std

Gold is a step up no doubt, not only in talent but formost in commitment. We have players in the area with a lot of talent but to have multiple teams of 10 to 12 players committed only to fastpitch in this area is rare. There are too many 2 and 3 sport athletes who do not specialize. Too many of the top position players actually see softball as secondary. Some of the best position players I had played softball as a secondary sport and ultimately stopped playing competitive summerball at 17. In the southwest and northwest this is not true. We did not send a gold caliber team to the nationals this past summer. Parker Eagles had the talent but were restricted by college commitments from going to the Nationals. And when you look at Parker they are a regional based team with players from Chattanooga and Nashville. In 2001 there 7 registered in the four state region of Tennessee, Georgia, South and North Carolina. Five received natioinal berths in the 74 team field. Two top 15 finishers and 2 top 25 finishes. Respectable and a little lucky. If we ever expect to compete in this arena there has to be a movement by the top athletes to committ to softball as the only sport. Now is that what we want or better yet is that what we are going to get out of the athletes? I think not. We will continue to field a 1997 Nashville Eagles caliber team every ten years but we will never have 6-7 high level teams in the upper crust every year. Too much roundball, volleyball and soccer. I am sure I have struck a nerve or two so bring it on. Let me hear what you think.

Was moved to catcher at Mississippi State. What was her nickname at Whitwell?

Pitchers 1. Amy Robertson -Baylor-16 inning 1-0 win over Brentwood's Amanda Fine in the 1994 state winners bracket finals that ended at 2:00 on Friday morning. Pitched and won the finals later that day. 2. Beth Alexander -East Ridge- aka the Queen of Chattanooga softball I can remember when they moved the 1998 state finals from the Field of Dreams in the bottom of the first to Cooke 3 because Beth didn't like the mound. 3. Lindsey Edmonson -GPS- aka the Princess and heir apparent to Beth's Throne One of the hardest working pitchers in the city (over 10,000 hours on the curveball alone) Parker was hard to beat with her on the throne oh I mean mound. Position Players 1. Dana Reed SS -East Ridge- gobble the ball up at short. 2. Rebecca Eldridge CF -Soddy and Daisy- aka the skunk best outfield arm I've possibly seen. 3. Jennifer Smith C -Soddy plus Daisy- Throw you out and never leave the squat 4. Baylors SS with Robertson Can never remember her name. The smoothest player I've seen. 5. Liz Card 3B -Baylor- Just plain and simple an animal. At the 1996 Soddy plus Daisy Tournament she climbed 10 feet up the fence and caught a foul ball. Hitter 1. (1. and only 1.) Jackie McClain She is so far ahead of everyone else no one should be mentioned in the same thread. In the 1998 semis of the GPS Invitational 0-0 with one out bottom of the 7th and a runner on second I insisted we walk her but I listen to our catcher who wanted to unintentionally intentionally walk her. She hit a dropball 12 inches outside and 6 inches off the ground into the left center gap. Ball Game. I believe we have walked her more times than we have let her hit. I know there are a lot more but these stick out in my mind.

I am a big fan of Puffy. I hope that she stays healthy this year and is able to put together a full season. Even when she is hurt she plays through the injury.

I'm not dissing her because I know she is a good player but I've always believed you need to see where you stand, there is a big step from 16U to 18 Gold and DI ball. Clifford probably made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

Chris Snoody is the best. He is there for all sports day in day out. As a physical therapist I know he has the knowledge as well as the desire to help get the players back. He sent our softball players copies of their write-ups laminated on a card. Does so much extra for all sports. Glad he's there.

Indian, I never understood why she didn't show up on one of the dominant 18U teams in Chattanooga.

Queenbee: Will Al Gore be there or does he have to stay in jail.

There is a big step from slow to fastpitch and the transition is not that easy. Hard to shorten the beginning phase of the slowpitch players swing. You can blow inside heat by the beginner because they are just too long. Short to it long through it. Maybe the transition in Mississippi is easier because of the quality of pitching. It's just not a hot bed for fastpitch.

We lost one starter but have a couple of new girls that will step right up. Pieroni may be the best pitcher I've seen at this age (sophmore). The website spysoftball.com has a thread or two from the ASA national convention that discusses some of the ball changes they are looking at you might check that out. We com to Coffee County this year for their tournament and then for a regular season game I'm not sure of the date but if you get a chance to come I'm the skinny coach. that's one of the best places I've ever been for a high school game.

Jeff is one of the most dedicated people I know when it comes to his teams. I cannot believe that he is the reason for the football teams lack of success. He gets a lot out of his softball talent and i would think he does the same for football. Some schools softball team is going to be very lucky if he does leave. He has a passion for competetion. We were playing Coffee in a tournament last year and the game was a 0 -0 nail biter and he just looks at me and said "this is what it is all about you got to love these type of games."

Poor except for the five buses Polk brought. They were very good and entusiastic fans.

If you play baseball to get to the next level then you play summer travel where winning and playing top comp is where you get your exposure and experience not high school ball. Football is the only high school sport that is the highest available competition in the sport. In all other sports it is amateur teams outside of the school that get you to the "next level" [Edited by std on 11-16-02 8:59P]

Dingo you make good points in your posts. We continue to legeslate change in order to make it "fair" to everyone. There is too much empahsis on post season success and less emphasis placed on the value of the participation in high school athletics which is the most important reason to play. There will always be schools that never even sniff the post season but the participation by the athletes will be there for them and they will gain from the experience. We cannot make it "fair" to all even if we continue to change the rules.

Mike if they move it back it will give the hitters an even better advantage and be less safe for pitchers. Just take someting off the bats or the compression of the ball. ASA is considering going to a lessor compression.

In the national ASA meeting this past week it was voted to keep the pitching distance at 40 ft for 18U A and Gold even though colleges pitch from 43 ft. This will not change.

In 1997 12U 14U 16U. In 1998 12U 16U 18U In 1999 14U and 2 x 18U Same in 2000 and 2001 with one 18U gold and one A. Only 16U in 2002

Bighurt I am also a Dalewood Elementary alumnus. Class of 1965.

lgw711 my blood runs Goodpasture Blue but I resect the outlining counties pride in their football programs and the followings/crowds that go to the games on Friday night. You just don't see that anymore in the metropolitan areas except a big game like Gopodpasture vs Lipscomb. People get on here and gripe about paying $7 to see a playoff games but don't flinch when asked to pay $30 to see UT play or $50+ to see the Titans. Makes me mad. I work the gate at all Goodpasture home games and I here every excuse not to pay known to man from I've got a cousin who has a niece who has a friend who plays in the band do I get in free to I 'm just here to give someone something and I will be right back. I get mad at the student body for not coming to the games. These high school athletes play the game at the purist level, they play for pride and it is a shame that the community support in big cities is just not there. When I played at Isaac Litton in the late 60's and early 70's it didn't matter if we were 0 - 7 we still had a full house on Fridays. Rural areas still have a high level of support and I am glad for them. Just wish our supporters would get off there rearends and come to the games. The kids deserve it.

lgw711 good post.

Watching the game in Tennessee for about as long as any body I see it like this: Chattanooga area: Longest run has to be the Parker Eagles. From Frank Reid to Chris Williams to the current 16U coach, is probably the most consistent high level team in the state year in and year out. Chris has gotten some middle TN help on his last three years in the form of a good pitcher each year. Next would have to be the Frost Falcons for longevity. There have been other good Teams in the Energizers for two to three year run and the Cruisers were a short term good program when Mickie Smith was around. The Thunder of Steve Chatin were possibley the most talented team for a two year span and had the highest gold finish at ninth 2000. They also had two middle TN Pitchers in Wright and Hawkins and two middle Tn catchers in Wright and Denton. The 1997 Frost Falcons of Chatin with Nashville pitcher Amanda Fine made the 32 Team Gold field and finished middle of the pack. I am not so familiar with the teams Amy Robinson played on as this was a little before my travel ball years. The Chat. Heat always field a competetive team. Knoxville area Knoxville Thunder and Lady Eagles are the top teams but go NSA or just stop playing after ASA regional Middle TN By far the Nashville Eagles have been the most dominate team in Middle TN. Don Lockridge and David Mitchell had the talent and the know how to win at all levels taking the ASA 18A in 1998 with Seibel and Dunlap on the mound. Mike Wright's younger Eagles teams were great teams from 12U through 14U but went global and split to Chattanooga to play with the screamer (Chatin). This years Eagles totally unrelated to the above did win the 16U NSA East World but several teams in TN have made the finals - 14U Firebirds in 2000 - 14U Parker in 1998 - just to name a few. T.E. Elite has had a decent run from 1997 through 2002 with a best finish of 13 in the 18 gold but a good number of NSA and ASA state championships per team and a few region championships. The current 16U had top twenty finishes as 12U and 14U in the ASA Nationals and are currently under construction but will be back as top contenders. The Nighthawks win the longevity and lifetime achievement award. The current 16U Nighthawks are young but will be very talented. As 12U and 14U have had top 10 finishes in ASA National. Jeff White consistently provides good opportunities for a large number of girls I just hope he tries to go ASA route from now on. Brentwood Blues had a high ASA 18U finish this year at 9th with help from Rhodes. Should be a force this year. The Firebirds have been together 4 years and getting better. The single most talented team was the Sothern Attack a one year flash in the pan with too much talant and too many chiefs. West TN Do they play fastpitch there? Just Kidding. They are the home of the formerly Nationally ranked St Benedict. Just Kidding. Since they play in a different State/Metro ASA district and are in the Region with Arkansas and Oklahoma we don't see much of them in the summer run. Someone help me out or dog me out on this. [Edited by std on 11-14-02 8:36P]

I've been around Goodpature softball along time and I can not rememember a catcher with a better defensive season than Amanda Richards had last year.

I think Ethan Flatt repeated the 8th grade at Lipscomb.

Comprehensive high schools with 1500 students also added to the private flight.

I'm over $100,000.00 poorer due to private school tuition!