From the Star Advertiser, Honolulu Hawaii.
By Jason Kaneshiro

After being split in opposing dugouts for seven innings, last season’s Hawaii softball team united for one more celebration.

The five seniors who helped spur the Rainbow Wahine to the Women’s College World Series played against their former teammates in the program’s annual alumnae game last night.

After the 2011 edition closed out a 9-2 win, they hustled over to the Stan Sheriff Center, where the full 2010 team received bracelets commemorating their historic run during halftime of the Rainbow Warriors basketball team’s season opener.

The ceremony marked the first time they were together since ending the season in the WCWS in Oklahoma City.

“It brings back so much,” said former UH catcher Katie Grimes, who is attending graduate school at Boston University and flew back on Thursday to participate in the game and the bracelet presentation.

“It’s amazing,” she said of the team’s chemistry. “I wish I could teach this. I wish I could tell people how to make this happen because it’s so unique.”

The ceremony, capped by a standing ovation, brought a sense of closure to UH’s landmark season, while the win over the alumnae punctuated a productive fall season for the Wahine heading into the spring.

“We know where we’re at more than we did in the beginning,” pitcher Stephanie Ricketts said. “A lot of the question marks have been answered and we know what to work on and what our strengths are.”

Ricketts, Kaia Parnaby and Jenna Rodriguez scattered three hits to an alumnae lineup that included last year’s seniors and three players — Kate Robinson, Tyleen Tausaga and Tanisha Milca — who are playing professionally in Italy. Kristi Yoshizawa played for Great Britain’s national team in the ISF Women’s World Championships in Venezuela last summer.

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Syracuse Women’s Softball Assistant Coach Mike Bosch
A National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Coach of the Year, Mike Bosch brings 13 years of head coaching experience and an impressive resume to the Orange softball staff.

Building a Powerhouse
Prior to joining the SU staff, Bosch spent the past 13 seasons as head coach at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa where he built the program into a perennial contender with two NJCAA Division II National Championship appearances in his final three seasons. While at Iowa Lakes, Bosch produced 28 All-Americans and 81 all-region selections while compiling a 525-236-2 overall record.

In 2010, Bosch led the Lakers to a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship and earned NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year honors. He earned his 500th career victory on April 6, 2010 in a 12-0 shutout of Dakota County Technical College before guiding the team to a Region XI Championship and a District F title. Iowa Lakes was one of 16 teams to earn an NJCAA National Championship berth, finishing the season with a 60-11 overall record.

Bosch and his staff earned NFCA NJCAA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2008 after leading the Lakers to a Region XI title, District F championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA Division II National Championship. The team finished the 2008 season with a 59-13 overall record while hitting a program-best .392 with 47 home runs.

During his tenure, Bosch’s Iowa Lakes teams hit better than .287 every season, including 10 seasons where the squad’s batting average was above .300. Bosch and his staff also earned NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2006. In addition to his duties at Iowa Lakes, Bosch has also served as a clinician at various softball camps, including the University of Tennessee camp, specializing in pitching.

Strong Mentor
Prior to joining the Iowa Lakes staff as an assistant coach in 1996, Bosch spent four seasons as a high school head coach in Minnesota. He began his coaching career as the varsity softball coach at Wabasso High School, leading the team to state tournament appearances in each of his two seasons while earning a pair of Region 3A Coach of the Year honors. Wabasso compiled a 39-10 record during Bosch’s tenure, finishing fifth in the 1991 state tournament and seventh in 1992.

Bosch moved from Wabasso to nearby Jackson High School where he compiled a 29-9 record through two seasons. At Jackson, Bosch led the squad to a first place finish in the 1993 state tournament while earning his third Region 3A Coach of the Year award in as many seasons.

Playing Days
While beginning his coaching career, Bosch also gained valuable experience playing men’s fastpitch softball. He joined the team Happy Chef out of Mankato, Minn. in 1992 and played for five seasons before joining The Ranch in Fairmont, Minn. where he played three seasons.

In the Classroom
In addition to his duties on the field during his 14 years at Iowa Lakes, Bosch also served as a Professor of Mathematics, teaching courses in statistics, calculus, pre-calculus for more than 3,000 students annually. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Southwest State University and his Master’s in Mathematics from Mankato State University. He and his wife Leslie have three children.

Blackshaw & Jetmar Shut Out Chicago Bandits (2008 NPF World Champions)

[Joliet, IL]

The combination of Andrew Blackshaw (AUS) and Ales Jetmar (CZ) proved too much for the Chicago Bandits hitters as the two pitchers and catcher Jesse Delorit (USA) helped the Joliet Jackhammers hold the 2008 NPF World Champions scoreless for 8 innings leading to a 1-0 victory. Monday’s Battle of the Sexes game featured the Chicago Bandits’ Jenny Finch versus the Joliet Jackhammers at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, IL. The matchup was the third installment of the Battle of the Sexes games. The first installment brought together over 8,900 people to watch the game and the crowd at Silver Cross Field was expected and on pace to surpass that number.

This is the second time that Tom Crouch and I were asked to secure pitching for the event. The dominant pitching performances by both teams made for a great game for spectators, while the edged out victory enhances the rivalry between the fastpitch playing women of the Chicago Bandits and the baseball playing men of the independent Northern League (i.e. Joliet Jackhammers & Schaumburg Flyers).

This event continues to be a win for all parties involved. We would like to thank Kelly Sufka of the Joliet Jackhammers for providing our men with this opportunity. It is always great to expose new audiences to our game. This was a very rare opportunity for Andy, Ales, and Jesse to play on the same field as one of the most celebrated women’s players of all time, Jennie Finch. Although none got to face her at the plate, I believe they all got a picture with her after what is supposed to be one of her final games with the Bandits. It is my understanding that she will retire from the game of softball after the end of the 2010 season.

Andrew and Jesse will next be in action with the #7 ranked Bar of Appleton (BofApp) at noon this upcoming Sunday, August 15, 2010 as they begin action at the 2010 ISC Men’s World Fastball Tournament in Midland, MI. Ales will take the mound with the #12 Aurora Dolan & Murphy Shamrocks on Sunday at 6pm in Midland.

http://jackhammerbaseball.com/news/?article_id=2427
http://www.chicagobandits.com/news/index.html?article_id=930
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/plainfieldsun/sports/2582274,4_2_JO10_BANDITS_S1-100810.article

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Dave “Hooda” Perkins
dperk10(at)gmail.com