FASTPITCH NEWS NUGGETS...

LOUDOUN, VA, RECEIVES ASA EXCELLENCE AWARD for highest rated tournaments in the country last year. Localities are judged on the quality of the event, staff, facilities, hotels and tournament direction and organization. Full story at http://www.leesburg2day.com/news/article_e00e5df2-4066-11e1-ac49-0019bb2963f4.html

NATIONAL SCENE: disabilities, youth to adult, does not deter these softball players...

NO STOPPING HER. Omaha, Nebraska's left-handed pitcher Claire Poeckes has an unusual delivery. When she snaps the ball from the circle, she quickly transfers her glove from the right to left hand to field any smash hit coming at her. That's because everything she does is left-handed. Her right hand is unusable from cerebral palsy. Full story at http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=cc590291-88f1-4cc2-919a-78321f295b67

WOUNDED WARRIORS PLAY TO WIN. Ask Jennie Finch, U.S. Olympic softballer, who recently watched a military amputee slam her pitch for a triple with a belly-flop slide into third base. Wounded Warriors are a travel softball team of military veterans who have sustained sever injuries in American wars. All infielders are missing a leg(s). Two outfielders rely on carbon-fiber running legs. One outfielder is missing a hand. A right-fielder plays without an arm and shoulder. The team travels around the country challenging local teams for charity. And, they play hard. Finch's team bested them 2 of 3 games, including a 13-11 squeaker in a rubber match. Full story at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-us-waramputeessoftba,0,5699816.story

Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team homepage at http://www.woundedwarrioramputeesoftballteam.org

MARYLAND SCENE: Howard Co. honors Everly, travel-ball stats net scholarship, local coaches take over at Hood...

HOWARD COUNTY, MD, just south of Harford County, has inducted Tara Everly into its Women's Athletics Hall of Fame. A 1990 Ownings Mills grad, she lettered in softball, field hockey, and basketball. As a hockey player, Tara scored the winning goal that brought the University of Maryland a 1993 national title with a 2-1 victory in overtime. Today she coaches at St. Mary's Ryken, MD. Full story at http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/howard/sports/ph-ho-cf-hs-bits-0105-20120104,0,5693453.story

WICOMICO HIGH, MD, STANDOUT Samantha Muir has signed with Del Tech over Salisbury Univ and UMES. And, it was travel-ball that sealed the deal. Del Tech has kept tabs on her club team production since she was 13. "...we were very impressed with the travel ball stats," Del Tech assistant coach Chester Davis said. "I've always wanted this since I was little," Muir added. "My family's always supported me and that's what matter's to me right now." Full story at http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articleAID=/201201190432/SPORTS/201190376

TERRY BURDETTE TAKES OVER the HoodCollege, Frederick, MD, softball team as the new head coach. Previous an assistant coach at the school, Burdette also is a renown travel-ball coach of the 18U Heartbreakers Junior Olympic team (634-319 since 1995). He is a native of Dickerson, Md. Full story at http://www.hoodathletics.com/sports/sball/coaches/Burdette-Terry

FORMER SALISBURY UNIVERSITY (MD) pitcher Kelsey Mills will become Hood College's new assistant softball coach. For the Salisbury Sea Gulls, her best season was 2009 when she threw 120 Ks with a 0.91 ERA over 131.1 innings. Mills finished her college career in 2011 with an overall record of 21-5. Full story at http://www.hoodathletics.com/sports/sball/coaches/Mills-Kelsey