The cover photo is Chuck Vranich, pitching in the So Cal ASA Alliance's first tournament of 2005, at Palm Springs, California.  Vranich won back-to-back games in the semifinals and championship game to help lead his Long Beach Black Sox teammates to their first ever Alliance title, in only their second year of existence.  Though no official Most Valuable Pitcher award was given out, Vranich was the consensus pick. Chuck took up pitching somewhat late in life, after a full career as a position player, and has enjoyed a good deal of success. 

The photo was taken by Fastpitchwest's photographer, Madeleine Flanagan, who has been published a number of times in Softball Magazine, dubbed the "Sports Illustrated of Softball".  Maddy's photos have graced the fastpitch cover no less than four (4) times in 2004.

If you wish to peruse more of Maddy's Photo Galleries, click the link below, and then the menu button for "Photo Gallery".  If you wish to drop her a line, you can email her at maddy@fastpitchwest.com

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