CHECK 'EM OUT ... REVISED CITY MODIFIED RULES (VERSION 2)

IN "DOCUMENTS & MATERIALS"

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 STATE TOURNAMENT ASSIGNMENTS

          I would like to announce the following selections for the 2013 High School State Tournaments:

4A- Bill Elston and Jake Perry

3A- Bob Francis

2A- Carl Durr

1A- Scott Hofstee

1B/2B-Thomas Kirkpatrick

     There were eight members on the selection committee, and many SSUA members were in the running. After much discussion and many votes, these are the members who will be representing SSUA and all uf us. Please give them your best and congrats when you get a chance.

          (Editor’s note: SSUA’s goal is to get as many of our members to state tournaments as possible. Half of our six allotments in 2013 have gone to first-time state-tournament umpires – Carl Durr, Scott Hofstee and Thomas Kirkpatrick are going for the first time.)

 Dallas Williams
SSUA President

SSUA UMPIRES SELECTED FOR ASA NATIONALS & REGIONALS

           Spokane ASA Umpire in Chief Randy Harnasch announced the following SSUA umpires have been selected for ASA Regional and National tournaments:

16U A Western National in Spokane

Dave Birdsell

Jeff Camp

Paul Clary

Bob Francis

Paul Grubbs

Scott Hofstee

Jake Perry

Ron Snyder

10U & 12U Western National in Medford, Ore.

Gale Hart

18U B Western National in Salem, Ore.

Craig Adams

14U B Regional in Spokane

Marty Boles

Tom Doty

Brian Hall

Rachael Honodel

Dennis Keys

Thomas Kirkpatrick

Bryan Raschka

Andrew Ridgley

Larry Tichey

Andy Weiss

Glenn Youmans

Congratulations to all!

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WORDS OF WISDOM AND ENLIGHTENMENT

FROM PRESIDENT DALLAS WILLIAMS ...

ALL SSUA MEMBERS

      1) Even though a bat has a Spokane County Sticker DOES not mean the bat is OK. We, as umpires, NEED to check ALL bats every game in every program. If there is no Spokane County Sticker DO NOT allow it to be used at all in a Spokane County game.  Also, the same sticker has been put on the bats used in the County’s MEN’S B USSSA Monday night league. THOSE BATS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN ANY OTHER ASA-LEVEL GAME IN ANY LOCAL PROGRAM UNLESS IT ALSO HAS AN ASA-APPROVED LABEL!

      2) HEATERS ARE NOT LEGAL to be placed on bats. That makes them ALTERED BATS. We've already had at least one incident. On cold days we're likely to see more. Know the penalty and enforce it!

      3) PLEASE ACCEPT your games and fulfill your assignments.

      4) While you're in the SSUA website, go to the Rules section in "Documents& Materials" and print off ALL the rules of each league we service so you KNOW them.

      5) Spokane County has REINSTATED the courtesy foul into the 1 and 1 count.

      6) The Spokane County home run rule is three per team, then progressive after that. If a team hits a home run when it is not allowed, it is a DEAD-BALL OUT. Other programs have slightly different rules. Know them!

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WHAT'S TO GLEAN IN 20-13?

Besides full weekly agendas of league games in school ball this spring and girls fastpitch and adult rec ball this summer, here’s some of the special features:

• State 4A high school tournament (for a third straight year)

• ASA 14-U B Regional

• ASA 16-U A Western National (One of four ASA youth and six adult Nationals in the Northwest. We generally help staff all ASA Nationals in the Region.)

• Youth and adult invitational and league tournaments

  It promises to keep us busy, so get those legs and voices tuned up, polish those shoes … and while you’re at it, think about upgrading or adding to your uniforms and equipment. The association has a full array of what you’ll need. Just contact Rich Hobson at 924-6531.

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SSUA 4^TH OF JULY SHOOTOUT JULY 5, 6 & 7!

Coaches, umpires and parents … SAVE THE DATES for the ASA-sanctioned SSUA 4^thof July Shootout girls fastpitch tournament for ages 10U-18U. Click the link to take you to the 4th of July Shootout page. Registration form available in the Handouts section now. Tournament director, John Isles, (509) 487-3557.

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NEWS ‘N NOTES

A special thanks to Spokane Youth Sports Association for making its Bingo Hall available to us for our indoor training classes. It was a light in a storm. ... Andy Weiss, who was appointed to fill the Past President's position on the SSUA board and assumes the position's responsibility as Rating Director, selected Bill Elston, Marty Boles, Ron Snyder, Gale Hart, Joe Vasquez and Scott Hofstee to serve as the Rating Committee. ... Chuck Stewart was been elected by the Appeals Board to serve as its chairman. Other Appeals Board members are Dave Berghammer, Kathleen Burns, Bob Francis, Tom Doty (alternate) and Robin Wong (alternate).

•Congratulations to Dave Berghammer, Bryan Raschka and the late Dave Vulcano for becoming the newest SSUA members in the ASA National Indicator Fraternity. They bring to 37 the number of SSUA umpires who have met the NIF qualifying standards that include at least 7 years as an ASA registered umpire and worked at least 3 national tournaments. Want to see the names of the others? Look under Major Awards at a Glance in "Documents & Materials." ... Chuck Stewart, the retired former Spokane ASA umpire in chief and current SSUA member, was inducted into the ASA Northwest Region Hall of Fame on January 26 during a ceremony in Wilsonville, Ore. Chuck, also a past SSUA president, was the longest-tenured UIC in the Northwest when he retired after 16 years following the 2009 season. He is the 12th person from Spokane, but just the second umpire, in the elite hall. The late Bruce Campbell was the first SSUA umpire enshrined, in 1989. ... SSUA has received some good national publicity from ASA. A story on the award winners at our banquet, along with a picture of Ken Mathia and Chuck Stewart, as well as the results of the election are covered in ASA's "Inside Pitch" December newsletter that is distributed electronically and available to everyone on the ASA website. Check it out by going to www.softball.org and clicking on the "Communications Center" link on the bar across the top. About halfway down you'll find the link to "Inside Pitch Newsletter." Click on the December issue and mouse-click through the pages (or you can read the articles as you go). Our story IS page 22. ... You can also look at previous and more recent editions if you're interested. … Ron Burke, the retired longtime former Spokane Junior Olympic Commissioner, died on Friday, December 21. He was 73. You can read Ron’s obituary on the Spokane ASA website at http://www.spokaneasa.com.

•Want to remember how busy you were in 2012, or see how busy your friends were? Check the “2012 Tournaments & Awards” under Rec & High School Tournaments in Documents & Materials.

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2012 SSUA AWARD WINNERS

Campbell-Stewart: Ken Mathia

Presidential Pride: Rich & Sandy Hobson, Chuck Stewart

Umpire of the Year-Adult: Gale Hart

Umpire of the Year-Youth: Bob Francis

Most Improved-Adult: Paul Grubbs

Most Improved-Youth: Brian Hall

Rookie of the Year-Adult: Bob Kuck

Rookie of the Year-Youth: Rachel Honodel

Home Run Award (to non-members): Steve Fountain, Brooklyn Robinson