Friday, January 27, 2012


FASTPITCH NEWS NUGGETS...

DEFENDING CHAMPS ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS RANK #1 among college softball teams in the nation, according to a unanimous vote in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll. Florida finished #2, followed by #3 Alabama, #4 California, and #5 Oklahoma. 

The Pac-12 conference led the way in the poll with seven teams, while the Big XII and the SEC each had six teams. The poll is voted on by 30 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. 

PHOTO ABOVE: Arizona State won the 2011 Women's College World Series and now slides right back into the #1 slot again at the beginning of this season. (NCAA photos)




#2 FLORIDA STARTS THE SEASON WITH A NEW PHILOSOPHY. The Gators led the nation in runs and home runs last year, but this year will be entirely different. It will be a small-ball game. Now the key stats will be on-base percentage, steals, and extra-base hits. While power is not exactly lacking. Junior Brittany Schutte returns, who is the school's single-season home run record holder (22). “I feel like this team is more versatile,” sophomore Kasey Fagan said. “We’re faster; we can do more things at the plate. We aren’t just a one-dimensional team. People are going to be surprised, that’s all I can say.” Full story at http://www.alligator.org/sports/softball/article_308418e0-48a9-11e1-9512-001871e3ce6c.html 



NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS DAY, Wednesday, February 1. The 2012 theme is “Title IX at 40: In it for the Long Run” and will be marked as thousands gather to celebrate in Washington, D.C. It has been 39 years since the 1972 landmark legislation banned sex discrimination in schools. Full story at http://www.nfca.org/news/?id=3884


COASTAL CAROLINA SET FOR $10.2 MILLION RENOVATION to put softball (& baseball) program among the nation's upper echelon. A $1.2 million Practice/Hitting Facility was completed last spring, while a new softball building will be 9,000 square feet. "The new home of Chanticleer Softball will be tremendous for our student-athletes and fans," said CCU head softball coach Kelley Green. "We are excited about the unlimited possibilities that lie ahead for our program.” Full story at http://www.goccusports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/012512aaa.html


Harford Xtreme Showcase's Amanda Norris will be attending Coastal Carolina in the fall!

ART ABOVE: Rendering of the new Costal Carolina softball facility


COLLEGE SOFTBALL A BALANCING ACT. Homework at 30,000 feet – and managing classes, keeping touch with family, having a social life, and playing softball, as well. As challenging as it may be, college softball players seem to handle it. Full story from University student newspaper at http://www.depauliaonline.com/mobile/sports/softball-players-balance-school-and-the-game-while-traveling-1.2746889


SOFTBALL PLAYER GRACE KELLER HONORED AS NJ “WOMAN OF THE YEAR”. What has this Felician College senior done? Well, 3.42 GPA, double major (education & fine art), three-time dean's list – and two-year softball captain, 96 career base hits, fifth all-time stolen bases at Felician, has played six positions for the Golden Falcons, and likely starting shortstop in 2012. Full story at http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2012/01/softball_athlete_and_hoboken_n.html


BRAND NEW NATIONAL PRO FASTPITCH TEAM, Carolina Diamonds, will be based in Charlotte (NC). Former UNC All-American and ACC player and pitcher of the year Danielle Spaulding and former UNC catcher with ACC honors Brittany McKinney are on the roster. Full story at http://www.profastpitch.com/news/?article_id=1719
PHOTO ABOVE: Danielle Spaulding


STEVE SCHOOLS STEPS DOWN FROM 30+ YEARS COACHING SOFTBALL for two Prince George’s County (MD) high schools. He will continue as Clinton's athletic director. His combined record as a softball coach at the two schools is 309-106, including four Potomac Valley Athletic Conference championships. “I’ve been fortunate to have some really good teams and really good players,” he said. Full story at http://www.gazette.net/article/20120125/SPORTS/701259313/1028/1028/veteran-coach-steps-down&template=gazette


HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WON A BIG ONE when softball's Florida Gulf Coast Eagles “stepped up to the plate” and “pitched in” by painting an entire house for a deserving family. “Southwest Florida has been so great to FGCU, our athletics program and specifically to our softball team, that we always want to take advantage of an opportunity to give back,” said head coach David Deiros. Full story at http://www.fgcuathletics.com/softball/news/2011-12/4813/softball-volunteers-at-habitat-for-humanity

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