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More Softball!  More Fastpitch!!



Hello again everyone. If More Softball or More Fastpitch is what you are thirsty for or just plain looking for, tonight's Bulletin will literally suit the bill for you.



See, today I have added the More Fastpitch season preview in the preview page of The Fastpitch Chronicle. That's right, you can read all about More Softball because head coach Terry Benter submitted his preseason outlook of Thomas More Softball today. I have posted that outlook on the site along with some other great outlooks submitted by other coaches and conference reps. So, if more softball or more fastpitch is what you are looking for, The Fastpitch Chronicle has more of that than any other source of fastpitch news in the state.



For more than seven years The Fastpitch Chronicle has been the #1 source for high school fastpitch information. The Fastpitch Chronicle is fueled by the people in the state that simply love the game and want to read more and get more information out there. It's fueled by people like you who want to promote the game and move it along on the high school sports spectrum.



Today I posted a conference outlook for the Midwest Classic Conference Classic Division and it's a great one. Written by one of the coaches in the conference, the outlook is in depth and well written. Check it out!



I also posted a preseason outlook for Pepin High School. Another well written team outlook that you won't want to miss. Pepin is in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference so just click on that conference link at the top of the page read all about one of the state's premier programs. And check out their website too and especially that picture of the banner hanging on the Pepin outfield fence.



Park Falls, is a member of the Lumberjack conference and their pre-season outlook is also posted on the site. It's an in depth look at the Cardinals as they prepare for the upcoming season.



Division 3 Defending State Champion Sevastopol has a new look in their coaching staff and that staff has sumbitted a great pre-season outlook. A member of the Packerland Conference, you can easily find that summary on the website.



Turner of the Rock Valley is the first team from that conference to submit a pre-season outlook. Read through their preview and learn about who they have returning and what their expectations are.



For an in depth look at the Southern Lakes Conference you won't want to miss the preview that got submitted today by their conference rep. It's a great piece and one you won't want to miss out on. Just click on Southern Lakes or you can scroll down through the entire list of conferernces on the pages.



The Heart O'North Conference preview is also posted on the site tonight. I'ts another great look at the conference in the Northwestern part of the state. Teams from the HON should think about adding to the information that has been submitted so people can get to know your program and the players in it better.



I'm still working on the new coaches mailing list. I have received a lot of the e-mails I need to the best job possible but many athletic directors have not returned my pleas for their help. Several coaches in the state have stepped up to the plate and e-mailed the list of head coaches and their e-mail addresses. I really like that. Special thanks goes out to those of you that have done that. I am looking to get all the assistant coached on the list too so forward those and I'll add them in.



Rankings are being submitted this week but it's tought to rank teams when people don't submit information for the rankers to sift through. The first rankings are simply pre-season and serve for conversation anyway. I'm sure we'll miss a team or two or three but we'll catch up to you and especially if you are diligent in reporting your scores and your game summaries.



Take a look at the WFSCA website and check to see if you or the coach at your school is a member of that organization. If you or they are not by the end of March, the players at your school will not be eligible for WFSCA post season recognition. If they don't get WFSCA post season recognition they won't get any beyond all conference.



I'll be at the Kohl Center tomorrow night watching the first place Badgers try to nail down at least a tie for the Big 10 title. Ohio State's victory over Purdue tonight (80-77) sets up a great final week for Wisconsin. On Saturday I have tickets for the game at Northwestern where the Badgers just might be trying to nail down an undisputed conference title and a top seed for the Big 10 tourney. (Enough about basketball but I won't have time to type a bulletin tomorrow night).



Here is a rule question for you just to get you in the groove for umpiring, scoring and coaching. It's a simple play with a simple ruling. With R1 on second and R2 on first and less than two outs, B1 hits pop up that is just behind the second sacker. The second sacker and the rightfielder both call for the ball right after the base umpie calls "Infield Fly, Batter is out." The ball is then caught by the rightfielder and not the second sacker. Is the batter out if an outfielder catches a ball that is called an infield fly by the umpie?



Remember, a new rule this season states that the batter must be ready to bat within 10 seconds of the time the pitcher gets the ball back.



Metal cleats are legal - work hard on teaching good base coverage technique to protect your fielders.



And thanks to Terry Benter I own one of the greatest fastpitch softball team jackets in the world. What fastpitch fanatic wouldn't want a jacket that says "More Softball" embroidered across the front.



It's late - Have a great day!

And of course ---

Keep it Rising!

Bob