OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball are pleased to announce that Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) and Matt Palazzo (Des Moines, Iowa) were named the USA Softball Female and Male Athlete of the year, respectively, for their accomplishments during the 2009 season. Finch saw time as both a pitcher and at first base on defense and made an impact at the plate on offense. Finch’s hits in the Championship Game of both the Japan Cup and Canada Cup secured the USA victory. She was voted the Japan Cup MVP after she not only threw a one-hitter to defending Olympic Gold Medalist Japan but also drove in the only two runs scored, with a double, to help lead the team to a 2-0 victory. In the Championship game of the Canada Cup with two outs left in the seventh, Finch hit a walk-off single that would push a run across the plate and give the United States a 3-2 victory. Offensively, Finch was in the Top five in all three events in batting average with a summer average of .447. Her best event was at the World Cup of Softball where Finch hit ...

OKLAHOMA CITY — International softball returns to the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City when the 2010 USA Softball Women's National Team takes on Canada, Japan and the USA Futures Team at the 5th World Cup of Softball, July 22-26. “There is nothing like the World Cup,” said two-time Olympian Jennie Finch. “It is the best environment and my favorite event each year. I look forward to competing at the greatest softball complex in the World and in front of the World’s Greatest Fans. I get chills just thinking about it again and am really looking forward to returning to Oklahoma City.” "We are proud to welcome world-class softball back to Oklahoma City for this premier event in International women's fast pitch softball," said ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda. "The World Cup of Softball has proven to be one of the premier events in the softball community, attracting the highest level athletes from across the country and the world. For our athletes, the World Cup provides one of the only opportunities to play before a home crowd with 'USA' written across their chests so we hope people come out to the stadium ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, has selected its initial “Watch List” for the 9th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award. This award, which is considered the most prestigious honors in Division I women’s collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. Past winners of this award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee’s Monica Abbott, Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher and 2009 winner Washington pitcher/hitter Danielle Lawrie. The 2010 Pre-Season Watch List is comprised of 50 players representing 35 schools and 14different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list includes 27 seniors, 17 juniors and six sophomores. The ASA will announce the 25 finalists on April 7. A player does not have to appear on this initial watch list to be considered as a top 25 finalist. However, once the top 25 finalists are named the winner of the award will come from that list. *Freshman qualify for the top 25 list once they have competed at the collegiate level. 2010 USA Softball ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 17 athletes that were offered a USA Softball Athlete Agreement for the 2010 season. The final roster for the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team will be announced in March with the team competing in the ISF Women’s World Championships, June 23-July 2, 2010 in Caracas, Venezuela as well as other events to be scheduled at a later date. The athletes below were offered a USA Softball athlete agreement for 2010: Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.) Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.) Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.) Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.) Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.) Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.) Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.) Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.) Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.) Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) Cat Osterman (Houston,Texas) Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.) The following 13 athletes selected from the selection camp will be alternates on the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team: Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.) Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) Courtney Bures (Haymarket, Va.) Molly Johnson (Lexington, Ken.) Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.) Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif.) Jenae Leles (Fair ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today that Marietta, Ga. will be the new site for the 2010 ASA Girls’ 18-Under GOLD National Championships August 1-7. With an ASA Code decision recently passed by the ASA Council, the 18-U GOLD will move to the Lost Mountain Softball Complex in Marietta in 2010, a to be determined west coast site in 2011 and return to the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City in 2012. “With the changes that occurred in Reno at the ASA Annual Meeting, we decided that moving the GOLD to the east would be a great first step towards the new rotation,” said ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “Marietta has proven to be a successful host for ASA National Championships especially as the 2004 hosts of the GOLD National. We are excited to move this tournament next year to the west and then every third year return to our home in Oklahoma City. We feel this is the best solution to meet the needs of the teams and everyone else involved in the success of the GOLD.” Below is the code reference to the site rotation referenced above: Article 602 ...

RENO, Nev. --- The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America concluded the 78th Annual Council Meeting in Reno, Nev. On Thursday afternoon with decisions being voted on that affect the ASA Official Rules of Softball and the ASA Code. Added Nov. 18: A list of 2010 ASA code and rule changes is now avaliable on the ASA Web site. For code changes with comments, please click here or to view the playing rule changes with comments click here. The following are highlights in each division of play: JUNIOR OLYMPIC FAST PITCH Article 501 C 02 d. New and Re-number Rostered Player.d. Once a player participates in a club or varsity softball program for any university, community college, or junior college, he or she is ineligible to play in the Junior Olympic Class B program. Comments: Eliminates college players from the JO Class B program. Article 501 C 05 a 07 New and Re-number 07. Once a player participates in an intercollegiate softball program for a university, college, or junior/community college, she is ineligible to play in the Junior Olympic Gold Program Comments: Eliminates college players from the JO Gold Program. Article 509 B 04 f Girls’ ...

RENO, Nev. --- Piedmont Virginia Amateur Softball Association commissioner Andy Dooley (Bedford, Va.) began his two-year term as President of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America earlier this week. Dooley previously served as President Elect since 2007 and now has started his term as President which will run through November of 2011. “This is one of the greatest moments of my career and one of the most challenging,” said Dooley. “As thrilled and honored as I am by the confidence you have shown by electing me, I am also profoundly aware of the great responsibility the council entrusts in me in the coming years. I am confident that, with the help of everyone on the council, we will raise the ASA to new heights.” Dooley has been involved with the ASA for 27 years and has served as the Piedmont Virginia commissioner since 1993. He has guided his association through hosting numerous ASA National Championships and has received six James Farrell awards for excellence in hosting championships. A native to Virginia, Dooley began his softball career as a player at age 16 competing in men’s fast pitch. He played 22 years of fast pitch and also umpired ...

RENO, Nevada - The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) inducted eight members on Wednesday evening to its National Softball Hall of Fame as ASA celebrated its 29th Annual Hall of Fame Induction celebration. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the 2010 class was announced with 10 members nominated for induction next year. The four players inducted this evening included Leah O’Brien Amico, Corona, Calif. (Fast Pitch Player); Al Yeager, Seymour, Conn. (Fast Pitch Player); Allyson Rioux, (Deceased)-Stamford, Conn. (Fast Pitch Player); Jeff Seip, Boyertown, Pa. (Fast Pitch Player). The non-players inducted were Benny Bunch (Deceased) of Enid, Okla., (meritorious service), R.B. Thomas of Manassas, Va. (manager) and umpires Newton Buckner of Brooklyn, N.Y and Tony Walsh of Memphis, Tenn. The Class of 2009 increases the membership in the National Softball Hall of Fame to 353 since it was established in 1957. Formal inductions were started in 1981 and since 2001 the induction has been held as the closing banquetat the ASA National Council meeting. Leah O’Brien-Amico Leah O’Brien-Amico earned ASA All-America honors six times during her career and was a member of three Olympic gold-medal winning teams in 1996, 2000 and 2004. She posted a .313 batting average ...

RENO, Nevada – The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced today the host sites for the 2011 National Championship season as part of the annual Council Meeting in Reno, Nevada. Along with over 90 tournament sites awarded, voting was held for the 2011 ASA Council Meeting site as well as positions for the Board of Directors. Six cities showed up to bid on the 2011 ASA National Council Meeting site; San Diego, Calif., Buffalo, N.Y., Tucson, Ariz., Orlando, Fla., Louisville, Ken., and Myrtle Beach, S.C. After the cities presented to the council, the field was voted down to two cities with Myrtle Beach and San Diego remaining. With 120 votes (55.4%), the 2011 ASA National Council Meeting site was awarded to Myrtle Beach. The next order of business was the election of the new ASA President Elect. E.T. Colvin of Columbus, Miss. won unopposed and was elected as the President elect, effective Nov. 12, 2009. He will serve as President Elect for two years until he takes over the role of ASA President in November of 2011. President Elect Andy Dooley will enter his role of President on Nov. 12 replacing Joey Rich who served the ASA well for ...

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. --- The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) continues its preparation for the 78th Annual Council Meeting as it is just days from kicking off the meeting in Reno, Nev. Hosted at the Peppermill Resort, Nov. 6-14, the Annual Council Meeting brings together administrators, players and tournament hosts from around the country to evaluate the needs of the association along with proposed rule and code changes for all divisions of softball. The majority of the council meeting will consist of breakout sessions for the different committees and regions. However, several special events will be held throughout the week including the Wilson Sporting Goods Awards Luncheon on Monday, the “Fun Walk” sponsored by Central Screen Printing on Tuesday morning (click here for a flyer) and the National Softball Hall of Fame banquet and reception on Wednesday evening. More than 100 exhibitors from throughout the United States are expected to attend the annual ASA Trade Show, which will be held Saturday evening in the 2nd Floor Tuscan Tower. The show will feature exhibits from cities bidding on the ASA National Championships, equipment manufacturers and softball suppliers with more than 1,000 council members, association delegates and visitors passing through. A ...