Archive for the ‘Women’ Category

Celebratory Night for U of Hawaii Women

Sunday, November 14th, 2010

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.

Click link above for the complete story.

Happy Chef’s Mike Bosch Coaching at Syracuse

Saturday, November 13th, 2010


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.

Women’s AAU International – Feb 4-6, 2011

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

AAU International Women’s Fastpitch Tournament
February 4th – 6th 2011
Osceola Softball Complex, Orlando,Florida
Entry Fee $500 / Deadline January 25th

For more information,please contact Alex Linares at: 407- 828-5602 or
alex (at) aausports.org

Alex Linares
Amateur Athletic Union Of The United States, Inc.
Sports Manager
Panama & Puerto Rico Liaison
International Events
407- 828-5602
407- 934 – 7242 (fax)
alex (at) aausports.org
www.aausports.org

Blake Miller to Oregon Ducks

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010


EUGENE – University of Oregon softball head coach Mike White announced Monday that the program is excited to add Blake Miller as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season.

The 10-year college coaching veteran joins the Ducks after serving as head coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville the past three seasons. In prior stints, he served as the head coach at Darton College (2006-07) and an assistant coach at East Tennessee State (2005), Missouri Western State (2004) and Mesa State (2001-03).

“We‘re thrilled to add someone of Blake’s caliber to our coaching staff,” White said. “As a U.S. National Team member he was known for his competitiveness and was a leader by example. His versatility on the field and at the plate were impressive, as was his intelligence on the field – he looked for the little things which are big in our game. Adding in his experience as a head coach at two successful Division II programs, he will help our players, particularly our young ones, continually increase their softball knowledge.”

Altogether during his coaching career, he coached two All-Americans, nine Academic All-Americans, and guided four teams to regional bids and one Junior College World Series trip.

Miller played on International Softball Congress world championship gold medal teams in 2008 and ’09 for the Kitchener, Ont., Riversharks, and the same team won the U.S. title in ‘10. A four-time first-team All-American (1999, 2002, ’05, ’07), he played on silver-medal U.S. teams in the 2003 Pan Am Games, 2007 European World Cup, the gold-medal squad in the 2007 American Challenge Series and fourth-place team in the 2009 ISF World Championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Click logo above for complete news story.

Women’s European Cup Video

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Click here to view streaming video.

Battle of the Sexes III, 2010

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

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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http://www.jackhammerbaseball.com/
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Dave “Hooda” Perkins
dperk10(at)gmail.com

USA Jr. Women Off to Columbia

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Smiling faces of the USA Jr. Women, off to Columbia for international competition. (Facebook login required to see photos of the team)

The Jr. Women will compete Aug. 2-15 at III Pan American Softball Championship (18-Under) in Bogota, Colombia.

Team USA Clinches Berth in World Cup Title Game Despite Falling to Canada

Monday, July 26th, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY — The USA Softball Women’s National Team has secured a spot in the championship game of the 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, despite a Sunday outing that saw the ISF 2010 Women’s World Champions fall to Canada. The Americans lost 5-2 at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame Stadium but still clinched the No. 1 tournament seed when Japan topped Canada 4-0 in the night cap.

The Women’s National Team, now 4-1 in the tournament, will seek a fourth consecutive World Cup title Monday at 8 p.m. against either Japan or the Futures, a seeding to be determined following the one remaining pool play game, the Women’s National Team against the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team at noon Monday. Futures has a record of 2-3 heading into the match-up. Japan finishes pool play at 3-3 with Canada at 2-4.

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Seven World Cup of Softball Games To Be Televised

Monday, July 19th, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Seven 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball presented by Six Flags games including the women’s fastpitch championship game and the men’s slow pitch Border Battle will air live across the United States on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. The World Cup is July 22-26 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, which recently hosted the 2010 NCAA Women’s College World Series.

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Gromacki Joins USA Softball Coaching Staff

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Fullerton Head Coach Returns to National Team Duty


Cal State Fullerton head coach Michelle Gromacki has joined the staff of the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team. (Photo Courtesy USA Softball)

FULLERTON, CA – Cal State Fullerton head softball coach Michelle Gromacki has accepted a coaching position with the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team, the Amateur Softball Association announced on Thursday.

Gromacki, who recently completed her 11th season as head coach of the Titans, joined the team in time to help lead the United States to a seventh consecutive and ninth overall gold medal at the International Softball Federation’s Women’s World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela, defeating Olympic champion Japan, 7-0, in five innings in the championship game.

She will also assist with the national team during the fifth-annual KFC World Cup of Softball on July 22-26 in Oklahoma City, OK.

Gromacki is no stranger to Team USA as both a player and a coach. She previously served as an assistant coach for the USA Blue Team in 2001 and the USA “Elite” National Team from 2002-04, competing in international tournaments and serving as the “sparring partner” for the U.S. National Team in preparation for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

In 2003, she helped lead the “Elite” Team to a gold medal at the Canada Cup with an 11-1 record and a roster that featured former Titans, Gina Oaks and Jodie Cox.

As a player, Gromacki was also selected as a member of the U.S. National Team that participated in the tournament to open the Olympic Softball Complex in Columbus, GA, prior to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.

In 1994, Gromacki was a member of several U.S. National Teams that claimed gold medals at the South Pacific Classic Tournament, the World Championships in Canada, and the Pam Am Qualifier in Guatemala. She was a participant in the Olympic Sports Festival in St. Louis as both a player and assistant coach.

From 1985-92, Gromacki participated in three Olympic Sports Festivals and was a member of two U.S. National Teams that took gold medals in international competition in China (1987) and Japan (1985). She also spent eight months playing on a travelling team in New Zealand from 1988-89..