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Jan. 3, 2013 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: More 1-1 Count Talk Best to let a sleeping dog lie!!!
Jan. 3, 2013 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Out after 3 Home Runs Not a problem for me. Pitch from 56 feet, back up a few steps, get a a GOOD defensive stance and watch the ball off the bat. You can't assume that all the HR hitters are accomplished middle hitters. I think you will see the real power hitters taking 1/2 swings and trying to steer or place the ball. I believe it is good if a batter has to try things they don't normally do. I posted a while back that in 2 stright games combined last season, the opponents went hard middle "15" times total which was good because we fielded most of them and helped us win the games. Hard middle is nothing new.
Jan. 2, 2013 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: place best hitters last strategy I believe a question somewhat like this came up a few years ago. The general feeling was that you bat your top "4" power hitters 3rd-4th-6th-8th and your best singles hitters 1st-2nd and the rest on down in between your power guys.
Dec. 28, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Performance enhancing All you gotta do is watch me and my team play a few innings and you will conclude no one on this team is using HGHs.
Dec. 26, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA HR rule question Well, let's see: 1. 1-1 count-more agressive hitters. Play "7" innings in Vegas rather than a series of 5 and maybe 6 inning games. 2. Trump 375/44 ball pretty good. 3. Dlb 1st base-almost no crashes at 1st. 4. 70' bases-yep longer but has brought the double play back into the game. 5. Longer pitching distance-only took me a few innings to zero in. 6. etc. etc. Everything evolves-as Mr. Spock said, "the needs of the many far out weight the needs of the one." When you have 1000's of men playing senior softball, you can't please everyone. At least the rules guys have been willing to try new stuff and get rid of it if it doesn't work. Sometimes it seems like all the grumpy old men in senior ball are on this site. I would be willing to bet 95% or more of the senior players could care less what the rules are. They just want to play. Another possibility is for all the guys who hate SSUSA, as it is, should join together and start an organization that can it "ALL" right. Got a hunch 2013 is just going to be fine.
Dec. 26, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA HR rule question If the 1-1 is voted down, Jawood makes a good point. Maybe use the 1-1 in the prelims of the ring tournies. It might help keep the games on time and not an hour or so late which happens often, especially if your in an age division that has to play "4" prelims. Our experience has shown that most TDs go to the 1-1 in the qualifers anyway. I think its value has been demonstrated over and over.
Dec. 24, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: AAA HR rule question I agree with the new rule as I have seen (at least in the midwest) quite a few major level players filtering down into AAA. This might motivate them to go back to major. Question: Since you get only 3 and then outs, did they drop the silly rule about not being able to go one up with a walk off Hr in the last inning. example. Bottom of the 7th and each team has 1 Hr. If I hit one out is it a game winner or is it still a single????
Dec. 24, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Funniest Softball Stories You can buy a 1 pound rehab rubber softball (correct size) at many sporting goods stores. You play catch throwing it softly and it is great for shoulders. Had a teammate come up and ask if he could join in playing catch. Forgot to tell him it was the heavy ball. 1st lob, it hit his glove webbing and drove the glove into his lip-spilt it open in one spot. Had another time a guy joined in and I warned him it was a heavy ball. He caught it and wanted to see if the rubber 1 pound ball bounced. He fired it off the black top and it rebounded quickly into his lip and cut it open. They bounce like a super ball. Its great for shoulder strength but use caution!!!!!
Dec. 19, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Funniest Softball Stories In a tournament at the 65 level, the score is tied going into the top of the 7th. We have played the 1st 6 innings in about 30-35 minutes. The ump says to me leading off, this is really a fast game, maybe we should play "2". We score 1 run and they score 1 run. Now we go into the top of the 8th. One hour and 5 minutes later the game ended. We got "24" in the top of the 8th and they came back with "12". The ump said after the game, "me and my big mouth."
Nov. 29, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: pitching screens JDUB If they banned all bats and went to broom sticks, I would still wear a mask, soccer shins guards and cup.
Nov. 29, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Which choice would Plus Champions take if Bumped like every other Division? Tim I am not in your caliber of play. But my AAA team was bumped from AA. We had the same choice to make. We decided to stay together, as we have been together since 2002 and go for it. I believe we were 2-11 in championship bracket play this year at ring tournaments. We faired a little better in prelims as our opponent always batted 14-18 guys but got down to the top 10 or 11 in championship bracket play. Fielded a lot of batting practice for other teams. It is the nature of the beast. Your choice is to hang in there if you like playing with your current team. If not, and getting crushed at tournies next year would not be fun, break up and reform.
Nov. 26, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Thoughts for the upcoming SSUSA Rules Committee meeting! gudieh Since I play on a borderline AA/AAA type team, the major major plus issue does not effect me. I have no problem with your points 1-2-3-4 and would support any changes or keep it as is. However, I will say that I really support the 1-1 count. Not only for speeding up the game, but reduces fatigue to the pitcher.
Nov. 19, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: pitching screens Omar I will slightly disagree with something you said above. I can remember in my USSSA days teams yelling out the pitcher is afraid of the ball or doesn't play defense. That prompted a barrage of middle shots. Some of my friends and I from the old days still remember a tourney in which our #2 pitcher had "19" middle shots right at him in two games. They were right-it was like dodgeball. I saw only "2" hard liners hit a pitcher this past season at the 65AAA level. In both cases the pitcher was at 50', standing vertically, hands at his side and in NO defensive posture or back peddle. As to Gary 19s comment about 60 feet, in the U-Trip days, I released, ran back as fast as I could and often turned the double plays so the infielders (SS-2nd) could play on the grass. I pitched against some of the best A & B players in the world and with the ball and bat combo of the era, it was like being a hockey goalie. Past you before you saw it. In senior ball, I pitch from the 56 foot line and walk back 2 or 3 steps. I am very comfortable with that distance/reaction time even though I don't get them all. I really don't think most seniors players target the pitcher. If a pitcher throws one to the outside 1/2 of the plate, he has to be ready. Where I have seen the most middle shots is when the SS really shifts towards 3rd baseman/SS gap and the middle opening is huge.
Nov. 16, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: pitching screens Did any of you pitchers experience this? I pitched about half our tournament games this year. Caught or played outfield in the rest. We played in 10-11 tournaments?? I had Zero problem reacting to and fielding line drives and one hoppers above the knees. I concentrated real hard on watching the ball and bat come together. I never felt scared or nervous about pitching vs. senior bats. However, I did have a problem with hard hit balls below my knees. It seemed like I couldn't focus fast enough looking down. Thought I had my glove in the right area but had quite a few bouce off the end of my glove.
Nov. 15, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: pitching screens While in Florida last week played in a local senior pick up league in Naples on Thursday. Players ranged (all ages) from recreational to M + tournament players who hit bombs. They use a screen on all 4 diamonds. It was approx. 2 feet wide and 5+ feet high. 1st time playing with one out there. In the 9 inning game I played in, "2" balls struck the screen. Dead ball-do over if it hits any part of the screen or frame. It really wasn't a factor and while hitting I didn't even notice it. Just hit the ball towards the biggest opening/gap. I left feeling it in no way altered "GOD forbid" the santity of the game or was an insult to the game. Regardless if there is a screen or not and you pitch in any game of 12" regardless of association or age group, you are totally nuts if you don't wear at least a face mask and cup.
Nov. 11, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Why so few AA teams Boston There seemed to be a rush move AAs to AAA. Even teams that have never won anything big. Gotta wonder if it is a long term move to eliminate AA. At the 65 AAA level in Vegas, you could have cut the field in half as there was a very noticable difference between the top 15 or so teams and the bottom teams. Gary 19 Another stupid, ignorant comment by you. Winning AA doesn't mean anything???? If you weren't sitting on your ass in Cinn. and actually watched these guys give their all. Ah screw it, you aren't worth the time. I will admit your dumb comments has brought attention to yourself. Wish I could post some of the opinions of you that I heard in Ft. Meyers as I hooked up with some regular posters. Don't want to get banned.
Nov. 2, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Senior softball summit Got to Florida and getting ready to play ball and Gary 19s not. All the above and other posts can be simply placed into two possible outcomes/solutions. Choice 1. Enjoy senior softball with 1000s of others, as is, adjust to rule changes and play. Choice 2. Join Gary 19 at your computer every night. Type nonsense all night long and don't play. If you chose #2, as with Gary 19, you will not be missed. Back to the original post: Submit your ideas to the guys in California and they will be discussed at the summit. I proposed one last year and it was apparently rejected, Never heard. But, I will try again. Rules will never be changed because one or two wackos are ranting out there. However, if a large number of "Tournament Players" contact the guys about a possible change, it might get the job done.
Oct. 31, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: SportsmanShop Gary 19 Playing the intellect card with you is very easy. If brains were rain, yours would be a desert. The upper 4's refered to my teammate and several others I have seen. The 4.56 is very possible for an individual. Winter worlds several years ago a lead off hitter, hit a grounder up the middle, fielded cleanly by the right center fielder and fired to 2nd. The hitter had an easy stand up double. He displayed the speed many more times that game. After the game, I said your the fastest runner I have ever seen in Sr softball. He said Eric Barnes, #44 Dallas Cowboys-DB 10 years. Obviously a senior with big time speed and obviouly a rather low 40 time. You guys act like 40 yards is a long way to travel in 4.56 sec. "40" yards times 3' equals 120 feet. The distance from home plate to 2nd base in baseball. Or, only 30' farther than home plate to 1st base. Not very far. Sorry, I can't carry on with this thread as I leave for the winter worlds tomorrow. I will be playing softball and you won't. The exploitation will be horrible, but I will fight through it.
Oct. 29, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: SportsmanShop The number of teams playing in Bismark would be about the same number as those that would travel to Cinncinati for the worlds. Does it really matter? All I know is that 1000's played in Vegas and Gary 19 didn't. Vegas was a great success and I know that grates heavily on Gary 19 who was hoping it would bomb. Yes, it had some isuues and flaws that I know will be worked on. E4 As Gary 19 sits on his dumb ass questioning everyones integrity, what he doesn't realize is that a 40 in the high 4s is not a big deal anymore. Colleges and high schools (football) have dozens on every team who can run in the 4s and even a few 300 pounders out there that can crack the 5 barrier. Totally possible for a few select seniors who can hit the upper 4s. What is a big deal is athletes who claim 4.1 to 4.3. That is a unique athlete with an explosive start. I had one athlete who timed (hand held) (STOP WATCH) 4.35 consistantly. He had dozens of major college offers. I remember some questioning my times but still offered based on film. Got a call in the evening of his 1st college practice and they said, with an appolgy, they got him in back to back 4.3s. So I trust and believe in hand held timing and your statment and Sportman shops statement.
Oct. 26, 2012 garyheifner	Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: 70' bases at Las Vegas In full support of keeping the 70 footers. Really brings the double play back into the game. It also introduced a few pulled hamstrings, but keep it anyway. What was nuts/really different to me was at Lorenzi. The rubber was at 53'. That meant the 6 foot box was 3' in front and 3' behind the rubber. So if you pitched from 56' your lead foot often crashed/bumped into the rubber on your stride. If you got behind in the count and wanted to pitch from 50', you were 3' in front of the rubber. Took a while to get used to it. In one of the early games, one of our pitchers kept coming up short. Thought he was pitching from a 50' rubber and having a bad day. Was really pitching from 53' as we found out later.

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