Conference 7.286::sports_91

With many, many smilies:

Here's a couple of quotations that I've seen on t-shirts at drinkups:


		It is better to have played rugby and lost
			than to ever have played softball

		Batman plays rugby, Robin plays softball


With that out of the way, I have a serious softball question:

	Does anyone know if The King and His Court are still playing?
	They were almost as much fun to watch as the Harlem Globetrotters!

'Saw

    
    
    	OK, I'll start it off.....
    
    	The mighty Raiders team that I've played with for the past
    	five years is no more (sniff, sniff).  Approximately half
    	of us went to a team called Sticks, and the other half went
    	to a team called Quarterbacks.  I went to Quarterbacks.
    
    	I know you guys might think this is funny, but we play
    	*competetive* softball.  In other words, we are classified
    	as being a certain level of team on a national basis (A, B,
    	C, etc...).  We play in sanctioned United States Slowpitch
    	Softball Association (USSSA for short) or ASA tournaments.
    	We also play in the competitive division of our city league
    	where all the best competetive teams play no matter what
    	their classification.
    
    	The usual rule of thumb for classification is the number of
    	consistent home run hitters on your team.  The breakdown is
    	as follows:
    
    		ASA				USSSA
    		===				=====
    	A - 6 home runs allowed/game        A - 5 or 6 home run hitters
    				   		per game
    
        B - 3 home runs allowed/game        B - 3 home run hitters per game
    
    	C - 1 home run/game		    C - 1 home run hitter per game
    
    	In ASA, once you've used up your home runs, any others hit are
    	ruled an out.  In USSSA, if anybody other than the first "n"
    	batters to hit a home run, hits a home run, it is ruled an out.
    	The first "n" players to hit a home run are allowed to hit as
    	many as they want.  Is that clear?  There will be a quiz! ;^)
    
    	There are other classes such as D where no home runs are allowed.
    	There are also classes such as Super Duper Open (or something like
    	that) where the home runs are unlimited.
    
    	Quarterbacks is a C team (on the verge of being B).  We have two
    	guys who consistently (ie 1 per game on average) hit home runs.
    	There are others (like myself) who will hit one about every 5 games
    	or so.
    
    	Claybroon  

Wow 'Saw!!!

What a blast from the past on the King and His Court!!!

My dad has always been nuts about baseball although I never liked it as much
as hockey/football, and he took me to Hamilton to see them when I was a little
fart.  

All I can remember as a little kid was that their "around the horn"was so fast 
it was nearly invisible!  Of course I was spellbound.  

They can't still be playing as they would be as old as Ryan (  ;^{))))) ).

rick

Last I knew "The King" Eddie Fiegner was still performing. I ran into 
him a few years ago at a local watering hole in Nashua. He stills humsum!
My father played in an exhibition game against the Court back in da 60's!



Steve

>>	Does anyone know if The King and His Court are still playing?
>>	They were almost as much fun to watch as the Harlem Globetrotters!

     They are alive and playing. I just sponsered 2 Special Olympic kids
     to go see them play somewhere in Worcester this summer. There pitcher,
     can't remember his name, is now in his 60's and still pitches from
     second base.

Chuck

    
    	I saw the King pitch here in C. Springs one time.  During
    	the portion of the game where he pitches blindfolded, the
    	guy who is supposed to protect him (just in case a batter
    	got lucky and hit the ball!) didn't do his job very well.
    	The batter laced one right back up the middle and it hit
    	the King in the leg.  He was pissed.  The rumors floating
    	around were that he fired the guy.
    
    	Claybroon

    I saw a show on ESPN a few weeks ago that had a new, younger King.  He
    was just putting on an exhibition of pitching against some of those
    slow pitch home run teams.  Now these guys have arms as thick as my
    thighs and probably hit about 20 HRs a game as a team against the 12
    foot arc, but The King was making them look more foolish than a rugby
    player.  If they had the nerve to step into the pitch, they would miss
    it by at least a foot.  Between his legs behind his back, it didn't
    matter.  They were swinging where they heard it go by.
    
    Dan

    I saw the King and his Court with my dad when I was about seven or
    eight years old.  Thanks for bringing back a good father-son memory.
    
    I think there is also a Queen and her Court now.  
    
    	--dan'l
    
    PS: Our Digital Charlotte co-rec team, city champions three years
    running, is off to a rocky 2-2 start.  Seems the city is tired of us
    winning it every year so they really loaded our division this season.

	The Triple Crown is a tournament which culminates with
	the national tournament in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
	
	Each state (that participates, most do) has 3 legs of
	the Triple Crown to decide who gets to go to the
	national tournament in Steamboat from their state.

	Your team receives points depending on how you finish
	in each leg.  The overall point leader after the 3
	legs are completed gets a berth in the national tourney
	plus travel, lodging, and entry fee expenses paid for.
	Second place overall gets a berth and their entry fee
	paid for.  Third place overall gets a berth and that's
	it.  You can also receive a berth by winning any of the
	3 legs even if you don't participate in any of the other
	legs (but none of your team's expenses will be paid for
	unless by some miracle you end up placing 1st or 2cd
	overall).

	The first leg of the Triple Crown for Colorado was here
	in Colorado Springs this past weekend.  My team, Quarterbacks,
	took first!

	The 2cd leg is in Steamboat Springs and the 3rd leg is in
	Breckenridge/Silverthorne.  Both of these legs are held in
	July.

	Claybroon

    
    re: The King
    
    	I've seen the "king" twice.  Once when he was in his prime, and the
    second when he was clearly on the downside about 6 years ago.
    
    	The King, Eddie, does not pitch that much anymore.  Seeing that he
    is well into his 60's, one can excuse him if he doesn't go the whole
    9 innings!  His son, Eddie Jr. plays and at one time, many felt he
    would take over.  But I imagine that since Eddie Sr. can't pitch
    every night or every inning, they need a few more players.
    
    	I saw the same program that Dan did on ESPN and my guess is that
    they have imported a couple of extra pitchers, but they will still only
    use 4 players.
    
    	If anyone is interested, I have their program from about 6 years 
    ago and I could enter in a few of the kings stats, which by the way 
    when really looked at, are without a doubt the greatest of any living
    or dead pitcher.
    
    	Talk about a "living legend", this guy is it if there ever was
    one!
    
    							bill..g.
    

    
    >><<< Note 147.8 by SHALOT::MEDVID "could not hear or see for jealousy" >>>
    
    >>I think there is also a Queen and her Court now.  
    
    >>	--dan'l
    
    Dan'l,
       Just when the hell did Kosar move into softball?????
    Or is that the team from San Francisco????    
    
    JaKe
    

    I'll move the MRO-B diss-cussion over here...
    
    Martha Wash?  That would be good.  Is that Martha Wash from:
    
    A)Black Box
    B)C&C Music FACtory
    C)Weather Girls
    D)Other ?
    
    We won last night 16-12 over AKP.  Not bad, since we were down 9-4
    at one point.  Middle of our lineup didn't get to take batting
    practice, and woke up towards the end of the game.  Game ended when
    AKP grounded into a DP with the bases loaded.  We play a make up game
    tomorrow, I forget against who....
    
    Yeah, we split with Orioles last year and lost to them in game 2 of 
    our playoff game 31-23 in classic pitcher's duel...

    re .12:
    
    The Weather Girls -- now there's a "whatever happened to" for you...
    
    
    py

    Martha Wash was one of the Weather Girls (aka 2 tons of fun).  She's
    the "studio" singer of choices A and B for .12... Don't know about
    the other one.  Probably forming a super group with Joyce Whatshername
    who as Dawn (as in Tony Orlando and) with Thelma Hopkins (who was
    on Gimme a Break, Bosom Buddies....)
    
    -Walt

    Hawk, they dumped ICE COLD WATER to cool off their hot and bothered
    coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111   
    
    REK
    
    :_]

    Martha Wash is in court against the producers of Black Box something
    about not getting her permission or paying her for singing on the album.
    She also was in court against C&C productions but they settled out of
    court. She also sang a few songs on Sweet Sensation album. The girl
    can sing and stays busy but because she weight close to 200lbs she
    never gets the fame and exposure.

    Buggs plays tomorrow night against the Vikings. Don't know much about
    these teams where playing. Its been 2 years since I seen any of them.

Chuck

    Oh look, we play JYD tomorrow night...
    
    We played our first game against the Vikings.  We should have won it,
    but what can you do.  One or two guys who can put it out (SS comes to
    mind), the rest are singles hitters.  Didn't think either pitcher was 
    hard to solve...
    
    As part of 2 tons of fun/Weather Girls, I can see why she wouldn't
    fit the "Video babe" image... too bad, hope she wins.  I know MTV
    puts "Vocals added by Martha Wash, Visualized by Zelma Davis" on
    the "Gonna Make You Sweat" video...

Anyone have a stats program?

I'm currently using Lotus to do my softball team stats. It works 
well, but I'd like to see what anyone else is using.

thanks
daryll

    Well the Sharks won handily over the Vikings 14-3 (I think).  Depending
    on how Buggs did we could have sole possession of first.  
    
    Jimbo

    Nope....  Buggs won 11-8.  Schneider had the nerve to hit a double
    (maybe a triple) watch our guy bobble the relay, run home and claim
    it to be a HR.... Youz guyz are tied... I was uninspired after Martha
    Wash failed to show as promised, and someone tried to use our bats...
    I wrecked my slugging pct. too in a losing cause....

 Well the Sweatsocks took it out on us big time last night 19-6. We scored
 5 in the first and then fell asleep but to their credit the Soxs played
 very well. Offensively, defensively, pitching everybody contributed congrats..

 Now for the story behind the story...I took my kids to a game for the
 first time (6 & 4) wife has never let me push sports on them but anyways
 after the game they had all kinds of questions about where I played, who
 was the umps told me they had a great time couldn't wait to do it again
 and then my girl 6 years old

  gives me a hug as says "Dad you're where the best softball player there"
  my 4 year olds son chirps in "Yeah dad you're the greatest softball player
 in the world.."

 So DINK's and Singles buy those toys own those personal possessions but
 you'll never ever know the joy that money can't buy....

 ;^)

> So DINK's and Singles buy those toys own those personal possessions but
> you'll never ever know the joy that money can't buy....
    
    Bet I could pay Pepper to tell me the same thing...
    
    ...wouldn't mean as much, though.
    
    

    yea, i hear ya mike, courtneys the biggest GIANTS fan and yankee fans
    going, she goes to me during the height of the bruins demise, dad, down
    
    with the bruins  right, and i says, yup, thats right, you do know your
    sports COURT  
    
    HAAAAAAAA
    
    
    DINZ
    

    Some of us may have wanted children at one time but some of us have
    never found the right person to have them with and now it's too late. 
    Mike, I appreciate what you're saying but it could be considered
    insensitive by some of us who A.  May have wanted children and were
    unable to have them or B. Are living alone and don't necessarily want
    to be.
    
    Not all childless people are childless by choice.
    
    John

    Ninj,
    
    Thanks.
    
    Mark.

 I apologize to those whom I may have been insensitive too......also it's
 never to late and there is adoption but this is a softball note, that's
 this a soapbox topic...like I said I'm sorry just wanted to share my joy
 should have left it that......

 mike

    Mike, apology accepted.  It gets under my skin sometimes because I live
    alone and I don't necessarily want to (ie, I'm single though I don't
    necessarily want to be), and while I'm not 100% convinced that I do or
    don't want children, I would have liked to have had the choice, and not
    had the choice sort of made for me.  It's impossible for me to have
    kids by myself (if I could, it would make a hell of a subject for the
    National Enquirer) and society makes it difficult to have children
    without either being married or living with someone.  I'm also not
    sure, assuming I was 100% convinced I wanted a kid, that I could even
    adopt one as a single man.
    
    John

 We gots to get Ninja fixed up with some bitchin' babes.   
 
 I mean the man's a prize catch.  Warm, sensitive, caring and he knows
 by heart the entire lineup of the Red Sox throughout their long and
 colorful history.  Plus he's a past NOTY.   What more could any
 red-blooded female type want in a he-man stud ???
 
 C'mon ladies, do the right thing.  Jump Ninja's bones.
 
 Bob Hunt

    Red Sox lineup no, Patriots lineup yes.
    
    I can just tell this is going to be tomorrow's junk note, unless
    someone comes up with something better.
    
    Ninj

        <<< Note 147.31 by FSOA::JHENDRY "John Hendry, DTN 297-2623" >>>

>    I can just tell this is going to be tomorrow's junk note, 
    
    Count on it.
    
    And I'll be there.
    
    Mark.
    
    

    OK, as long as we're at it, anyone willing to help set me up, too?
    
    John and I are not a match made in heaven, unfortunately, so that 
    isn't one of the options in this little game.  (Although I could 
    write a long list of his virtues for the appropriate female-type.)
    
    I'm also aware of the existence of Singles - it was the first
    conference in my notebook, on the first day of my employment at Mother
    DEC. 
    
    A&W

 A&W,
 
 If I wasn't already enslaved ... whoops, I mean ... if I wasn't
 already married, you'd have my ring on your finger in an instant.
 
 Bob Hunt

I don't understand it either A&W.  Having a spouse who loves sports 
(and ::SPORTS) as much as you do would be a dream come true for most people.

=Bob=

    Mike, er, Bob Hunt, I'd fight you to the death for the hand of our fair
    maiden, if'n I wadn't already hitched, that is.
    
    Mark.

Ninj --

Dude, play rugby.  Seriously, when I mentioned it to you last Sunday, I 
wasn't joking.   I started at 31, horrendously out of shape, and knowing
squat about the game.  I've heard of people playing into their 50s (there
are over-50 tournaments!).  

The reason I mention this is that the saying "Chicks Dig Us Cause We Play Rugby"
is true....

Don't ever give up hope folks.  You never know what's just around the corner.


Hawk ---

Some advice for coaching your losing team.  You didn't specifically 
mention how you've been practicing them.  After a big loss, come back
at them with an easy practice.  Stress the MENTAL aspesct of the game,
and work 'em easy.  They'll relax, and you'll see the results in the
next game.

As to the opposition, you always tend to find that every once in a while.
Somehow turn the disgust you and the team feel for them into a motivational
factor (after explaining just how bad the opponents were).....


'Saw

    Hogwash!
    
    If they lose, have 'em run bleacher stairs at high noon.  That should
    turn 'em around.
    
    Mark.

Nope.

If we lose, which is rare (our league record, in 25 years is 44-17-4)
we always have an easy practice.  Not simply easy, but just a little less
than our normal Boot Camp type practices.  No power sets, no timed two-milers,
no "clean up the fringe in the ruck" drills, no insane fitness...

The next game we always seem to come out like a relentless green horde.
(That is something to behold in a game.  A team that is ruthless and
relentless, winning rucks, mauls and scrums....)

The only exception is if it was a STUPID loss, one that we let get away
through stupid mental mistakes couple with a lack of effort....

I saw work 'em easy on fundamentals.  Leave the bleachers for your
sportsmanship-less opponents.....

'saw

    Saw, you didn't see the implied smiley?
    
     Mark.

    Hawk - no mercy rule with the girls?
    
    In Dracut boys baseball, if you get up by 15 runs, and the game is in
    the fourth inning or later, it's over.  Also, in the minor leagues,
    they have a rule where only nine players are allowed to hit per at bat,
    so even if you get no outs, the most you can allow in an inning is
    nine runs.  Also, the ninth batter in that situataion cannot walk,
    which is another good rule.  Usually, you get to the ninth batter via
    two hits, four walks, two errors, and an out (something like that!!!).
    Anyway, making the last guy hit the ball or strike out prevents another
    run from scoring on anbases loaded walk, and makes the batter swing.
    
    I really like both of these rules.
    
    NAZZ

Lufay,

My implied smiley decoder glasses are in the repair shop.  Sorry I missed
it ^)

'Saw

    
    	Hmmmmmm, Harvard Step-ups?  What are those....I may want to come
    and watch!  :-)
    
    	Hal

    
    
    	Since our victory in the 1st leg of the triple crown, we've
    	taken 2cd in two tournaments.  I guess that's not too bad
    	considering we weren't at full strength for either tourney.
    
    	In league, we're 2-2.  The first night of league (we play
    	double headers) we scored 48 runs and only won 1 of our
    	two games.  Our two losses came at the hands of higher
    	rated teams.  I had the honor of jacking one out (with
    	my aluminum bat JD!!) against the pitcher for our team
    	last year.
    
    	Claybone  

    Congrats to julie !

    Double congrats to Julie, Hawk!
    
    Lee

Congrats to her, Hawko....

But just think, in a couple of years you won't want her telling you she
hit a home run!  8^) 8^) 8^)


'Saw

>    Ok, now that that's out of my system :-), our "Hyde" team showed up
>    last night after 3 consecutive "Jeckyl" showings, aided by the no-shows

Hawk KNOWS literature.....

>She also took a hard hit on an ankle and refused to come
>    out of the game knowing how short handed we were.  She was cute
>    crouched in her `ready' position with silent tears running down her
>    face!  :-)
    

I'm impressed, Hawk.  Nothing like an athlete that will play with pain.
If she ever wants to learn anything about rugby, let me (and/or Rachael
and/or Mac) know, because it sounds like she's got the right stuff...

And I hope you have a decent sports photographer there at some of these
games, because these moments are just too precious to let get away...

(If I knew WHERE, and I knew WHEN, I might be persuaded to make a road
trip......)

'Saw, whose rugby pictures are legendary....

    Hawk,
    
    where are your games played?  When Kerrie played, they were at either
    Consentino or Whittier.  What is her schedule for the last 4 games?
    If I can, I'd like to catch one of them.
    
    Lee

Oh, I dunno, Hawkster, there's not much I wouldn't do for a beer or two 8^)....

And actually, Rugby is much safer than 128, simply because you have a pretty
good idea of what the other team is trying to do.  On 128, I figure they
just open the doors of the Danvers Asylum, give the inmates cars, and
say "Go forth and have some fun!"

8^)

'Saw

    Hawk, sending her out on 128 at 5:00 pm is easy... 128 is nothing
    more than a parking lot by that time!!! :-}
    
    REK
    
    Sounds like a noters gettogether is needed here for a road trip to
    Hawk's last game as coach. 100 noters show up to cheer the team on..

Hawk:

	If you get me directions, and a press pass (so I can roam the sidelines
	taking pictures at will) I'll be there for one of the Wednesday
	games.

	If I show, I would expect you and the girls to show up at the
	Mystic River rugby game on October 26 or the Amoskeag game on
	Sept 28 (day before my birthday) to cheer me on 8^)

I think we should decied which Wednesday and do it!!!!


'Saw

Hell, maybe I'll get my sorry ass down to Motor Vehicles, register the
motorcyle, and bring my Ninja up.  If I ride it like I used to, it'll
take me an hour and a quarter 8^)

'Saw

>motorcyle, and bring my Ninja up.  

You own John Hendry?  How does he feel about it?

    Since you ride a Ninja, does that make you a mounted Apostrophe
    policeman? 
    
    Mark.

FYI - The DECwest softball team finally won it's first game of the season this
      week. After going 0-6 with a couple of rainouts (too bad we don't play
      in a dome) We managed to win the first game of a double header. Then we
      proceeded to get mercy killed in the second game. 

      We play weenie slow pitch out here in an industrial league (supposed to
      play weeknights right? wrong, 2 weeknight games the rest on the weekends)
      where we regularly get killed by the policemen, Joes Pizza and Sid's Bail
      Bonds.

      Plus we have powder blue uniforms....

      Thank goodness for good skiing and other sports....

      Metz

    Big game Tuesday night at HLO @6:50  Sharks vs. Buggs for
    first place.  Hopefully the Sharks won't hand over the game this
    time.
    
    Jimbo

There's nothing in the world like finding your groove.

Whether it's hitting a softball or baseball, leaning a motorcycle into a 
curve with your knee just grazing the pavement, kicking try conversions
or field goals....

All of a sudden things just start to click, and the rhythm is there.
What a feeling...


Hawk, fwiw, I think the most dangerous type of hitter is the nickel 'n dimer
who has power also...


'Saw

    Wow, Julie is sure in a groove, alright!
    
    Did they play lasted night?  I was planning on going, until that storm
    hit.  Kerrie's boyfriend's game was called, so I assumed that Julie's
    game was too.
    
    If so, is there a make-up for it?
    
    Lee

Hawk, you wanna post directions to that contest?

Keep me informed on the time, I might just make it up there....

Otherwise, it'll be on Wednesday.....


'Saw

    Who won the Buggs-Sharks game?
    
    We lost to the Sharks 8-7 tonight.  Jimbo hit a dinger... I hit a 310
    foot popup and fouled to the catcher for the last out of the game...
    Buggs is next...
    
    

    Walt the Buggs-Sharks game was called in the top of the fifth
    tied up 4-4.  Buggs went out to a 4-1 lead and we scratched 
    back.   How about those umps last night.  We had some of the
    worst calls go for us and against us.  I'm talking blatant safe's and
    out's going the wrong way.  I think we probably go the better of the 
    calls but I can not stand incompetant umps.  
    
    Jimbo

    
    	QB's dropped two last night to Bambino's.  Bambino's is
    	one of the two best teams in the entire state.  They
    	are an A team and proved it by hitting many dingers
    	against a good breeze.  At least we didn't get 10-runned.
    	They beat us by 5 and 8.  I hate being an outfielder when
    	we play those guys.  
    
    	One bright spot for me was gunning a guy out at home (from
    	LF).  It reminded me of the time Mark LuFay nailed Rich
    	Gedman at the plate except the guy I threw out doesn't
    	get timed in the 40 yd dash with a calendar.  :^)
    
    	A very dim spot for me was crashing into one of the outfield
    	poles (metal mounted in concrete no less).  Oh my aching
    	back......
    
    	Claybone

Hawkstah....

Saturday is out, unfortunately...

However, I don't think it's crazy to come all that way.  I mean, your
kids are pretty cool, and I never get to see you all that much anyway...
It'd be cool to see the Hawk coaching too....8^)

latered, dude,
'Saw

Hey, you won't hear the Sawman complaining about that 8^)

Shoot me some directions...


I played softball for the first time in two years yesterday at our party
for the BASEstar V3.0 release.  I played 1B.  First grounder hit to me
in infield practice took a wicked bad hop, caught me square in the face
(well a little more on the right eye than the left).

Followed up the play picking the ball up and firing it back in.  Took
stock and figured I'd been hit harder in the head playing rugby.

Fun game, even though our engineering group lost to the combined other
groups of BMF 14-9....


Nothing like releasing software as a reason to party.....

'Saw

    
    	Re:75	I think you're talking about the Sharks/Slimy Swingers
    game in Hudson.  If so, we had the same umps the following game.
    Like you, we got the better of it (I think), but the calls did stink     
    both ways.  Lucky we got out with a "W".
    
    		Gar

    
    	The season is winding down.  We've got the state tournament
    	(USSSA) this weekend in Loveland.  I sure hope we revert
    	back to the form which won the 1st leg of the Triple Crown.
    	We've gone "2 and Q" (aka lose two and barbeque) a couple
    	of times since then.  We have started to pick it up lately
    	though.
    
    	There are a few rainout games (league) to make up after
    	this weekend and then there is the ASA (more popular)
    	state tourney over Labor Day weekend.  That'll do it
    	for me this year.  Then, I'll be getting ready for
    	huntin'..........
    
    	Claybone

    
    	1 and 2 = singin' the blues!  It got so bad, they batted
    	me leadoff.
    
    	Claybone

    Two questions:
    
    	- Can a runner tag on an infield fly rule?  Lasted night we
    	  had bases loaded and the batter popped up in the infield.
    	  Ump called "Batter's out!"  Therefore, the infielders don't
    	  even have to catch the ball.  They did and weren't paying
    	  attention and our girl on third tagged up to score.
    
    	- One of our batters hit a ball over shortstop who threw his
    	  glove up in the air to try to knock it down, an illegal move.
       	  Our runner made it to second.  We thought he should have been
    	  awarded third, but the ump said he had not rounded first at
    	  the time of the infraction.  Well of course not!  You'd have
    	  to be super human to be past first when somebody throws their
    	  glove at the ball you just hit.
    
    BTW, We are undefeated through the first half of the season and it
    looks like Digital is headed to it's third Charlotte co-rec city
    championship in four years!
    
    	--dan'l (who finally started hitting last night)
    	  

    Yes you can tag on an infield fly and advance at your own risk.
    
    I thought throwing the glove was a 3 base award too..
    

    > Yes you can tag on an infield fly and advance at your own risk.
    
        Yes, I thought that way to but the other night my team (Digital
    Marlboro Softball Leauge) had the same thing happen and the ump said
    that an infield fly in softball is a dead ball and would not let our
    runner advance (he called the infield fly and the infielder preceeded
    to miss the ball).  Is he just misinformed or did he droped the ball?
    
    
    Jerry

    
    
    re -1
    
    UNless the rules have changed since I umpired, a runner can advance
    at his own risk....
    
    If the ball was caught, the runner has to tag up.
    
    
    Lou

    The University of Massachusetts came back from losing its first game in
    the NCAA regionals to sweep yesterday and qualify for the softball
    College World Series.  What made it even better is that we swept the
    University of Connecticut (10-0, 3-0) to do so.
    
    John

    As long as your happy John!  
    
    8*)
    Jimbo

    The umpire screwed up BIGTIME if he told you a runner cannot advance on
    an infield fly!!!  That would be akin to saying "in softball, it's only
    2 strikes and you're out!!".  The infield fly rule is the same
    at all levels of baseball and softball.  The batter is out, but
    time is not!!  The rule is to prevent the runners from being unfairly
    placed in jeopardy.....they can, however, put themselves in jeopardy if
    they so choose!!
    
    My guess is that the ump is a guy who didn't play a lot of ball growing
    up.....thinks he knows everything....but doesn't!!!
    
    
    
    
    Regards,
    
    
    Nelly
    
    

Yeah.  What Nelly said.

An infield fly would be an EASY double play if they didn't have the rule.
Since runners must tag on a fly, naturally on an infield fly they go
back to their bases to tag to await the catch.

A crafty (or some say unscroupulous) fielder could then DROP the ball, and
you've got an easy double play, since the runner at first (or first,second)
is back by the bag.


I have seen fielders intentionally drop line drives with runners on first
or first,second, and turn the double play, but to me it's kind of 
unsportsmanlike.  I know of no rule against it though (but then I don't
have Nelly's expertise either....)


'Saw

    Softball umpires are a lot like rugby!!!
    
    JaKe
    

    'Saw,
    
    If, in the umpire's judgement, a fielder INTENTIONALY (sp?) drops a line 
    drive in order to 'turn two', the play would be disallowed....the
    batter would be out and the runners would maintain their previous
    positions.
    
    
    HTH,
    
    Nelly 

>    If, in the umpire's judgement, a fielder INTENTIONALY (sp?) drops a line 
>    drive in order to 'turn two', the play would be disallowed....the
>    batter would be out and the runners would maintain their previous
>    positions.
    

Oh, that's good to know.

I don't play much softball these days, but something like that always
bugged me.


'Saw

    What about the answer to the other question in the original note...if a
    player throws his glove at a ball in play, is the runner awarded
    additional bases...what if the glove does not interfere with the ball?
    
    Thanks.
    
    	--dan'l

    re "Umpires are a lot like rugby":
    Yea, they both got their head up someone else's butt.
    
    Brews
    8^)

    That was an out-of-the-ballpark homer, Brews!
    
    Hawk
    

    
    Saw this one last night watching a softball game:
    
    Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out, and the batter hits a popup between the
    pitcher and catcher. Umpire calls "Infield fly-batter out". No one
    catchs or touches the ball. The ball spins foul after it hits the
    ground. I say this is a foul ball. This is what the umpire did.
    Called the batter out and allowed the 2 runners to advance because you
    can advance on your own risk. 
                        Jim

    Women's Division 1 tournament, beginning today in Oklahoma City:
    
    UCLA (49-2) vs Massachusetts (36-14)
    Florida State (62-7) vs California (46-14)
    
    Tomorrow:
    
    Fresno State (50-14) vs Kansas (45-8)
    Long Beach State (39-30) vs Arizona (55-5)
    
    Saturday:
    
    Losers  in first round games play each other
    Winners in first round games play each other
    
    John

    
    
    Re. .97
    
    The call is supposed to be INfield fly rule IF THE BALL REMAINS FAIR...
    
    
    Unless someone touched it.......
    
    
    
    
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    Best one I was involved with was 
    
    We had bases loaded no out........
    
    I was on 2'nd....
    
    Someone hits a fly ball to the Short fielder, he misplayed the ball, 
    and it went off his glove to the center fielder who made a good catch
    of the bobble. As soon as I saw it deflected, I yelled to the guy on
    third, we both tagged up and scored.
    
    The center fielder threw to third and 2'nd, and the Umpire awarded
    a triple play....needless to say all He!! broke loose.......
    
    I argued, yelled, cussed, questioned her parentage...and so forth..
    But this umpire swore that we were out because we tagged up after the
    short fielder touched the ball, and it was actually caught by the
    center fielder.
    
    Needless to say I protested the game, and we won the protest.....
    
    
    Lou

    re .99
    
    If I remember right, if the fielder bobbles the ball, you *don't even
    have to tag* whether he catches the ball or not.
    
    Doc

    
    > If I remember right, if the fielder bobbles the ball, you *don't even
    > have to tag* whether he catches the ball or not.
    
    Nope, you've got to wait for contact with the glove before tagging...
    
    glenn
    

    Waitaminute Glenn. I remember a game where we had our CF bobble, then
    catch a ball (slo-pitch league). The baserunner was running back to
    tag, saw the bobble, and took off. The CF threw to 2nd base (the runner
    was heading from 2nd to 3rd), and the ump said no DP, we lost that when
    the CF juggled the ball.
    
    What gives ?

    
    That's a new one on me, Doc.  I'll leave it to someone who's got
    a_official softball rulebook, but I've never seen such a thing in
    baseball.
    
    glenn
     

    
    	The way I've always heard it (and seen it enforced) is that
    	yyou have to tag up until *first touch*.  Then, you can advance.
    
    	Claybone

    The University of Massachusetts was 1-hit by UCLA lasted night and lost
    4-0 in the opening round.  We play the Florida State - California loser
    tomorrow at noon.
    
    John

    The 'bobble ruling' is INCORRECT.   The 'first touch ruling' is
    CORRECT!!   If a fly ball is caught....the runner must tag up in order
    to advance.....NO EXCEPTIONS!!!  It doesn't matter that the improper
    call has been made on more than one occasion...by one or more different
    umpires......a bobbled catch does NOT nullify the runners need to tag
    up on a fly ball.  
    
    
    
    As for the Infield Fly Rule.....as one of the previous notes
    mentioned...all umpires (at least those who are sanctioned) have been
    instructed to call out "Infield Fly Rule, the batter's out IF FAIR!!"!!
    Thus, the situation where the ump judged the batter out and the runners
    eligible to advance was yet another example of blind justice on the
    basepaths!!!!!!!!
    
    
    HTH,
    
    Nelly
    
    

    The University of Massachusetts finished with a 2-2 record in the
    College Softball World Series.  After losing its opener to UCLA, we
    beat Florida State and Fresno State before bowing to UCLA again, 11-1. 
    UCLA won the title over Arizona.
    
    John

    After faultering last year and finishing second in the league,
    Digital's Charlotte team finished the season 10-0 last week and were
    once again crowned city league champions.  That's four times in five
    years we won it all.
    
    And it was nice to go undefeated.  Finally, after blowing one or two
    games per season that we should have won, we did it.  And just in time
    too.  The team is bound to be torn apart due to impending layoffs.  
    
    	--dan'l

    
    
    		-----------------------------------------
		--- 1992 DEC Softball Tournament News ---
		-----------------------------------------

The tournament will be held July 31st thru August 2nd.
	July  31st - Maynard and Stow (possibly Marlboro) Fields
	August 1st - Maynard, Stow, and Marlboro Fields
	August 2nd - Maynard Fields

Raindates: August 7th thru August 9th

Team Fee:  $210 per team

Fees and Minimum Roster (12 players) due by July 17th. --- No exceptions!
	- send rosters to AVIATE::KMACAULAY
	- send checks made payable to the DEC Maynard Softball League to
		Tom Pitman
		MLO5-2/B6
		146 Main St.
		Maynard, MA  01754

Roster updates accepted up until 12:00 noon on July 29th. --- No exceptions!

We will be using a round-robin format for the first round of the 
tournament.  Therefore, each team will be guaranteed a minimum of
4 games if 10 teams enter the tournament.