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2010 ASA North Pacific Coast Region MCP Championship Tournament

Monday, May 17th, 2010

From Vanessa Woodmansee (aka Momma V)

I have attached the 2010 ASA North Pacific Coast Region’s Men’s Class “C” Fastpitch Championship Tournament Registration Information.

Tournament will be held in Hayward, California on June 12 & 13, 2010.

To qualify for the 2010 ASA Men’s Class “C” Fastpitch Western National Championships, ASA registered teams from the Greater San Joaquin; Northern California; Oakland; Sacramento and San
Francisco Associations must have played in two (2) ASA events including this Hayward event or, four (4) events listed on the Region 14’s Website’s MFP tournament schedule. All (4) events must have been played prior to this June 12 & 13, 2010 Hayward event. (Visit www.Region14.com for complete details).

All 2010 ASA Men’s “C” Fastpitch teams in good standing are invited to play in this event. Teams registering out of Central Cal, Southern Cal, Nevada and Hawaii must follow their local association guidelines for qualifying for the 2010 Western National Tournament in Salem, Oregon. Contact your local ASA Commissioners for details.

The 2010 ASA Official Championship Roster Form, signed by each player and approved by teams local ASA Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner must be turned in by the roster deadline date of Friday, June 11, 2010.

If you have any questions or are in need of further information please do not hesitate to contact me by responding to this e-mail or by phone at (510) 703-8352 or (510) 881-8465.

Thank you,

Vanessa Woodmansee
Oakland ASA MFP Tournament Coordinator

HAYWARD AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
OAKLAND A.S.A.

2010 PACIFIC COAST REGION ASA MEN’S CLASS ‘C’ FASTPITCH
CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
June 12 & 13, 2010
HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

To qualify for the 2010 ASA Men’s Class “C” Fastpitch Western National Championships, tournament teams from Greater San Joaquin; Northern California; Oakland; Sacramento and San Francisco Associations must have played in two (2) ASA events including this Hayward event or, four (4) events listed on the Region 14’s Website’s MFP tournament schedule. All (4) events must have been played prior to this June 12 & 13, 2010 Hayward event. (Visit www.Region14.com for complete details)

LOCATION: HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA
Alden Oliver Sports Complex, Hayward
Larry Standley Softball Field, Hayward
Bret Harte Softball Field, Hayward
Mt. Eden Softball Field, Hayward

DATE: June 12 & 13, 2010

ENTRY FEE: $450.00 Payable to “S.C.S.A.”

MAIL TO: S.C.S.A.
c/o John Gouveia or Vanessa Woodmansee
1099 “E” Street, Hayward, CA 94541

ENTRY DEADLINE: Friday, June 4th, 2010; 5:00 p.m.

PHONE INQUIRIES: Vanessa Woodmansee (510) 703-8352 or (510) 881-8465
John Gouveia (510) 881-6712
E-MAIL INQUIRIES: SCSAHAYCA@aol.com

TEAM ROSTER: A.S.A. Official Championship Roster Form, signed by each player and approved by teams local A.S.A. Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner must be turned in by the roster deadline date of:
Friday, June 11, 2010; 3:00 p.m. (NO EXCEPTIONS)

FORMAT: 3 Game Guarantee Bracketing
TOURNAMENT AWARD: Champions – Entry Fee paid to the 2010 ASA Men’s Class “C” FP ASA National Tournament – Salem Oregon

Once the tournament draw has been completed it is final. Any teams that withdraw after the bracket has been completed will NOT receive a refund.

HAYWARD AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
OAKLAND A.S.A.

2010 NOR CAL A.S.A. MEN’S CLASS ‘C’ FASTPITCH
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
JUNE 12 & 13, 2010
HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA

TOURNAMENT SPECIAL RULES

All games shall be governed by the 2010 ASA Official Rules of Softball

All managers are requested to control their respective teams and fans during the tournament.

All decisions made by Tournament Officials and local A.S.A. Representatives are final.

Game Time is forfeit time. Travel time will be allowed when games are back to back at different field locations. Time begins with the first pitch. No new inning after 1 hour and 45 minutes in effect for all games except the championship and “if necessary” games.

Tie-Breaker: Runner on second starting with 8th inning or after time has expired in effect for all games.

ASA Run Ahead Rule of 15 after 3 innings, 12 after 4, or 7 after 5 innings (2 ½ , 3 ½ and 4 ½ if home team is ahead) in effect for ALL games.

Shorthand Rule (ASA Rule 4D). If a team begins the game with 8 players, there is an automatic out in the 9th spot in the batting order. If a player arrives late they must enter the lineup in the 9th spot. If a team begins a game with 9 or 10 players and a player leaves the game and there is no available substitute there is an automatic out in that spot in the lineup. If two players leave there would be an out in each spot in the lineup. A team may not play shorthanded in the case of a player ejection.

Courtesy Runner Rule: Rule 8, Section 10 of the 2010 ASA Official Rules of Softball will apply.

Game line-up cards will be required in 10 minutes before game time. When the line-up is registered
on the official scoresheet it will be the official line-up. (It is requested that all subs be listed on the back of the line-up card.) Home team will be determined by coin flip at this time. Home team will have 3rd base dugout unless it is already occupied by a team from the previous game.

Official game ball is the Dudley CFP 12Y or equivalent.

Rosters must be completed and signed by local ASA representatives.

Teams will have 5 minute infield (if time permits). NO EXCEPTIONS!

DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED at H.A.R.D facilities including all parks and athletic Fields.

HAYWARD AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
OAKLAND A.S.A.

2010 PACIFIC COAST REGION ASA MEN’S CLASS ‘C’ FASTPITCH
CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
JUNE 12 & 13, 2010
HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA

TOURNAMENT ENTRY FORM
(more…)

Posted in ASA, Tournaments | No Comments »

USA Jr. Women in Chula Vista June 10-13

Saturday, May 8th, 2010



(click banner for original news story)

The USA Jr. Women will hold camp next month in Chula Vista, California, at the Olympic Training facility there. A local Corona athlete, Destinee Martinez will be among those attending.

Martinez Selected for USA Softball Junior National Team Camp

NORMAN, Okla. – University of Oklahoma incoming softball freshman Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif.) was one of 42 student-athletes invited to attend the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team selection, June 10-13, at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The 17 athletes selected for the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team will be announced on June 15. The team will compete later this year at the III Pan American Softball Championship (18-and-under), August 6-15, in Bogota, Colombia. The event serves as a qualifier for the International Softball Federation (ISF) IX Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under), December 6-17, 2011, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Martinez, a 5-4 outfielder, prepped at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Corona, Calif. She earned second team all-state honors from Cal Hi Sports in 2009 and was a first team all-area selection by The (Riverside, Calif.) Press Enterprise. Martinez also earned first team all-league honors and was named to the all-tournament team at the Corona Tournament. She hit .516 overall as a junior with 48 hits and a .622 on-base percentage. Martinez also stole 12 bases. Outside of softball, Martinez has served as her class’ vice-president since 2008.

Martinez has spent the past five summers with the Corona Angels. The team finished in the top 25 at the 2009 Amateur Softball Association GOLD Nationals in Oklahoma City, a season where she hit .480 for the team. The squad finished second at that same event in 2008.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 42 athletes who have accepted an invitation to attend the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team selection camp, June 10-13, at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The athletes, who are age 18 and under, represent 13 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

The 17 athletes selected for the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team will be announced on June 15. The team will compete later this year at the III Pan American Softball Championship (18-and-under), August 6-15, in Bogota, Colombia. The event serves as a qualifier for the International Softball Federation (ISF) IX Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under), December 6-17, 2011, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Athletes attending the selection camp are:

Marisa Bast (Orange, Calif./Explosion)
Bianka Bell (Brandon, Fla./Florida Tampa Mustangs Bell)
Nancy Bowling (Simi Valley, Calif./California Batbusters)
Ally Carda (Elk Grove, Calif./California Lady Magic)
Lauren Chamerlain (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./California Worth Firecrackers)
Erica Cippolloni (Philadelphia, Pa./New Jersey Breakers)
Cheyenne Cordes (Fairfield, Calif./California Lady Magic)
Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif./California Batbusters)
Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo./Missouri Chaos Furrer)
Shelby Davis (Goddard, Kan./Kansas Mustangs)
Hailey Decker (Keizer, Ore./Oregon Northwest Bullets Gold)
D’anna Devine (Morrisvile, Pa./Newtown Rock Gold)
Taylor Dewbery (McAllister, Okla./Oklahoma Diamond Girls)
Taylor Edwards (Murrieta, Calif./California Corona Angels)
Dallas Escobedo (Glendale, Ariz./Arizona Hotshots Gold)
Amber Freeman (Lakewood, Calif./California Batbusters)
Erin Gabriel (Poland, Ohio/Valley Extreme Blue)
Chelsea Goodacre (Temecula, Calif./California Fury)
Lauren Haeger (Peoria, Ariz./Arizona Hotshots-Householder)
Meghan Harman (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./California Raiders)
Andrea Hawkins (Bay City, Texas/Texas Impact)
Kaitlin Inglesby (Portland, Ore./Oregon Northwest Blaze)
Breana Kostreba (Aptos, Calif./California Sorcerers)
Kylee Lahners (Laguna Hills, Calif./California Worth Firecrackers)
Samantha Lenahan (Lawrenceville, Ga./Georgia Elite)
Destinee Martinez (Corona, Calif./California Corona Angels)
Alexis Mercado (Temecula, Calif./So Cal Athletics)
Shelby Pendley (Rio Rancho, N.M./New Mexico Sundancers)
Jessica Plaza (Huntington Beach, Calif./California Cruisers – Mel)
Sierra Rodriguez (Chandler, Ariz./Killer Bees 16-Under)
Sierra Romero (Murrieta, Calif./Orange County Batbusters)
Kourtney Salvarola (Arnold, Md./Wagners)
Madison Shipman (Valencia, Calif./California Choppers)
Delaney Spaulding (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Orange County Batbusters – Hanning)
McKenzie St. Clair (Highland, Utah/Arizona Hotshots)
Kelsey Stewart (Arkansas City, Kan./Kansas Mustangs)
Cheyanne Tarango (Anaheim Hills, Calif./California Worth Firecrackers)
Darian Tautalafua (Carson, Calif./Orange County Batbusters – Hanning)
Nyree White (Eugene, Ore./Oregon Thunder)
Hallie Wilson (Tustin, Calif./California Worth Firecrackers)
Chelsea Zgrabik (Venice, Fla./Florida Tropic Wave)
Courtney Ziese (Canyon Country, Calif./California Choppers)
To be eligible for selection, athletes had to meet the ISF age requirements for the 18-Under event in Colombia and the 19-Under event South Africa by having been born January 1, 1992, or later.

Karen Johns (Starkville, Miss./asst. coach Mississippi State) will lead the Junior Women’s Team in Colombia as Head Coach. Suzy Brazney (Huntington Beach, Calif./head coach Golden West College), Stacy Iveson (Prescott, Ariz./head coach Yavapai College) and Pat Murphy (Northport, Ala./head coach Alabama) will join Johns on staff.

Posted in ASA, ISF | No Comments »

ASA Fastpitch News

Monday, April 19th, 2010

From the ASA Communications Center

Men’s Fast Pitch 2009-2010
April 2010 –
March 2010 –
2/12/2010 – USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athletes,
January 2010 –
December 2009 –
November 2009 –
October 2009 –
9/1/2009 – 2009-12 selection committees
August 2009 –
7/27/2009 – Men take fourth at Worlds
6/30/2009 USA Softball Men’s National Fast Pitch team gets…
6/26/2009 USA Softball Men’s National Fast Pitch tunes-up …
5/28/2009 USA Softball Men Finish 3-2

Women’s Fast Pitch 2009-2010
4/13/2010 – Danielle Lawrie earns POW award
4/13/2010 – Washington still No. 1
4/7/2010 – Top 25 Finalists
4/6/2010 Huskies stay at No. 1
4/6/2010 Florida’s Gammel Named USA Softball Collegiate P…
4/2/2010 2010 WNT coaches
3/30/2010 Washington still top Dawgs heading into Pac-10 play
3/23/2010 Huskies stay on top
3/8/2010 Huskies stay at No. 1 with perfect weekend
2/12/2010 USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athlete…
2/10/2010 World Cup tickets on sale
1/26/2010 Washington starts at No. 1
1/14/2010 Michele Smith joining OK Sports Hall of Fame
1/11/2010 2010 WNT selected
1/6/2010 Canada selected to host ISF XIII Women’s World C…
1/5/2010 Selection Camp underway
12/29/2009 Osterman on SI’s Top 20
12/21/2009 Team USA headed to Caracas
11/3/2009 2010 Women’s Worlds moved
9/10/2009 Bid on items for charity
9/1/2009 2009-12 selection committees
8/13/2009 Softball out of 2016 Games
8/11/2009 IOC votes Thursday
8/9/2009 USA 3, Canada 1
8/8/2009 USA wins 15-0, 7-0
8/5/2009 USA 15, Belize 0
8/4/2009 USA wins 11-0, 15-0
8/4/2009 USA wins 22-0, 9-0
8/2/2009 Brazil dealt 7-0 defeat by USA Softball at Pan A…
8/2/2009 USA Softball dominant in 21-0 win over Ecuador
8/2/2009 USA wins Japan Cup
7/31/2009 American women out hit in first game of Japan Cu…
7/31/2009 USA 11, Colombia 0 in five
7/18/2009 Burkhart gets as first win as USA Softball pound…
7/16/2009 Finch, Leles lead Team USA to opening World Cup win
7/13/2009 USA wins 2009 Canada Cup
7/9/2009 USA gets two more wins
7/8/2009 USA 7, Australia 0 in five
7/5/2009 USA Softball wins 8-1 over Venezuela at Canada Cup
6/17/2009 ESPN to air World Cup
6/15/2009 Women’s teams named for ’09
6/5/2009 41 headed to Selection Camp
2/6/2009 USA Softball announces 2009-2012 Women’s Nationals

Posted in ASA, General | No Comments »

Props for Palazzo from Hometown Newspaper

Saturday, February 20th, 2010


(photo by Maddy Flanagan)

From the Des Moines register

SELECT SOFTBALL COMPANY

Few would be surprised to hear that Olympics star Jennie Finch was named USA Softball’s female athlete of the year for 2009.

Softball’s male athlete of the year, however, received little notice — until now.

Des Moines player Matt Palazzo led the national team to a fourth-place finish at the ISF Men’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Palazzo led the team with a .444 average and four home runs, while driving in 11 runs and scoring nine times as the team finished 7-3.

“To wear red, white and blue and represent your country is such an amazing thing,” Palazzo said.

Posted in ASA, ISF, Players | No Comments »

Jennie Finch, Matt Palazzo are USA Softball Athletes of the Year for 2009

Friday, February 12th, 2010

USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athletes of the Year


(Photo: Jennie Finch, courtesy of Softballnewsla.com)


(Photo: Matt Palazzo, courtesy of USA Softball)


(photo by Maddy Flanagan); Tip ‘o the cap to Matt Christiansen for submitting the link

Editor’s note: We invite our readers to find a better photo of Matt for posting here, at the galleries at Maddy’s photos. Email us the link, by sending to: jim (at) fastpitchwest.com. Oh, and if you find any better ones of Jennie Finch, you can send those too 🙂

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball are pleased to announce that Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) and Matt Palazzo (Des Moines, Iowa) were named the USA Softball Female and Male Athlete of the year, respectively, for their accomplishments during the 2009 season.

Finch saw time as both a pitcher and at first base on defense and made an impact at the plate on offense. Finch’s hits in the Championship Game of both the Japan Cup and Canada Cup secured the USA victory. She was voted the Japan Cup MVP after she not only threw a one-hitter to defending Olympic Gold Medalist Japan but also drove in the only two runs scored, with a double, to help lead the team to a 2-0 victory. In the Championship game of the Canada Cup with two outs left in the seventh, Finch hit a walk-off single that would push a run across the plate and give the United States a 3-2 victory.

Offensively, Finch was in the Top five in all three events in batting average with a summer average of .447. Her best event was at the World Cup of Softball where Finch hit .500 with a home run and three runs scored. During the summer of 2009, she made an appearance in all 18 games with 17 starts with three home runs and 17 hits. As a pitcher, she was 5-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Finch allowed only two earned runs in 26.0 innings pitched.

“I am completely honored all the way around to not only play for our great country but also to be recognized out of a group of extremely talented athletes. I am surrounded by amazing women and feel blessed to be a part of USA Softball,” said Finch. “I feel privileged to still have the opportunity to play the game I love at this stage in my life. Just to wear USA across my chest is a great honor and I am grateful for the opportunities I continue to have.”

Palazzo helped lead the USA Softball Men’s National team to a fourth-place finish at the ISF Men’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, with a 7-3 record. He led the team with a .444 average (12-for-27) and was the only player to record more than one home run with four homers. At the plate, he contributed 11 RBI, scoring nine runs. He was near perfect on defense, making only one error.

“This summer was amazing to be able to compete among great International opponents at the World Championships. Seeing the different cultures, styles of play and at such a high level is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. To wear red, white and blue and represent your country is such an amazing thing and I can’t wait to get out there and compete again,” said Palazzo who admitted he was smiling away after he heard the news. “I am very shocked and pleased to earn this honor. I worked extremely hard last year and thought I had a great year but didn’t expect this. Just to be in the same category as an athlete like Jennie Finch is an honor in itself.”

Editor’s note: Our Spanish-speaking readers can find the Spanish version of the above article at www.softballnewsla.com, by clicking here. . Great excuse to post her photo, eh? …as if one was necessary.

Read more about Matt Palazzo after the jump. (more…)

Posted in ASA, General, Players | No Comments »

Casting Call for USA Jr. Men’s Team

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Editor’s note: We’ve bumped this one back to the top of the Morning Brief, to remind our readers that the casting call is still underway. Response has been good to date, so keep up the great work in getting the word out.

Young USA Talent Invited, with or without softball experience

The USA Softball Jr. Men’s National Team is looking for players for the the 2012 World Championships which will be held in Parana, Argentina.

The players must be born in 1993 – 1996. No softball experience needed.

Training will begin in 2010. All expenses are paid for those players invite to participate.

Please click here and fill out the information form.

If you have any questions, please contact me at email address below

TIMOTHY LYON
Head Coach
USA Softball Jr Men’s
National Team
timlyon (at) earthlink.net

Posted in ASA, Youth | No Comments »

ASA 2010 Rule and Code changes

Friday, November 20th, 2009

11/12/2009

RENO, Nev. — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America concluded the 78th Annual Council Meeting in Reno, Nev. On Thursday afternoon with decisions being voted on that affect the ASA Official Rules of Softball and the ASA Code.

Added Nov. 18: A list of 2010 ASA code and rule changes is now avaliable on the ASA Web site. For code changes with comments, please click here or to view the playing rule changes with comments click here.

The following are highlights in each division of play:

ADULT FAST PITCH

Article 509 B 02 b Delete Current and Replace with

1. Men’s Open Fast Pitch shall be scheduled on Labor Day weekend commencing no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Thursday and concluding no later than Labor Day. Effective 2011.

OTHER

Article 601 A New

Exception: The ASA Annual meeting will be in Oklahoma City every 5 years beginning in the year 2013 to celebrate ASA’s 80th year anniversary.

Posted in ASA, General | No Comments »

ASA Announces Hosts for 2010

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Thanks to B.Ree for the updated list of ASA National tournaments for 2010:

Men’s Class A Fast Pitch – Salem, Ore.

Men’s Class B Fast Pitch – Salem, Ore.

Men’s Class C West Fast Pitch – Salem, Ore.

Men’s Class C East Fast Pitch – Owensboro, Ken.

Men’s 40-Over Fast Pitch – Prescott, Az.

Men’s 45-Over Fast Pitch – Fresno, Ca.

Men’s 50 –Over Fast Pitch – Prescott, Az.

Posted in ASA, General, Tournaments | No Comments »

Silverhawks Invitational Men’s ASA Open Tournament – May 22-23, 2010

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009


(click logo to enlarge)

Hosted by the Bakersfield Silverhawks

Date: May 22-23, 2010
Where: Bakersfield, CA
Patriots Park Complex
Entry Fee: $400
Format: Round Robin Single Elimination
With a 4 Game Guarantee
Prizes: $500 for Tournament Champion

For more information, please contact:

Chris McGehee: (661) 330-7114 or garageworks@bak.rr.com
Bobby McCormick: (661) 549-3987 or mccormickservices10@yahoo.com

Posted in ASA, General, Nor Cal, So Cal, Tournaments | No Comments »

Bailey was one of The King’s men

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

Cap tip to Dave Blackburn for spotting this one.

From my hometown newspaper, the Long Beach Press Telegram



Mark Bailey impressed Eddie Feigner with his speed and his between-the-legs throws. (Brittany Murray / Staff Photographer)

HALL OF FAME: Long Beach native recalls his time with 4-man softball squad.
By Bob Keisser, Staff Writer

Mark Bailey impressed Eddie Feigner with his speed and his between-the-legs throws. (Brittany Murray / Staff Photographer)
Ask most people how many players you need for a baseball and softball team, and the answer will be nine.

But Mark Bailey knows you can get away with four.

For five years, Bailey was the shortstop on the King and His Court softball team, the legendary squad headlined by Eddie Feigner, arguably the greatest fast-pitch softball player ever.

This was no ordinary team. It was a show squad that traveled the country and played exhibitions against other teams, the difference being that the court played with just four players – Feigner, a catcher, first baseman and shortstop.

Starting in 1965, Bailey was the King’s shortstop, which meant he also played third base, left field and a little center field, on those rare occasions an opponent would make contact with Feigner’s array of pitches.

“I had a tryout for him in 1965,” said Bailey, a Long Beach native who will be inducted into the Long Beach Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame next Saturday (Oct. 10) at Blair Field. “He had heard of me and his shortstop had just retired, and he needed someone who could also pitch.

“When he saw I could do a few things, some of that between-the-legs stuff, and cover a lot of ground, he signed me. He liked that he could use me in more than one spot.”

The tours were more than a grind. Bailey estimated that the team would play 200 dates a year and the calendar often featured weeks of eight or nine games, including the occasional tripleheader.

“We once played five games in three days in four states,” Bailey said. “It was serious travel. Thing is, I was a good ballplayer but when you start playing with just four guys, you really improve. You get to a point where you play so much that you don’t even notice.”

Bailey noted with a laugh that first baseman Al Jackson was the oldest guy on the team, so his coverage area could also include right field. “Sometimes I wished I was the old guy,” he said.

Many of the games were against town teams, but this being at a time when fast-pitch softball had a national footprint, they’d also face teams that were powers in either Amateur Softball Assn. or International Softball Congress leagues. “We did play the defending world champs several times, and some of those games were pretty intense,” he said.

“We all had our things. Catcher Jim Herrick was the team comedian and I was fast, always running. When Eddie set his mind on it, there was no pitcher like him. He could make the ball curve and fade and put it anywhere within 360 degrees, and there was the behind the back and between his leg tricks, too.”

Bailey is as Long Beach as they come. He was born here and went to McKinley Elementary, Hamilton Middle School, Jordan High School, Long Beach City College and Long Beach State, and he was a teacher at Washington Middle School for 35 years.

He started playing baseball and softball when he was a fourth grader and played baseball at Jordan and Long Beach City College before putting his emphasis on softball.

He played on several of the legendary open-class softball teams in the Southland, including the Anaheim Bobcats, Lakewood Jets and briefly with the Long Beach Nitehawks. Bailey, whose nephew is former UCLA and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, went back to an ISC World Series with the Nitehawks and won several ASA titles with the Jets. He was a member of the 1974 Jets team that won a ISC world title, too.

“I tell people about those days and they have no idea how big it was,” he said. “The Nitehawks were the team because they went to the ISC World Series every year and they were so popular here, but the ASA was the Big Dog. More teams, bigger tournaments.”

Few teams were bigger than the King and his Court, and with players like Bailey, they weren’t exactly playing short-handed.

bob.keisser@presstelegram.com

(Click photo below to enlarge)


(Photo: Inaugural plaque for Long Beach Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame, circa 2004. (Photo by Maddy Flanagan, click to enlarge)

Editor’s note: Must be the week for stories about the King and his Court, this one coming on the heels of a story earlier this week in New Jersey paper, clear across the country on Rich Hoppe. The story above appeared in my hometown newspaper, the Press Telegram (a paper I delivered at age 12), profiling a player that I watched for a number of years. Though the story focuses on his four years with the King and his court, Mark Bailey will be remembered in Long Beach for the years he played on other teams, including two of the powerhouse squads of his day, the Lakewood Jets and the Long Beach Nitehawks. Bailey was in the twilight of his career as I was starting to play in tournaments around town, but even then remained one of the better known and liked ballplayers around.

Our congratulations to Mark on his pending induction into the Long Beach Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame. He will join other Long Beach greats, including former Long Beach Nitehawk shortstop Nick Hopkins and Nitehawk skipper the late Red Meairs, on the softball side and MLB Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn on the baseball side.

Click here to view our prior story about the Long Beach Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame, inaugural inductions, 2004.

Posted in ASA, ISC, Players, So Cal | No Comments »

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