Remember when that ball got past poor Billy Buckner in the '86 World Series? Well, the players now stocking the roster of USA Jr. Men's Fastpitch team don't. More than half weren't even born by then. But they have come a long way, and now represent the next generation of fastpitch. The future is now, as they prepare for international competition in 2005.

The USA Jr. Men's team is comprised of the best teenage players in the country, hailing from towns like Atascadero, CA, Sioux Falls, SD, Cameron, WI, Templeton, CA, Aurora, IL, Amboy, MN, Harrisburg, SD, Lehi, UT, Chester, IA, Cushing, WI, Mapleton, MN San Luis Obispo, CA, Battle Creek, MI, St. Johns, MI, Prairie Du Chein, WI, Cedar Hills, UT, Lime Springs, IA, South Jordan, UT Aliso Viejo, CA, and Charleston, IL. To learn a little more about the players, we invite you to peruse the USA Jr. Mens' roster. and the online photo gallery at fastpitchwest.

I don't know what they are feeding kids these days, but I don't remember too many ballplayers at my high school that were 6'4" 215 lbs. like USA Jr. Men's third baseman Mike Bowden, or 6'6", 230 lbs, like pitcher/first baseman Tyler Kelly of Battle Creek, Michigan.

And like major league baseball's family bloodlines (the Griffeys, the Bonds, the Bells, etc), this team shares some genes with its talented predecessors. Skim over the roster and you'll spot a few familiar names like Sleep and Hunoff.

At present, for head coach Tim Lyon and assistants Scott Standerfer and Gary Mullican, the sights are set on next international competition, in Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 2005. In preparation for that, two summer camps are scheduled, where the kids will gather at the Olympic Training Facility in Chula Vista, California.

The first of those is this weekend, the second, at the end of next month. While they are in California, they will have a chance to test their skills against some Southern California Men's teams, starting with an exhibition game this evening (Thursday, June 23, 2004) against the San Diego Suns, at Presidio Park, a short drive from the Olympic Training facility. The San Diego Suns are a local city league team started by Rich Markham, of Ohio during the time that he lived in So Cal. Rich was always good about trying to get young players involved in the game, and the team lives on, even with him back in Ohio. Mitch Mendenhall of the El Segundo Rounders took over when Rich left, and added San Diego veterans like former Vista Bomber battermates Russ Snow and Joe Verbanic to help the young players along.

For anyone that wants to get a first hand look at the USA Jr. Men's team, Presidio Park is located at 2811 Jackson Street, San Diego, CA, 92110. This is the all dirt field right off highway 8 in Old Town. They'll be playing a 9 inning game starting at 7:00pm. If you are coming up highway 805, go west on highway 8 and exit on Taylor Street. Go back over the freeway and turn right. You will run into the park about a half mile down on the left hand side. You can see the park from the freeway.

This weekend (June 26-27, 2004), the USA Jr. Men's team will venture a bit further north to Lancaster, California, an hour or so north of Los Angeles, to play in the So Cal ASA Alliance league, at the Big 8 Complex. From Los Angeles: Take Interstate 5 Freeway north to 14 Freeway north (approx. 25 miles into Lancaster). Get off at Avenue L and go right. First signal is 10th Street West, go left. Park entrance will be on left. The team will play at 11:30am, 1:15pm, 4:45pm and 6:30pm against the So Cal Masters, So Cal Rebels, Santana Concrete and Primos, respectively.

It's easy to say that there are no good young players coming into fastpitch these days, but you'd never know that after being around this talented group of youngsters. We tip our cap to Tim Lyon, Scott Standerfer and Gary Mullican who give so much of their own time and energy to making sure that the next generation of fastpitch players will be ready when the baton is passed. We encourage you to support their efforts, and the fine crop of youngsters that will be wearing "USA" across the front of their uniforms next summer in P.E.I.