End of Season "Finale Tournament"

As challenging as it seemed at times, it's hard to believe that the season is at its end! Thank you so much for your participation within our program! We could not have done it without all of you and your patience! Feedback overall has been very positive in this "inaugural" and "newly renovated" Mad River Softball season! We certainly hope that all of you are interested in coming back next year. As we wind down the season, we want to point out a couple of things for this weekend's "Finale Tournament" (schedule available on this site):

1) For 14's, ASA rules and regulations will be in effect. That means there are no league-mandated pitching restrictions. Pitching is left to the discretion of the coach for the duration of the tournament. Additionally, coaches have the option of batting all players on their team with free substitution OR can select their top 9 or 10 players. If coaches play their top 9 or 10 players, then ASA substitution rules will be enforced. As a courtesy to all players, if coaches choose to substitute, at least one at bat and 2 innings are requested per player by each coach.

2) For 10's, we have decided it is best to leave the recreational rules as is for the tourney... our consensus is  that the players are not ready for a more advanced game like pitchers completing full innings, dropped 3rd strikes, stealing home on pass balls, etc. We will however, change the 5-run rule to a 5-up rule...this means that a team can score as many runs as it takes to be 5-runs up on the other team rather than quitting the inning as soon as the 5th run scores. This will allow a team to come from behind and possibly win the ball game. Games will also be an hour and twenty minutes versus an hour and ten.

3) Remember, the 5th seed is the only seed not to play on Sunday so please have ALL players pack a change of clothes in their ball bags in the unfortunate event their team happens to finish their season on Saturday. Uniform collection WILL happen after your team's final game! Players will be asked to "strip down" and return their uniforms so please make sure they also pack their uniform shorts in the event they were distributed to them and a change of clothes!! A trash bag was provided to all teams in their uniform bins for just this purpose! All dirty uniforms will be collected in the trash bag and washed by us after the tourney. A final inventory of uniforms will be done prior to being washed and compared against the uniform sign out sheet completed by each coach at uniform distribution. Any unreturned uniforms will be sent a $100 invoice for uniform replacement. If you know your player(s) will not be in attendance at the tournament, please hand off to the coach prior to the tournament. Having the uniform ahead of time will make the uniform collection process much more streamlined and help us out tremendously!

4) Ideally, pictures, pre-ordered sweatshirts, and sweatpants are scheduled for distribution during the tournament. We are double checking with vendors to confirm product deadlines. Really our only concern are the team photos. The photographer sends her pictures to St. Louis for processing. She isn't sure they will be delivered on time. If they are not delivered on time, we will have "picture pick up spots" located in various communities. We will work diligently to get them to you.

5) Good sportsmanship and solid clean competition will be strictly enforced! Coaches have been asked to speak with anyone who may have a prior "incident" on their "record." Inappropriate conduct by player and/or parent is a violation of the Player/Parent Expectations that each player/parent should have signed and submitted at the beginning of the season and will not be tolerated. Anyone violating these conditions will be asked to leave the facility.

6) We expect a fun-filled, looking like it'll be sunny weekend of competitive ASA softball. We invite you all to encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to come support our Mad River Girls as they wrap up their seasons.

Once again, thank you for your participation this 2012 softball season, for offering up suggestions for improvement, and for the countless emails of support during the season.  We look forward to the finale tournament as well as working with all of you again in the future! Have a great day!

The Mad River Softball Board