Worth Ohio Wave FP Classic Experience

[default]

Just wondered if anyone was impressed by this tournament this past weekend. ?Have attended it for several years in row and found this year's experience extremely less than desirable. Not referring to team winning or losing. But to the behavior of one sponsoring team-very rude, cussing and a lot of name calling by coaches and players during a game. Had umpires who weren't real umpires (just helping out in the field, he told us) and the ones who where "real" certainly didn't dress the role nor did they know many basic rules (ex infield fly). Had games scheduled for 8pm on unlit fields. Had schedules changed to better fields when playing the sponsoring teams but had to play on field with incorrect base and pitching lengths for other games (told we had no choice). I think you get my point. ?It made for a very long weekend.

 

[default]

Raskell_sb I agree with you on this tournament. This was our first and last year playing in this one. I would not recommend this tournament to any team. We played on the fields you are talking about - 65 foot bases. We ?only had a plate umpire for 3 games Saturday who possibly may have been impaired. Not only did we have him for those 3 games, but all 4 games on Saturday. He did the best he could do under the circumstances but was obviously fatigued at the end. The jerk that called himself the head umpire of the tournament was comical. Most of the umpires had OHSAA equipment which is fine until the question about the positioning of the field umpires (inside the bases the way baseball is done clogging up the middle infield) was brought to the home plate umpire and the head umpire. The umpire sarcastically responded that was the way he had been doing it for 27 years. Wrongly I might add. In a classic response the head umpire said no one else had complained about the officiating. Geez, maybe most felt it would do no good, or thought not worth the time for a bunch of smart alecks. To pay the amount of money for entry and then hold this up as a World Series Qualifier is an absolute joke. Especially for the quality of the teams that were there. Which was very good. It still leaves that homered feeling at the end.

 

[default]

What do you mean by "impaired"?

 

[default]

raskell_sb and jacksb,

sorry that your experience was not as you expected. Everyone involved with this event worked thier tails off to provide a quality experience for all involved. With the rain on friday ending at 1:30pm I think that the fact that we started on time at 3:30 pm on four of the six fields that were scheduled was a testiment to the ground crews efforts. The rescheduling on friday evening (which was minimal) was done that way to insure that saturday morning started off as planned with the good weather that was coming. Of the 6 teams that had to be resceduled only one had evn the slightest complaint and they expressed that to me on friday evening and that was that.

Regarding the comments about starting an 8:00pm game on an unlit field that is true. We worked expteremly hard to keep those fields on schedule and get the games in. No unsafe condition existed. I was there and I would not have let that happen. PERIOD. Prior to that game starting both coaches were told that if it became too dark then the game would be completed under the lights on either of the other two fields when that 8:00pm game ended. Nobody seemed to have a problem with this. I think what happens is when a team loses, something has to be to blame. This is not uncommon across the country. Just human nature.

Regarding the comments made about individuals and name calling is truely childish. If you have an issue with an individual or an umpire I am about the most available and apporachable person that you will ever come across. I never heard one word from you. I am right our here in front of everyone. My name, phone number, e-mail address etc... I am accessable. My guess is that you are not a coach, or at least one that is not willing to identify himself (or herself).

Again, I can accept that perhaps your experience was not as expected. If so please try to handle it like an adult and drop the personal insults and actually try to work to constructively get something done. To hide behind your log-on name and put down people who worked thier tails off this past weekend in some attempt to make you feel better is not what this forum is all about.

Again please identify yourself, and your team name. Then maybe try contacting me so we can address the situation like adults.

 

[default]

This must be the guy who came to the tent Sunday afternoon yelling and cussing about the umpires. I might add that this person caused quite a seen in front of about 10 other umpires and fans. We assumed that he was a coach but was told later that he was a parent. It is to bad that true Liscened umpire's can go all spring during school ball with out these kind of problems , but when the summer teams start up it turns into total chaos from many coaches and parents. Maybe it is time for USSSA,ASA,NSA , etc to tighten up the standards for the participants at these events .

Just so everyone knows , I was one of the officials in the tent at the time this happened and I can say that no official will accept this kind of behavior from coaches or fans alike . I think it is time that the adults at these events start to remember why we are all there , it is for the kids playing the game ,not for coaches or parents personal glory, IMHO .

 

[default]

Wow! There's been a lot of excitement in Greenville this year.

 

[default]

Just out of curiosity, why would you use fields with improper base and pitching lengths? Especially in a national qualifier? Wouldn't the qualifying organization have issues with this?

 

[default]

No personal insults intended. ?I only listed what I experienced, either at my own games or when watching other games. I also didn't blame our losing on anyone. ?Again, I listed what I knew about. I also would like to know why you scheduled games on a field with incorrect base dimensions. I noticed you didn't address this-or having umpires who weren't certified. ?You only fired a lot of innuendo my way.

 

[default]

I have to say that I coached a team in the 18U division. I never had 1 arguement with an umpire the whole weekend, Lost a few games due to whatever,,reason,, go figure,, twice to the home team but still not 1 arguement from me. The reason why is I have umpired for over 15 years and I know that you can miss a call every now and then. With all of that said I thought the tournament went pretty well over all, considering we played saturday at the k of c fields. Showed up bases are 65 feet with no effert at all to change them would take maybe 20 minutes, Go for coin toss alcohol is smelled on umpire, misses several calls umping by his self, very inconsistant strike zone, and every call went to other team including leaving bases wayyyyyyy early, but still no complaints from me, we change fields and guess what he goes with us and after 4 games what a day. Like I said I dont complain about the umpires but the 65 foot bases were unexceptable, and would probably void the qualifier if reported. ;D ;D :-/ :-/ ??? ???

 

[default]

I have to agree that our experience was less desireable.

We did have some umpires that clearly were not certified, but they did OK. They made some mistakes, but nothing terrible. The certified ones were good.

Biggest issue was we were scheduled to play 5 games on Saturday. I hadn't seen that before, unless you were fighting your way back through a losers bracket, or you had rain. By the 5th game, our girls were worthless. I am glad it wasn't 90 degrees, or I am not sure they would have made it to the last game. Starting the last game at 8PM wasn't good, but our girls were toast by then. It is what it is, but doesn't make for a good experience.

Other issue was the fields. They were not drug or lined at 8 AM and they weren't at 8 PM either. Never saw a rake or liner hit them all day.

My vote for our team is to try someplace else next year. Lot's of choices out there.

 

[default]

amazing how many first time posters there are in this thread. Seems kinda strange, or maybe it's just me.

 

[default]

Rich, what about the 65' bases???

 

[default]

Is the number of posts the issue or the experience they had in Greenville?

 

[default]

Don't understand 65' bases for a qualifier? Someone had to catch this before the first set of games!

 

[default]

65 foot bases were caught, befort the first game but nothing ever done. Umpires on Sunday setting under the tent saying we only have time for 1 beer between games and we better start drinking shots... USSSA uses alot of slow pitch umpires and fields thats why you have the alochol. Like I said I didnt complain about the calls but the base umpires were not certified didnt even wear the uniform to try and act out the part, but still thats ok what about 65 feet bases ive never saw Rich respond to that. I will say I thought they did a good job at getting the fields ready and keeping the games on time for the most part. Is temporary fences to much to ask on 275 foot fences, just wondering. 275 fences---65' bases thats not fastpitch softball thats just lets play and keep, our team tuned up. I watched the game and personally saw the episode under the Umpires tent and the PARENT said A qualifier, 1 umpire, 65' bases, 275, fences, umpires drinking, and finally the base umpires in the championship rounds not even santioned and out of position how do you do this in this kind of tournament "GEEZ GOLLY", RESPONSE FROM UMPIRE ive umped for 27 years and thats the way ive always done it. PARENT RESPONDS well then youve done it wrong for 27 years because in softball base umpire is always in the a-b-or c position located in the grass behind the players not in the middle of the field in front of the shortstop and second baseman. Then CLASSY coach steps up and says lets go the umpires didnt cost us the game we didnt score enough runs and they walk off into the sunset waiting for their next tournament!!!

 

[default]

chicagolip I am really not sure what axe you have to grind but I am really growing tired of your drunk umpire comments. Not only is it wrong but it is extremly childish as well.

You hide behind your screen name and throw monkey crap all over the place. Your rants are ignorant and rude to say the least.

I can respect the fact that your weekend may not have gone the way that you wanted it to but really you should grow up and act your age here. I am not interested in your continued cheap shots being taken at hard working umpires and others.

 

[default]

Not grinding an axe just stating the truth!!!! Not bashing anyone , not childish name calling such as ignorant!!! Just asked about temporary fences , 65' bases, umpire positioning and you seem to get very defensive... I was told that on Saturday the one umpire that was possibably impaired or a so called booZehound called a team from West Virginia "REDNECKS".. but anyway was any one comment a lie..NOPE and what about the bases?????