Softball Community Suffers Another Loss .
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

With the upcoming softball season just around the corner, the softball community has suffered a big loss this past weekend. “J.D.” Burgsteiner, 38, passed away suddenly Sunday morning, January 20, 2008, in Winter Haven. He was down there with his team Fence Brokers Inc./Worth/Titan playing in the annual ISA Winter Nationals in Polk County, Florida. The tourney was put on hold because of rain until Sunday morning. When the coaches went to his room to see about the games on Sunday they found J.D. dead. I myself did not know the man but from what I have read on the Internet he was one fine person. J.D. had played with Jean Shoppe in the past and helped them win numerous championships. You can read some of the stories about this fine ball player at http://www.sportsrubes.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=62&topic=1643.0
You can click on this link to see about the Funeral arrangements. http://www.pearsondial.com/FuneralHome/Default.asp

Saturday, January 12th, 2008
Cleveland, Ohio Softball Community Loses One Of The Best

While in high school, he played baseball and was a star quarterback for East High School. His passing was so prolific that one newspaper account from the time said "the mere mention of his name is enough to make coaches of other teams gasp." He played softball for a number of teams in the Grerater Cleveland area. He helped Swing Inn qualify and play in the worlds at Parma back in the 60's. Andy helped a number of people in the sports arena of Cleveland. He had to talk to a commitee of people for myself when I got thrown out of game in Parma in 1979. I had slid into second base in a big game at State Road Park. and was called out by the umpire. I was so upset by the call that I knocked his umpires hat off of his head. The ump said I punched him but everybody knew that I didn't. Well the city of Parma's Recreation Department officials didn't go for that and wanted me to be suspended for Life. Dave and Andy went to them and spoke to them on my behalf and they agreed to give me another chance. So I always owed that to Andy because of who he was they gave me another break. All those rides to and from tournaments with Dave and Andy were something. We would either be leaving at 5:00 in the morning or coming home at 5:00 in the morning. I sure miss those long rides. Andy may your soul rest in peace. Andy use to run the ASA in Cleveland every year and you couldn't wait until that time of the year came around.

LADY VIRUS NO LONGER ASA APPROVED

The Lady Virus, model VIRSP3 is no longer authorized for use in ASA Championship Play.

Unfortunately this bat has been placed on the ASA Non Approved list for failing consecutive compliance tests. Please click here to read the press release from ASA.

We are disappointed with this situation and take this very seriously. Our promise to you is that we will make every effort to ensure this will not happen again. We have built a solid reputation for our bats for their outstanding performance and durability and our goal for each and every bat we make is to adhere to our partners regulations, such as ASA.

Our dedication to the sport and to our partners such as ASA, is very important to us and as a grassroots company we intend to ensure each and everyone of our dealers and end users are completely satisfied with the outcome of this unfortunate circumstance.

THE LADY VIRUS VIRSP3 IS STILL APPROVED UNDER USSSA, ISA, NSA & ISF and can be used for play in these associations.
If you use your Lady Virus solely for ASA Championship Play and would like to have it replaced with an ASA approved bat, please click here for more details.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our loyal customers for their understanding and continued support.
On a positive note, we continue to grow leaps and bounds in the softball and baseball community and thanks to you; our bats are without doubt a leader in the industry!
Steven Sutherland, President
Combat Baseball Inc.

I was planning on having the family at the dinner but that didn't pan out because the kids are in school. So I had the pleasure of sharing my dinner table with a couple of nice people from Missouri. They were friends (District Commisioners)of the new President of the ASA Joey Rich from Missouri. We talked about some of the issues that are at hand today. We talked about the game today while each Hall Of Fame inductee talked a little bit about their careers in softball. It was a very nice evenig in all. I want to say thank you to the ASA for this great honor of being elected into their respective Hall Of Fame. I want to send a special thank you to Dave Neale Sr,. Andy Okulovich Sr, Don Adante, and also Bernie Perfato. These people were instrumental in getting all of the proper paperwork in order to get me nominated. Once again thank you. .

Men's "A" Worlds- Disney-Aug 15-17, 2008
Men's "B" Worlds-Disney-Sept 12-14, 2008
Men's "C" Worlds-Sterling Heights, MI-Sept 18-21,2008
Men's "D" Worlds-Disney-Sept 18-21, 2008
Men's "E" Worlds-EAST-Disney-Sept 11-14, 2008
Men's "E" Worlds-WEST-Phoenix, AZ- Sept 18-21, 2008
Women's "A" Worlds-Disney-Sept 20-21, 2008
Women's "B" Worlds-Disney-Sept 19-21, 2008
Women's "C" Worlds-Disney-Sept 19-21, 2008
Women's "D" Worlds-Disney-Sept 19-21, 2008
Mixed "A", "B", "D"-World Disney-OCT 17-19, 2008
Mixed "C" and "E" World-EAST-Lexington,SC-Oct 17-19, 2008
Mixed "C" and "E" World-WEST-Garland,TX-Oct 17-19,2008

It was great fun to sit back and reminise a little bit about some of the old days. When Howard's played Steele's in the Smoky Mtn or even when we played each other at the Dudley in Minnesota. As I am sitting there talking with the Crusher and into the comes his son Adam who is 6' 7" tall and weights 315 lbs. Adam who had just got through going to a number of Combines for Pro football said he just got through playing softball in the local league in Sherrils Ford. I said how did you hit them? He said he hit a couple of bombs that landed across the road and on some cars about 400 foot away. So the next day I convince the Crush to go out with myself and Adam and let him take some swings with a brand new Combat Anti-irus bat that I had. Needless to say this kid has one heck of of a swing. I horrified at just how hard he hits the ball. I am not kidding you. This kid is a must see softball player. We went to the local high school and hit on the baseball field. We were hitting an asortment of different balls. We even had some of the practice balls from Anaconda. All I can say is wow. He was hitting everything out of the baseball field and onto the parking lot. He his a couple of them across the parking lot and they had to travel well over 400 feet.

What a great opportunity Softball Magazine continues to provide to all softball and baseball players around the USA. I just got through with the Bat Wars Baseball event that was held @ Liberty Park in Sterling Heights, Michigan on June 30th. I was on hand for the event over the weekend working for Combat Baseball Co. Gene and his staff due an excellent job of setting these events up. You just can't beat it. Being able to hit all of the different bats that are being made today. Softball Magazine goes all out for these events and this one was no different. They porovide you with the latest and greatest equipment your favorite manufacutrers have to offer. Below I have some photos of the event. Gene was kind enough to let me take a few photos during the day. The event was taking place on diamond 3 while the USSSA and Tony DeDonatis held a 85 team youth baseball tournament. Needless to say there were ball players everywhere. I will be back @ Liberty Park again this upcoming Saturday for the Slo-Pitch Bat Wars event.

After the tournament on Saturday night I got a chance to go back and visit an old site where our Steele's Silver Bullets played. We were playing all over the state of Pennsyvania back in 1987 and were able to schedule a game against some of the players in that area. It was right in the middle of south Phliadelphia. I got the chance to meet a great friend of Kevin Schullstrom by the name of Mike Hamilton. What Mike does is something special in it's own way. Michael Hamilton is the founder and director of Mastery Prison Ministry in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Better known as "The Hammer" to the softball world. Mike is using his athletic talents to minister to inmates in Pennsyvania's state and federal corrections facilities. Mastery's goal is to see families saved and stayed together even through the hardship of incarcenation. Here is a photo of the Hammer's swing. Mike has been know to hit softballs well over 450 ft while hitting in the home run events.

We finally made it through the bumper to bumper traffic (if you have been on south and 2nd in south Philly on Saturday night at about 7:30 you know what I mean) to meet with Mike at Nick's roast beef shop. Talk about a roast beef sandwich. Unbelievable! Now you know you can't go to south Philly and not have a Philly Steak and Cheese. So that's how we ended up on the street where the Steele's Silver Bullets played softball 20 years ago. Needless to say when we played there that day, there had to be 1500 to 2000 softball fanatics lined up in the streets and on their balcony's to watch this game. Those were the good ole days.

Kevin and I both bought another sandwich (Philly Steak and Cheese from Geno's) and headed back out of Philly. Thanks Mike for the great hospitality.