Cap tip and photo from Vahram Mateosian, self-described on his Twitter page as “Master tailor and debater. Little used softball substitute.”
Big time ink for the 2013 ISF World Champion New Zealand Black Sox. A double-truck centerfold on page 7 of Sports Illustrated. At your newstands now. Grab one before they’re all gone!
I recall a small head shot of former USA catcher Todd Garcia “Faces in the Crowd” years ago and this 1979 piece on Ty Stofflet, but it’s been a long time since we found men’s fastpitch in S.I. Great pub for the game.
Maybe fastball will start to get a bit more air time in the bigger media circles. It is such a better game than baseball.
Let’s enjoy the exposure for what it is, but not get carried away. Men’s fastpitch softball is a fun recreational sport that requires more talent and dedication than slowpitch softball.
It is still just a variation of men’s baseball with the top athletes removed. Not a single player competing at the ISF could play major league baseball (maybe some minor league systems), many MLB players could dominate fastpitch softball after a few years of experience.
Comparing the two shows your ignorance. Just becase you are good at one does not make you good at the other. MLB stars are incredibly funded, and incredibly coached with endless resources. Take that away, make them do a day job and we’d see just how good thay are. Brad Rona and Donny Hale could play MLB easily. If they were given 10 years and a time machine. MLB players would get nowhere near Folkard. These guys from NZ put just as much time in as the MLB players, considering their situation. These are professional players, without the immense funding the MLB players enjoy. Show some respect.
If anyone knows where I can find a copy of this particular Sports Illustrated issue please let me know ASAP!! I just left New Zealand and am currently in Melbourne Australia, I’ve looked in EVERY magazine store and no one has it, And I cannot find it online. Thanks.
Brian Martie was also in faces in the crowd,after wolfie i believe..
Jarrad Martin as well as Rona,Makea and a few other players on that team would hit major leauge pitchers.Played against them a few times.Congrats guys,good job.