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| 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. |
| Jan. 18, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Question. I buy a brand new bat (2023-2024-2025) model from a major bat company. The bat is NOT shaved or rolled. I put 400-500 hits on it. What are the odds it would fail a test??? I |
| Jan. 16, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Oldballs U are right. SSUSA should welcome players who request to have their bat tested. It it fails the player should not be suspended. In fact, at that point SSUSA can have it as far as I am concerned and do with it whatever. It would help SSUSA to sort out illegal bats. I understand the need for rules. However, SSUSA needs to work with players who are trying to do the right thing. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: OK Boys, WHAT WOULD YOU DO Honest question-my honest answer. Man on my team, I would pull him aside and ask him to lose it, If he tells me to stick it, I would tell the manager it is either him or me. I would be OK with either result. If the manager did nothing, I would distance myself from the team and the stigma that will follow the team when he does get caught. I would let the entire team know why I am leaving. Each man will then have to decide what they want to do. RAT him-no If it was a player on another team, I would RAT him out in a heartbeat. I don't want to travel, spend a bunch of $$, play/give my all and get beat by an illegal bat. I posted this several years ago. If, all the players on the other team have a bat in the rack. They are killing the ball. 6-7 players are using the same bat, U might want to take a look at it. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats Lets say I have a bat that fails. I surrender the bat. It fails further testing. What happens to the bat?? If it fails further testing and obviously I did not use it in the tournament, am I still dead for 10 years? If so, do not buy a used bat from anyone. |
| Jan. 15, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Teams looking for players Discussion: Players needed The Chicago Gray Sox are looking for 5-6 softball junkies for the up coming season. We play in the 80+ division. Our schedule would include 5 or so tournaments within a reasonable drive from the Chicago area. In addition, we want to play in the Masters in Vegas. The winter worlds in Ft Meyers. The SPA worlds in Columbus Ohio. Maybe the TOC in Florida. U could be an individual or a group that would like to join our 9 current players. If interested call Wayne Markett at--630-881-2903 |
| Jan. 13, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Rolled bats I hate to sound dumb: But, what is a hammered bat??? |
| Jan. 12, 2025 garyheifner | Topic: Bats Discussion: Compression Test If U sticker the bats, SSUSA might want to develop an official sticker that falls apart if it is removed. There will be a few idiots who will carry a variety of stickers in a way to cheat. Joliet Il has a big tourney. All bats are tested. If one fails, it is put in a barrel and is put in the concession stand. Player gets bat back when team is eliminated. Back in my USSSA days, Waukegan had a big time tourney. They would ck the bats and spray paint the knob with a color. Players would ck the color, go out to their car and open the trunk to a case of various colors. Spay paint their illegal bat and play. |
Senior Softball-USA
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