Equipment and Uniform Turn-In

Coaches before turn in, Please;

Have all uniforms washed
Clean out your equipment bags
Empty gas out of generator, if possible
Right down a list of issues with equipment

Please call Steve L if you have not turned in your equipment or uniforms 507-259-6650

Click for "Finish Strong" Video

Rochester Renegades 4th place @ 12U B State

The Rochester Renegades captured 4th place in the 12U Class B State Softball Tournament in Austin July 19,20 and qualified for the Northern National Tournament in Springfield, MO. The Renegades won 9-8 over New Ulm Blue, lost 11-0 to New Ulm White, defeated Owatonna 6-3, and narrowly lost their final game 2-0 to St. Peter. The girls ended their season with a 24-7 record.

Front row: Allison Radke, Lauren Kalwasinski. Second row: Laura Meillier. Third row: Sarah Owens, Blair LeBeck, Kristen Erickson, Nicole Ward, Morgan Streyle, Jessica Hopp, Emily Smith. Back row: Tom Owens, Randy Erickson, Mina Smith. Not pictured: Mikayla Thelen

Rochester Slam Capture 14U B State Championship

The Rochester Slam took the 14U Class B State title in Owatonna July 19-20. They will advance to the Northern Regional National in Springfield Mo, July 30-Aug 3. They went undefeated in the tournament 5-0 by beating Waseca 12-10, New Ulm Red 5-4 (8 innings), Rochester Heat 11-3, St. Peter 4-3 & in the championship game, they beat Redwood Falls 4-2. Teams members include: Kelly Bier, Carly Bjork, Danielle Freetly, Becca Garry, Katie Greve, Theresea Hendrickson, Sam Macken, Morgan Maiers, Alyssa Nelson, Hannah Nelson, Nicole Nelson, Erin Oakland & Jenni Otto. The team is coached by Mike & Becky Macken, Jim Bier and Tom Bjork.

Rochester Title Polar Bears take Austin 16U Tournament

Rochester Title Polar Bears, coached by Bill Crowson and Rich Mills, won the Austin Fastpitch Tournament at Todd Park, June 14 - 15. After losing the first game to Red Wing (at which time we were 4 players short due to girls taking the ACT that morning), they beat Martin County 6-4; Austin’s #1 team 5-3; Rochester Hurricanes 5-1; Austin again 6-3; and Red Wing in the championship game 9-4.

submitted photo

Rochester 12U Eagles win WinonaTournament

Unlikely Impact............

“…In one act, you have embodied what softball is all about…this will come back to you in amazing ways…" Sue Enquist, a former college softball head coach, emphatically spoke these words to a young lady who was recently flown to the Softball Women's College World Series. Mallory Holtman, a recent graduate with a degree in business administration, made one small decision during her last college softball game, as a senior, that changed her life.

Shortly put, her team was down in the 2nd inning when a senior on the opposing team came to bat. This particular senior had never hit a home run and this game would determine who was to move on in the season. Before anyone knew it, the ball was hit and began sailing over the fence. The cheering began and the batter began rounding first base. As she was on her way to second she realized she had missed the base and began to turn around. In that instant, something popped in her knee (later found to be a torn ACL) and she hit the ground. No one knew what had happened and unfortunately, no teammate or coach on her team could touch her. The batter barely crawled back to first in agony. The rules state that if a player is substituted in, the hit will be considered a single with 2 RBI's. Take away the first and only home run this player would ever have? It was heartbreaking to hear. And that is when Mallory stepped in.

With complete grace, according to all, Mallory approached the umpire with an idea. “It wasn't a thought out thing, it just happened" She asked him if it would count if she and a teammate carried her around and touched every base. With little hesitation the umpire said yes and so the emotional journey began. Two players including Mallory carried the opposing teammate around each base stopping slowly to lower her down and touch each base. Instead of seeing cheers and screams at home plate, it was tears.

It was a small moment in time that less than 100 people witnessed. It has now gone down in softball history as an act no one who participates in the sport will ever forget. Some of the things the “trio" (as they like to call themselves) consisting of Mallory, her teammate and the opposing player have done includes: Being featured on over 4 television shows, attending awards ceremonies around the country, personal invitations to sporting events, throwing out the first pitch at a professional game and just hanging with happening people all day long. Not realizing that that one split decision she made would become so widespread; Mallory is still in shock.It is difficult for her to sum up but she shared this with me, “It is surreal. Everything that has happened is not normal. Having people know your name, having famous people call and personally invite you to be on their show...all amazing. But the best part by far is having young girls look up to you and tell you, you are their hero. It puts it all in perspective."

We should all be so lucky to gain that perspective. Just another reminder of what ATHLETE means.

by Sarah Clark (Nikewomen)

RYFSA Softball Teams Volunteer at Miracle Field.

The RYFSA U12 Cobras and U14 Ravens helped 30 handicap children play ball this last week. Each girl “buddies” with a child who needs help running the bases, fielding balls, swinging the bat, pitching and being a buddy on the bench. This all happened at the Miracle Field at the Watson Sports Complex. This ball field was designed for handicap children and adults. For the next three weeks they need volunteers. Monday nights are the adults and Tuesday nights are the youth. The volunteers need to be at the field at 5:45 pm and the games are over at 7:00 pm. Hats off this these young girls!!!! These pictures are worth a thousand words. Thanks to Mark & Paula Kuisle.

Contact Vicki Allen at vallen@possabilities.org

The RYFSA has Instructional Videos to view. They are from the USA Softball DVD Series, and offer insight, instruction and tips on the game of fastpitch softball. This is a great opportunity to to improve your teams level of play! RYFSA Coaches have priority over other requestors. This is how you can view the videos:

1. Chose what video(s) you would like to view from the selection below.

2. Send request to Becky Macken via email.

3. Becky will communicate with you on the video library policy.

VOLUME 1 VOLUME 2 VOLUME 3 VOLUME 4 VOLUME 5 VOLUME 6 VOLUME 7

Fundamentals Basic Infield Infield Outfield Fundamentals Beginning Advanced

of Hitting Fundamentals Position Play Play of Catching Pitching Pitching

Pitching and Hitting Instruction:

Kim: 630-639-2090 &

Clark: 630-440-1862

or jonesdugout@charter.net

Catching Instruction:

Sarah: 507-993-5677 or lowbee40@yahoo.com

How to decide to what bat to buy?

There are so many bats on the market to chose from, how do you decide on what to buy for your player? Here is a great link to do the necessary research. Hopefully it will help you make your purchase a smart one. CLICK HERE!!!

ARTICLES & WEBSITES OF INTEREST (Special Thanks to Mark Hindal)

Throwing Drills The 7 Biggest Mistakes Youth Sports Coaches Make Base Running Drills

Hitting/Bunting Drills Infield Drills Outfield Drills

Coaching Tips

http://www.fastsports.com/tips/

http://www.softballexcellence.com/

http://www.girls-softball.com/

Drills

http://www.game-ex.com/drills/index.shtml

http://amug.org/~nlellis/sb.dhs.drills.html

http://www.softball-spot.com/free-girls-softball-fastpitch-drills/121/

Hitting Videos

http://imageevent.com/siggy/hitting;jsessionid=c9j8375fa1.tiger_s

Catchers

http://www.baseballcatchers.com/

RYFSA Fund-Raising Chair visits with pete rose

Bob Rosenblad has always been a "big" thinker, and has taken his fund-raising responsibilities very seriously. We see he's taken them to a new level as well! Here he is with Pete Rose after meeting him on a recent vacation! Anything new to tell us Bob?

Want to see your team in print?
To submit information or pictures to the youth sports page contact Ken Hanson at the Post Bulletin kenhanson@postbulletin.com

Buying your own equipment?
Before you buy any new equipment make sure that it meets all ASA requirements or you will not be able to use them in games or tournaments. This includes the new ruling for helmets. If you have a helmet from past years it must meet the new standards. All ASA helmets must be certified and bear the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) stamp, have a face guard and chin strap. Bats must have the ASA stamp. For a complete listing go to the ASA website by hitting it below!!