When is an error not an error?

First off, congratulations to the University of Washington Huskies softball team on advancing to the NCAA Super Regional on Sunday. That was a great showing for Washington as they took advantages of opportunities… especially a couple of UNC errors. Washington’s base running has been great this year. They have improved significantly over last year, when all too often you shook your head at a some costly blunders..;) This year, they have been agressive, without being reckless. Great to watch, and it should serve as a good example for younger players and those that strive to play at the next level. Particullarly, I’ve noticed them taking advantage of teams trying to cover steals with their 2nd base. Yesterday they did it uncontested.

So that brings up my next topic. So when is an error not an error? Well, when you are scoring via NCAA rules… Sunday afternoon, UNC tied the score at 1-1 when a line drive was hit over the head of UW left fielder Nikki Williams. Instead of taking that “first step back”, she didn’t move and misplayed the ball. If she takes a good hard step backward, she catches that ball… game over. I bet, if you asked her, she catches that ball 9 out of 10 times. In ASA scoring, “any misplay of the ball that extends an at bat or runner” is considered an error. In the NCAA, an outfielder who runs in on a ball that goes over their head, is not recorded as an error. So there is a definate difference in scoring errors.

Oh, and for those of you who play for me… sorry, you have to catch everything!

High School softball playoffs are here!

It’s been a great High School season for watching softball. I’ve enjoyed traveling around and watching many local teams play. I’ve been fortunate to see almost all of our Shark players in action. I have to say I’m really proud of these kids! Virtually everyone of our Shark kids are playing significant roles on their High school teams. I even got to watch a baseball game! (Thanks Amanda .

Several players and games stand out in my mind this season. Here are a few: Alyssa Egan, the freshman who was just returning from a devastating head injury last fall was a big question mark. Could she even play this year? Could she be effective? Well, she showed everyone. She earned a starting spot in the circle for her Monroe Bearcat team, proving she was extreamly effective. She also hit in the 4 hole and had her first over-the-fence home run this past week. Another standout was Kelsie Mason who plays for Lynnwood. Replacing the standout pitcher like Julia Nealer is no easy task, but Kelsie jumped in and has done a great job this year. Not satisfied with just pitching, she’s a regular contributer with her bat as well. Another amazing kid is Mickey Blad who is the only freshman to make the Skyline varsity squad. Not only did she make the team, she’s hitting in the 4-hole and is hitting the cover off the ball. She’s having a great season.

A couple of other players standout in my mind because of the roles they have played on their HS teams. Jessica Christensen was asked to jump into the role of catcher for her Marysville team and from everything I’ve seen, she looks like a pro! Amanda Nemiroff, one of our stellar catchers, has been asked to play middle infield and has proven extremely skilled at that. This validates my belief that as coaches, we need to continue to develop well-rounded players who possess a wide range of skills. Every team has different needs, and having a wide range of skills makes a player valuable.

On slightly different note, I watched a terriffic game the other night between the powerhouse Woodinville and Eastlake in the Kingco 4A championship game. The game remained scoreless for 8 innings before Woodinville won in the 9th. On paper, Eastlake never had a chance against Woodinville. The Falcons are stacked with speed, power and great pitching. (Comprised of 4 current Sharks from our Gold team and a couple from my team from last year). Nicole Guptle from Eastlake pitched an absolute gem of a game, holding down a cadrea of power hitters and her team played excellent defense behind her. Kelsey Dempsey was lights out behind the plate and had some great hits in the game. I thought when Kelsey led of with a standup double in the 6th, Eastlake might pull an upset out of the hat, but it was not to be. A great contest it was.

I wish all of you the very best in your high school playoffs and your pursuit of a state title! I will see you all very soon. C

Even at the highest levels, fundamentals are key..

I had the opportunity last night to attend the opening home game of the UW Huskies who were playing #5 ranked UCLA Bruins under the lights. This was the first night game at home for UW. Very nice.

The game was a real pitching duel between Danielle Lawrie and UCLA’s Donna Kerr. We’ve come to expect a superb performance by Lawrie, but I was equally impressed by Kerr who threw a great shutout game. At 5′ 7″, Kerr did a great job of keeping UW hitters off-balance with a nice screwball that she threw both in and outside of the plate. UW only managed 4 hits over 7 innings.

So what was the difference in the game? It came down to a couple of plays by UW that proved costly. For any of you who have played for me, you probably are sick of hearing me harp on the importance of controlling the lead runner. Well, UW didn’t and it cost the game. In the top of the 6th inning with the score tied at 0-0, UCLA took advantage of a lead-off walk. They sac’d the runner to second. Then, a hard hit ball straight to the short stop… This is where trouble began. The runner blindly took off for 3rd.. Instead of easily getting the lead runner attempting to advance, the ball was thrown to 1st allowing the runner to safely reach 3rd. This setup the scoring play when UCLA’s Dani Yudin hit a two-out single to right field. Had UW stopped the lead runner (and it was not a difficult or close play), the score would have stayed tied thru the 7th.

One play, one decision can be the difference in the game. So we will keep focusing on stopping the lead runner, right?

See you on the field.

Spring is in the air… Well a few softballs anyway.

Boy, it was great to finally get outside last weekend and take the training wheels off the new team so to speak. The weather could not have been better for a mid February day. I really enjoyed the opportunity to play a couple of very good Sidewinder teams. The ’93 team has some great speed that certainly presents challenges for our defense and their ’94s flat-out pitched great. We will have our hands full with those teams this year. Watching some of the other games, I see that Fritz has done some of his magic on his Lake Breeze squad and they seemed much improved since fall. They will surprise a lot of people and beat some very good teams along the way. Moving to LB was a good move for him and the kids.

So Dani picks up with the Gold team, and NATURALLY decides that this is the day to hit her first home run since 10u.. Nice hit kid, but save some of that pop for this team! Just kidding. I got a kick out of Lance’s comments to her afterwards… “Our table setters are supposed to get on base and let the big boppers move them around, leadoff hitters hitting home runs just doesn’t fit that model. Do your job.. “

Sunday we decided to update our team picture, so I took the team to a couple of nice venues in Kirkland for the photo shoot. It was just like America’s Next Top (Softball) Model.. Look for an update on the web soon.

We are going to try to get in a few more games this weekend before shutting down for high school season. Should be fun.

C

It’s that time of year… again

It’s the time of the year that most coaches dread…. the time of uncertanty… yep, it’s the time when old teams come apart, and new teams are formed. I confess, I really dislike this time of the season!

It starts really in July. Players, parents (and coaches) really start thinking about next season. Will they come back, or will they search for new and perhaps better opportunities? Coaches think about it too. Can they make improvements in the team? Are there “issues” with players or parents that they just dont want to deal with for another year? As with most things, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Sure you remember every key hit those opposing players had against you. Just how good could you be if they were playing for your team?

This year has been particularly disruptive across the entire softball arena. Several well respected and established programs have disbanded. Coaches are moving from place to place. Those kids that seem always to be on a new team every year… are again on yet another new team. My own team experienced significant tournover this season, with four of my 2009 players moving to Gold teams, and a couple others moving in different directions.

What does this mean? It means there is an opportunity to build a new team, with new kids, fresh attitudes and an optimistic beginning. I’ve been fortunate to build a team that is perhaps the most athletic team we have every assembled. (And that’s saying a lot). Defensively, we have improved in many areas, and have incredible depth across the field. I’m excited!

So bottom line, everyone is a free agent each and every year. And regardless of turnover, the new season brings new opportunities and excited anticipation.

See you on the diamond soon!

Enjoying the moment

I got the opportunity to watch a lot of college softball this weekend…  In the WCWS I saw both of the Alabama Tide and the Georgia Bull Dogs play exciting games on Saturday to advance to the semi finals against Florida and Washington.    While I’m a Washington fan, it was impossible not to really enjoy both the ‘Bama and Georgia teams.   I’ve never seen so much heart and excitement about playing the game.      

Talk about inspiration…  Bama’s # 3 hitter, Kelley Montalvo, stands 4’10 or 4’11 at the most.   She plays like she’s 6’2″.   If there was ever proof that heart matters and that softball is truly THE sport where everyone can contribute,  she’s the proof.     And what about Georgia?   They beat Washington in game one on Sunday with amazing performances by everyone on their team… including the use of four (4) pitchers!    Washington played them in the what-if game later in the evening and won by a score of 9-3.   Georgia never seemed out of it as they battled all night long.      

What was truly amazing about Georgia’s team was their positive approach to the game.     Danielle Lawre of the UW hits a grand slam and you could never tell it from the faces of the UGA players.   Even when there were two outs in the 7th,  they were all smiles and having a great time.     This epitomizes the meaning of enjoying the moment.   I don’t think I have ever witnessed a team have a more positive attitude, regardless of the situation, than the Georgia softball team.      Their coach summed it up when interviewed,  she said that they play for the sake of playing… not for the score.   Wow.   

After a difficult and frustrating weekend of softball watching  Lex’s Juanita Highschool team implode,  I wish I had the attitude that these Georgia kids did.    I really learned something.  I hope the next time the wheels come off,  I can have the attitude of the Georgia kids!

Why we lace them up.

Last night was a great example of why we lace up the cleats and play every game… and not pay much attention about what teams look like on paper. Last night, Samammish and Bellevue met in the KingCo 3A playoffs held at Inglemoor High School. Samammish with a conference record of 2-10 has only beaten Mercer Island this year. It has lost every other conference game.   They are a huge underdog.   Running into a strong Liberty team, it should have been a route…. on paper at least. But that’s not how things played out.

Samammish started out strong, scoring runs in early innings. Liberty came back and even led in the 5th inning before Samammish broke the game open with 9 runs in the 6th. Liberty made a comeback, but was not able to overcome the 16 runs that Samammish put on the board.

Did anyone predict that? Nope. Was it a surprise? You bet. But it did serve as a great example why competition occurs on the field and not in the papers, news groups, or even in the heads of fans or coaches. While Liberty might defeat Samammish 9 out of 10 times, they did not this time.    As this was a playoff game,  Samammish will automatically advance to the SeaKing District tournament next week.  Liberty must play a do-or-die game against a strong Bellevue team to stay alive.

So what can we all take from this?  First,  the score is always 0-0.    Play every inning like it’s do or die.  Never underestimate the team you are about to play.    Be prepared.   Never let yourself get lulled into a false belief that your team is better than your opponent.    It is fine to have confidence, but it is easy for confidence to get confused with arrogance or complacency.    Always play like the under dog.

Every year or two,  our Shark team gets beaten by a team that on paper at least, we should easily defeat.   Usually, it’s a case of taking the other team too lightly, while not making adjustments to score runs.    If those tough losses come at the right time,  this can serve as a great motivator.  If not,  you get to go home early.   Lace ‘em up!   

Time goes so fast…

I started a new class this morning, and it really made me realize how fast time goes by. Let me back up a bit… I am a volunteer with the Seattle Chapter of Junior Achievement. Each school year, I teach a couple tracks of JA to local elementary school kids. Over the past years, I’ve done them all.. from 1st to 6th grade programs. Today I started a new class at Robert Frost Elementary in a 6th grade with a teacher that both Lex and Dani had when they went to school there. It’s neat, generally everyone knows who I am… except today. I asked the class if they knew who I was and nothing….. For pete sakes.. it’s only been a couple of years!

I does make me think about this class of kids who play for me… I’ve coached some of them for 6 years… they have a few more years before they are gone! It’s all down hill from here.. As my good friend Doug Ichikawa says “It doesn’t get better than this.. “.

I received a call tonight from one of my players, Maura Murphy. She called to tell me that she was voted on the 2009 All-KingCo 2nd team as a utility player. She called to tell me, and to thank me. Wow. I was so proud of her! Not just for the achievement for the reward, but the thoughfulness to thank me. Great kid. Her parents have done well.

Welcome!

Welcome to my coach’s blog.    This is a place where I can rant… or relay thoughts…