April 2009

Written by OntFast Wednesday, 01 April 2009 08:30

The coaches have completed the pre-season poll and  the preliminary rankings for the 2009 season for Novice, Bantam and Midget can be found here.

Written by OntFast Thursday, 02 April 2009 06:53

Fastpitch Team Has Historic Evening
At The McMaster Marauders 85th Athletic Awards Ceremony

April 1, 2009
Hamilton, Ontario

Earlier this evening, the McMaster University Athletic Department held its 85th Athletic Awards Ceremony.

It was an historic night for the Fastpitch team as two players were nominated for two of the Athletic Department’s major awards. This was a first in the Fastpitch teams history.

Cathy Conlin (Ailsa Craig, Ont.) and Shannon Galea (Oshawa, Ont.) were two of the three women nominated for the Dr. Edna Guest Award. This was the first time that the Fastpitch team has had anyone nominated for this prestigious award.

The Doctor Edna Guest award was first presented in 1931. Dr. Guest, who was at that time the medical advisor for women at McMaster, donated the cup. The original criterion of health through sport was added to in the early 1960’s to reflect outstanding ability and the “Spirit of McMaster”. Today these criteria remain. The awards committee considers individuals who are graduating students who have participated each year while at McMaster and radiate the “Spirit of McMaster.”

Written by OntFast Thursday, 02 April 2009 18:10

GIRLZ RULE CLINIC TO BE OFFERED TO TWENTY YOUNG FEMALE UMPIRES!!!

The Softball Ontario Fast Pitch Umpire Committee is pleased to announce a great opportunity for twenty young female umpires. Open to young women aged 15 – 18 years of age, an innovative “GIRLZ RULE” umpire clinic is being offered on Saturday, April 25, 2009 in Brampton at Central Public School at 24 Alexander Street, Brampton, ON. Attendance is limited to twenty participants, so apply today to participate in this great clinic.

The Fast Pitch Umpire Program is extremely pleased to offer this clinic at the reduced rate of $20 to each of the twenty successful applicants. The clinic will be instructed by three of the country’s finest elite female umpires – Noreen Atkinson, a Softball Canada Level V from Georgetown, who participated in the 2007 Junior Women’s World Championship in the Netherlands, Daryl Way, also a Softball Canada Level V from Brampton and a fixture at supervising Canadian Championships, and Lesley Pipher, a Softball Canada Level IV who participated in the 2008 Senior Women’s Canadian Championships.

Written by Daniel Turner Friday, 03 April 2009 14:03

Written by Daniel Turner, Oct 23, 2008, originally published in www.playerpress.com

Women’s softball is the epitome of team sport. Like most female athletes softball players compete for the name on the front and not the one on the back. If you have ever attended a women’s softball, basketball game, or soccer match, you will notice the constant communication. They are quick to let each other know what is happening and try to help their team mate execute to her fullest.

That’s not usually the case with men. I’ve yet to see a softball pitcher pound her glove in disgust if an error is committed, or the outfielder misjudges the line drive. Instead, they will rally around each other and discuss what has to be done to prevent damage caused by the runner on base.

Written by OntFast Monday, 06 April 2009 07:36

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, the Simon Fraser University Clan and Seattle University RedHawks faced off in a doubleheader in North Delta. Seattle won both games 7-4 and 7-5. Here is a Clan Athletics Network recap of both events.

Written by OntFast Tuesday, 07 April 2009 06:05

'Windmill' pitch a risk to softball pitchers' arms

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The "windmill" motion used in fast-pitch softball puts pitchers at risk for injuries to the biceps muscle, a new study suggests.

Softball pitching has traditionally been seen as less stressful to the arm than the overhand pitching used in baseball. However, recent studies have suggested that college and professional softball pitchers run a high risk of chronic shoulder pain.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests that strain placed on the biceps muscle, which connects with tendons in the shoulder, may be to blame.

Written by OntFast Tuesday, 07 April 2009 07:59

To provide the BEST RECRUITING OPPORTUNITIES for players and college coaches, Homerun Softball will be running a Elite training camp June 6-7 at the L'amoreaux Complex in Scarborough Boulevard, Ontario.

Coaches will be able to work with the players and also coach them in games during this two day camp

The following coaches have committed so far to work the camp

Syracuse University- Wally King Assistant Coach
University of Rhode Island - Erin Layton, Head Coach
University of Rochester - Michele Burrell, Head Coach
Canisius College - Mike Rappl, Head Coach
Canisius College - Kim Griffin, Assistant Coach
Edinboro University - Dan Gierlak, Head Coach
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Dale Martin, Head Coach
Mercyhurst College - Sara Headley, Head Coach
Mercyhurst College - Erin Chapman, Assistant Coach
Onondaga Community College - Sarah Reed, Assistant Coach

Written by OntFast Wednesday, 08 April 2009 06:48

Divisions: Open - Midget, Junior, Intermediate, Senior
Type: Open
Date: June 13th & June 14th
Location: Newmarket, ON
Entry Fee: $575
Make cheques payable to: Kevin Fagg or NMSA
Deadline: May 15th
Details: 4 game guarantee - travel expense money paid out in the form of "Skins"
 
For any specific details regarding the "skins" tourney format, please contact the following:
Kevin Fagg
57 Denne Blvd
Newmarket, ON
L3Y 4H5
905-235-0210 (H) 905-316-3143 (W)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Written by OntFast Wednesday, 08 April 2009 14:04

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics a group from the ISF took some softball equipment to an orphanage outside of town and this is what happened.

Written by OntFast Thursday, 09 April 2009 07:08

Leah McIntosh was named the America East Conference Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season, as announced by the league office on Monday, April 6. In addition, she was named the ECAC Co-Pitcher of Week. The junior at UAlbany hurled her third perfect game of the year and did not surrender any runs in three appearances. She has three of the eleven perfect games thrown by Division I pitchers this season.

McIntosh, who is the only pitcher in the nation to hurl multiple perfect games, retired all 21 batters she faced in a 6-0 win over Hartford on Sunday, April 5. It was also her fifth career no-hitter, which broke the program’s Division I record, and the first perfect game recorded by a Great Dane pitcher against an America East opponent. The sophomore struck out 12 hitters to improve to 11-1 this season, and lowered her earned run average to 0.57.

Earlier in the week, McIntosh made two relief appearances in victories over Marist, 6-5, and Iona, 11-0. McIntosh, who allowed just one hit all week, pitched two innings and struck out five batters on each occasion while recording her first save of the season and second of her career against the Red Foxes. The Whitby, Ontario native finished the week by striking out 22 of the 34 batters she faced, and did not issue a walk.