ASA Nationals

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Rachel

Irishmafia's deputy UIC got the plate on the final at the Gold. Diane did a great job. Mike, you must be proud.

She didn't have a choice, we weren't gonna let her back in the state if she did lousy. There are some advantages to being from a small state like being able to close the gate

Always proud of the umpires from DE, but Lil Bit started off in NH, so I have to share.

[Dukat]

I have to say that my first National was a bit unnerving (18U-A Southern National) . I worked with some good guys and the guys in Ridgeland treated us VERY WELL. If you ever have a chance to do one in Ridgeland, MS take them up on it as they treat you right.

There was a thread somewhere about which is "better" an ASA National or NFHS State and I can't say which is better but I can say that I was more nervous this year at the National than I was at the NFHS State.

[CelticNHBlue]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Always proud of the umpires from DE, but Lil Bit started off in NH, so I have to share.

I was going to let you take all the credit, Mike, but since you mentioned it... I will share with the rest that Bit and I are oriiginally from the same local group, trained by the same veteran umpires. And to add again, John T is from Vermont and I have had the luxury of working many a tournament and learning a great deal from him; he is truly one of the best, IMO. So two of the three gold finals crew have local New Englande roots and I can't tell you how proud we are of them.

An NCAA D-III national, gold finals, and now she is off to the NPF playoffs in WI next week. I'd have to say that 2008 is Bit's year...

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by CelticNHBlue

I was going to let you take all the credit, Mike, but since you mentioned it... I will share with the rest that Bit and I are oriiginally from the same local group, trained by the same veteran umpires. And to add again, John T is from Vermont and I have had the luxury of working many a tournament and learning a great deal from him; he is truly one of the best, IMO. So two of the three gold finals crew have local New Englande roots and I can't tell you how proud we are of them.

An NCAA D-III national, gold finals, and now she is off to the NPF playoffs in WI next week. I'd have to say that 2008 is Bit's year...

What part of WI? That there's my ol' stompin' grounds...

[DaveASA/FED]

Ok you got me....where can you find out who worked the final game? Also can you find back a few games too? I know one of the umpires that worked out there, would like to look back and see what their final game was, without having to ask.....in case it was like Thursday

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Ok you got me....where can you find out who worked the final game? Also can you find back a few games too? I know one of the umpires that worked out there, would like to look back and see what their final game was, without having to ask.....in case it was like Thursday

ASA isn't very good about including umpires in the box scores, or at least there weren't last week.

There is a board member who can probably answer any question you have and she posted earlier in this thread.

[CelticNHBlue]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

What part of WI? That there's my ol' stompin' grounds...

Kimberly, WI is in the second year of a three year contract with NPF to host the post-seson tournament. They are quite busy this year as they also have the ISC mens world fastpitch tournament going on this week.

I had the good fortune of working there last year and had a great time. The fans were great, very knowledgeable, courtious, and into the game. There were at least 4,000 fans per session and they were great; really made for an exciting atmosphere.

[Rachel]

Dave:

Diane Carden (DE) had the plate
John Stoodley (VT) had 1st
Sue Sawyer (CA) had 3rd

All great umpires and well deserving of the honor.

Tim Ellis (TX) was the plate guy for the loser bracket final and also was going to be the plate guy on the "IF" He is also a terrific umpire. Cindy Brunot (FL) and Mike Connelly (FL) were also on the "IF". Well deserved assignments.

I was honored to be on that staff. Jim Craig and Julie Johnson were co-UIC's so you know it was well run and a lot of fun.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by CelticNHBlue

Kimberly, WI is in the second year of a three year contract with NPF to host the post-seson tournament. They are quite busy this year as they also have the ISC mens world fastpitch tournament going on this week.

I had the good fortune of working there last year and had a great time. The fans were great, very knowledgeable, courtious, and into the game. There were at least 4,000 fans per session and they were great; really made for an exciting atmosphere.

Good god, that's in the middle of nowhere! Oh well, looks like I won't be able to offer my advice on great watering holes.

[Andy]

Finished up the tournament on Sunday....what a weekend! This was a fastpitch tournament, but you wouldn't know it by the scores. Many, many games with at least one of the teams scoring in double digits - the worst one I saw was an 18-14 final score. Approx 50 teams in the tournament, ASA three game guarantee format, about 120 games. The lady doing the stats for the tournament said that there were 202 home runs hit during the tournament. I did 12 games (at $20 per) and had at least one home run in each game.

Our UIC was Wild Bill...what a character! This was my first time meeting him and he lived up to every story I've heard. I did get a chance to sit and talk with him one on one the last day of the tourney after my games were finished. I will work for him anytime. SRW and bkbjones - I did tell him that I had "met" you two on the board here...he had good things to say about both of you. He also said that he would work with our state UIC here in AZ to get some of our guys up to Washington next year...that would be a treat.

I only had one ejection in the tournament and it was easy..."YOU HAVE TO BE F....NG KIDDING ME!" after a called strike three.

About the only other unusual thing was that we had one umpire removed from a game during a weather delay on Saturday and sent home...there were near riots in three of the games he was assigned to...Wild Bill said that was the first time he ever had to do something like that.

It was a good tourney and I had a great time...saw some old friends and one I didn't expect to see...he was called at the last minute to replace another umpire with a conflict. Lots of beer was drank and lots of stories were exchanged.....probably me best experience at a national yet.

[SRW]

I am done with my National assignment as well. Our tourney concluded last night. The half-inning-ending home run rule is fantastic. Makes for quick games. I think my longest game of the entire weekend lasted 1:05. My shortest was 35 minutes, and was ended by run rule 15/4. Most were in the 45-60 minute time frames. I am amazed how much running the base umpire does in a slow pitch game! I'm slightly sore from not anticipating that.

I was honored enough to be assigned 1B in the final game. I had a call at every base, including the plate. Had 3 rotations to the plate - one with a safe call. Took the BR to 3B on a fly to LF and had a safe call there. Frequent double play balls, and very quick-paced game. The game ended with a run rule in the 6th.

Overall a great tourney. Glad I was a part of it!

[bkbjones]

[QUOTE=Andy]About the only other unusual thing was that we had one umpire removed from a game during a weather delay on Saturday and sent home...there were near riots in three of the games he was assigned to...Wild Bill said that was the first time he ever had to do something like that. [QUOTE] Ooooooohhh...we have our general meeting on Tuesday. I can barely wait to get the details! Wild Bill is absolutely wonderful. I'm glad you got to work for him, Andy.

Would love to have some of you up here. First weekend of May would work very well -- that's our biggest tournament of the year, and you can get away from 90 degrees to 60 degrees up here.