    
>    .. to stare at the pitcher, and just before he makes his pitch, give
>    him a wink. That's my dream.
    


	   A great amphitheater of grandstand looms dark against the
	sky, the park is surrounded by decks of floodlights making it
	brighter than day, the crowd buzzes, the vendors hawk their
	wares, and I cannot keep the promise I made myself not to
	ask Shoeless Joe Jackson about his suspension and what it
	means to him.

	   "It must have been...It must have been like..."  But I
	can't find the words.

	   "Like having a part of me amputated, slick and smooth and 
	painless." Joe looks up at me and his dark eyes seem about to
	burst with the pain of it.  "I'm told that old men wake in the
	night and scratch itchy legs that have been dust for fifty years.
	That was me.  Years and years later, I'd wake in the night with
	the smell of the ballpark in my nose and the cool of the grass
	on my feet.  The thrill of the grass..."



    
    

    
    	Where's this league Kat?  Me and a buddy are considering playing
    	baseball next summer.
    
    Claybone

    
    If anyone wants to know where they can find local representation for
    Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL), and a contact number, please send me 
    mail at NWD002::TUTAK_PE. Let me know the city/state you live in (if
    its a small town, give me the regional location, such as Southern New
    Hampshire), and I'll try to get you the appropriate name and number.
    
    BTW, there are also other leagues performing the same function, such as
    the Roy Hobbs League (New York), the National Adult Baseball League (in
    about 42 states) and one or two others on the East Coast. MSBL
    originally began on Long Island, NY, and has been operating here in the
    Seattle area for over 7 years. It's not cheap, but we pay for good
    umpires, good fields (its a trip to play on the same field as the
    University of Washington and think, hell, John Olerud stood at this
    same plate a few seasons ago...) over a 22-game season.
    
    BTW, rugby was not offered as a sport at my HS (Bayonne, NJ). We only
    had baseball, basketball, football, track, and car theft. 
    
    re .6, .7...the Kinsella quotes are beautiful, and it's really
    incredible to be aware of the atmosphere of the field while
    you're out there--when in the past as a kid, we probably were never
    even aware of them. 
    
    An example...one of our local fields east of
    Seattle is called Bannerwood Field, a pretty, new, baseball-only
    stadium built for HS and college ball. 310-400-325 on the lines with
    advertising around the outfield fences, nice lights and stands. Our
    first night game this season was here, and the groundskeeper stayed
    around to operate this pretty neat electronic scoreboard, which is a
    rarity. I am the no. 2 hitter in the lineup this night, and we're visiting 
    team. I watch from the on deck circle as the leadoff hitter grounds out
    to the infield. I get up and walk to the plate, watching the
    scoreboard. There is a large two-digit field on the board. Then it
    comes up...1...3....my number. I got into the batter's box dug in, got
    set, and for the first pitch I didn't even half look at the pitch coming in.
    I was still looking at the scoreboard out of the corner of my eye. For a 
    moment I was kind of mesmerized. (I was lucky the pitcher wasn't wild.)
    It was like realizing that even though it's only 30 feet or so from the
    stands to the plate, crossing that 30 feet is like entering a different
    universe. It was beautiful, even though I finally concentrated enough
    to (I think) line out a couple of pitches later.
         
    Kat

    
    
    	I'm not sure if there is another notesfile that I should put this
    in, but this topic seems the best of any..... BTW, move this if you
    must Frank....
    
    	I was hoping that maybe some folks out there can recommend any good
    tapes, or basically anything that can help me hit the long ball in
    softball. I am more than physically capable of this, but can't seem to
    hit the ball with any part of my body other than just my arm's. 
    
    
    Any help would be appreciated,
    John

>    	I was hoping that maybe some folks out there can recommend any good
>    tapes, or basically anything that can help me hit the long ball in
>    softball. I am more than physically capable of this, but can't seem to
>    hit the ball with any part of my body other than just my arm's. 
    
    
I can vouch for this man being basically f-ing HUGE.

I ain't much of a ball player, but from a couple of "clinics" I saw 
during rain delays, a lot of your power comes from hip rotation and
arm extension. 

The thing we were taught in Little League of all places was to have
our belly buttons facing the pitcher when we connected with the ball....

Just what little I know,
'Saw

Walt, give him Doc's number will ya....

I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help out....

mikey

    thanks Frank, I know it's the hip's/timing/rotation, but I just can't
    get it down! I can do it in golf, and hit 300+ yd drives consistantly, 
    but when it comes to softball, I just can't get it...
    
    John

    
    	I don't hit many homers in a season but I do play competitive (lotsa
    	tournaments) with guys who do.  What I've noticed is that the
    	majority of them swing a light bat.  I'm talking 26 oz.!  Bat
    	speed, bat speed, bat speed.  I've also noticed that most of them
    	are good at using their legs/hips to drive themselves into the
    	ball.
    
    	There are alot of tapes out there.  I've never rented one.  I
    	would guess the best place to look would be one of the big video
    	stores (Blockbuster).
    
    	Also, most of the teams I've played on/against use either an
    	Easton or a Louisville Slugger TPS bat.  I don't remember all of
    	the model numbers but the prices are typically $90 and up.
    
    Claybone

    
    
>>> "....and hit 300+ yd drives consistantly......" 
    
>>>    John
    
    
    	Looks to me like we have a "I've consumed the most DiNz shrooms"
    1993 winnah!!!!!!!
    
    	Was that listed in the imposters list???????
    
    
    I remain,
    just showing ya the things "The Imposter" needs to learn to be even
    considered!!!!!!!
    Kev_the_Commish!
    
    

    Okay Kev, to make you feel better, any new categories have to be
    approved by 'Saw, you, and myself.

    
    Remember, hitting a bal 300+ yards does NOT mean straight.
    
    

    
    I still can't get over the part about not hitting the ball with any
    part of his body but his arms.  If the man can do that and consistently 
    hit line drives, 300+ golf drives ain't nothing...
    
    glenn
    

Yeah, I can vouch for the golf drives too.  He's a_excellent golfer.

He's a big boy (I'd guess 6'3", 285 or so), and around here they talk about
us as "The Pair that can beat a Full House".....

Not many people make me feel small, but Big John is one of them.....



'Saw

    The suggestion on the bat I like the best.  If its important spend the
    money.  Problem is how do you know if its the right one without
    actually hitting a ball - they don't let you try them out like in a
    golf pro shop do they?
    
    The only other possibilty would be to incorporate two golf dictums into
    your baseball hitting:
    	
    	Left arm extension which implies full body turn prior to the swing
    
    	Folding the top wrist over at impact
    
    	And finally - keep the head down.
    
    Also, where on the ball you hit it can be a factor.
    
    

    Kev's got Doc's number...
    

    
    
            I have always been a line drive gap hitter, but last year I hit
    8 homers using a TPS. So it's gotta be the shoes, I mean Bat? I also
    opened up my stance alot last year. A friend said it was easier getting
    around on the fast ball. But I'm way out in front on a breaking ball.
    
    
    
    Chappy

    
    
    Keep your weight back and take the breaking pitch the other way. 
    Gotsta hit the ball where its pitched Chappy.
    
    Jerry

    
    
        Only girly men go the other way.
    
    
    Chappy

    
    	That's right Chappy.  Manly men pull that breaking ball and
    	ground out to the SS!  :*)
    
    	I don't know about trying out bats.  Maybe a place with batting
    	cages would be a good place to try out some bats but I'd bet they
    	have been abused.  
    
    	I've never had a problem returning a dented bat though....
    
    Claybone

    Thanks for the responses guys.... I use a TPS gold 32oz... and hit many
    line drive's. I bat around .400-.500, but rarely hit anything more than
    a single. But the singles are mostly all hard, line drives. Like Frank
    said, I am a pretty big guy, so most people naturally play me farther
    back, but there is a fence.... I'll check out my local blockbuster and 
    see if they have anything. 
    
    John

Of course, I'm sure that since I said that John is HUGE, that opinion
will be called into question and it will be proven that John is not
huge, but merely huge in a local sense.......

 >> Of course, I'm sure that since I said that John is HUGE, that opinion
 >> will be called into question and it will be proven that John is not
 >> huge, but merely huge in a local sense.......

    No, but only because you didn't say he was "one of the hugest men in 
    history of mankind".

>
>    No, but only because you didn't say he was "one of the hugest men in 
>    history of mankind".
>

Well, just because I forgot to say it, is no reason not to bash me. ;^)


But he is pretty big......

    Saw if this is the guy you introduced me too in that bar in 
    Glastonbury a efw years ago, I can vouch for your saying "huge"!
    
    John, are you playing slow pitch or modified?  32oz. gold TPS is
    a good bat, I use the same type.  If it's slow pitch I would say close
    up your stance and bring you feet closer together, as you step into
    the ball point your toe to the pitcher.  This motion will force
    you to open your hips.  If your already doing this I would guess
    your problem is not enough wrist "snap" on your top hand.
    
    Chappy who do you play for?
    
    Jimbo

    
    
          I play in Athol.
    
            Modified league and also a slow pitch league on Sunday Morning.
    
    
    
    
    Chappy

>    Saw if this is the guy you introduced me too in that bar in 
>    Glastonbury a efw years ago, I can vouch for your saying "huge"!

Yep, that's the one.  If anything, he's a little bigger now....


'Saw

    Saw that tends to happen, at least that's what I've read 8*)
    
    Jimbo

>    Saw that tends to happen, at least that's what I've read 8*)
    

Yeah, but not in that way that would happen to you or I.  8^)
He's still working out, heavy duty.....


'Saw

    
    
    	Yabbut, the bigger they are,
    
    
    
    
    
    
    		the harder they hit!
    
    
    ;*)
    

    RE: .10
    
    If you're all bulked up, you're never going to hit homers regularly.  
    You can't get the proper extension!
    
    That's why you can't be a friek like most football players and expect
    to play a real athlete's sport like baseball.  :-)
    
    					Steve

    re .36
    
    	I think that this partly has something todo with it, but I play
    softball with alot of the guy's I train with. And they don't have the 
    problem. And btw, it is slow pitch...
    
    	Thanks for the great responses, i'm gonna look for some video's
    this weekend, i'll post what I find...
    
    John

>    	Thanks for the great responses, i'm gonna look for some video's
>    this weekend, i'll post what I find...
>    
>    John

Maybe you could find something at Chudzik's.....

    In your case, to hit the ball furthur you may have to hit it easier. 
    The line drives indicate a "hard" swing.
    
    The other factor is hitting down on the ball can create backspin which
    will lift the ball and give it more distance.
    
    Of course hitting down on the ball will produce popups and when "hit"
    ball will stay up longer for fleet outfielders to camp under (Claire
    Bee eat your heart out if your reading that prose).

    
    
     From Saw's deposition of your physical size, are you hitting 
    the ball with a bat or your forearms?
    
    
       

In order to hit home runs you're going to have to learn to hit the ball
farther, up into the air so it goes over the fence..

Hope this helps,

Metz


actually an earlier reply had it right..bat speed is the  key. I use a 26oz bat
myself (I'm considerably smaller than you though)...try dropping down to a 30oz
model and see if it helps...

add in hip rotation and a good balanced stance...

         
    Holy cow, Metz, 26 oz?  Don't your arms tear right out of the sockets,
    like Steroid Man's?  ;-)
    
    The mechanics of the swing are much much more important than bat size
    (once you've got the basic size that you're comfortable with).  It's 
    marginal, but the physics show that even with the slight "speed"
    tradeoff the larger bat mass will generate more distance.  In baseball 
    when they refer to "bat speed" what they really mean is "bat quickness", 
    the ability to react to the pitch and get the bat up to speed in a hurry, 
    and that doesn't have a whole lot to do with the size of the bat-- home
    run hitters use a wide range of bat sizes, depending on personal
    comfort level.  In slow-pitch softball that reaction to get up to speed 
    isn't (or at least it shouldn't be) an issue.  You've got plenty of
    time to get even a big bat cranking.
    
    It's just my half-assed opinion like everyone else's but if I'm a 280-lb 
    boy, ain't no way I'm using a 30-oz bat for slow pitch.  At least for
    me there'd be a loss of control at that point, where you're just
    swinging your arms without hardly feeling what's in your hands.  I'm
    over 100 lbs under that weight with moderate power given my size, and 
    I've still never used anything below 32-oz...
    
    glenn
    

    I found drastic differences in metal bats.  wooden are (were?) more
    consistent in torgue if not wood.
    
    John, you simply may be using lousy, cheap bats.
    
    Btw, have they started using fiberglass or 90s metals in softball bats
    yet?

Not only do my arms tear out of my sockets...they've often ripped out and
confused the Shortstop trying to field the ball resulting in an easy base hit...

Actually I have good power for my size (5'9" 165lbs) and often reach the fences
here (never put one out though)...Of course we play with mushballs in slow
pitch so only the bohemouths can get them out of the park...

I guess I just got used to the light weight playing fastpitch where quickness
is more important....I hate slowpitch...it's for wimps...

Metz

    
    	Well, the theory of the wiseguy on our softball team is you've
    	gotta arch your butt......
    
    Claybone

>    The mechanics of the swing are much much more important than bat size
>    (once you've got the basic size that you're comfortable with).  It's 

So, in other words, the gospel according to Waug-a-main is that hitting
a baseball is just like sex.....


8^)

    I use anywhere from a 35 to a 30 oz bat.  Depends on the pitcher.  I
    pull everything generally (lefty who's used to baseball) so since I can
    only move up in the batter's box so far, I use a heavier bat.

�wooden are (were?) more
�    consistent in torgue if not wood.
    
    I really do need to get out and get a new decoder ring.
    
�    Btw, have they started using fiberglass or 90s metals in softball bats
�    yet?
    
    Weren't there some magnesium bats out several years ago?  Lightweight,
    high strength metal alloys have a hard time competing with aluminum in
    terms of price.  The pros may be using some "90s metals", but you
    probably won't find them in your local sportshop.

    Don't know about fiberglass.  I know some use graphite.
    

    Permission granted to post by author... we could all the support and
    harrassment we can get...haha...
    
           <<< MR4SRV::NOTES$DISK:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DMSL_1994.NOTE;1 >>>
                 -< Digital Marlboro Softball League -- 1993 >-
================================================================================
Note 90.0                    ASA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT                  No replies
MICROW::SANTOS "play ball"                           31 lines  31-AUG-1994 09:43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     The ASA Major Modified National Championships will be held in Tewksbury,
 MA this coming Labor Day weekend.  Action kicks off Friday morning at 9am
 and continues to Mondays Championship game.  The Hurricanes, made up mostly
 of DMSL players, will be taking their shot at winning the title.  The 'Canes
 qualified for the national tourney by finishing 2nd in a qualifying tourney
 in which they beat the 1993 Connecticut State Champs, PSAMS. This also marks
 the 3rd year in a row the Hurricanes have earned a bid in the ASA National
 Tournament. The last 2 years the team traveled to Georgia and North Carolina
 to compete.  The 'Canes are the only team invited without complete sponsor-
 ship and without a payroll, a credit to the players commitment.

     The National Championship Tourney is being held in Mass for probably 
 the first and last time. The draw for the tournament is Thursday night, 
 times and directions will be posted Friday morning.

Chuck 

'Canes Players from the DMSL
----------------------------
Wayne Cluett - now defunct Royals
Bruce Tower - Buggs
Rich Tombeno - Buggs
Jim McKay - Buggs
Paul Lapomardo - Buggs
Roger Gaudet - Buggs
Dan Boulet - Buggs
Dave Cullen - Buggs
Dave Farabaugh - Retired Buggs Hall of Fame Legend
Walter Kelley - Buggs
Walt Ashe - Vikings
Paul Betti - Vikings

>> Walt Ashe - Vikings

	My hero!

    And I play first base (well, probably not this weekend, right Jimbo?)
    No hanging out in W. Boylston this weekend....

    Walt is what we call caught in the numbers game at first base.  He
    is the new breed of DH though!  Plus when he DH's he can be out of his
    uni and into his going out duds without worrying about that sweating
    thing.
    
    Jimbo 8*)

>>   Plus when he DH's he can be out of his
>>   uni and into his going out duds without worrying about that sweating
>>   thing.

	That is the key to being a good softball player.


	billl

    Well, my inspiration is Ralph Malph from that one Happy Days episode.
    Always wore the sweats on the bench until he actually got called into
    a game and the coach called time out for Ralph to get out of his jeans
    and t-shirt and into his basketball uniform.  I get to warm up the
    pitcher, keep the scorebook, get up and hit it hard somewhere, go back,
    talk to the fans, pet the dog, yell at the other team, get up again...
    

    Well, the Hurricanes, didn't win, but we didn't embarrass themselves
    either.  We lost our first game 7-3 to P.F. Markey from Saginaw.  After
    a questionable call on a ground out (called him safe), they hit a grand 
    slam in the bottom of the first to put us down 5-0 after the first half
    inning.  We didn't hit well, but played well enough to keep it close.
    
    We lost the second game to Waldo's Tavern from Scranton.  In the first
    two innings, our first two pitchers (including the great
    prognosticator, IM JIMBO) got called for pitching illegally.  Jury is
    still out as to why.  They tried to call the third one for that before
    anarchy set in and they allowed him to pitch.  They took a lead and
    we came back to tie it in the 6th.  They scored in the bottom of the
    7th to win.  We wound up tied for 44th, good enough to say we're in
    the top 50 teams in the country for the 3rd straight year.  It was fun,
    even if I didn't get a hit.  I did hit one shot in a pinch hit role
    in the 2nd game that almost dropped in.  I intentionally don't remember
    what I did the first game.  
    
    Tighe Club from Tewksbury beat Wallen Construction from Tennessee for the
    title.  DiOnofrio from LongIsland was 3rd, and I think Snap On from
    NH was 4th.
    
    Highlight was during the Waldo's game.  Guy for them grunts and lifts
    a wussy pop out to the infield.  One of our fans after the usual
    chatter yells "Boy, that was a manly swing".  The batter turns around
    and threatens to rearrange the fan's bridgework and the 3rd base coach
    tells him "if you're so good, why aren't you out here"... We were
    rolling.  Oh did I mention the fan was Dr. Midnight?
                              

>> Waldo's Tavern from Scranton


	hth,
	billl

    That would be Scranton/Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania, for those that need
    further assistance...
    

    
    Walt,
    
    	What was this tourney?  ASA?  USSSA?  What class?
    
    Claybone

    
    Clayboy,
    
    
       If I remember right it's call halfast pitch.
    
    Cadzilla2

    
    	One of the papers had a write up on this, its modified fast pitch.
    The pitcher must keep both feet on the rubber and only step forward
    to pitch. He must hold and throw the ball like a bowling ball. With
    his hand not coming above his shoulder. They had a write up on the
    Boston Park league softball champions and how they were performing
    in the tournament. The same thing happened to them, there best 2
    pitchers got tossed from games.
    
    Ron

    ASA Majors Modified Fast Pitch National Championships...
    

    A friend of mine wants to organize a "One-Pitch" Softball
    Tournament as a fund raiser for a local club.  How would you go about
    lining up the brackets for a double-elimination tournament for the
    eight teams.  I figured this would be a good place to ask.  I
    appreciate any replies.

    you go 1.vs2, 3.vs4, 5.vs.6, 7.vs 8 in the first round.
    
    the winners stay in the winners bracket, the loser go to a losers
    bracket, losers of game 1.vs.2 play the losers of game 3.vs.4, and so
    on.  The "winner of the loser bracket faces the winner of the winners
    bracket, but if the winner of the losers bracket should win, they play
    again until one of the teams has lost twice.
    
    JaKe
    

    What Jake said was this:
    
    1
     \
     /
    2
    3
     \
     /
    4
    
    5
     \
     /
    6
    
    7
     \
     /
    8
    Assume all odd numbers win.  Then 1 plays 3 and 5 plays 7 in the
    winner's bracket.  Assume the lower numbers win.  Then 1 plays 5,
    and the winner advances to the championship game.
    
    Meanwhile, 2 plays 4 and 6 plays 8 in the loser's backet.  Again
    assume the lower numbers win.  Teams 2 and 6 remain alive, while
    teams 4 and 8 are eliminated.  Teams 2 and 6 play, and the two losers
    from the winner's bracket, teams 3 and 7, play.  The two teams that win
    play each other, and the winner plays in the championship game.  If the
    team from the loser's bracket wins, a second game is played.
    
    Hope that's clear.
    
    NAZZ

    Without all the lines drawn the below is the ASA 8 team double elim
    format.  Key is to make sure G7 and G8 losers swap brackets so that
    no one team can be eliminated by the same team until the loser
    bracket finals (G12)
    
    1
     G1
    2       Winner G1
               G7
    3       Winner G2
     G2
    4                     Winner G7
                             G11   	   Winner G11
    5                     Winner G8            G13     if G12 winner wins
     G3                                    Winner G12  G13 teams play again
    6       Winner G3
               G8
    7       Winner G4
     G4
    8
    
    
    Loser G1    Winner G5
       G5          G9
    Loser G2    Loser G8     Winner G9
                                G12
    Loser G3    Winner G6    Winner G10
       G6          G10
    Loser G4    Loser G7
    
    
    Jimbo

    	Thanks for the past replies, they will be a big help!
    	We are also looking at having a "Home-Run Derby" before
    	the tournament starts.  Any good ideas on how to make a 
    	interesting home run derby.  I thought either a $5 or $10
    	entry fee for 10/15 pitches with the winner and the winner
    	of the derby would get a cash prize or trophy.  Open to 
    	any suggestions.
    	

 I'd suggest a buck a swing for the home run derby with 10 swings the maxs.
 If you go by pitch count than someone's going to gripe that the pitcher
 didn't give him anything to hit. If a guy swings then he's got no one to 
 blame but himself and you sell them in 5 dollar batches.

 mike

    	I hope to eliminate that problem by using a pitching machine.
    	That would be the ideal situation so theres no b*tchin'.
    

    
    	Charge X amount of money. Each batter gets 3 outs. Any ball hit
    that is not a Home Run, is an out. This is how they do it at the
    Home Run hitting competition. During the All-Star game for Major
    League Baseball.
    
    Ron 

>>    	I hope to eliminate that problem by using a pitching machine.
>>    	That would be the ideal situation so theres no b*tchin'.
    

	Another alternative is too allow each hitter to supply his
	own pitcher ... then he has noone to blame but himself (or his
	buddy) if he doesn't like the pitches he gets ...

	Vinny

    Batter brings his own pitcher.  Set a one hour time limit.  hitters
    sign up get 5 swings each for $5.  Get the money up front before
    someone hits 4 out of 5 out of the park, discouraging borderline
    hitters.  After each batter's turn he can sign up (and pay) again.  
    At the end of an hour break any ties.  Winner takes the money minus 
    whatever you keep for the fundraiser.  A $10 derby will attract
    only people who think they can win, a $5 derby will get the casual
    players to take a shot at it and will get them to try it again
    which will get you that $10 anyways.  Best case scenerio is after
    everyone has a turn there is a 10 way tie with 2 each.  One guy will
    try it again and hit 3 and then all 9 people who were tied will try and 
    beat him.  
    
    Jimbo
    
    Jimbo

    How do you raise money for your softball team?  I know it is only a 
    recreational sport but it would be nice to cut the cost by running 
    a fund raiser to pay for some of the expenses.  I know some bars,
    clubs, companies will sponsor a team and give a generous donation but
    we are not that lucky.  It costs just over $1,400 to play in our
    league (that includes, league fees, umpire costs, ASA fees, shirts, 
    and hats.  I would be interested in hearing any suggestions or ideas
    you may have.  

    
    	1995 USSSA Men's Class C Colorado State Champs!
    
    	We went through undefeated (6 & 0).  We beat the #7 ranked
    	team in the nation in the finals of the winner's bracket
    	and then ten runned them in the finals.  
    
    	Claybone

Congrats there Claybone!  Nice work.

    Betcha used a Aluminum bat you wimp. 
    
    Jeff

    
    	Aw hush you wolf appetizer.  :*)
    
    	Yes I did use a_aluminum bat.  My boy did indeed play soccer in
    	the spring, baseball this summer.
    
    	Claybone

Claybone, after all your years in sports (and as a gesture of respect to
Hawk) I thought you would have lacquered your woodie.....

    
    They don't make brushes that small!!!

    
    	Mea culpa 'Saw.  Thanks for the congrats.
    
    	Hey Cad, you know why Texans carry bull$hit in their wallets?
    
	I.D.  :*)
    
    	Claybone

    
    Claybone
    
      I was down in razorback land few weeks ago. Hot Springs 104 and 100%
    
    I stopped at this one place to answer nature call. They had a scale
    outside of the toilet. A sign above states   all natives must weigh in
    before entering.  I ask the guy running the place why natives had to
    weigh themselves prior to entering the stall.  Simple the guy says.
    That way we'll know how much to shovel out when they fall in. He says
    this state has gone to S**t since Bill and Hillary left.

    RE>147.74 ...Raising funds for Softball Team
    
    We ran into this problem at the beginning of the season this year and
    came up with two answers that covered us really well.  
    
    1.  We had two car washes.  You get some really strange looks from
    people when they don't see any kids around, but with the wives and girl
    friends helping out we took in some pretty good fundage.
    
    2.  We had a team garage sale.  Everybody scraped out the junk in
    their houses and garages and took them over to the coach/manager's
    house.  He was pissed when we all left what didn't sell over there.
    
    From this, we were able to cover the league fee, new uniforms (they
    looked great), and even some extra to cover our first tourney.  The
    hats we had each individual buy since we want to go with the fitted
    instead of the one-size-fits-all.
    
    For next year, we found a pub that wasn't sponsering a team and went
    there after every game...and then some!  THey have broken down and said
    they will sponser us next year (full).  We also got them to sponser our
    pool team.  We are still going to do some carwashes next year for
    tourney money.
    
    Hope this helps
    Ciao
     Steve

	date		May 3-5, 1996
	
	location 	Legion Field and Martel Field
			Merrimack, NH

	format		one pitch - double elimination

	entry deadline	April 29, 1996

	entry fee	$120.00 per team

			*** first 20 teams paid are in ***

	inquiries	mkots3::long 


	all funds raised to benifit Merrimack American Legion Baseball.



	billl

	Cain't believe none of yunz softball bo-he-mouths
	signed up for this one.  Sheet!  I thought the
	replies would be buzzin' in.



	billl