“News” item: Canada 30, USA 29 in Slow-pitch Border Battle. 59 runs scored on 67 hits. Two of the final three outs by the USA were made when they hit home runs over the fence. Yes, you read that right – two of the final outs were made when USA batters hit the ball out of the park. “Sorry, you’re over your 10 home run limit, those are outs”. See it to believe it.

Even ESPN’s announcer thinks it’s a joke – listen to the intro….”I’ll get the beer……” Any doubt what they think of this “sport”?. Get a look at the expression on the face of the guy that hits one out of the park for the second out of the inning. You’d think he’d struck out. What kind of “sport” calls you out when you go yard? “Whoops, sorry, I didn’t mean to hit it that far. I was trying for a dying quail into shallow centerfield. ” What are they trying to do? Keep the score under 100?

They couldn’t convince the USA and Canadian men’s fastpitch teams to play on TV?

Reader Brian Helwig writes:

I want to encourage others to voice their opinions about this, and their lack of ever covering mens fastpitch. Here is the address www.ISCfastpitch.com and consider covering the game in the future. Thanks
Brian Helwig

Click to send email to ESPN.

Editor’s note: I used the link to send an email to ESPN this morning, and encourage all of our readers to do so. It’s a great chance to give voice to our sport. My suggestion is to be respectful and avoid profanity — but let them know that there is interest in real men’s softball, and it’s fastpitch, not slow.

The article notes 650,000 viewers for this slow-pitch event. My website hit meter at Fastpitchwest says more than 10 million times a year, people choose FASTPITCH. Let them know there is an audience they are missing out on.

Want to get motivated to write that email? Try reading the article below:

The money quote:

“While I would truly love to see it men’s slopitch] considered for Olympic inclusion, the efforts of both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball fans around the country are focused on returning women’s fast pitch back into the Games. There are simply more competitive international teams and the sport truly deserves reconsideration.”

In other words, there are no competitive international men’s fastpitch teams and men’s fastpitch is not worthy of inclusion as an Olympic sport, but men’s slopitch should be considered ? Really?

Men’s softball set for 2nd Border Battle
Joanne C. Gerstner July 23, 2010

The covers of J.D. Genter and Rusty Bumgartner were blown sky high in 2009, thanks to television.

Genter and Bumgartner live average lives, save for their long-time association as star members of USA Softball’s men’s slow-pitch national team.

Infielder Bumgartner, who hails from Gastonia, N.C., plays softball professionally for equipment manufacturer Combat. Genter, also an infielder, is a high school economics teacher and prep softball coach who lives in Chickamauga, Ga.

Before the inaugural Border Battle game aired on a major sport network in 2009, only friends and family members knew of their big-time softball careers.

The exciting game against Canada, which the U.S. won 30-23, drew 650,000 TV viewers and put highlights on “SportsCenter.”

And now their neighbors, acquaintances, and even Genter’s current and former students, knew how good the players were.

Which is why both players are so excited for the upcoming 2010 Border Battle, scheduled for Saturday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

“It was unreal last year, in every year,” Genter, 36, said. “That game is so special to all of us because we were able to show of our game and show how exciting it is. I had former students coming up to me when I got home and said, ‘Wow, Mr. Genter, that was awesome to watch.’ And that just makes all of us on the national team so happy. We work really hard to be the best and play the game at the highest level. To get a little appreciation back … it’s more than I can put into words.

“And that’s why we’re all so pumped for the game this year … We know Canada’s going to give us their best shot. It’s going to be a great thing.”

Bumgartner, a highly decorated member of the ASA Hall of Fame, counts the Border Battle as one of the top highlights of his career.

“Being on Team USA was a lifelong goal of mine, and then you get opportunities like this on top of it — it’s just great,” Bumgartner, 41, said. “Being able to play on ESPN, live, that just took it over the top. Wow. I saw it listed in the listing guide for the TV and I just stared at that — that’s going to be us! Like two weeks before I left, I set everything to record I was gone and checked it like every day to make sure it was going to work.

“Putting us on TV made us big time. So yeah, I guess you could say this is a really exciting thing for me. I can’t wait to play in it again.”

Team USA coach Steve Shortland sees the popularity of the Border Battle helping grow the event and the sport of slow pitch softball overall. Shortland has been involved in slow pitch for nearly three decades, and has seen the growth of the game.

“The goal of the Border Battle is to set the stage for more international slow-pitch competition,” Shortland said. “An enormous byproduct of the event is it gives us a chance to showcase our sport to the entire world. Even though it is one the world’s largest recreational sports (numbers by participation), most do not realize the caliber and skill of the elite players. ESPN broadcast brings it into their living rooms.”

The members of Team USA make a big commitment to represent the best in their sport. Genter and Bumgartner, along with their teammates scattered around the country, spend hours working on their conditioning, hitting, and on-field skills every week.

Genter can be spotted taking cuts in the batting cage in the high school field.

Bumgartner said he learned early in his career to develop a strong work ethic, thanks to watching veteran stars.

“I’ve known people in my career who were really talented and didn’t work that hard, and people who weren’t the most talented but worked their hardest and became the best,” Bumgartner said.

“I think that’s what we have on Team USA: We have the guys who are really talented but also work the hardest. That’s why every person on the team is good at what they do. We respect each other for our talent and hard work to get there. And we are all immensely privileged and proud to wear the USA on our uniforms. It’s a thrill every single team we get to do it.”

The dream of having men’s slow pitch included the Olympic program is alive, but remains more abstract than real. The players would love to represent their country on the Olympic stage, but realize the sport needs to grow beyond its niche in many more countries before it can be actively considered.

Shortland is realistic about the big picture.

“Slow-pitch softball was actually a demonstration sport as part of the Olympics in the 80s, but it was limited to two teams, both from the USA (East vs. West),” Shortland remembers.

“While I would truly love to see it considered for Olympic inclusion, the efforts of both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball fans around the country are focused on returning women’s fast pitch back into the Games. There are simply more competitive international teams and the sport truly deserves reconsideration.”

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 9:24 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.