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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 54 anonymousDiscussion: SSUSA California Cup
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| Aug. 15, 2010 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | SSUSA California Cup We had a great time this weekend and I promised a fellow player and poster I wouldn't keep punching hard returns after each sentence, at least for this post. The weather was ideal, balls were just OK given the heat and not OK on Friday, which felt like the hottest day of the tournament. They really respond directly to temperature as Kevin and Dave and others had said they would. The umping was good culminating in Tim Reed's decisive control of a game where both sides started to get chippy with one another behind some middle hitting that was obvious to all. We all know better than to get in Tim's face about any call or directions and this time for sure it really helped. Way to go, Rudy and Tim. Some team saw to challenge a Combat of one of my friends and old teammates for excessive glue. It's common knowledge that some of Combat's end caps were coming off on a couple of their models and this should never have escalated into a "situation". We all know any bat that's been fixed would NEVER look fixed to the naked eye. A Combat with glue messed over the end cap is obviously someone just trying to put the cap back on which is/was/has been common and acceptable practice for senior players. Fran and Dave were there and their bright and gracious best, greeting, giving support and complements galore. The concession stands were OK to good. The maintenance teams were good. There was lots of shade in Davis and no shade in Woodland. We played a very tough OMEN team through the "IF" game. Congrats to Gary Tryhorn, Otis, Jimmy Hellam, the Colonel, Dennis Dalton, Hank and all the little omens for a great contest of wills decided by but a couple of runs. Special consideration praise go to A/C Linde my friend and pitching mentor who is and should be the Cy Young/Greg Mattox of senior softball. Way to go, A/C for your exceptional spirit and combative excellence. Way to go, NorCal Merchants for getting by a powerhouse Master Collision from Colorado. Way to go Joe and little Bobby, Walt, Larry and the rest for representing us in California so well. Next week, Big League Dreams in Manteca for the NCSSA championships, the plumb of our NorCal year. Thanks again, Terry, Fran and Dave for another well run and satisfying tournament for us to play in. Lively bats and balls forever. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 Smokey20 Men's 55 102 posts | Dam Joe, what's with all the drama with you 60 guy's? Middle wars, bats, etc. We had none of that in the 50's. Nice weekend of softball. We MTC came up a little short (2nd). Played all but one game on the 350' fields. Ball played ok,(Trump Stote). Few homeruns, but plenty of defense and alot of running. See you this weekend. Brian |
| Aug. 16, 2010 udaplaya 90 posts | The breakdown of age groups into four separate divisions is wrecking havoc with the Cal Cup and does not bode well for the long term viability of this event. The balls did not handle the heat well at all. To ask senior outfielders to cover a baseball sized field, which is wholly inconsistent with any other tournament played all year, was questionable to say the least. Joe, any chance that you can check on the ball for the NCSSA tourney? It does not list the ball to be used and that has resulted in unwanted outcomes recently in NCSSA events. Thanks, appreciate your efforts on our behalf. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 einstein Men's 50 3112 posts | I'm happy to say the Baden Fire Ball which is THE ball recommended by NorCal at this time WILL BE the ball used in Big League Dreams in Manteca this coming weeekend. Can't wait. And for the record, I don't care whose ball we use in senior tournaments as long as it is good enough for us to have a good time. To date, the MCT ball from Trump, the ones we'll be using in Vegas are very good and the Baden Fire ball we've used a bunch of times already in NorCal do well in the heat. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 dajaw1 Men's 65 9 posts | I wasn't impressed with the soccer fields we had to play on in Woodland. 2 of the 4 fields were not close to normal 300' fields. Tim and Ron were good in their umpiring roles, but the other gentlemen were not on the same level. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | udaplaya and dajaw1 I’ve seen the fairly new Woodland complex. They have some high quality temporary fences to reduce the field size. If they set them up, they will be at about 320. But if they are not set up, the fences are 370-380! Great for hardball, but not good for seniors. I heard they scheduled the oldest teams to play on the biggest fields. Must have been some tired legs. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 dajaw1 Men's 65 9 posts | Omar One field had no fences, so even running down foul balls cut down the playing time for each game and the legs of our outfielders. One field had a right field fence at 270'. No consistency at all. Very Frustrating. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | The Minor league field was 245' to right. All in all the Woodland complex and fields were as good as can be expected. As for the Umpires I agree Tim & Ron did their usual great job. The others we saw were far less then good umpires. While we hit like sissies the Norcal bias was evident on several calls. This weekend we just werent good enough to overcome it. And for me there wont be a next year, I wont play another NORTHERN Cal Cup. My time, travel and cash will be spent locally and at events east. Joe sorry I didntget the chance to talk this trip. Maybe somewhere down the road. |
| Aug. 16, 2010 E4/E6 Men's 70 873 posts | Congratulations to Last Call, you did it the hard way! Mauraders you represented very well! |
| Aug. 17, 2010 softballer Men's 65 594 posts | SORRY U FEEL THAT WAY i did the 50 majors/+ teams and had a lot of good complements and had a great time doing them Monta |
