The 2008 season will be the first time in a long, long time that there are bigtime players who have been paid big money over the years who have no where to play and get paid what they're used to being paid.  The 2008 season also will have a whole bunch of players who haven't got paid much to play that will be looking just to play for scrap.  The big reason this is happening is at least three or four teams have folded, and a couple of teams merged.  The game will need to get more sponsors for all these players, that's for sure.  I know many of the critics will say the game is dead.  That may be true, but I for one don't believe it.  The reason the game is in trouble is because nobody did anything to make the right changes in the game. 

I know that one year back in the early 90's some softball people made an effort to drop the number of. major players from 11 to 9 and the following year 9 to 7.  Two of the biggest sponsors in the game decided they didn't want that and went to the association and told them they wouldn't play if that rule was put into effect.  That was mistake one, it should of been put into effect. I have said for years it doesn't make sense to have one or two great teams and the rest of the teams can't win.  I don't want to hear how it used to be back years ago.  In the early years of the game there were always one dominating team.  In the 80's it was the same way, one dominating team.  I know this for sure, that from 1990 through 2007 there has always been one dominating team.  I also know in the early 90's there were 4-5 very good super teams and one dominating.  There were four to five good AA teams, and they were very competitive.  I also know in the early 90's there were about five solid A teams that were very competitive.  I can't believe that the people who ran the associations did not do something to even the playing field.  I know that in the late 90's the associations instituted the homerun rules to try to get the A teams more competitive against the supers.  I am here to tell you the rules never did anything to level out the game.  Take a look at how the game was from 1990 until they put the 12 homerun rule in, and also before 1990, but not quite as much.  The game was the dumbest most ridiculous it ever was in those years.  I can't believe anybody would of let this go on the way the game was played from 1990 until the homerun rule was in effect. 

The talk of the game today is how good the equipment is, and there is no doubt the equipment is very good.  I know this, don't you ever believe that the equipment in 1990 until the homerun rule came in effect was good, very good.  The bats, single wall and double wall; the balls .47 core and .50 core were used; the fields 300' unlimited homeruns; the players on most of the best teams 6' to 6 '5" 200 to 280 lb. players; infielders a lot of them 200 to 250 lbs.; one step right, one step left was their range.  Outfielders; most of the good teams had two good ones; the third outfielder was 260 and even heavier on some teams.  These big men hit softballs out of the park consistently.  Scores of the games were totally outrageous, 150-180 runs scored in a game.  Umpires on the field for 3 hours or more.  I would like to know what skills it took these big men hitting .47, .50 core balls out on 300' fields. 

The game should of been changed then, but nobody did anything about it. I was asked once to call a tournament into the Boston Globe newspaper for Rich's Superior.  I called and the sportswriter answered.  I told him I would like to report a softball tournament.  I told him it was the # 1 team in the world Rich's Superior.  He told me he was not the regular guy who wrote about softball, that he was a beat writer for the Boston Red Sox.  He said he would take the info.  I told him Rich's won the championship with the final score Rich's 86, Shen Valley 78.  The man said excuse me sir are you reporting a summer basketball tournament?  I quickly replied sir forget what I said thank you for your time and hung up.  I got back in my car and started to drive home.  I then realized what the hell am I crazy?  How could anybody report a score like that from a softball game to a bigtime baseball reporter.  I vowed then I would never put a score like that in any report again, and I have not. The restricted homerun rule was put into play to try and stop these high scores, and it has worked.  The scores now with the homerun rule have become respectful, and yes it's a better game.  I know since the rule was instituted the good class A teams have beat the best super teams on occasion each season since it's been put in.  The rule has made for more competitive games between the good class A teams and the best super teams.  I also can tell you no A team has ever won a NIT when two or more super teams have played in a restricted homerun tournament. 

I believe the only way bigtime softball can become competitive and have a level playing field is to not have super teams as they are today.  I have looked at all angles as to how to get the game on a level playing field. I have been saying the game should put together a right elite list and have two or three elite players on a team.  I certainly believe this is the way the game should go. The problem is right now there are only about five or six sponsors who would and could afford to do this.  I don't believe this program will work without more sponsors or the players will have to play for a lot less money than they do today.  The year of 2008 is the year that players that have been playing for some big money will have no choice but to play for a lot less or get out of the game. I can tell you all,  this is the way it will be in 2008.  The only other way to level the playing field is to not let any of the elite players play.  I damn sure don't want that to happen.  I totally believe that the best players in the world will get paid just like they have been, and that two to a team is the correct way to go.  They may play for less, but that's how it's got to go.  It's pretty simple, the man who spends the most money and gets the right players wins most of the time. 

Nascar was like that for years, not anymore.  They realized that they better make the right changes or Nascar might be finished. Bigtime softball is in the same boat, level the playing field or it will be over very soon.  I say to the class A sponsors, it's time for you guys to make the right moves and be able to come to NIT's and world tournaments with a chance to win.  I believe it's time for you A sponsors to not be the teams to get beat up by teams you cannot be competitive against.  I know there's a simple way to get the playing field even, get rid of the super teams, allow two elite players on a team, use the right damn ball for the size of the field and bigtime softball will not die.  I'll tell you all, if no change soon it will die. I believe the conference is good, but not with the two super teams.  The other teams have no chance to win. 

I want to give you a look of what I think will happen if they go to a two elite player program.  Here is a fine example; Team Combat in 2007 had four elite players on their team, Garris, McCraw, Brown and Genter.  Team Combat with those players struggled most of the season, not only against Resmondo and Bell Corp, but Shoppe, Aubrey's, KME, the Scene, Woodlaw, Fencebrokers and even some B teams.  The reason for this happening is just plain simple.  You cannot have four or five catcher AH players in your lineup; you will not win.  I say if you had two elite players and they were your catcher AH's then you go out and find four shortstops, 3 centerfielders, a great pitcher and a decent first baseman and you'll be competitive, anything other than that save your money.  Do the math, the system will work when the two super teams are gone.

I knew that Bell Corp was not coming back in 2008.  I thought if Dan Smith stays out of the game I believe that Travis would get out of it also, then we would have the game right where it belongs.  We would of had 10-12 very good teams.  Travis and Dan could of put A teams together, and these teams could compete against each other and anyone of the 10-12 teams would have a chance to win on any given weekend.  That is how bigtime softball should be, not one or two dominating teams that nobody else can beat.  I think the A teams need to take a very hard look at what could be for them.  I know that one association is not the answer.  I believe that there is a chance that one of the other associations will have a division which will allow two elite players on a team, playing about four NIT's and one world tournament.  This will be the best play for the very good A & B teams in the country.  I believe they will use the six homerun hitters for the A teams and four homerun hitters for the B division;  when A plays B four homerun hitters, when A plays A six homerun hitters.  This was how AA was played back a few years ago and that was the best game ever.  There will be more info on this new program for A & B teams coming out after the conventions.  Remember these are only my opinions.

Here is a list of players that I know are with some teams, and a lot that are not with any teams.  Some of these players may have already signed with teams. From Bell Corp-Tim Cocco, BJ Fulk, Todd Joerling, Dennis Rulli, Greg Cornell (with Resmondo maybe), Rick Baker (with Resmondo), Bobby Hughes (with Resmondo), Joel Ramos, Jeff Hall (with Resmondo), Scott Kirby (with Dan Smith), Brian Wegman (with Dan Smith), Scott Nastally (with Dan Smith), Brett Helmer (with Dan Smith).

From Resmondo - Jeff Wallace (with Resmondo), Bryson Baker (with Resmondo), Vince Bisbee (with Resmondo), Don Dedonatis, Jr. (with Resmondo), Kevin Gillott (with Resmondo), Howie Krause (with Resmondo), Todd Martin (with Resmondo), Andy Purcell (with Resmondo), Brian Rainwater (with Resmondo), Rusty Bumgardner (with Dan Smith), Dal Beggs (with Dan Smith), Jason Kendrick (with Dan Smith).

Team Combat (now Dan Smith-No Combat) Mark Weber, Brian May, Brian Higginbotham, Shane Hatfield, Greg Hartwick, Hank Garris, Jeff McGavin (with Dan Smith), Brian Justice (with Dan Smith), JD Genter (with Dan Smith), John McCraw (with Dan Smith) Scott Brown (with Dan Smith).

Aubrey's has folded  Kyle Decker, Greg Collett, Scott King, Roy Jarman, Clint Hiller, John Thomas, Shun Watson, Dennis Turner, Wayne Habemehl, Kyle Cowart (with Jean Shoppe), San Chez (with Jean Shoppe).

Fence Brokers, I have heard they have folded. I also heard that Troy Nance and Rick Gosser are putting a team together, we will see.

I have heard that GTL is looking to merge with some other team, we will see.

Laser Vision and the Scene are trying to merge.  If this happens there will be 12 players from the two teams available.

KME has folded.  Denny Crine, Bill Messina, Brian Martin, Tim Baker, Jimmy Carter, John Gallegos, Bryan King, Jason Chamizo, Aaron Fuqua, John Balley, Donovan Pokraka, Scott Janack, Victor Cordova.

Mooch, JC Phelps.

I am sure there are a lot of other team who might have folded and many players looking for a place to play in 2008.  I would suggest that you run your name on the message board and leave a number to contact and you might get on a team.

I hope this helps out a lot of teams that are looking for players.  Until next time......

The Old Scout

Resmondo Softball won this prestigious tournament and finished off the most spectacular bigtime softball season the game has ever seen. Resmondo Softball set the best season record of all time in NIT's and the world series with a record of 60-3. Resmondo played 11 tournaments in 2007, with 7 of those tournaments played on 300' fields playing with the restricted homerun rules. One tournament, the Smoky was played on a semi baseball field with dimensions of 315' down the lines, 350' to center. Resmondo lost that tournament and lost the only game of the season to powerhouse Bell Corp that weekend. The other three tournaments Resmondo played in 2007 were the first tournament of the year a baseball field 330', 390', 410'. They also played the conference championship on that same field. Resmondo finished off the season playing at Cracker Jack Stadium at Disney's Wild World of Sports 330', 385' & 400'. Resmondo showed the softball world they could play restricted homerun tournaments and unlimited homerun tournaments and go 60-3 in these conditions. Resmondo was led by MVP, Brian Rainwater who has come into his own and fast becoming one of the games best all around players. This young man from Georgia who was a college all american baseball player at Georgia, is showing the world of softball why he was selected as a college all american outfielder. Brian has learned to hit the softball and now may become one of the games feared hitters with his tremendous power and his ability to use the whole field. There's no doubt in my mind he is a super star of the game. Resmondo got a total team effort, as they have all year in winning this world championship. Congratulations to the winningest team in one season at the top level.

Second place went to Team Combat/Dalsanders, who lost their first game of the tournament and came charging out of the losers bracket to get back to the finals. The Combat boys played extremely well coming back through, as they played a whole bunch of games to get back to the finals. This Combat team have struggled a whole lot throughout the season losing to teams they shouldn't of lost too. I will write in the report later why I think this happens. Congratulations to Combat on a great weekend and a hell of a run to get back to the finals.

Third place went to Bell Corp who played pretty good until Saturday night when Resmondo sent them to the losers bracket. The Bell boys came out Sunday morning needing to beat Combat to get back to the finals, but that wasn't to be, as Bell fell to Combat and were headed to the house. I know this, it was a long season for Bell Corp with the injury to Scott Nastally. They struggled throughout the season. Bell Corp in 2007 just did not have enough to be competitive against Resmondo and I will tell you why later in this report. Congratulations to Bell Corp on their season. Woody Bell has announced that he is retiring from the game for good. There's no finer guy and lady than Woody & Pat Bell who have given their heart and soul to the game they love, Bigtime Softball. I wish Woody & Pat the best and enjoy the rest of your lives.

Fourth place went to GTL. This softball team from the west coast has played extremely well in the Conference Championship and now in the USSSA Worlds. I'm here to tell you this is one very good Class A softball team who can play against any of the good A teams in the country. Congratulations on the job you've done in the last couple of weeks and I hope to see you guys back in 2008. I would like to congratulate the rest of the teams who participated in the 2007 USSSA World Series.

I would like to commend Don Dedonatis Sr. and his USSSA staff on running another great USSSA World Series. There's no doubt in my mind this is the showcase of softball. It is totally a first class operation from start to finish playing in the greatest venue the world of softball has ever played in, Disney's Wide World of Sports. The only problem that I saw all weekend was the ball was just a little too good. I talked to a lot of the managers and players and they had the same opinion I had. Other than that it was another great USSSA Worlds.

I would like to comment a little on the state of the game ending the 2007 season and entering into the 2008 season. Back four or five years ago I asked the NSA to come down to Florida and look at an experimental tournament and they did. What I wanted to do in that tournament and did was play on the big baseball fields using 80' & 90' bases We had some of the greatest players participate in this experimental tournament and the NSA put this into play that year. When I proposed this experimental tournament I was thinking how much the game of slow pitch softball needed a change. The equipment was getting much better, the bats and the balls were explosive. The 300' fields could not contain the players of today, nor the equipment of today. The game needed to be played on bigger fields with longer bases. The game then needed to change how the players played the game. The game being played on the big fields with longer bases all of a sudden needed athletes who could run, field, throw, base hit, use the whole field and especially play defense. The game did change and some of the teams realized that they had to make player changes to win. The world championships were going to be decided on baseball fields with longer bases. Travis Resmondo was the first one to realize he could not win having four and five catchers and additional hitters in his lineup. He knew he could not win with those type of players. Travis and his management put together a team made up of three centerfielders, four shortstops, a first baseman with great power and the ability to catch pretty good. He had the game's greatest pitcher ever in Andy Purcell, and he had the game's greatest overall hitter in Wallace. That is why that team was 60-3 and the greatest team to ever play the game, and that's my opinion.

The second best team in softball in 2007 was Bell Corp. You might ask why could they not beat Resmondo? I'm going to tell you why, as I stated earlier you cannot and you will not win when you have four or five catchers and additional hitters in your lineup. That my friend is what Bell Corp had in their lineup. It didn't matter how many homeruns Fulk, Helmer, Hall, Cocco, Cornell or Wegman hit. What mattered they did not catch the ball, and that is the reason why they could not beat Resmondo. Team Combat was in the same position. They had a bunch of homerun hitters, but four or five catchers and additional hitters would not let them win, period. In the 2008 season Dan Smith will return and take over the Combat team. I was looking at their tentative roster and sure enough I see the four catcher additional hitter situation, and that my friends is going to be right where the 2007 Bell Corp and Combat teams were. They cannot and will not win using those players. I'll end all this with my opinion; to build a team for 2008 you better find three centerfielders who can go get the ball, no more 250-260 lb. outfielders, you must have four shortstops in the infield who have a lot of range, and not have infielders who only can one step right or one step left. You will not win. You also better have a great pitcher who is not afraid to throw the ball over the middle of the plate instead of everything inside, or you won't win. You better have one of the game's greatest hitters in your lineup or you won't win. That's my opinion on how you should build a team in 2008. Remember this is only MY OPINION. I will not allow any bashing about my report. If you have your opinions, feel free to write them yourself. If you come on and bash myself or anyone else's opinions you will be banned from here.

Congratulations to all the teams, players and sponsors on a great 2007 season. I hope you all will be returning in 2008 with better teams, think about what I wrote. Until next time the Old Scout who is going to rest for awhile. It's been a great season. Looking forward to what 2008 will bring!

The Old Scout

WSL/MIKEN NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PANAMA BEACH CITY, FL: SEPT.  7-9, 2007

I would like to tell you all, it doesn't get any better than this in world tournament play.  Frank Brown Softball and Recreation Complex is the best setting for a tournament of this size, no doubt about it.   The diamonds are kept perfect throughout the tournament. The aquatic park with pools, slides and toys for the kids is just fabulous.  The Edgewater Resort is a five star condo resort that is absolutely perfect for the softball teams and their families.  The only problem I found is that some of the teams have a little hard time flying in to Panama Beach, but that is going to get a lot better next year because they are working right now to make the airport much bigger allowing more flights to come into the area next year.  The WSL held it's first tournament in Panama Beach four years ago and drew 100 teams.  This year the number was 200 teams.  This became the biggest slow pitch tournament ever at Frank Brown Park.  The WSL, with it's Midwest Championships in Minnesota, the West Championships in Las Vegas and the North American Miken Championships in Panama City had over 400 teams total playing in these world championships.  The WSL had hundreds and hundreds of teams participate in qualifying tournaments throughout the US all summer long to get to these worlds.  I can tell you all, it's going to get much bigger and better in 2008.  The reason is the prizes and equipment packages from Miken for the top four teams in each division is the best in all of softball, lots of cash and Miken equipment. 

This year's tournament in all divisions was outstanding.  There were great battles in all divisions for the championships.  The A Division had ten teams entered with six of the top A teams in the nation there, along with Team Illinois and three military teams, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy.  The A teams played on 320' fields all the way around using 80' bases, which made this the most competitive A Worlds this season.  The Scene/Mattingly Softball out of NY won this great Class A Worlds.  This team had to fight right to the end and beat USSSA World Class A Champions Jean Shoppe/Worth to win the championship.  The Scene lost a few players towards the end of the season.  They picked up three players to play in this one.  Chris O'Hara, the veteran bigtime hitter who plays for KME all season long was a big pickup for the Scene, as he continued to hit it like he has all season long with KME.  Chris played in this one with some broken ribs, but toughed it out and had a great tournament.  The Scene has played very, very good all season until the last few weeks, but put it all together when it counted and won this Class A Championship.  Congratulations on a great weekend.  I hope your team  is able to come back in 2008.  We need you guys, good luck.

Jean Shoppe/Worth, who lost their first game to the Scene, came charging out of the loser's bracket and got back to play the Scene again in the first game of the championship.  The "Shoppe Boys" just plain ran out of gas in the very hot weather and had to settle for the runner-up in this one.  I want to tell you all that Shoppe showed a lot of heart coming back through this tough loser's bracket in the extreme hot weather, that's for sure.  Congratulations on a great tournament and good luck at Disney.

Third place went to ABS/Easton who played good in this one despite the fact that two of their very best players Dill and Devine did not play.  This veteran team did not give up easy as they battled to the end and fell just a little short.  This team has had a great season winning the NSA Class A Worlds and played great in a lot of NIT's this season.  Congratulations on a great season, and I hope you come back in 2008, we need you in Class A.

Fourth place went to Long Haul Trucking/Miken, who gave a very good showing despite not having two or three of their very good players who haven't really played very much in 2007.  I can tell you all this is a solid top 10 A team when they have all the bodies there.  "The Truckers" gave a terrific effort in this one, but just not enough talent to get any higher.  Congratulations on a good weekend and I sure hope you guys come back in 2008 a little stronger and compete with the best A teams in the world. 

Laser Vision/Easton just did not play well in this one.  Fencebrokers/Worth also didn't play very well this weekend.  Team Illinois had a tough weekend.  The Army, Navy and Air Force military teams gave a great effort in this world tournament.  Remember these teams are only together for a couple of weeks and then come and play the best A teams in the world.  I can tell you these teams are competitive and give a great effort.  I also want to say from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate what you guys do for America, and I'm sure I speak for all the softball family when I say this. 

Here is a run down of the lower divisions. 

The B Division winner was Team Logo. Second place went to Alabama Brick.

The C Division winner was J&H Wall/Merit Chev/CR'S.  Second place went to OWC.

The D Division winner was AWA.  Second place went to T&T. 

The E Rec Division winner was Dog Pound.  Second place went to D-Backs.

The Women's Division winner was Cidra. Second place went to O&S Cattle.

Click here to view Brackets, MVP and All Tourney for all Divisions

I want to thank all the teams in all divisions for participating in this great world tournament and hope to see you all back in 2008.  I would like to thank John Daniels and his whole WSL staff for working very hard the last five years to make the WSL a first class organization in helping to bring softball in America to the great amateur sport that it is.  I know for sure without people like you John this would not happen.  Congratulations on a great WSL World Championship Tournament.  You deserve all the escalades!

Next tournament the granddaddy of them all, the USSSA Men's Super World Series at Disney's Wide World of Sports starting Wed. Sept. 19-23.  Good luck to all the participating teams, and may the best team win.  I believe this is going to be one hell of a tournament and I can't wait to see it all happen.  See you all there.  Until next time.......

The Old Scout

The USSSA Conference Championship was held at Osceola County Stadium, winter home of the Houston Astros this past weekend.  This is also the home of the USSSA Headquarters.  The second Conference Championship was played and Resmondo Softball went undefeated  going 6-0 on route to the championship.  Resmondo has now set the modern day record for the least losses in one season.  Resmondo has one more tournament to play, and even if they lose two games in that tournament they will still finish with only five losses in this 2007 season.  Rich's Superior, Steele's Silver Bullet and Long Haul/TPS had seasons with six losses.  Warren Motors, way back in the early days went 92-2 in that season.  The sod boys have set this record playing nine restricted homerun tournaments in 2007 and two unlimited homerun tournaments, the Smoky and the USSSA World Series.  This is no doubt an unbelievable record when most of your games are played with a twelve homerun limit on 300' fields.  I guarantee you one thing, you have to base hit it, go backside, play great defense and have some timely hitting to only lose three games so far.  I believe the reason this team has a conflict this great season is because they have the best defensive team in the game, that's for sure.  They also have the best overall hitting team.

They have the best pitcher and arguably one of the greatest hitters the game has seen in Wallace, who broke the all time OB record  hitting a whopping 824 OB for the season.  Wallace is still in the race for the homerun leader in 2007.  BJ Fulk won the conference HR title with 80.  The Conference Championship and the World Series at Disney will settle who leads the country in 2007.  Fulk, Garris, Wallace and Helmer are in a battle with one tournament to go.  The Conference Championship got off Friday night and as I predicted in last week's Softball Report I thought the tournament was up for grabs.  I also said there would be some upsets, and sure enough the first game Aubrey's beat Bell.  Then Aubrey's gets beat by Fencebrokers.  That's pretty much how the pool play went.  Shoppe got upset by GTL/Combat. 

The tournament started out Saturday and the double elimination part of it began.  By the middle of the afternoon the clouds started to blacken up the sky and the rain came.  The fields were covered with a whole lot of water.  The tournament director decided it would be almost impossible to get all the fields ready for play and the USSSA had scheduled the awards banquet for 7:00.  They decided to send the loser bracket teams home and bring back the four teams from the winner's bracket on Sunday.  Resmondo beat KME, Bell Corp beat GTL/Combat.  Then it was time again for Resmondo and Bell Corp to get it on and decide who would be the 2007 Conference Champions.  The game was a low scoring game with Resmondo up two going to the top of the 7th. Resmondo scored 8 big runs to take a 10 run lead and Bell Corp came to bat in the bottom of the 7th needing 10 to tie and 11 to win.  Bell Corp got one and it was over.  Congratulations to the Resmondo team on your win and your great season so far.  Good luck at Disney.  Congratulations to Bell Corp on your runner-up and good luck to your team at Disney. 

I would like to congratulate all the teams who participated in this second year Conference Championship.  I am sure the teams who couldn't finish would of liked to, but sometimes decisions have to be made and it doesn't always make people happy.  Good luck to all you guys who are participating in the USSSA World Series.  I loved watching the games being played on the biggest fields the teams play on all year long, 330', 390', 410' with 75 ft. bases.  That is the way bigtime softball should be played.  The only problem that I saw in this tournament was the ball they used, a .47 core rock. It was just too good, even for this size field.  The only thing that kept the ball from flying out all day was the severe heat.  Any games played at night any player could of hit it out anywhere in the park.  I believe a .44 525 would of been the right ball and only the real homerun hitters could of hit them out, and that's the way it should be.  Even with the heat the ball was flying past the infielders and the outfielders.  The only way it was caught was if it was at somebody.  The tournament was great with a lot of good teams, but just too much ball for that tournament.  Good luck to everybody at Disney.

The WSL Miken North American Championships will begin in Panama City Beach, Fla. Sept 7-9th with 208 teams participating in all classes.  This is the biggest softball tournament in Panama City Beach ever.  This should be a great weekend and fun in the sun on the beach.  I can tell you if you're in the area bring the family and watch some great softball and enjoy the fabulous beach.  See you all there. Until next time......

The Old Scout

Click here to view complete brackets for all divisions.

I will tell you all, there were some very happy teams who not only won their championships, but also won a great package from the WSL Miken Sports. Some of the prizes totaled over $6,000. Some awesome equipment was given to some of the winners along with some cash, as the WSL continues to give away the best prize packages in all of softball. I believe this West WSL/ASA Championship will grow and become as big as the Miken North American Championships in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Panama City Beach, Fla. will be the setting for the Miken North American Championships Sept. 7-9. This is going to be a great event with over 200 teams participating in this year's championships. I'm looking forward to this one. The Class A should be a great one with teams like Jean Shoppe, ABS/Easton, Laser Vision, Aubrey's, the Scene and a bunch more of the very good A teams in the country entered. The B Division has a whole lot of great teams, as does the C Division. The D Division is loaded. The women will also be good. See you all in beautiful Panama City Beach, Fla.

Next tournament is the USSSA Conference Championships this coming weekend in Kissimmee, Fla. August 31-Sept 2nd.. Don't miss this one. I believe this one is up for grabs with the games being played on the biggest fields these teams will play on in 2007. I'm looking for some upsets maybe, we will see. Good luck to all the teams. Until next time......

The Old Scout

USSSA CLASS A WORLDS AUG.17-19 DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS

The people at the Wide World of Sports were giving away ice cream Sunday and Jean Shoppe/Worth decided to get a double dip.  The Shoppe boys came all the way back through to win this Class A World Championship.  The Shoppe boys have been one of the top A teams all season long and now have proven they are the #1 A team in 2007.  Shoppe has everything it takes to win in Class A.  This team can base hit it with anybody.  They have enough power to keep them in all games and can flat out catch it, both in the infield and outfield.  They also have two very good pitchers in Mooch and Filby. I'm very happy for Greg and Ed who have been trying to win the big one for a few years and they finally won it.  Greg is one of the best sponsors in the game, and I'm here to tell you he is a first class guy who deserves this championship.  I cannot say enough good about this team.  This bunch has some very, very good players who can play the game.  I believe with Larry Q coming over  gave Shoppe some good chemistry and experience.  He brought some very good players along with him from last year's championship team Northwest Pipe.  Congratulations to Greg, Larry and the whole Jean Shoppe/Worth team on winning this great Class A Worlds.  Good luck the rest of the way. 

Second place went to KME/Chaney/Easton, who I believe was the #2 Class A team in 2007.  This is another one of those very good A teams.  This bunch also has some great class A players, that's for sure.  This club has played well all season and was one of three teams to beat Resmondo this season.  The others were Shoppe and Bell.  This team has a few players from the great Benfield team the last few years, O'Hara, Crime and Messina and others who know how to win. KME also has some very good players from California who also can play.  Congratulations to KME for a great Class A Worlds, and good luck the rest of the way.

Third place went to Woodlaw, who started out with their own team, then folded and combined with Extreme Fitness and then ended the season being Woodlaw again.  This team has some good A players who can play  This team is a legit A team who can compete with any of the top A teams in the country.  I believe if this team did not go through all the problems they would have been right up near the top

Fourth place goes to Aubrey's/Worth who struggled a little early in the season, got rid of a couple of players and then started to win some.  Aubrey's always seems to play well in the Worlds. and did so in this one.  Congratulations to Rocky and all your sponsors and team members on a good tournament.  Good luck down the road. 

This year's Class A Worlds was a little different from the past few years.  The ball used this year was the same ball the USSSA used all season on the 300' fields .44.  The last few years they used a .47.  Don told me he wanted to keep the same ball that they used all season long.  He said they will hit .47 core on the baseball fields in Kissimmee and Disney.  I agree with Don to keep it uniformed and the teams will always know what they're hitting.  I'm here to tell you the ball made for a lower scoring tournament and that's okay.  There were a lot of very close games and not a lot of homeruns.  The ball also made for a much better defensive game.  I liked the 70' bases on the 300' fields.  Don said the Conference Championship and the Major will have 75' bases.  I like that also.  I had said earlier that I thought eight teams had a chance to win in this A Worlds.  I believe the eight teams I thought could win finished just about how they should have.  I know we are getting close to where we should be in bigtime softball.  We have about ten very good A teams.  We need to get six more to make sixteen very competitive Class A teams, and softball will be right where it should be.  The Class A Worlds is the way the game should be with good hitting, great defense and homeruns hit by the players that should hit them, lower scores and not a homerun derby.  I say put sixteen competitive teams in a tournament ten times a season letting them play two championships and you will have the best ball the game has ever had.  I believe we are getting close to this happening.  They just have to make the moves.  Bigtime softball does not need 30-40 teams in a tournament, like years back.  They got 30 & 40 teams back then, but only 12-16 were competitive.  No different then and no different now. Class E, D & C need 40 teams, not bigtime.  Bigtime needs the best 16 teams it can get and any of the 16 have a chance to win.  That is how bigtime softball should be. That's just my opinion.  Don congratulations on another very, very good Class A Worlds.  Keep up the good work.

The next bigtime tournament is the Conference Championship Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Osceola County Stadium, winter home of the Houston Astros in Kissimmee, FL. 

This coming weekend the WSL West Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Good luck to all the teams, Until next time......

The Old Scout

USSSA CONFERENCE NIT STERLING HEIGHTS, MI: AUGUST 3-5, 2007

Resmondo Softball wins the last Conference NIT of 2007.  The sod boys end up the conference season going 48-3.  Resmondo will now set sail for the Conference Championship and the grand daddy of them all the USSSA Worlds.  Resmondo has a chance to set the modern day season record if they run the table in their next two tournaments.  Warren Motors out of Jacksonville, Fla. in 1976 went 94-2.  Long Haul/TPS lost six games in 2001 and went 18-0 in the grand slam in 2001.  Rich's Superior went 81-6 in 1993.  Steele's Silver Bullets went 72-6 in 1990.  Dan Smith went 76-6 in 2004.  I know this the critics can argue about who was or is the best team of all times, and that is fine.  I can tell you I have seen them all,  Warren Motors, Howard's, Steele's, Rich's, Dan Smith, Long Haul and other great teams over the years in bigtime softball.  This is my opinion and I believe that Resmondo Softball's 2007 team is the best to ever play the game.  I know this no team in the history has ever had four shortstops, three centerfielders, the best pitcher and arguably two of the games greatest hitters ever.  Combine all that and you have the greatest team in history bar none.  I also believe that Long Haul/TPS's 2001 team was the second best team of all times.  I believe the 93 Rich's Superior team to be the third best team of all time.  I believe the 90 Steele's Silver Bullets team to be the fourth best team of all time, and finally the Dan Smith team of 2004 the fifth best team of all time.  Remember this is only MY OPINION.  I will not accept any bashing about MY OPINION.  You may express your opinions about your teams.

Resmondo did not have to play the first game of the finals because it was raining hard and both teams agreed to end the tournament and catch their flights home.  Resmondo will now have a month to rest, get players healthy and ready to play the last two tournaments.  Bell Corp. will also have a month off and that will give them a chance to get healthy also.  The A teams will now set their thoughts on the upcoming Class A Worlds Aug. 17-19 at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.  Congratulations to Resmondo on an unbelievable season and good luck in the Worlds. 

Bell Corp/Backman/Belcher finished in second place in this one and I'm sure are looking at starting a new season against Resmondo in the two championships coming up.  I think playing on the two biggest fields these two teams will play on will be very interesting; 330', 390, 400' makes for a whole lot of defensive plays and only the real HR hitters will hit homeruns consistantly, I guarantee you.   I'm looking forward to an interesting World Series, we shall see.  Congratulations to Bell on a good season and good luck in the Worlds.

Third place went to Jean Shoppe/Worth who has proven to be one of the very best Class A teams in the world.  I believe this is the team to beat in the USSSA A Worlds.  Congratulations on a great season and good luck the rest of the way.

Fourth place goes to Aubrey's/Worth who has struggled most of the season, but might be getting it all together for the upcoming Worlds, we will see.  Congratulations on your season and good luck in the Worlds. 

I would like to commend Don Dedonatis Sr. on a great second conference season.  I know the numbers were up in conference play in 2007 and that has been good for the game.  I also know it is time for a change. I would hope you would take a very good look at the game and make some big changes for the best interest of the game.  The sponsors and players are the game not the associations, because without the sponsors and the players there is no game.  I have said I believe that every sponsor who spends his hard earned money in softball should have a chance to win.  That is not the case now or ever in bigtime softball.  I know it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get the game competitive and more even.  There are about 25 players making good money left in the game.  These 25 guys work their ass off to make this money.  I say put three elite players on each participating team,  make the right elite players list so the rich don't get richer and you will have about 20 very competitive softball teams and the game will even out.  I say keep the conference going, cut down on the number of events, 8 NIT's, the Dudley and the Smoky makes for ten tournaments, the Conference Championship and the USSSA Worlds.  The Class A Worlds should keep going.  This is my opinion and I can tell you also that a lot of the sponsors and players have the same opinions.  Remember this is just MY OPINION.

Next tournament Aug. 17-19 the Class A Worlds at Disney.

I want to write a little about the USSSA Class A Worlds coming up at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando.  I believe this will be the most competitive Class A Worlds in a long, long time.  I believe there are about eight teams who have a good chance to win this great Class A Worlds.  These eight teams have battled each other the whole season and they also have beat each other all year long.  I know when I write about getting the game down to three elite players and the right player's list the game will gain another eight teams to join the eight that are already here and make softball more competitive than it's ever been in its history.  That my friends is how bigtime softball should be.  I can't wait to see this year's Class A Worlds.  I know it's going to be a terrific Class A Worlds playing at Disney's Wide World of Sports, the classiest place in all of softball.  I guarantee you it doesn't get any better than this.  Good luck to all the teams. 

P.S.  Travis Resmondo told me none of his players will play in the NSA AA Worlds.

Until next time........

The Old Scout

C-Town/American Fund/Red Rock/Easton wins the Seattle NIT. This team is from Boise, Idaho. I know there were no super teams entered, but one of the best Class A teams in the world KME/Easton was in, and guess what they got upset. I know it's not going to happen too often, but it did. Congratulations to C-Town on getting the win. I also know that the California teams are playing down, but who cares. They're playing with the 12 homerun limit and that's the bottom line. I also know without the D,C,B or local teams playing in these Conference NIT's there would only be about 10-12 teams participating. The big ones, like the Smoky and Dudley are the only two of the fourteen conference tournaments that can get 16-20 Conference teams to participate.

The other twelve Conference NIT's are made up with B,C,D and local teams. I can tell you all that is how bigtime softball is today. I have said over the years that I believe there should be 8 NIT's played plus the Dudley and the Smoky in bigtime softball. I also believe that there should be no more than 10-12 teams entered in each NIT. I believe the best 10-12 teams should play in these NIT's, which would make for the best competition the game could have. This program can become a reality when the people to be who are running bigtime softball put the three elite player limit in the game. Three elite players on a team make the elite list right so that the rich don't get richer.

Here is a sample; Resmondo picks Purcell, Wallace and DeDonatis and then Resmondo has to go out and get nine players that are not on the elite list. There should be no major player list, with the right elite list made the teams would have to go out and find players to fill their rosters. I know when this is done there will be 10-15 very good teams who can compete with each other, and beat each other on any given weekend. That's how bigtime softball should be, period. This is a must if this program becomes a reality. No player on the elite list can come off without the approval of a five man committee. I say it is time to make the change. The game itself has been bad for a long, long time.

I will take you back a few years from the late 70's to today. Howard's dominated, yes there were a few other teams who were competitive, but not as good as Howard's. Then there was Rich's who also dominated, and yes there were other teams such as Steeles, Bell Corp, Shen Valley, Lighthouse, DJ's, Williams Worth, Spectrum, Hague, Taylor Bros., Riverside, but guess what, Rich's dominated period. The next team to dominate the game is a combination of three teams and the main players being on all three of these teams. Team TPS, Long Haul and Resmondo. This bunch has dominated the game the longest of any of the teams over the last twenty years. In the late 70's there were about four super teams, about four AA type teams, and about 15 A teams. The late 80's to the mid 90's there were about four very good super teams, four very good AA teams and about ten very good A teams. The mid 90's to today there were about three supers, three AA type teams and about six very good A teams. This is how bigtime softball has been for years.

I can tell you all, just go back and look at the games from the 70's to 2007. Howard's beat teams who could not compete with them the first 3 games of the tournament, then played against an A team who gave them a game and finally played somebody who had a chance to beat them once in awhile. Rich's started out their tournaments playing a D team, then a C team and then finally played an A team, and then maybe a AA team, then onto a team that could beat them once in awhile. Team TPS, Longhaul and Resmondo did the same thing as Howard's and Rich's, finally getting to play the best teams at the end of the tournament and dominated. Nothing has changed from the 70's-2007, dominating teams who play very little competition ealry in the tournaments and finally getting to play the better teams at the end of the tournament. That my friends is how the game has been forever.

I say it is now time to break up the two big teams, spread the talent, make the right elite list, no major list, play 10 NIT's a year, 8 NIT's, the Dudley and the Smoky keeping the Conference going, have a Conference Championship and the USSSA Worlds and have about 16 very competitive teams with anyone of them having a chance to win on any given weekend. It's time to get it done! I will bet money that no elite players want to go out week in and week out playing against inferior competition beating them up with games lasting 3 innings. It doesn't make sense to have the best teams and the players play against these type of teams period. Remember this, what I wrote here is only my opinion. I will not stand for any bashing about what I wrote. It's my opinion and only mine.

Now back to the tournament, Second place went to WCS/LCV another B team who played good in this one. Congratulations on a good weekend and good luck in whatever you do.

Third place went to another B team, Haras/Casa Group. Congratulations on a very good weekend. Good luck guys.

Fourth place goes to GTL/Combat another B team. Congratulations on a very good weekend and good luck down the road.

I know it's very hard to get teams from the east to come out to Seattle, but you did a good job on running this one.

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NSA CLASS A WORLDS JULY 27-29

ABS/Easton, the over the hill gang won this NSA Worlds. I don't think this bunch is too far over the hill. These guys can still get it done and have all season long. Devine, Dill, Minjelli and the rest of the boys have proven all season that they can play with any of the Class A teams in the country. This bunch beat some pretty good softball teams on route to the championship. Congratulations on a great win and good luck in the other Worlds you play.

Second place went to Laser Vision/Easton who had a very good weekend going as they won the winner's bracket finals, but got the ice cream job getting double dipped and finishing in second. I have said to watch out for this bunch, and sure enough they were right there knocking on the door. Congratulations on a very good weekend and good luck the rest of the way.

P.S. Laser Vision is looking for an infielder for the rest of the season. Anyone interested put it on my message board and they will answer.

Third place went to Fencebroker's/Worth. This bunch has played a lot this season and most of the time they are around the top. Great job guys and good luck in the rest of the Worlds.

Fourth place goes to Plumbers & Fitters out of Michigan who always do a great job when they play in these World Tournaments. Congratulations on a good weekend and good luck the rest of the way.

I would like to commend Brooks fior another great job running this NSA Class A World. I also want to thank Brooks and his staff for posting the scores and results. Thanks again

Next week's tournament the USSSA Conference NIT "The Last Chance" in Sterling Heights, MI. Until next time......

The Old Scout

Old Scout

USSSA CONFERENCE NIT SAN DIEGO, CA June 25-26

Bell Corp/Belcher/TIA/Backman wins it's second NIT of the season by rolling through the first conference NIT in San Diego.  "The Chimers" just tore the cover off the ball.  Bell put up some very strong numbers in this one.  The Bell boys had a new addition to their lineup this weekend, veteran Jeff Hall.  I know this, Hall will bring the much needed offense to this team.  I am not sure how Gary will set his lineup defensively when everybody is healthy.  Cocco, Helmer, Hall and Fulk will have to play somewhere, along with Wegman, Kirby & Joerling.  It should be interesting.  Bell who has won two times this season when all the better teams are not entered.   "The Chimers" will have to catch it much better when the other teams are entered if they expect to win.  I believe this is a very solid offensive team, but will need to come up with a pitcher and shortstop or middle infielder to beat the better teams, we will see.  Congratulations on winning this one and good luck on winning the Little Rock and the Smoky.  

Second place went to KME/TRIQ Nightclub/Chaney/Easton.  I can tell you that  this team will be very competitive in the Class A Worlds.  This is a very experienced bunch of players that know how to get it done.  This club has great D and also can hit it pretty good.  KME is always in the thick of things in most tournaments.  Congratulations on a very good weekend and good luck down the road.

Third place went to WCS/LCV, whom I don't know much about.  I believe this is a Class B or C team, I'm not sure.  I know this they must of played pretty good to finish in third place.  Congratulations on a good finish and good luck in whatever you do the rest of the way.

Fourth place goes to GTL/Combat.  This team has played in a few of the conference NIT's and will probably play in both the Class A and Class B Worlds.  Congratulations on a good finish and good luck.

I would like to commend the San Diego USSSA staff on getting this one off.  I believe this NIT will get much better as it grows.  Good luck guys.  Thanks again Jim for posting the scores.  You are the best.

Next week the USSSA Conference NIT in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

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Bismarck, North Dakota The 32nd Annual McQuade Softball Tournament ASA/WSL Event

I made the trek out to beautiful Bismarck, North Dakota again this year, and it was once again the greatest spectacular softball tournament I have ever been to.  This year there were 420 teams entered,  not bad for the price of gas or the price of a plane ticket.  The Long Haul Bombers put on a fabulous show Friday night. Representing Demarini was Larry Carter, who started out the show with 10-15.  The local boy who hit in this one was Chris Hutchinson was 9-15.  Representing Miken was Kenny Briggs who came to bat needing 11 to win.  Kenny hit some monster shots well over the 400' and ended up hitting 14-15 for the win.  This was one of the great shows put on by the Long Haul Bombers ever.  The crowd, which was about 10,000 people packed around the main diamond got to see some of the longest balls ever hit in the homerun derbys.  It sure was a great and exciting Friday night at the McQuade.  I want to tell you all Class B, C, D, Rec., Women's and seniors played in this tournament.  I also will tell you, if you haven't been to the McQuade before it is worth the cost to go to Bismarck and be a part of the biggest softball tournament in the world.  I know this, what makes this a great event is what the McQuade does with the money.  They help out people who are in need of help in and around Bismarck and North Dakota.  That my friends is why the McQuade is the best and the teams keep coming every year.  They are in the stages of planning to build a new ten field complex in Bismarck to be able to take the 60 teams they had to turn down this year because they didn't have room,  maybe next year.

I want to thank Mike and his whole McQuade staff on another great year.  I hope to see you next year.  Until next time......

The Old Scout

USSSA CONFERENCE NIT  "THE DUDLEY"  BROOKLYN CENTER, MN  JUNE 16-17, 2007

Remondo Softball made it 5-5 IN Conference play by winning the Dudley.  Travis has now won the Dudley and there are no other tournaments left to win in bigtime softball for Travis.  The sod man has won at every level that he has sponsored a team. Travis has won all the worlds in all associations many times.  Travis Resmondo has been one of the truly great sponsors in the history of the game.  I personally can tell you I have known Travis for about 15 years and I know what kind of man this guy is.  Travis is a very hard working man who starts work at 5:00 am and ends at 7:00 pm everyday.  Travis started out with a little landscaping business that his grandfather ran, and built it into one of the biggest sod and landscaping business in the southeast.  Travis was not handed anything.  He has worked for everything he has got, I guarantee you.  I can also tell you that Travis has worked very, very hard at softball putting together the best teams.  Make no mistake Travis Resmondo knows the game of softball and calls most of the shots that are made by his team.  Travis is very loyal to his players and his players are very loyal to him.  Travis's sponsored teams are a very close nit bunch of guys who care about each other and when you say team, Resmondo is all about team.  There were quotes when Travis had his first super team that he would not be in the game very long.  Some said he might make the year.  I guess they were all wrong.  Travis, Jerome & I were in his living room in Lake Wales, Fla. when he just had a little old A team when he said to us "you know what boys, I'm going to win the A Worlds this year, and my goal in softball is to have the best team ever."  I'm here to tell you  he won the A World that year and he sure has put together maybe the best team ever. It's just my opinion along with many others.  I have said for the last two years that the Resmondo team is getting old and they are, but it hasn't stopped this well-oiled machine from being the best.  I believe that Travis might get two more years out of this bunch at best and that will be it.  I better get back to the tournament.

The "sod boys" pretty much had it their way in this one.  Resmondo had a tough game against Aubrey's, but squeaked out a win and then rolled through the rest of the NIT.  Resmondo's record now stands at 29-1, which includes 25 run-ruled games.  I'm here to tell you all, this is one powerful softball team.  I would of liked to of seen this team play with no homerun rule.  I know that it's a whole lot different game today with the restricted homerun rule.  Some of the great teams from the past never had to adjust and keep the ball in the park like they do today.  Resmondo has the most powerful team in softball, homerun wise.  In the championship game this past weekend the sod boys unloaded a 19 run inning in the top of the first against Combat and only hit a grand slam homerun, the rest were scored by base hits.  That my friends is how you adjust in bigtime softball today and that is why Resmondo is the best.  Congratulations on your win.  The sod boys will take a couple of weeks off before heading to Little Rock where all the good teams will be trying to stop the Resmondo express, we will see.

Second place went to Team Combat/Benfield/Reece/Dalsanders, who has played pretty good the last few tournaments.  I think they will give Bell Corp all they want to see who is the second best team in the land.  The "Combat boys" are hitting it good, but will need to catch it a lot better if they expect to move up.  The Combat-Bell game was a terrific game.  Combat squeaked out the 43-42 win to get into the finals.  "The bat boys" came up short against Resmondo and settled for second place.   Congratulations on a very good Dudley and good luck in Little Rock.

Third place went to Bell Corp/TIA/Belcher/Backman.  "The Chimers" just came out flat in it's second game and a very good A team, The Mattingly/Scene took advantage to beat Bell.  The chimers then set sail on trying to get back through the finals, but ran out of gas.  Bell played nine games in this one, and built up some pretty good stats, but could not finish any better than third.  Congratulations on a valiant effort trying to get back to the finals.  Good luck in San Diego and Little Rock.

Fourth place goes to KME/TRIQ/Chaneys/Easton who played very good in this one.  This is a very good A team, who I think can be a force at the Class A Worlds.  This team has players who know how to win, and I look at this team to have a good chance, we will see.  Congratulations on a great finish in the Dudley and good luck down the road.

I know this, that coming to the Dudley is a real treat for a softball junkie like me.  This is a great event.  The atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.  The food is great and the softball doesn't get any better.  Warren is a First Class person, and the tournament is run first class all the way.  Congratulations Warren, Jerry and your whole Minnesota USSSA staff on another great Dudley and good luck in the future. 

Next week San Diego, CA USSSA Conference NIT.  Good luck to all the teams.  Until next time....