Kern County Softball - Softballjoe's Blog - The Southwest Voice

TYPICAL GIRLS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL PLAYER

TYPICAL GIRLS FAST PITCH SOFTBALL PLAYER (TGFPSP) is first and foremost somebody's little girl.

The TGFPSP still has all those little girl attributes. The only difference is now she looks cute dressed in sliders and shorts. If she is wearing ribbons in her hair, they are team colors. She still bakes cookies ... team bake sale. And she has probably earned a few bucks ... at the team car wash. Now she is, and always will be daddy's (mom's) little second baseman.

The TGFPSP takes pride in how much dirt she can collect every weekend. Go to dinner on a night that she is not playing and it takes an hour of primping to get ready, and she still feels self-conscious. Go after a game and she'll walk right into a restaurant with a streak of dirt across her forehead, ratted hair, stained shirt and brownish/white socks. Or brown toes with sandals! Let's EAT!

The TGFPSP is ready and willing to play at the drop of a hat! If she can get away with it, she will play on two teams. (In the same day no less) She has a huge wardrobe: plenty of tournament shirts and shorts from all the teams she has played on. Her parents do her school shopping every weekend at the tournament T-shirt booth. When you say, "wear something nice", she thinks it means a tournament shirt without dirt stains.

The TGFPSP needs to get an athletic scholarship. Her parents have spent $100,000 on camps, private instruction, batting cages, gloves, bats, equipment, uniforms, player fees, concession stands, travel and lodging. THEY'RE BROKE!!!

The TGFPSP is a fierce competitor, willing to stand in against a fast pitcher at close distance that even pro baseball players would have trouble hitting! And she might be 5'2" and 100 lbs. soaking wet. She might play first or third base at 20 feet from home plate, saying I dare you to bunt ... drive one down my throat!!!

The TGFPSP has more spirit than maybe any other team sport. At least it sounds that way. Softball is the only sport where a girls ability to cheer sometimes effects roster decisions. She can't bunt or hit, she is a liability in the field ... but she cheers constantly!

The TGFPSP is playing the game for all the right reasons! SHE LOVES IT! She could hang out at the mall, stay home and watch TV, or spend her summers at the pool. Instead she has a tight schedule with limited free time, hangs out on the practice field with a coach in her face, and spends her summers getting baked on a 105degree field with no shade.

The TGFPSP has her priorities in order: Tournaments, League Games, Team Practices, schoolwork, individual practice and batting cage, family, private softball instruction, church, conditioning, softball camps, boys. (Maybe church comes before the batting cage.) At least on Sundays.

The TGFPSP is diligent and hardworking. She knows you get out of something, what you put into it. She is not the type of kid to take the easy way out! She is competitive, not willing to give up. She learns many valuable lesson during the course of her softball career, like:

The TGFPSP has a lot of fun every summer, enough to make her come back next year regardless of all the sacrifices, the money, the occasional bad coach, drinking water that people have put their hands in, etc.

Lets Play Ball

you can stay at Holiday INN for $15 bucks a night if you are willing to go 4 to a room.

hotels don't monitor pool usage, and you can go swimming anytime, whether your a registered guest or not.

Continental breakfast means: 3 bowls of cereal, bagel, 2 donuts and 4 glasses of OJ.

Unlike the geographically challenged, softball girls know how to get from home to every field in a 25 mile radius.

At one time, she looked cute as a button, dressed in pink with pony tails. She played with dolls, helped mom bake cookies,
and has probably earned a few bucks baby-sitting. She has been, and always will be daddy's (mom's) little girl.

Weight Training Specifically for Softball

Weight Training Specifically for Softball

In order for a female softball athlete to improve her performance on the diamond, it is essential to train as hard off the field as well as on the field by having a weight training regime specifically designed for softball. Some athletes workout on the ball diamond for two to three hours at a time - fielding grounders and shagging fly balls - and believe it to be sufficient.

Now, however, with the level of competition much keener, to stay ahead of the pack an athlete will have work just as hard training her body as she does fielding and hitting.

The primary objective of a weight training program for a female softball athlete is very simple: The stronger and more flexible your body, the less prone you are to on-field injury. A weight training program helps build strength. The strength you develop will allow you to swing the bat faster, throw the ball further, and run bases faster. Speed and strength are the two most important components for success in softball.

If you serious about elevating your softball game, no matter what caliber you currently play, a weight training program will help take your game to the next level.

Caution: If you are planning to begin a weight training regime and have never lifted weights before, check first with your team's coach and your parents.

Softball in Heaven?

Softball in Heaven?

Author unknown

Two 90-year-old women, Rose and Barb, had been friends all of their lives.

When it was clear that Rose was dying, Barb visited her every day.

One day Barb said, 'Rose, we both loved playing women's softball all our lives, and we played in all through High School.

Please do me one favor: when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's women's softball there.'

Rose looked up at Barb from her deathbed, 'Barb, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favor for you.'

Shortly after that, Rose passed on.

At midnight a couple of nights later, Barb was awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to her, 'Barb, Barb.'

'Who is it?' asked Barb, sitting up suddenly.. 'Who is it?'

'Barb -- it's me, Rose.''You're not Rose. Rose just died.''I'm telling you, it's me, Rose,' insisted the voice.

'Rose! Where are you?' 'In Heaven,' replied Rose. 'I have some really good news and a little bad news.'

'Tell me the good news first,' said Barb.

'The good news,' Rose said, 'is that there's Softball in Heaven. Better yet, all of our old buddies who died before us are here, too. Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always springtime, and it never rains or snows. And best of all, we can play softball all we want, and we never get tired.' 'That's fantastic,' said Barb. 'It's beyond my wildest dreams!

'So what's the bad news?'

'You're pitching Tuesday.'

2008 High School All-Star Softball game

MARK YOUR CALANDARS NOW, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 @ 6:30PM AT DAVE FRY FIELD, BY SAM LYN BALL PARK.

FRIENDS

High School All-Star Softball Game

This years Kern County ASA Senior High School All-Star High School Softball Game will be played on Wednesday, June 11th @ 6:30pm at Dave Fry Field. Each High School team in Kern County was contacted and asked to nominate at least two (2) deserving players. Postal Letters and e-mails were sent to all 30 High schools in Kern County this year. Last year the players from the desert took home most of the awards.

This game is a chance for all our local players to show what they can do one last time for the Bakersfield and Kern County fans. Each player and coach will receive the All-Star T-shirt donated by “Supreme Bean a Bakersfield original coffee company”. Stop in for some great coffee first thing tomorrow morning!

The purpose of the game is to allow the players to show off their skills one last time and to raise funds to give out a scholarship to a deserving Kern County player, playing in this game. Help turn this event into one of Kern County's premier sports events. We have invited one of Kern Counties outstanding women to throw out the first pitch. College coaches, local State, Federal Representatives and local media have also been invited to attend.
Here are the players as nominated by their high school coaches:
      Melissa Cope, Stockdale               Jessica Johnson, Golden Valley
MacKenzie Oakes Stockdale              Yvette Salazar, Golden Valley
Amanda Roberts, Centennial             Kaiyla Stoddard, Golden Valley
Jessica Newton-Smith, Centennial               Brittany Hunt, Foothill
Hannah Grisham, Centennial                   Heather Shull, Foothill
Vanessa Medina, Centennial                   Lonnie Carrera, Garces
Joni Lagerstrom, Centennial                    Ellen Krausse, Garces
BreAnna Brown, North                        Shelby Alsup, Garces
Amanda Flores, North                         Megan Grace, Garces
Danielle Scroggs, North                     Celina Morales, Garces
Sami Lindsey, North                           Danyel Fein, BHS
      Ashley Young, Taft                        Kelsey Nichols, Highland
      Brittany Barlow, Taft                      Myranda Sawyer, Highland
Brittney Morrison, Ridgeview                Courtney Hockett, Liberty
Jamie Dumatrait, Ridgeview                       Joya Cervera, Wasco
Kristian Moore, Wasco

COACHES
Jayna Chapman, Centennial Henry Arias, Liberty
Corrie Gunnaway, North Mike D'Amato, Garces

The Kern County ASA will honor as it's "Kern County Woman of Softball"

Barbara SantaCruz
Here is a list of her accomlishments:
Played High School Softball at East High School in Bakersfield----Played ASA Travel Ball with the BLITZ, BLAZE and RUNNERS (15 years). --– Coached U14, U16 and U18 Bakersfield Dirt Devils (6 years). --– Coached/Assisted at East, South, Ridgeview and Golden Valley High Schools. --– Played at CSUB from '86-90 where she was a 2 time All-American --– Led CSUB to 3 National Championships and was assistant coach from 1990-98– Selected to the NCAA 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Team.

We need everyone involved in girls softball to get behind this effort so it can become an annual event! All profits will be used to award scholarships and insure next years game. Please get involved and take part.
This is a once in a lifetime event for YOUR senior players. Never again will this years seniors be able to play in a High School Senior All-Star Softball Game!
Give me a call if you can help out, Joe Cox 661-565-1808 or send e-mail to: KernCountyASAJO@aol.com

Thank you.

Dogs & Cats

Dear Dogs and Cats, in the family

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food.
The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it, becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn´t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom.
If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years
-- canine or feline attendance is not required. The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat´s butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our
Pets:

1. They live here. You don´t.
2. If you don´t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
furniture. (That´s why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it´s an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn´t speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don´t ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car.
6. Don´t hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don´t smoke or drink
8. Don´t have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don´t want to wear your clothes
10. Don´t need a "gazillion" dollars for college.

And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Help!

Labs Who Need Help

Success Stories

Lab Tributes

>>Labrador Harbor Success stories!

We need your donations. Requests have been made to Labrador Harbor by families and rescue organizations to assist these Labradors.

Last Update February 21, 2008

If your Lab needs our services please complete an application form today.

Update 2/21/08

Prince Andy needs your help!. This dock diving champion needs TPO surgery on both hips. His family simply cannot afford the high cost of these surgeries. His family is arranging yard sales, a car wash, etc. to help raise money, but they will still need help from Labrador Harbor. Andy is a dock diving dog in Bakersfield, and they are asking for help from the dock diving teams, too. The prognosis from the first vet is 95% full recovery.

Prince Andy also has a web site, if you'd like to read more, www.PrinceAndyFlores.com.

Click the MAKE A DONATION button at the bottom of this page to donate directly to Prince Andy today!

Diving in San Mateo

Prince Andy went to San Mateo for his first birthday celebration to compete in the first of the International Sportsman's Expo events. He jumped a new personal best and cleared that magical 20 foot mark by jumping 20' 5" winning 2 firsts in his waves and finishing 8th in the professional finals. Way to go Andy! next up is the International Sportsmen Expo show in Sacramento this weekend. Below is a copy of the San Mateo Times News Paper. He made the front page of the Local section.

San Mateo County Times

Remember that "Splash Dogs" & "Dock Dogs" use the "OFFICIAL" measurements of from end of the dock to the base of the dogs tail. There was a dog that was supposed to have jumped 30' on TV this last weekend, but they measured him from the dock to the tip of his nose as it entered the water, that's and extra 4'-5' over an official measurement! I wish that group would start using the "Official" measurements for their event so as not to confuse people. It would also further the sport if they would use "Official" measurements!

Start Your Training

Everyone with a dog, start training them to jump into water! "SPLASH DOGS" are coming to Bakersfield's Kern County Fair in September. They have 5+ divisions for everyone dog to take part in, even a division for your kids to take part.. Both you, your kids and your dog will have fun.

http://www.splashdogs.com/

Check them out!

Tis the season

May I take this time to wish all of you a very

Merry Christmas

and the happest of

New Years