Softball and
baseball’s favorite newspaper since 1987
The Dudley Classic is truly a softball spectacular
By
Don Bowman
It was almost three decades ago when
the first Dudley Classic was played, and this weekend, area softball fans will
be treated a 27th time, to the very best slowpitch
softball in the nation!
Once again, tournament director
Warren Bellm and his tireless staff will put on an
event that combines a great softball showcase with an atmosphere that even
Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey would be envious!
The nation’s top three Major Clubs –Resmondo/Worth (FL), Dan Smith/Combat (CA) and local
favorites Long Haul Trucking/Miken/Phonemasters (MN),
will be hitting blasts that will be sure to drown out the traffic noise from
nearby highway 694!
Also included this year are 33 of the
nation’s top A/B/C/D ball clubs who are primed to make a name for themselves at this year’s extravaganza! Other top contenders
include Bud Light, T&R Stucco, Jean Shoppe, GTL, O&S Cattle/Pov’s and Showcase. The latter two are
Resmondo
is the hottest team coming in but you can’t count out hometown favorite Long
Haul and especially Dan Smith who seem to own this tournament. My pick: Dan
Smith over Resmondo 34-32 in the ‘if’ game.
Home run contest back
again
A BIG
thanks goes out to Titan Apparel, Combat and BeBops
for sponsoring the big Dudley Classic Home Run Contest at BeBops
in
Loading up for the
Dudley
Two of
O&S has been re-rated to Class ‘A’ in recent weeks, and in doing so, picked up some
financial backing from the USSSA Conference Program in order to compete more
often in conference events around the country. Hopefully this new rating will
not harm them in years to come, so they can compete effectively in the proper
class they choose.
Not-so-friendly day for
one team
The ‘Friendly
City Days’ tournament in
Resmondo wins in Joliet
Resmondo/Worth
continued their sizzling play last weekend in winning the Joliet (IL) Major
Tournament. In the finals, Resmondo defeated
archrival Dan Smith/Combat 39-32, while GTL Cartel grabbed third-place
hardware. Pat Delsanders is back at the helm for Dan
Smith as the field general in 2009 after serving as the team’s general manager
for the past several seasons.
Mosquitoland champions crowned
The Mosquitoland
Classic crowned
Softball loses a friend
Our condolences
to the family of Tom Newell Sr., who passed away a few weeks ago.
Newell Concrete was a name synonymous with ASA Men’s State Class ‘A’
Championships in the 1980s, and Tom Sr., was one of the main reasons why. His
sponsorship and allegiance to his team was a factor through many seasons of
winning softball and state tournament successes. He will be missed!
Long Haul Bombers Tour
at the Dome
The Long Haul Bombers Tour, one of
the great successes in slowpitch softball marketing,
was a huge success again this week at the Metrodome
in
Another great event slated for
January is the Long Haul Stadium Power Celebrity Cruise beginning
Showcase wins NIT in
Fridley
Class ‘B’ powerhouse Showcase/Worth
double dipped a tough C&A ball club, in winning the USSSA World NIT in
Seeing optic yellow in
USSSA
Speaking of the USSSA, their idea to
go with optic yellow balls and 70’ bases now in competitive softball programs, is a GREAT success! The safety it provides to
infielders has had a major impact on the game. Now if they just figure out that
the pitcher’s box belongs in conference play too, they might just win a Nobel
Peace Prize or maybe even an award from JD Power and Associates too!