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Real name:
Florian Sisavic
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| Dec. 19, 2012 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Funniest Softball Stories SUPER SLIDER. It was late in the Championship game and I reached first base with a bloop-hit into right field. Harry Barber hit a screaming hard liner into left-center. I headed for second and watched the ball. The left fielder picked it up cleanly just before I reached second. I slowed down as I rounded the base and watched the relay to the shortstop in short left field. The shortstop muffed the relay and I took off towards third base. I was almost to third and realized I had made a mistake when I heard my stern but loveable, manager, yell, “Slide! Slide!” I knew I was in trouble. I had learned the game in New York City concrete school yards and had never learned to slide. However, because of the roars of the Coach, I launched myself the way a championship swimmer would dive horizontally into the water. I flew toward third base perfectly parallel to the ground with a headfirst slide hoping not to be called “out” by the ump and balled-out by the Coach. I’ve been told my slide was a thing of beauty with a big cloud of red dust and dirt. I was lying flat on my stomach with hands straight out when I heard the ump yell,” Safe! I made it and felt great! But the euphoria didn't last. The dust settled and everyone noticed my outstretched fingers were four inches from the third base bag. The loudest ever “You're out!” rang through the stadium including the Coach’s steaming ears. The slide became legendary when Harry Barber awarded me the Super Slider at our year-end team party—a vest with small training wheels attached at the chest area. So now you know how to identify me on the field. Look for the bright orange Super Slider vest! |
| Dec. 11, 2012 Sisavic | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded SSUSA. I'm confused, which is easy for me to become. I thought I understood until SSUSA brought up the concept of the requirement to "vacate" the base. Two questions: 1. Does the requirement to "vacate" end when the 3rd baseman first steps on 3rd base, making the force at home null and void? 2. Alternatively, see my question above about taking 1 or 2 steps off 3rd base and then returning to 3rd base after the 3rd baseman steps on 3rd base and then throws home? |
| Dec. 10, 2012 Sisavic | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: one out bases loaded SSUSA: What happens if the runner on 3rd base takes one or two steps off the base towards home and retreats to 3rd base when the 3rd baseman steps on 3rd base and throws home. The force at home is off, and it seems to me to be one out only. |
| July 30, 2012 Sisavic | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Practice fields in Aurora Does anyone know if the fields at the Aurora Sports Complex, that are not in use, are available to practice early morning before the tournament games? If they're not available, does anyone know of any fields near the complex? |
| May 5, 2012 Sisavic | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: LVSSA/SSUSA Las Vegas SW Championships Does anyone know who came in 1st and 2nd in the 70 Major Division at the April SW Tournament? |
| Nov. 4, 2011 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Occupy SSUSA I want to organize an Occupy SSUSA, starting at the Big League Dreams fields 8:00 AM Nov 15th. Please bring your tents, sleeping bags, grills, personal porta-potties, and - most importantly - your signs. Our demands are simple: Redistribute Championships to all. 1% of the teams are winners while the other 99% are losers - this is unfair and needs to be changed. Specifically, here’s our platform: 1. Every team that attends a tournament should be a winner with no team being a loser. This can be done simply by making the "equalizer" be the run differential between the leading team and the lagging team (we don’t call it the “losing” team for fear of future mental anguish). Thus, all games will end in a tie, and all awards distributed equally. 2. No team should have more Major plus players than any other team. Thus, at the beginning of every game, the Major+ players will be assigned to the two teams equally. If there are an odd number of Major+ players, the singleton-Major+ player must go back to his home-town or play naked, including no shoes. 3. All previous winners of the vile signs of superiority (rings, bags, jackets, etc.) must surrender all of them by 11/11/11 to be distributed equally among all senior players. This is not voluntary. SSUSA must police this process and disbar any player seen wearing or using such awards. 4. We believe the TOC should continue, but with some changes. The name should be changed to the Tournament of Mediocres (TOM) and every team should have its own skill-division. So instead of just Major+, Major, AAA, AA we need everything down to X, Y, Z – one division per team. 5. Our rallying symbol: Instead of something like a fist pointing to the sky, we will wear our hats turned 90 degrees to the left. When we see another player with his hat turned in this way, we will recognize our brother and shake his left hand. 6. We demand to see the financial books of SSUSA to ensure that it makes no profit. All revenue over expenses must be distributed to all players equally. 7. There are other items we’ll have to work on in the future, such as limiting the speed of players to the slowest player on either team. This movement must be complete and all encompassing. Senior Softball Players Unite – We All Deserve to Be Winners! |
| Oct. 23, 2011 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Here's the thing, seriously..... How many golfers are still using wooden clubs and golf balls from F. W. Woolworth? Case Closed! |
| April 14, 2011 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Needed hitting instructions !!!!!! Michael, Give me a call, I might be able to help. Mike Sisavic 503 314 3967 |
| April 1, 2011 Sisavic | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: SS USA Announces Major Changes SS USA has asked me to communicate this important announcement. In response to many comments from players and managers SS USA has decided to combine all age and all skill into a single division. Thus, there will be only one National winner starting in 2012. SS USA is developing an equalizer system to ensure a competitive environment for all teams. Although not yet cast in stone, the following are some ideas that SS USA is considering. Bats: SS USA has consistently supported the use of the most powerful bats, so SS USA will not outlaw any bat. However, to make teams equal, SS USA will enforce a choke up policy. Older players (75 and up) will be allowed to hold the bat all the way down to the handle knob. Younger players (45 and below) must choke up on the bat, up to 18.6” from the knob. Number of Defensive Players: It might put a bit of pressure on some managers’ recruiting skills, but SS USA expects to allow older or weaker teams to have up to 21 defensive players and the strongest teams will have only four on defense (like the King and His Court). Twenty-one players seem like a lot, but SS USA will require limits, such as allowing only 11 in the outfield. Courtesy Runners: The weaker or older teams will be allowed unlimited courtesy runners and in some situations vs. substantially stronger teams, the courtesy runner will start at first base while the batter is up. Safety Bases: Because of the possible danger of a 40-year old crashing into a much older player, SS USA will draw a 6 foot circle around every base and the younger player will be deemed “out” when the older player touches the circle or any place within the circle. Run Equalizers: SS USA has heard the complaints about the 5 or 7 runs given to weaker teams and will reduce the run equalizer to only one run per game per age difference. SS USA understands that the run differential might appear excessive in some cases (a 75 year old team will receive 25 runs when playing a 50s team), research has shown that 50s win by an average of 28 runs vs. 75s, so the advantage is still with the younger players. Pitchers: SS USA is not sure how this will work, but will experiment with multiple, simultaneous pitchers. Older and weaker teams will be permitted to use up to 3 pitchers at one time. They will all go through the pitching motion, but only two of them will pitch a ball – one ball is real and the other is a fake ball. The younger, stronger batter must decide which of the balls is real and which is fake. A strike will be called if the batter swings at the fake ball. SS USA is working with the National UIC to work out the umpire’s instructions. Home Runs: You should all feel happy that there will be no limits on the number of home runs. However, SS USA will be fiddling with the distance of the fences. One suggestion is to start with the fences at 100 feet and move them out 10 feet after every home run. This way the fences will always end up further away than the best batter, regardless of the age or skill level of every team. SS USA believes this is fair and is talking to Halliburton about a fence-moving design that will work. Rating Appeals: Since there will be only one division, the only appeal will be for age. Any player who thinks he is immature can submit affidavits from three psychologists which will be reviewed by the National AAA (Age Appeal Agency). Roster Regions: All teams can recruit players from anywhere; however the stronger teams must have at least one lineup-player from a foreign country. So, for example, a 60s team must have one player from Europe, a 50s team must have a player from the Middle East, and a 40s team must have a player from Iceland, preferably Reykjavik. Your comments and suggestions are requested, but must be submitted only on April 1st. |
| Dec. 22, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Origin of Slow Pitch Softball? This might not be the offical origin, but here is how slow pitch softball started for me in NYC. I've been playing slow pitch softball for about 64 years, starting in 1946. We initially played baseball on concrete school-yard fields and were injured just about daily. Yes, we could get true bounces, but the ball was too fast and too hard to play full time. One of the kids got a "Clincher" ( a cloth-covered softball) for a birthday present. It was a bit softer and couldn't be hit as hard as a baseball; so we began to play softball instead of hardball. The pitchers initially threw the ball overhand like baseball, but soon changed to throwing underhand as fast as possible. However, no pitcher could control the ball well enough and we had many base on balls. We then decided to drop balls and strikes and went to letting the batters wait until they got a pitch they could hit. As you might expect, the pitches got slower and slower, and slow pitch became our game of choice. I don't remember calling it slow pitch, for us it was just called softball. We also played a lot of stickball, but the game was much different from our softball game. Our softball was played on a regulation-looking field with about 9 players per side, while stickball was played in alley-ways, on the streets, and against a wall - often with only 1 to 3 players per team. Shane - thanks for the idea of this new thread. |
| May 28, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Individual Awards Having the players vote for individaul awards works for my team. I've done this 2 ways: (1) hand a line-up to the players at the end of the last game and tell them to mark their top 3, 4 or 5 (depends on the number of All Tournament patches we've won), and (2)ask for email votes after I send the team stats and a tournament summary. Number (2) works best, but delays giving out the patches until the next tournament. PS St George gives only individual awards (like the Olymics)and no team award - what do you think? |
| April 1, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: Associations Discussion: SSUSA's Announces Major Changes SS USA Announces Major Changes SS USA has asked me to communicate this important announcement. In response to many comments from players and managers SS USA has decided to combine all age and all skill into a single division. Thus, there will be only one National winner starting in 2011. SS USA is developing an equalizer system to ensure a competitive environment for all teams. Although not yet cast in stone, the following are some ideas that SS USA is considering. Bats: SS USA has consistently supported the use of the most powerful bats, so SS USA will not outlaw any bat. However, to make teams equal, SS USA will enforce a choke up policy. Older players (75 and up) will be allowed to hold the bat all the way down to the handle knob. Younger players (45 and below) must choke up on the bat, up to 18.6” from the knob. Number of Defensive Players: It might put a bit of pressure on some managers’ recruiting skills, but SS USA expects to allow older or weaker teams to have up to 21 defensive players and the strongest teams will have only four on defense (like the King and His Court). Twenty-one players seem like a lot, but SS USA will require limits, such as allowing only 11 in the outfield. Courtesy Runners: The weaker or older teams will be allowed unlimited courtesy runners and in some situations vs. substantially stronger teams, the courtesy runner will start at first base while the batter is up. Safety Bases: Because of the possible danger of a 40-year old crashing into a much older player, SS USA will draw a 6 foot circle around every base and the younger player will be deemed “out” when the older player touches the circle or any place within the circle. Run Equalizers: SS USA has heard the complaints about the 5 or 7 runs given to weaker teams and will reduce the run equalizer to only one run per game per age difference. SS USA understands that the run differential might appear excessive in some cases (a 75 year old team will receive 25 runs when playing a 50s team), research has shown that 50s win by an average of 28 runs vs. 75s, so the advantage is still with the younger players. Pitchers: SS USA is not sure how this will work, but will experiment with multiple, simultaneous pitchers. Older and weaker teams will be permitted to use up to 3 pitchers at one time. They will all go through the pitching motion, but only two of them will pitch a ball – one ball is real and the other is a fake ball. The younger, stronger batter must decide which of the balls is real and which is fake. A strike will be called if the batter swings at the fake ball. SS USA is working with the National UIC to work out the umpire’s instructions. Home Runs: You should all feel happy that there will be no limits on the number of home runs. However, SS USA will be fiddling with the distance of the fences. One suggestion is to start with the fences at 100 feet and move them out 10 feet after every home run. This way the fences will always end up further away than the best batter, regardless of the age or skill level of every team. SS USA believes this is fair and is talking to Halliburton about a fence-moving design that will work. Rating Appeals: Since there will be only one division, the only appeal will be for age. Any player who thinks he is immature can submit affidavits from three psychologists which will be reviewed by the National AAA (Age Appeal Agency). Roster Regions: All teams can recruit players from anywhere; however the stronger teams must have at least one lineup-player from a foreign country. So, for example, a 60s team must have one player from Europe, a 50s team must have a player from the Middle East, and a 40s team must have a player from Iceland, preferably Reykjavik. Your comments and suggestions are requested, but must be submitted only on April 1st. |
| Jan. 21, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Tanel R.A.G.E, Bat Bag Question I bought a bag-cover from REI for $20 which is designed to protect and secure the bat bag. It works okay and the Tanel bag fits into it. The bag-cover folds into a very small package and can be put into the bat bag when not flying. |
| Jan. 8, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Major+ Equalizer - What do you think? IMO, one cause of too few teams in the Major+ division: Teams disband, reorganize, or stop going to big tournaments because they believe they have no chance versus the previous year's World's Champion. This is unique in Major+ divisions because the winners of the Worlds don't "move up." How about instituting a 5-run equalizer for one year to those M+ teams that didn't win the Worlds. So all M+ winners of the 2009 Worlds in Phoenix would have to play with a 5-run deficit, but for only one year (unless it again wins in 2010). This might get more M+ teams to participate. What do you think? |
| Jan. 4, 2010 Sisavic | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Combine Major & Major+? To solve the problem of too few teams in the M/M+ divisions, many on this message board have recommended combining M/M+ into one division. I suspect most recommendations are from Major+ teams/players. Are there any Major teams interested in idea? |
| Dec. 6, 2009 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Its Unanimous - The Best Senior Softball Players Are in California and Florida FYI. I looked at the top 2 Major+ teams at the SS USA Worlds for the past 5 years for the 50s, 55s, 60s, 65s, 70s. (A total of 50 Champions and Runner ups) Here's where they came from: Cal 25 (50%) Fl 5 (10%) (very few play in Worlds) CO 2 (4%) No other state had more than one team |
| Dec. 6, 2009 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Its Unanimous - The Best Senior Softball Players Are in California and Florida FYI. I looked at the top 2 Major+ teams at the SS USA Worlds for the past 5 years for the 50s, 55s, 60s, 65s, 70s. (A total of 50 Champions and Runner ups) Here's where they came from: Cal 25 (50%) Fl 5 (10%) (very few play in Worlds) CO 2 (4%) No other state had more than one team |
| Nov. 25, 2009 Sisavic | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: TOC Because Las Vegas and Ft Myers are played after the Worlds (2009), they are considered the first tournaments of the following year (2010). It would be obvious if they were played in January 2010, but the weather in Vegas won't allow it. Then, since they are for the following year (2010), teams are permitted to pick-up players who are too young this year (2009), but will turn to the next age bracket the following year (2010). It would be unfair if the winners of these tournaments were permitted to play in the TOC because they won with younger players. Another point: many teams use Vegas/Ft Myers as tryouts for new players who might join the team in 2010. Questions? |
| Sept. 3, 2009 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Maury Wilson Maury Wills collapsed on Tuesday AM after a double header at Delta Park. A few players, including Dr. Leon Speroff, fought valiantly to revive Maury, but his heart was not beating and he wasn't breathing. The Fire Department and EMT arrived about 15 minutes after Maury's collapse and revived him with a full-court press of activities, including using a defibrillator. Although still unconscious, Maury's heart was beating and he was breathing on his own. As of today (Thursday PM), Maury is still hanging in there. His heart beat and blood pressure are steady and the doctors have taken him off sedatives. When he regains consciousness, the doctors will evaluate him for neurological damages. Maury, who is truly one of the good guys of senior softball, lives in Vancouver, Washington and plays for the NW 80s. Stay with us, Maury! |
| July 30, 2009 Sisavic | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Summertime softball trivia What is the origin of "muffed?" The outfielder "muffed" the fly ball. Can you guess without the internet? |
