Congratulations From the NCFSCA

The North Carolina Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association would like to congratulate all the teams that participated in the State Championship Series this past weekend in Raleigh. A special congratulations to the eventual winners for bringing home the State Championship trophies to their respective schools. I am sure it was a wonderful experience for all the teams, and I personally enjoyed seeing the games and the sportsmanship displayed. Fastpitch is alive and well in North Carolina. I do believe one of the items on the NCFSCA agenda will be the extra inning rule. I believe we as an association may want to bring this again to the attention of the NCHSAA. The marathons were impressive and kept everyone on the edge of their seats or the edge of their trees as it were. I personally do not believe high school athletes in a championship format should be put through what these young ladies had to withstand. That's just my opinion and I am sure others will disagree with me, but I believe this issue needs to be addressed. Again congratulations, everyone who attended the games probably saw some of the best softball this State has to offer.

 

Extra Inning

Pops, you are right on the money. Practically everyone else in the softball world has gone to International rules for extra innings. While being on the field that long cannot be particularly good for anyone (reflexes diminished, for example), the pitchers are most at risk. The South View pitcher logged an unhealthy number of innings as did the Central Cabarrus kid. Staying out there for eight, nine or ten innings is one thing, but to have to throw 13+ innings is, I would think, jeopardizing their arms and careers, not to mention in most cases having to come back in an hour or so and throw again. No highly competitve kid wants to come out and coaches with only one go-to hurler are placed in a nearly impossible position. The International rule would help resolve the problem.

 

The international rule is unfair to the kids. It is the coaches responsiblity to monitor the health of their players. A run in a championship game needs to be earned. If a pitcher is tired, change pitchers and prove your the best TEAM in the state.

 

In my opinion, I did see the best teams in the state this weekend. Pitching is the major component of any fastpitch softball team. It was not that way ten years ago when the old slow pitch was played. Situational hitting and great defense won championships in those days. Fastpitch softball is a different animal when you get down to the best teams in the state. Everyone has their top pitcher and most coaches are going to dance with the one that brought them to the dance. The international rule would give that other team player the opportunity to lay a bunt down, move the runner to third, and see if another one of those team players could squeeze in that run. It's my opinion and one that I will push in our Association. I am sure others would like to see 19 innings and four hours of great softball. I would just like to move to 2 or 3 fields to see it.

 

What about the number of games a team can play? Other states do not have a limit on how many games the can play in a season, why does NC?

 

agreed, just as Any Runs should be!

 

..............forget the trophy

 

Thr first thing the coaches association should try and get changed is the dead period in August. Some really good travel ball tournaments are in August and many teams don't get to play then because their coach also coaches in their high school. This is a good time to practice and play and the many coaches that do travel ball and school are restricted during this time. It is especially bad this year since school doesn't even start till the last of August and the dead period starts on August 1. Don't seem right to me. I know my daughters coach is in this predicament and he thinks it is very unfair and I agree. We shouldn't penalize the coaches who put forth the effort to do both for they are usually some of our better coaches. NCFPCA; TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE ON THIS!!!

 

I agree, the state championship should not be decided by a team given a free pass to second base. Coaches need to make sure they tell their players about eating right, and drinking plenty of water. Coaches also need to make sure their players are conditioned. Most of these players goto travel ball tourneys and play up to five times a day.
Do not let a championship be given away, let it be earned!!!

 

Intnl Rule

It's not like the International extra inning rule is based on who scores first wins. Both teams have equal opportunity to advance the runner and score. So, here's a question, not a point of argument: why is the International Rule used practically everywhere else? Is it there to save time, protect the health of the players, or what? Really, does anyone out there have knowledge of how it came about? I'd be interested to know.