May 30, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Hip replacement One of our best players on my team had a knee and hip. He is playing at full speed. I asked him if he worries about one of the implants/repairs falling apart. He said, no big deal. He will just have another put in. |
May 30, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Bats as airplane checked baggage To add to Omar's point-I always put my glove, game shoes and 1 game uniform in my carry on. Just in case my ball bag doesn't make it. Also, you should be able to get 3 bats in most regular ball bags. |
May 20, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Chicago Gray Sox 80s Please call Wayne at above number. He is the manager. |
May 12, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Chicago Gray Sox 80s The Chicago Gray Sox 80s AAA are still looking for 3/4 players for the upcoming season. We are allowed 3 major players-currently have none. We are allowed up to "7" - 78 or 79 yr olds with no more than 3-78s. We currently have none. If interested call Wayne Markett at 630-881-2903 for details. If he doesn't answer, leave a message-he is probably playing one one of his leagues. |
May 8, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: TEAM ROSTER In the 80 division, how many major players can be on a AAA team. Also, how many 78 and 79s can be on an 80s team if still allowed?? |
April 19, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Chicago Gray Sox-80s The Chicago Gray Sox "80s" AAA are still in need of 4 or more players for the upcoming season. Looking at approx. 4 tournaments within a reasonable drive from the Chicago area plus the Masters in Vegas and the winter nationals in ft. Meyers fl. If any of you have a short handed team talk to Wayne Markett about a possible merger. Call him at 630-881-2903. If he doesn't answer leave a message and he will get back to U. Our core players have been together for around 20 years. |
April 17, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Base Runner Man on 1st. Grounder to 3rd. He fields and throws to 2nd. Middle fielder turns to complete the dlb play. Runner from 1st gets a great break and runs at the middle fielder, stops about 2/3 feet in front of him standing vertically-eye to eye. Middle fielder has an issue. Fire ball between the runners eyes and hope he ducks or lob the ball over the runners head and probably lose the dlb play. The spirit of senior ball is to hurt no one. Does the runners actions create any kind interference call??? |
Feb. 25, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Cold Game Recent game-49 temp at first pitch-59 temp. at last pitch. "Multiple" bat warmers hung on the fence on both sides. No players transformed from mild mannered Clark Kent into Superman or the Hulk. A Doom model that hung in the cold air was doomed. A crack sent it to bat heaven. |
Feb. 19, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: A wild suggestion for the 12 ft pitching height Not only will I stick with my previous thot- umps often take an xtra second or two to determine the high pitch and spit out Illegal. It is often too late for the hitter to do something positive. Even at the Masters in 2024, we experienced a lack of consistency not only game to game but sometimes inning to inning. |
Feb. 19, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: A wild suggestion for the 12 ft pitching height This whole 12 top has always been a problem/. Sorry, but there is not an ump in the history of softball that knows what 12 feet is. I pitch and play OF. I have seen the same ump totally change his opinion from game to game. I am a strong believer that the top should be 10 feet. An ump can easily determine the approx. height of the pitcher and adjust 3+ to 4+ feet or so over his head. I believe this would reduce walks and add mor hits and action to a game. |
Feb. 16, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Players needed We are still looking |
Feb. 13, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Batting Box Rules; Front Foot I am still a strong believer that the batters box should be ignored-eliminated. The only rule should be the back foot must be even with or behind the front of the plate when the ball is struck. It does not matter where a batter stands. In the end, the batter must DEFEND the strike mat. Why does it matter if the batter is 1 foot from the strike mat or 3/4 feet from the mat when the pitch is made. I am still ok with the front foot landing on or in front of the plate declared an out. |
Feb. 2, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Strike landing mat What is the official SSUSA size in inches of the strike landing mat?? Length and width |
Feb. 1, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Question unusual almost play-sorta First baseman dives and knocks down a grounder. He is on the ground. He "secures" the ball in his right hand. He dives toward 1st base and reaches to the base with his empty glove on his left hand. The runner hit the base just before the glove hit the base. If the glove would have hit the base before the runner hit the base would he have been out on a force out? |
Jan. 31, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Bat testing correction Way to go SSUSA. I just read your email to the players. It showed absolute COMMON SENSE how to handle the whole situation caused by a few absolute idiots who caused a lot of problems for 99 percent of us who play by the rules. Thanks Terry and Dave. |
Jan. 26, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Bat Idea- I was just watching one of those construction shows where they build tree houses and all kinds of other projects for people. In the one I was watching, they wood burned the kids names into storage cubbies. I will bet many of U owned a wood burning kit back in the day. It had one of those small pointed pencil like irons that U plugged into the wall. They are cheap at a craft store. Now here comes the THUNDER!!! A player, on his own, requests to have a bat tested. It fails. NO DEATH PENALTY. Tester takes the small wood burning iron and burns an X at the top just below the end cap. Problem solved. SSUSA will never see the bat again and the owner can at least get it back and use it in batting practice. Think about this before blowing it off. U get caught using an altered bat, see ya in 10 years. |
Jan. 25, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Players needed Could still use players for the up coming season |
Jan. 22, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Bats and shaving It is my understanding that to shave a bat, it requires removing and replacing the end cap. With all the technology and rocket scientists out there: There has to be a way to round off the top of the bat to make it a solid part of the final product. No end cap. The first bat company to develop this construction will probably dominate the market and eliminate the shavers. I was recently told that rolling a bat leaves marks that can't be removed. If this is true, a rolled bat should be easy to identify. |
Jan. 21, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Considering all the above, I hope all see where I am coming from. Dave is right that it is not likely my bat will fail even though I am pounding Muscle Milk. What I don't want to happen is an honest upright player have a bat that fails and get, at our age, is pretty much the death penalty. It sucks that a few bad eggs creates problems for all of us. |
Jan. 20, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Mason and John-(above) U just made the case that if U approach the tester to ck your bat, in good faith, and it fails-There is no way you should be banded. U are obviously trying to play fairly by the rules of fair competition. |