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Let it Rip!



Hello Everyone - And there a lot of you to say hello to as we are now over 1800 people on the various lists getting these bulletins. That's a lot of people. And take a look at how many hits the website gets. It's incredible!



I've posted more pre-season previews so take a look at those and if you haven't forwarded something about your team, type something up and submit it.



Games begin next week. Our diamond is now void of snow but is wet. A couple of nice days and we'll be on it and get a game or two in next week. Schools farther south in Wisconsin than us might be there already. Schools in the north? Well, as I've always said, I have empathy for all you people up there.



There is a player clinic in Middleton and here is the note I got from Cherie, the coach at Middleton High School.



Bob,

Could you please put this out to your email list? Middleton is having a youth clinic this Saturday March 17th with 1996 Olympian Gold Medal winner Julie Smith. Please tell people if they would like to sign up to call Jeff Simon directly. (608) 836-7244

Thanks - Cherie Hellenbrand - Middleton High School - 608-829-9974



Here is a message from Craig Otto in Onalaska

Bob:

Here s a link to last year s MVC schedule/standings page and season summary page on the league Web site. Don t have this year s composite conference schedule posted yet, but when I do, I ll forward a link for that to you as well. One note from last year s all-conference teams, Jodie Muth has transferred from Onalaska to Aquinas.

Craig

http://www.gomvc.org/0506sb.htm

http://www.gomvc.org/0506sbsmry.doc



Here is a message from some folks in the Eau Claire area that might be of some interest to some of you.



Hello,

Bob Meixner asked me to e-mail you about his forming U12 team. We are currently looking for young players to join the traveling team. We will play most weekends from May through July and expect to play in the Wisconsin State Tournament. Most of the tournaments will be in the Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Twin Cities area.

If you have anyone you think I should contact directly, please let me know. Otherwise, if you would be able to disseminate this to anyone and everyone you feel appropriate we would appreciate it. If you have any other questions about our team, please let me know.

Thank you,

Emily Long

Bob Meixner

7154978970

bmeixner@nelson-tel.net

and/or

Emily Long

7152716369

clayandemily@charter.net



Here is the answer to Marilyn Roger's question.

the runner on base got thrown out on a 3-2 count to end the inning. Then the next inning the girl took a 3-2 riseball for her 11th pitch.



The first week of the season is nearly over.



I made a couple of mistakes last week in the Bulletin. Steve Schmikla is starting his 28th or 29th year not his 30th and Bob LeCaptain is starting his 27th no this 30th. I think that makes Darrell Laschen of Loyal and me the two coaches that have been at this longest. This is my 28th year!



Here are just a few of the changes I have watched take place.

Big heavy bats replaced by short light ones

white balls replaced by optic yellow with red stitches

pitchers limited to how many innings they can pitch to unlimited pitching

helmets required for kids under 18 in the field of play

mandatory breast cups on catcher's pads no longer required

helmets required for catchers and now must be NOCSAE approved

face masks on catcher's masks must be NOCSAE approved

double first base

face masks on batting and running helmets

an approved bat list

state tournament played on grass infields with 300' foot fences to now in a state of the art fastpitch site

a few hundred people at state tournament to overflow crowds that are forced to leave after a game

No publicity to weekly rankings and a website that features hundreds of game reports



A few things that haven't changed

girls still required to wear plastic or rubber cleats

girls keep getting injured due to having to wear required plastic or rubber cleats

increasing number of rules each year to clarify the recently enacted new rules from the previous year

more and more rules being added

the number of runs scored in the average game (yellow balls have made no difference in run production)

the number of runs scored when two good pitchers square off (yellow balls still don't get hit very often)

an alarmingly high percentage of coaching changes statewide in this sport

fans at games that don't know the rules but still scream at umpires, coaches and kids



I'm sure some of you can come up with a long list of things that could be added to my short list.



Hey have a great day and as always



Keep it Rising!

Bob