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Online now: 4 members: Hitting10th, Muggs2112, TABLE SETTER 11, cecil; 49 anonymousDetails for MikeC
Real name:
Mike Coulter
Location:
Waterloo, IA
Division:
Men's 60
Messages posted by MikeC »Message board home »Start a new discussion
| Nov. 21, 2007 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Winter National Results I only know about the 60AAA in Ft Myers, FL 1st. Midwest Fossils/Miken (IA,IL) 2nd The Prize Company (MN) 3rd HMR 60's (PA) The Fossils/Miken went undefeatd. The Prize won loser bracket final in bottow of the 7th over the HMR 60's. Good tournament thought it was run well, fields were OK, grounds crew friendly, umpiring was pretty good, great weather all weekend. Quick note I spoke with Miken Sports TODAY and all Ultra II are made in Caledonia, MN to put a end to the Ultra's being made in China story. |
| Oct. 24, 2007 MikeC | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: results from phoenix? Any results from the 60 AAA Divison, good teams involved. Heard a rumor that a team was thrown out of tournament on Sunday for starting a fight - anyone have word on that? |
| May 18, 2007 MikeC | Topic: Bats Discussion: Confiscated Bat Testing Hate to argue with someone as wise as you Stoneman but not all Freaks are Ultra's. I was the TD for the 35 & Over Masters Nationals and TD for the 2006 Men's State Tournament and watched them check/test bats. It took them 3-5 minutes per bat. Might not matter anyway as I doubt if SPA, SSUSA or any other organization is going to spend the money to do the testing at each tournament. If you have to cheat when you are already allowed to use a ULTRA II then you should be banned for life! |
| May 17, 2007 MikeC | Topic: Bats Discussion: Confiscated Bat Testing Can not say for sure how Senior ball is going to test the bats but during ASA 35 & Over Nationals and at Iowa's State Tournaments they tested each bat with a pressure gauge type of device. Basically they put them in a vise looking like unit and then tighten it to a certain point and it will give you a reading. They can tell by the pressure and rebound speed of the test if it was legal or not. I had a Freak and new Ultra II checked and the Freak tested hotter than the Ultra but within legal standards. Testing takes 5 minutes a bat and nothing was damaged. |
| March 27, 2007 MikeC | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: midwest teams short a player We have a 60 AAA Team a combination of players from Illinois and Iowa. Where do you live and can you travel to a couple of different nationals each year. You can reach me at mcoulter@epamidwest.com would be happy to visit about ideas. Mike |
| March 5, 2007 MikeC | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Looking for an Indiana team Nancy: Our Fossils 60 team may need a couple of players to play at the 60 AAA level. Team is based out of Iowa/Ill (you know us already) do you know of anyone interested in competitive 60 ball? Must be willing to travel to at least 2 national tournaments. We do not have big sponsorship money so we have to pay our own way. Thanks Mike Coulter |
| Dec. 11, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: tournament of champs "Polk County Sports Marketing is sponsoring the Tournament of Champions Banquet for all of the players and their families, each player will receive a Tournament of Champions jacket, each manager will receive a gift basket – and each winner will receive a ring specially designed for the event by Josten’s." I noticed that they are no longer talking about Jackets - in fact when I spoke to a employee of SSUSA he said he didn't know anything about jackets and was unsure about the Banquet. Does anyone know if they are still offering these items. Thanks Has anyone talked to them about what if they only get 3 teams in a divison will that divison move up or down and give or get runs? Asking because we are considering going but as a 55 AA or AAA (have a identiy problem) not real interested in playing a bunch of Major teams. Mike/ Fossils Softball |
| Nov. 22, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WHY DO WE KEEP GOING TO THESE TOURNAMENTS? We also pay for everything out of our own pocket and usually make 2 Nationals each year. Some of the problem is the VERY high entry fee's $525-$550 is a lot of money considering there is no pay back and the lack of awards given out. We finished 2nd in Ft. Myers and got a ugly cheap ball cap, I would think they could at least give out a $10.00 plaque to each player. I have been involved in running many tournaments and it doesn't cost $525 per team to run one of these. I also agree with Gary about teams loading up with upper level ball players. I know the team that beat us in Ft. Myers AAA had 6 Major or Major + players playing. What good is it playing by the rules when the directors are only after the entry fee and lets any one play at what ever level they want. Many teams have grown tired of the cheating and have decided not to spend the money to travel to get beat by someone who doesn't belong in their classification. |
| Nov. 14, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Player classification Does any one know is there a place to view the rules on player classification? If you played on a Major team (same year) and move up a age division do you remain a major player? Also is there a ruling about how many players from a higher classification you are allowed on a lower team, example how many Major players are allowed to play AAA or AAA players are allowed to play on AA team? Thanks for the help. |
| Oct. 12, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Bats Discussion: ASA Stand on illegal bats I do not work for ASA or any company or thing related to softball. The reason I posted the ASA stand is I feel at least they have stood up and said they are going to TRY and stop the "Bat Doctor" and the players that are cheating. If you would read my post I also mentioned anyone caught cheating should be banned from SOFTBALL. Why do you have to cheat when you are already able to use a Ultra II. I can not speak for all states but here in Iowa ASA is the game most people play. Our complex hosted the ASA "B & C" State Tournament this year and our state commissioner brought a machine and everyone's bat was tested. I do not always agree with ASA, USSSA, NSA. ISA or Senior Softball but with ASA taking a stand possibly the rest of the organizations will follow suit and stop people from using illegal equipment. |
| Oct. 11, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Las Vegas 55\'s...order of finish please Does anyone know the results of the 55 AAA in Las Vegas? Interesting problem came up again in Las Vegas - in the 55AAA Division Handeland Flooring came in under the team name Michael's, Handeland is a Major Plus team. Also the Old Dawgs out of California which is rated a Major team played in the AAA division. Before someone starts yelling I know Michael's did not win the tournament but it does not change that they should never have played AAA. Something needs to be done with teams that change their name JUST to sneak into a lower classification. I don't mind playing teams from my own division but when you pay $500+ you hope someone takes charge and doesn't allow this to happen. When I spoke to the tournament director he was trying to reach Terry Hennesay to confirm Handeland/Michael's ratings - I suggested he just go ask them which he did and they told him they were a Major + team. So the tournament director said if they win the tournament he just wasn't going to give them their awards. WOW big deal in the mean time they force other teams into the loser brackets or send someone home - not a good plan. Senior Softball charges plenty of money for ALL tournaments - I would hope we can police them better. |
| Oct. 11, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Bats Discussion: ASA Stand on illegal bats ASA Court Judgment 10/9/2006 Oklahoma City, OK—The Amateur Softball Association (“ASA”) is pleased to report that the U.S. District Court for Western Oklahoma has awarded ASA $100,000 in damages and attorney’s fees totaling approximately $12,000 against the first two defendants in the Association’s ongoing attempts to rid the game of softball of illegal equipment including painting and other techniques used to alter bats. In addition to the monetary damages awarded above, the Court entered an injunction against the defendants and ordered the defendants to do the following: • To provide the names and addresses of all customers as well as suppliers of goods and services who enabled the defendants to perform the acts giving rise to the lawsuit; and • To provide the names and addresses of any person or entity that supplied the defendants with any decals bearing ASA or Rawlings’s trademarks. “While we are pleased with the Court’s decision and feel that our legal position has been firmly established ASA’s work is far from over”, commented ASA’s Executive Director, Ron Radigonda. “We have already identified our next round of defendants and plan to aggressively pursue them,” added Radigonda. The ASA has established a method for individuals who might be concerned with their past activities. Such individuals can e-mail the ASA and begin settlement discussions that may keep them from being sued in the future provided they agree to cooperate with the ASA. If a bat doctor would like to turn themselves in, we encourage them to send an e-mail to info@softball.org with the subject line of Bat Settlement Agreement. If individuals continue to alter bats in any way that contain the ASA’s trademarks, the association will pursue all legal remedies available. About ASA’s Equipment Testing Program ASA first adopted a bat performance standard in 2000, relying on a nationwide consensus bat testing method approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials (“ASTM”). This initial standard was based primarily on the adult male slow pitch softball player. ASA began investigating improvements to this standard with field testing in the summer of 2001, primarily to confirm its application to the youth slow pitch and fast pitch game. As scientific lab testing and research continued, it was discovered that the performance values of certain bats tended to increase the more the bat was used. In light of this discovery ASA began to enforce its 2000 performance standard against these bats, and subsequently “recertified” several of these bat models after modifications by the manufacturers. In October 2002, ASA conducted a field test focused solely on bat performance. This field test used high speed cameras to capture the swings and “bat-ball collisions” of players from two different divisions. The results of this study, along with additional testing lab research, led to a number of science-based recommendations for improvements to the ASTM test method. The new test method was approved for balloting in May 2003 by the ASTM subcommittee in charge of developing this test method and became effective January 1, 2004. Since that time, “bat doctors” have altered approved bats to enhance their performance and have relabeled unapproved bats to make them appear to be certified by ASA. For more information on equipment matters see the Certified Equipment section of the ASA website, www.asasoftball.com About the ASA The Amateur Softball Association of America, a volunteer driven, not-for-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, OK, is the national governing body of softball in the United States. Founded in 1933, the ASA regulates competition in every state through a network of 86 local associations to insure fairness and equal opportunity to the millions of players who annually play the sport. Additional information about the ASA and its Bat Testing and Certification Program can be found by visiting www.asasoftball.com. Maybe this will answer all the questions on what is going to be done about the illegal bats. If you CHEAT then you should be BANNED/KICKED OUT period. ASA is taking it a step further and they are going after the people that later the bats and the people they know are cheating. Senior Softball should take note and do the same thing. |
| Oct. 3, 2006 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Vote on Changing SSWC Format!!!!!!!! Once the DE starts most teams cut back to 10-12 players with the 4 pool play games it gives you a chance to play everyone on your squad. So I am in favor of the 4 pool play games at Nationals or Worlds. At the smaller regional tournaments let's try and keep them to 2 days. Please nothing under the lights I agree with DoubleL10 my old eyes are BAD under the lights. |
| July 11, 2006 MikeC | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Midwest Regionals I know maintaining the fields is a very difficult job and just picking up the trash we ball players throw down is a full time job. I thought overall the complex is improving. The outfield grass may have been a little long but playable. The one improvement you could make is to add water to the infields before dragging, it created a large dust cloud when they were not watered before. Adding water would also soften the infields as they are pretty hard. Overall I thought the grounds crew did a good job. |
| July 11, 2006 MikeC | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Midwest Regionals I will start by saying I know it is a great deal of work getting diamonds ready to play and then maintaining them during the day as I have had this task many times in the past. Picking up the trash that us ball players throw down is a never ending job. I thought the fields were in pretty decent shape, outfield grass maybe a hair long but playable. The only thing I could recommend is applying some water to the infields before dragging them at time there was a pretty big dust cloud hanging over the place. Adding water would soften the infields a bit also. |
| Nov. 10, 2005 MikeC | Topic: Women's softball Discussion: Rankings I think Steve Simmons plays for the MN Maters and puts on a qualifer for SSWC. Maybe that had something to do with it |
| Oct. 26, 2005 MikeC | Topic: Bats Discussion: Ultra II Beyond 2005 I have played Senior ball for 7 years now and enjoy playing in SPA and SSUSA. I enjoy using my Ultra II as it is just FUN. Keep the bat! I have played and watched ASA since the new bat and ball standards and the game is BORING. I have also noticed that players respect the pitcher more and try to stay out of the middle more now than ever before. Yes a Ultra can hurt you but so can a Worth or a wood bat. |
| Sept. 29, 2004 MikeC | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: SSWC Worlds in Las Vegas: I am guessing the people saying this was a well run tournament did not have to play Friday night. We were scheduled to play at 6:30 Friday night but the Tournament was stopped in the middle of the 5 PM game for the local Friday night CO-ED beer league. We eventually were redirected to another complex across town where the field lights did not work and then re-directed to Henderson where the outfield sprinklers were running. We drove around Las Vegas for 4 hours and never got to play our Friday night game. How can you not have the main complex reserved for a National Tournament. How does a local beer league kick us off the complex? We played at 8 AM Thursday and never had water (no drinking fountain, no coolers, no nothing) until the 5th inning. On Saturday we had one water cooler placed on the bleachers behind home plate for both teams. No foul lines from first base to the foul pole? The outfields were some of the worst fields I have played on since playing sandlot as a kid. No it was not well run! |
