Nov. 10, 2018 OMD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: What is a Veteran? Steve, great definition of a Veteran! Tomorrow is Veterans Day - which for me is a day to reflect back on all of those that served and paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Especially for those listed as MIA and the families of those unaccounted for! Like the freedoms we enjoy here in the USA? Thank a Veteran! I enjoy my freedoms so - my thanks to all that have served - are serving or are thinking about serving! Prayers to those deployed in any hostile environment! Army 74'-77' |
Oct. 26, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Keys to Tournament success I would say that in senior ball hitting is the most important aspect of being a good competitive tournament team. If you can hit and get your 5 runs per inning you've just made it a 1 inning game (if other team gets their 5 runs each inning too). Even if your team can't make any plays on defense your only giving up 5 runs each inning. Then in the 7th inning it come down to who can get more hits. After all, it is slow pitch softball, and you should be able to hit the ball anywhere on the field and a great defense doesn't help at all if the ball isn't hit at/to them where they can make a play on the ball! Also, I like a team that understands playing fundamental ball! To many times I've seen guys who don't care (or know) about fundamentals and are more interested in the personal glory of being the hero! They try to hit a home run to win the game instead of going for a base hit and tying the score and allowing "the next man up" to get the next base hit to win the game. To many times I've seen these "glory hounds" finish the game with a lazy fly ball to the outfield...game over! T Have seen to many guys try and hit a home run every time they come up regardless of the situation. No clue what it means to "hit behind the runner" - or if situation calls for it, sacrifice yourself to advance the runners into scoring position - etc.! So as far as I'm concerned it's offence and team chemistry! Team chemistry includes individuals who understand the fundamentals of the game! |
Oct. 15, 2018 OMD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Looking to hone my skills age 65+ Says - Santa Clarita, Ca |
Sept. 3, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Softball Venue Review Site- Senior Softball Addict Jon44 - Great idea and a great start to your site! We are scheduled to play @ Hollywood Park which I played at about 12 years ago at a UTrip tourney but had forgotten about what it was like. But after seeing the pictures and your description (weeds - wind & an extra warning to lock your car!) it all came back to me. Even kind of remember how to get there! Thanks for putting this together - hope it grows! If I wasn't so computer stupid I could add some Nor. Cal. venues, but just posting this and getting my emails is pretty much the extent of my abilities on a computer! So hopefully more computer literate people will contribute some info. & photos on their "home" fields where senior softball tournaments are taking place! |
June 27, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WORLDS AND NEW 4 DAY FORMAT Doubt they'd willing to spend the extra money (fields - umps - rooms - meals - etc.) for extra sessions for the same amount of money? Why take 2 weeks to make what you can make in 1 week! |
June 26, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: WORLDS AND NEW 4 DAY FORMAT Count your blessing! In 3-4 years when SSUSA Worlds balloons to over 700 teams (possible since SSUSA doesn't limit entries) you'll be looking at a 5 day tourney! As it was the 3 day tournament was actually a 5 day commitment since you needed a day before and a day after to get to and from the tournament. Now it's going to be 6 days for the 4 day format. Being self employed I'm able to take the time off but can't afford to pay for everything AND not have anything coming in for a week! Vegas is a nice diversion from the "local" tournaments but last year was my last year for Vegas. For me the expense to play this tournament for the return just isn't worth it anymore! Something to be said about paying $25 - playing 3 games - going home and sleeping in my own bed - getting up and go and play 2 more games! Damn! I must be getting old! |
May 29, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Kudos to Reno TD Nope - would have had to play 4-5(?) games on Sunday if we could have kept winning but unfortunately couple guys had "senior moments". Their bodies were there but think their brains had checked out of the ball park for the day at the 12 hour mark! We started @ 1st park @ 7am and ended our last game about 10:30pm - long day and couple guys could have used a nap sometime during the day! LOL! |
May 28, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Kudos to Reno TD Played Reno tournament this last weekend and have to give a shout out to the tournament TD. It rained from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon - our 1st games was suppose to be at 8:00am (I think) Friday but fields were a swamp! So got moved to another field for a 9:30 start but when we got there it started raining harder. So after TD re-wrote and then re-re-wrote the brackets TD canceled Friday games for the 60's. It started clearing a bit so TD got the 40's & ladies games in. Got a Sat 8:30am start time at Golden Eagle (turf fields) and played 5 games with last game starting at 9:30pm. Long day? Yes, but think the TD did the best he could while losing a whole day for an entire bracket. Thanks for the effort to re-schedule the games after this monkey wrench was thrown into the 1st day of the tournament! |
May 14, 2018 OMD | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Commitment line Not really afraid of commitment - you can ask any of my 6 ex-wives or any of my 17 ex-girlfriends! LOL! Dang! Guess I'm owing some beers! Did not realize once you cross commit line your automatically out if you cross back over it! And so ends a possibly beautiful career in umpiring! |
May 13, 2018 OMD | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Commitment line Another scenario - (local league - self umpped) runner heading home crosses commit line then when the ball appears like it's going to beat him - he stops and goes back towards 3rd re-crossing the commit line and before he reaches 3rd the throw gets away from catcher and goes through a small opening in backstop (out of play)so runner heads home. Other team said that "you can not re-cross the commit line or your out". I said the runner can cross and re-cross as many times as they want but once they have crossed the commit line the first time all that has to be done is to toss the ball to the catcher to make the force out at home. I was the "ump" for that inning (each team self ump their own offensive 1/2 of the inning) and am wondering ... was as I correct? |
May 4, 2018 OMD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Get rid of the 1-1 count FAKE NEWS!!! |
April 28, 2018 OMD | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Runner on first base Another question - runner on first - 1st basemen is playing 2-3 steps off first and directly in the baseline to 2nd - if it's hit to him does the runner have to go around? Because even without 1st basemen backing up at all to field the ball you almost have to run 2-3 steps towards right field before heading towards 2nd just to avoid a collision. And if he backs up at all you either collide or your having to go father into right field to avoid. When and if does the runner have "the right away" to be able to advance? Got a guy (yep, on my team)that will stand right in the baseline 2-4 off 1st and will "block" the runner while "trying to make a play". He either stands still or will move forward or back to get in runners way while trying to making a play. Runner has no where to go - out of base line or collision. Great playing on 1st basemen or illegal? |
April 6, 2018 OMD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Still waiting for a rational answer What's so hard to understand? A 60M+ player can not play with a 60AAA - and your rated as a 60M+ player even though you are 65. Success usually comes at a price! |
April 5, 2018 OMD | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Weather Damn! Here in Nor Cal it's going to be a freezing 65* with some showers for this weekends tourney and our tourney directors NEVER cancel the weather! We need better TD's who will at least attempt to cancel the weather! LOL! |
March 14, 2018 OMD | Topic: Bats Discussion: replacing bat caps Check EBay - have just about every brand and style available. They looked close to me but didn't read if they were "factory" replacement or some knock off - so check carefully - don't want to get anybody in trouble with non sanctioned equipment. And before anybody says anything or ASSumes anything - NO! LOL!) I have never bought one! I saw a couple when looking for a bat. |
Feb. 27, 2018 OMD | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: WOULD YOU QUIT PLAYING? HELL NO - I wouldn't quit either! A lot of us started with tennis balls and cut down broom sticks back in the day! (Yes, way back - back when we didn't have those cute little over sized plastic bats & balls that they've had for about - forever now). New tourney format; broom sticks & tennis balls? If it was the only game in town I'd probably still sign up! LOL! YEP - I'm ready for some "Bastard" tourneys - Tennis balls & broom sticks and maybe we could even pick teams to keep it fair! |
Feb. 24, 2018 OMD | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: Fan interference I WISH there was a "loud" fan rule! I have 3-4 teammates whos wives try and be louder then everybody else in the complex! Now I appreciate the team support but by day 2 my nerves are shot! At least they are not as loud when it's cold out - so it makes those 8-9am start times a little easier to endure! |
Jan. 21, 2016 OMD | Topic: Players looking to join a team Discussion: Nor-Cal palyer looking for 50-60 tourny team I'm looking for a competitive senior tourney team for the 16' season. Am 59 but will be 60 this year so am looking for a 50-55-60 team. Am a shortstop but can play anywhere - infield/outfield/pitch. Good bat to all fields - still have good legs. I've been playing for 55 years and just love to compete! I play league 6 times a week (2-senior teams, 1 coed team, 3 men's C-D). I am located in the East Bay, around the Concord area and am willing to travel for tourneys. All I'm asking for is a chance to play and am willing to try out for that chance! danbailey6@comcast.net |