Cleveland Plain Dealer sports writer Dick Zunt passes away.
January 6, 2010

Dick Zunt who covered High School sports for the surrounding Cleveland, Ohio area loses his battle with Cancer on Jan. 2nd. If you ever got a chance to meet Dick Zunt you would realize he was one of a kind. St. Ignatius football coach Chuck Kyle said there must be 2 Dick Zunts. The reason being because it seemed like he was everywhere when it came to high school sports.Dick who ran track for St. Ignatius way back when loved to cover high school sports. From football to track he covered them all. He was a personal friend of mine and he was a close friend to the Stabile family. He wrote about my wife Antoinette when she was in high school. Like I said he covered sports until he retired from the Plain Dealer a few years ago.I attended his wake yesterday in the afternoon and the place was packed with a line that carried ot into the street. I saw a lot of old friends that wrote for the Plain Dealer the last 40 years. You can click here to read a full story the Plain Dealer wrote about him.

Uploaded 3 new videos.
January 3, 2010

Mike Shenk Going Into ASA National Hall Of Fame
January 2, 2010

I Longtime softball player Mike Shenk from Pennsyvania has been elected into the 2010 ASA Hall Of Fame. I talked with Mike and he feels truly honored to be part of the ASA Hall Of Fame The ASA was always grandfather of slo-pitch softball and I just feel honored to be involved with that class of players. Mike said he actually started out playing fast pitch softball. Mike started playing softball in 1984 and then again in 1985 he played fast pitch. The high lite of those two years was when Mike got a chance to hit off of Eddie Feighner. Feighner who Mike said was in his later years (Feighner) of playing when he got the chance to hit off of him. Mike said he hit a double off of the fence against the great one.       After the exhibition game Feighner put on a little clinic and asked Mike if he would like to catch him., so Mike did. He said he was more excited about catching Eddie than the double he hit off of him.

Here is a list of the teams that Mike has played with over the years..

1986 - Slo-pitch team locally, Class C
1987 -  Farrell Maintinence Class A
1988 - Farrell Maintinence Class A  Pennsylvania State Champs.
1989 - Farrell Maintinence Class A 13th Place ASA in Parma, Ohio.
!990  - Talor Bros.
1991 - Taylor Bros.
1992 – Taylor Bros.
1993 – DJ’s
1994 – Shen Valley
1995 – Lighthouse     
1996 - Lighthouse
1997 – Ritch’s won the ASA Super
1998 – Team TPS   MVP @ USSSA Major World Series 
1999 – Team Easton  won the ASA and ISA  
2000 – Team TPS  
2001 - Long Haul Trucking wins the grand slam of softball. using TPS bats

Mike has been named All American 22 times and has won 16 National  Championships. MIke who has a lifetime batting average of .701 has hit more than 1500 home runs during his softball career. 1998 was a very big year for Mike because that is the year his Mother passed away and he used that to motivate him to earn the MVP trophy that year at the USSSA Men's Major World Series.

Mike is now the ASA Deputiy Commisioner for the State of Pennsylvania. Mike has got involved with the NASF. The North American Sports Franchise. Mike is the National Director for this new association.

Mike is doing great and is back in the gym after receiving a kidney transplant 4 months ago. Mike had to cut short his playing days because of the kidney problems. He says now that he is looking forward to possibly be playing some 40 and over ball.

 

Uploaded 2 new videos.
December 24, 2009

I have uploaded two more videos from my softball material. I am in the process of doing some more videos when I get the time. It does take some time to transfer the videos. Hope everybody enjoys them or they don't. I have been putting them up so some of my old teammates can see them.

Rick Scherr voted into the ISA National Hall Of Fame.
December 24, 2009

All of the conventions are over with and there have been some rules changes implemented. But what else is new! At the ISA convention they voted on who was going into next years Hall Of Fame class. Rick Scherr won the vote unanimously. Rick was voted the MVP when he helped Howard's Furniture capture the inaugural ISA World Series in 1984. That tournament was held in 1984 in Birmingham, Alabama. Howard's defeated a very talented Elite Coatings that weekend. All Rick did was hit .758 to lead the tournament in batting average with 31 rbi's. He was second in home runs with 16 as his team mate Buck Buchanon hit 17 to lead all home run hitters. Rick who has been recognized by Jerome Ernest as one of the greatest softball players to ever play is also the All Time Home Run leader in the USSSA Men's Major World Series. Rick has now been inducted into the ASA HOF (2001) and the USSSA HOF (1991) Rick who still works Howard's Furniture lives on Lake Norman in North Carolina. The Crusher says he just plays horseshoes today. He son Adam is now working with the Strongmen Contest. Adam who is 6' 7" tall and weighs in at 355 lbs, benches 585 and shouldn't have any problem picking up those stones or rolling over those cars.Ha! Ha! Good Luck Adam.. And Congratulations to Rick Scherr for all of his achievements while playing the great game of softball.

Greg Connell bats are in and shipping $239.00
December 3, 2009

The Greg Connell bat is finally in and we are shipping them out. It comes in sizes 26, 27, 28, and 30 ounces.
Worth Sports made the Worth SBMGC Greg Connell 2010 M75120 Mayhem 120 Advanced Player Series Slowpitch Softball Bat exclusively for Anaconda Sports!

I Was Headed to the ISA National Convention In Nashville, Tenn. But!
December 3, 2009

I was all set up to go to Nashville for the ISA Convention when things changed. I was diagnosed with a blot clot on my left leg on the 13 of November. I have been attending to the leg but it is not quite well enough for me to travel long distances .I was looking forward to going to the Convention because of all of the people I know in Senior Softball as well. Bill Ruth and Don Stratton is the man behind the ISA and SSUSA and you could not ask for a better person. Bill and his wife really put a nice spread together for the convention. The other reason I wanted to go was to introduce Craig Elliott into the ISA Hall Of Fame. He is definitely deserving of the accomplishment. I ask myself the question sometimes how can this player not be in the Hall Of Fame's. Believe me when I tell you that there is nobody better that I would want on my team. In his prime he was simply unstoppable. I hope that this will get the other associations to put him in their respective Hall Of Fame's. So I will say here to the Big Man congratulations.

Craig Elliott to be inducted into the ISA Hall Fame
November 29, 2009

The only park Craig hasn’t hit it of is Yellowstone Park!

In 1983 Craig hit 390 home runs in 147 games. That established a new home run record ecliping the one set by Mighty Joe Young. .  I feel that is the best softball season anyone player could have. In 1983 we were using a RF-80 ball that did not travel all that great back then. But no matter where you played if Craig was there he would be hitting home runs.  No park could hold him/. He was that strong and had that great of a swing.

I first played against Craig in 1977 in Parma, Ohio and he was playing for Ken Sanders Ford. I was playing with a local team called Hillcrest. We actually thought we had a great team. But after Craig’s team hit more homeruns than we scored runs I realized we had a pretty good team. Not a great team. Craig hit 5 in a row like it was nothing. Their team kept circling the bases home run after home run and I was stunned at second base and kept asking myself this question. Who are these guys and where did they grow them. Craig’s team played for the championship that year in Parma, Ohio against Nelson Paints. They lost two heartbreakers by 1 run both games but Craig because of his hitting and pitching was voted Co-MVP with Bruce Meade.
From that point on I knew who I wanted to be like. Craig Elliott. Little did I know then that we would be roommates on the same team. Whatever team he played for their team was automatically in the hunt every year for the national championship.  There were a handful of players back in the late 70’s and early 80’s that were considered franchise players. Craig was one of them.

I could not believe it when my coach the late Dave Neale got Craig to sign up with Steele’s Sports. That was the day the softball world changed for Steele’s Sports. Steele’s had won many a tournament in the past but they didn’t get their first national championship until Craig joined the team. When Craig ever got out of the car at a ball park to play softball he expected to win. He was that good. He was like John Rambo was in first blood. When his commander told the police “he’s the best. Period! You will need more body bags, well when Craig played softball you would need more softballs.

I will tell you a little story about when Craig first joined the Steele’s Sports Company. It was in the beginning of the year 1985 at a softball complex called  Kendlewood Softball Park in Kansas. We had scheduled a Saturday night exhibition, 4 games against a team called Garrett Builders and another good team. I believe Darrell Beeler was playing with them.  It was kind of cool that night and the wind was blowing in from left field. Craig was not with the team yet because of the business he was running back home in Wadley, Alabama. He had some complications getting via the Airlines and arrived late. The wild part was that he took a cab to the ball park. He flew in somewhere close by and showed up at the ball park after the first game. There was a long walkway from the parking lot to the Press box/Concession stand. It was a really nice ball park then. Anyway here comes Craig up the walkway in cowboy boots. Craig is 6 foot 4 inches tall and with the boots it made him look like he was 6 ft 6 in tall. He had one huge duffle bag and was ready to go. He changed into his uniform and was ready for the next game. With the way his work schedule was I don’t believe he had any batting practice yet. We played 3 more games that evening and Craig put on a little hitting exhibition himself. In the next 3 games he hits 10 home runs and they were all way out against the wind. I always played like I knew I was going to win but when I saw Craig hit that night I definitely knew we were going to win from that point on. I think I hit a few home runs that night myself but the wind was blowing to right field. So I should have but I still didn’t hit as many as the Cranker did.  I myself can’t say enough about Craig Elliott. He was the best
Congratulations on being  induced into the ISA Hall of Fame.

The ASA announces softballs to be used for the year 2010
November 20, 2009

MEMORANDUM

To:              ASA Council Members
Subject:       Softballs for Non-Championship Play

Questions and inquiries have been received regarding the use of a higher COR – lower compression softball for use in non-championship play under ASA Rules or whether use of such a ball has an adverse effect on the applicability of ASA's current insurance policy. 

For the sake of clarification, ASA's Official Rules govern championship play only.  Rule 12 of ASA's Official Rules specifically states that, for non-championship play, the use of any or all of ASA's Rules is a local matter and the Rules may be altered as league officials deem necessary to conduct their own league play.  Therefore, local leagues conducting non-championship play may use a higher COR – lower compression softball without being in violation of ASA Rules.  Also, the specification of the softball used in a game does not affect ASA’s insurance coverage.

Sincerely,
Ron Radigonda
Amateur Softball Association/USA Softball
Executive Director

It's Hall Of Fame time again.
November 29, 2009

It's national convention time again and that means players, coached, sponsors get recognized for the life time accomplishments.

Here is the Class Of 2009`

NSA	Category	ASA	Category	USSSA	Category	ISA	Category
Bob Wesling	Coach	Leah Obrien Amico	Fast Pitch	Dale McGregor	Umpire	Craig Elliott	Player
Bill & Janie Bryant	Meritorious	Jeff Seip	Fast Pitch	Dennis Rulli	Player	Pop Davis	Special Category
Bill VanAlstine	Umpire	Tony Walsh	Umpire	Andrew Purcell	Player	Mark Jackson	Special Category
		R.B. Thomas	Manager	Don Clatterbaugh	Player	Roger Tabor	Manager
		Newton Buchner	Umpire	Meme Venci	Player	Richard Sanders	Special Category
		Allyson Rioux	Fast Pitch	Jeffery Miller	Manager	James Reed	Umpire
		Al Yaeger	Fast Pitch	John Rector	Manager
		Bennie Bunch	Meritorious

Resmondo Wins Coveted USSSA Crown Again.
September, 2009

The Softball Community Loses A Great Softball Player In Alabama.
March 2009

During the early part of the year the softball community of Phoenix City, Alabama lost one of their finest gentleman and softball players. His name was Sidney Cooper. Sidney was one heck of a guy and just loved to play softball. I first saw him while he was playing softball for a team called Ken Sanders Ford in 1977 when I fist met him. He was a gifted athlete that got the slo-pitch game going after playing football in college. He was one heck of an outfielder who really enjoyed playing the game. Sidney played with the Ken Sanders team when they were in their heyday. He was teammates with Craig, Elliott, Charles Wright and Roger Mayo just to name a few of them. His son Cameron has stayed in touch with me and I wanted to let people see a photo of his perfect swing. God Bless you Big Sid.

Sidney Wayne Cooper May 30, 1951 - March 25, 2009 PHENIX CITY, AL — Sidney ÒBig SidÓ Wayne Cooper, 57 of Phenix City, AL went home to be with his Lord Wednesday March 25, 2009 while surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held 2 pm EDT Saturday at Lakewood Baptist Church with Dr. Billy Dickerson, and Rev. DeWayne Dean officiating according to Vance Memorial Chapel in Phenix City.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 pm EDT Friday evening at Lakewood Baptist Church in Phenix City. Mr. Cooper was born May 30, 1951 in San Antonio, TX and was the son of Ann Marie Davis Cooper and the late Stanley William ÒBillÓ Cooper. He was retired from MeadWestvaco Paper with 33 years of service and he was a member of Lakewood Baptist Church. Sidney was a loving and devoted husband, father and friend.  He lost his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease Wednesday morning.  Sidney was a star athlete at Smiths Station High School where he lettered in three sports. He played college football at Auburn University and Troy University.  You can't talk about Big Sid without mentioning softball.   He played professionally all over the country for many years.  He also was a part of many industrial and church league teams, along the way making many lifelong friends.  In 2007, Sidney was voted into the Alabama Softball Hall of Fame, one of his proudest accomplishments.  An avid sportsman, he refereed youth football at Smiths Station Panther Youth League & baseball at American Little League. He was also a volunteer coach at Central High School for many years.  You could also find him catering and helping run Mike & Ed's barbeque. He was best known for singing ÒMustang SallyÓ at numerous weddings & events. Undoubtedly, his biggest joy in life was coaching & watching his children play sports, which was evident by his presence at all their games.