Jennie Finch Announces Retirement From USA

OKLAHOMA CITY – Arguably the most recognized softball player in the World, Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) will hang up her Red, White and Blue uniform as she announced her retirement from USA Softball effective after the 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball presented by Six Flags, announced today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America. During her 10 year career with USA Softball, Finch has emerged as an icon bringing recognition to the sport on levels transcending the diamond. … Continue Reading

Washington Is First Ever Ranked No. 1 In Every ESPN/USA Softball Poll

Oklahoma City — Despite losing first place votes to both Alabama and Michigan, Washington is the No. 1 team in the nation, according to the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll released today by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America. The 16th consecutive No. 1 ranking for the Huskies (45-6) also marks the first time in the history of the poll that a team has been the top ranked team for an entire regular season. … Continue Reading

ASA Unveils Rosters For 2010 Canadian Open, Japan Cup

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 20 athletes who will represent the United States this summer at competitions and exhibitions in Canada and Japan. The athletes, who are members of the 2010 USA Softball Women’s National Team and the Women’s Future National Team, will participate in three events over two months: Canadian Open Fast Pitch International Championship, July 7-11, in Surrey, B.C.; exhibition games, July 13-14, Whitehorse, Yukon; and Japan Cup, August 3-9, in Sendai City, Japan. … Continue Reading

Junior WNT Campers Chosen

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 42 athletes who have accepted an invitation to attend the 2010 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team selection camp, June 10-13, at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The athletes, who are age 18 and under, represent 13 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah. … Continue Reading

USA Softball Announces 2009 USA Softball Athletes Of The Year

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 .500 with a home run and three runs scored. During the summer of 2009, she made an appearance in all 18 games with 17 starts with three home runs and 17 hits. As a pitcher, she was 5-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Finch allowed only two earned runs in 26.0 innings pitched. … Continue Reading

ASA Announces World Cup Tickets On Sale

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.” … Continue Reading

Top 50 Watch List for 2010

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. … Continue Reading

ASA Announces Athletes And Alternates For 2010 WNT

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.
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ASA 18U Gold Tournament Moves to Marietta, Georgia in 2010

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.” … Continue Reading

2010 ASA Rule And Code Changes

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 … Continue Reading