'96 Scottsdale Fever: Fever News

Monday, December 14
ASA Winter Classic Champions
Fever Family, Sponsors and Friends,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The Fever Family took last week off to give back. The Phoenix Children's Project is a wonderful organization that adopts families for Christmas. Otherwise, these families, especially the children in these families, wouldn't have Christmas.
Coach Mike, myself, Sunshine and the girls headed to a church hall to do whatever Mary Frieling needed. From organizing hordes of clothes, blankets and toys to making up boxes, the girls were up to the task. The Fever bought all those volunteering hamburgers and sodas for lunch as the girls bonded with others there to lend a hand. They tied up family blankets, inventoried children's clothes, wrapped gifts, decorated and even swept the floor. I get a little misty just thinking about it. I hope the feeling they get giving back sticks and they look for a way to make a difference in someone else's life every year. Then it was back to my house to wrap the gifts for the families we specifically adopted. The girls will get the opportunity to deliver those gifts (and possibly more) in person on December 22nd. Parents, you should be so proud of each and every one of them.
I won't go into too much detail about the Fever Family Holiday Party. You never know who might read this. A great time had by all. Steve's "shear me" phone, white elephant gifts, Jan's plunger and Mae Mae's cheesecake among the highlights.
Thanks for a great evening. I had a blast.
Last Sunday was a long, offensive practice. We hit, bunted and hit some more. During that practice Mike and I realized that we didn't have enough stations. Not enough diversity in drills to keep the girls focused with two coaches/monitors. Time to change that. On Tuesday night, Sonny (our gun for hire batting practice pitcher) was scheduled to throw at the girls the entire practice. Another offensive practice that, at times, leaves some girls aimless and seems slower with less energy than we would like. So, we pulled the trigger. If there is one thing I always want Fever teams to be its conditioned. If we can't out talent a group, then we can outwork them, out hustle them. Working out a couple times a week is tough to gain that competitive advantage. I have always admired the conditioning of soccer players. Don't know much about the game. Played it once. Threw up twice, kicked the ball once. Exhausting. Rob McCarty played soccer at the highest levels and has coached girl's club soccer for the past decade. Through that he has learned how to communicate with highly competitive teenage girls (including his own) as well as their parents. We couldn't ask for a better fit to join the coaching staff of the '96 Scottsdale Fever. When approached, Rob could not have been more excited. A decision to volunteer your time for this cause is not one to take lightly. He truly shares all of the Fever's core values and will bring a dynamic to the team that others don't have. The girls love having him around even though he may be responsible for their running more than they ever have in the past. What he lacks in softball technical skills is more than made up for in his ability to get the absolute best out of a young athlete. We introduced Rob to the girls on Tuesday night. Tuesday's night's practice was not aimless. There was no "down time".
Thursday night the girls were as jazzed as ever to get back between the lines. To work the dirt. They looked incredible. We discussed approach, focus, energy, passion. We discussed my Christmas list. I was pretty sure they were all laboring over just what to get me for Christmas! I put their minds at ease. Mike and I simply said the best present we could ever get would be an undefeated record in the ASA Winter Classic, a Championship plaque, gold medal and a photo op.
A pretty tall order. The ASA Winter Classic had nineteen teams registered to compete from across the state.
Saturday afternoon we would go back to back to back. Desert Scorpions from Tucson, the Chandler Crush and AZ Cats, also from Tucson.
Rob immediately implemented a doubled up stretching routine (asking the girls to do their routine twice) which the girls immediately ad-libbed by simply counting to twenty instead of ten. They are so smart.
The Scorpions are a good team. A methodical approach that makes it difficult to get into any rhythm or keep momentum. They had been in the finals in virtually every tournament they had entered to date and we weren't taking them lightly. Down early, we rally and win it by one. Rye is in the circle and with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom half of the last inning, Mike looks at Sera and asks, "You ready to go out there and win this ball game". She responds with little emotion, "Yes Sir". She promptly goes out there and gets ahead of the hitter no balls and two strikes. One strike away from preserving the victory. Now everyone knows that there is two things that burn my butt. One is a flame about three foot high. The other, a strike thrown on an 0-2 count. A called strike three and we win. Sera swears it was outside. Astorga and Hinkle each have two hits and Tucker comes off the bench for a huge triple and two RBI's in a huge six run fourth inning.
The Crush was overmatched by LT who struck out 11 (a new record for her I think) in a complete game four hitter. Worked the normal curve ball but added an effective rise ball and used her ever challenging change up. Tegan, Danae and Dani all had two hits and Mariah had three including two doubles! Win number two in the books. One more and we get a bye in the first round of bracket play.
I have a habit of screaming, "Yaaa" when a girl gets a good hit or one of the pitchers strikes someone out. I guess I do it pretty loud. A fist pump might be thrown in as well. Just can't help myself. Well the AZ cats girls must find that irritating. Annoying is maybe what the girls would say. Not doing to it to rub it in on anyone. Just a reaction. So, there I am a forty five year old man, being mocked by 13 year old AZ Cats girls. Sera threw 63% strikes allowing only four hits and one run, unearned.  The girls and I finally had a discussion as to why the other players were yelling, "Yaaa". Once explained, the "Yaaa" war was on until I shut it down as did the AZ Cats coach (couldn't help but overhear). Their lead off is one of the toughest outs in our age group. A very talented, athletic player that bats from the left side with good speed. We haven't been very successful keeping her off the bases. Sky and Danae each had two hits and Tuck had three! Game three in the books. It's getting cold. Time to go home.
With T in her kerchief and I in my SF cap, we all settled down for a long winter's nap.
When out in the trailer there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the driveway I flew like B-Kay
Unlocked the back latch and threw open the bay
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature wagon and twelve players in fear
Seems when leaving the park, there's one thing that we forgot
Get the girls in the car before we leave the lot.
Sunday morning was cold, damp and rain was threatening. That wouldn't change all day. After visiting stall number three at the Papago men's rest room (grade D) it was time to get the girl's loose. I really do feel sorry for that maintenance staff out there.
AZ Havoc was first up and LT was as good as she was on Saturday. A one hit shut out while striking out four. She also singled in the fourth knocking two in. We win easily and have a game break. Game four in the books.
Casa Grande Heat was next. Sera throws a four hit shutout while striking out six and walking none. Chick has thrown 30 innings for the Fever and has only walked four. Skylar and Tucker get two hits each and "Two Times" gets three. Bailey knocks two in. We win. Game five is in the books.
Can they stay up for two more ball games? 
Instead it was Coleman's Desert Wolves. We have scrimmaged these girls a couple times. They practice on the field next to us every Thursday night and a lot of the girls appear to know each other. A little too chummy. A little goofing off concerned me as to approach. The Wolves group was extremely disappointed with the officiating and probably for good reason. We win going away 9-3. Alex pulls herself out with sore knees. That causes some juggling pulling Rye from the circle to play second and bringing Sera back in after having just thrown seven innings. She was up to the task allowing only one earned run on three hits while striking out four. She did walk one but I am pretty sure it was my pitch calling. McCarty, Valencia, Hinkle and Dockx all have two hits each. One of Dani's a smoked double to left center. I swear I saw her wink at her buddy Shank sitting on the bench as she ran down the first base line. Game six is in the books.
On to the finals.
Assuming we would be meeting the bigger, heavy hitting Desert Scorpions, we had saved LT. Instead, Dynasty, another bigger, heavy hitting team, would beat the Scorpions in the semis. We had played Dynasty once before. Rye had shut them out for 6 innings before they pushed one across. We had jumped on them early scoring three in the first but no more after that hanging on to win with pitching and defense. LT can beat anyone. Lets stay with the initial plan. Lauren throws an absolute master piece. Two runs allowed, both unearned, on two hits while striking out seven and only walking one. We go down 2-0 in the third but the girls simply wouldn't be denied. Bailey ties it up driving in Rye and Tucker in the 4th with the hardest hit rope she has hit all year. Then, with the bases loaded (Dockx walked, LT and Tegan both singled), a shot up the middle by Sky goes between the center fielder's legs to the fence as visions of sugar plums danced in my head. Sky races all the way home to an absolute mob of Fever girls. Up 7-2 at that point, we coast to the Championship.
I am drained and all I can think is there isn't a bunch that deserves it more. Emotional? "Yaaa". Especially when each and every girl walked up and hugged us immediately following the game saying, "There you go coach, Merry Christmas". I get misty and Rob is crying like a soccer player. Mike, ever stoic, is excited he will get another team pic to put in the Fever photo Album T made for him.
Then, it would get more emotional. Katie is a wreck and we don't understand why. Sue comes up to hug her and she is crying uncontrollably. Now I am really concerned. What on earth could it be. If Katie is pregnant, I will absolutely lose it. If she or someone in her family is sick I will lose it - in another way. They finally calm down enough to tell us that Katie has made the very difficult decision to hang up the softball cleats (for now) in exchange for those little bitty shorts and play club volleyball in the spring. Matt rolls his eyes at his two sobbing women as we let out a sigh of relief that it is nothing serious. Don't get me wrong, we will miss her tremendously. It didn't take long for Katie (and her entire family) to grab a little piece of my heart. Obviously we wish her nothing but the best. The girls are already planning on raiding one of her games. Take the values and priorities we preach with you. You will always have a place with the Fever, on our roster and in our hearts.
Volleyball? For goodness sakes. Well, at least it wasn't soccer!
Thank you all so much for the gift card. I guess you know by now that I promised to spend it on them if we won. Thus the obligation to take them to Fuddruckers. So, Rob's hamburger and a portion of the girl's dinners was on me (or on you - however you want to look at it). Thanks for allowing me to keep my promise and everyone going to dinner so late. Thanks again for the gift card. That was very nice.
Remember, Santa gift deliveries for the Phoenix Children's Project on the 22nd!
We will take some time off to heal and enjoy the Holidays.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!
Coach Hinkle
Scottsdale Fever '96


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TCS Big League Dreams Championship - Palm Springs, Ca

Sunday, March 29
ASA April Fool's Day Championship

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TCS Super Bowl Championship