Received: 6/4/06 7:05:18 PM From: Darryl Smart <dsmart(at)bowesnet.com> Subject: Story from Thursday's Woodstock Sentinel-Review
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's a fun piece we did to get people wrmed up for the Legends of Fastball tournament What are they really saying? By Cory Smith Sports reporter WOODSTOCK Mark Van Vliet, the Belmont Black Sox pitcher, had barely finished his warm-up tosses when the chirping began. Lets go, big shooter, a teammate called out. Cmon now, twelve pack, another said. Those were the decipherable words of encouragement sent the hurlers way during the Woodstock Kelseys tournament earlier this month. Much of the rest, it can safely be said, was mumbo-jumbo. You always want to be talking, Ingersoll Masters shortstop Steve Hilderley said. It keeps you in the game and gets everyone loose. The more you chat the more it keeps you in the game. Most of the time the chatter is for the players own benefit. The fans are just the beneficiaries. Its quiet a lot of the time and it shouldnt be, Hilderley said. Everyone has their own words or lingo. Its just whatever comes out. It was like that at Southside Park a couple of weeks ago and it will be the same this weekend at the Legends of Fastball tournament held at the Community Complex. With some of the top teams from across Canada and the U.S. taking part, fans may not understand what is being said or even what is going on, but they arent necessarily missing much. When its quiet it just seems boring and flat, Woodstock Kelseys catcher Darin Kitching said. Sometimes the crowds arent too big so you have to make some noise and stay in it. The lingo can get even more confusing when Kitching is behind the plate and teammate Mike Pullin is on the mound. Kitchings nickname is Zip while Pullin is called Hip. Its just part of the fastball experience. I dont really think about it too much, just whatever comes out, Kitching said. I dont know that the pitcher can hear it anyway. Thats the case with Mike Wells, a pitcher with the Masters. Wells said there have been times when hes had to step off the mound and regroup after a teammate said something humourous, but hes learned to keep his focus on the batter in front of him, not the teammates behind him. Over the years Ive been able to tune it out, he said. Once in a while someone will get you. Its a nice way to keep loose and keep everyone at ease. Fastball is a fast sport. Its a good way to keep sharp. While every player might have a unique phrase or two, there are some steady constants that fans will catch this weekend. Hum now, and atta babe are just two of them, most often reserved for pitchers. Teams are often referred to by the colour of their jerseys, such as when a player at the Kelseys tournament said: Hey there, red team, cmon now, whaddya say? Players, if they dont have a nickname, are usually distinguished by their last names with a y tacked onto the end of it or the number of their jerseys. Big poke seven ball, sounds more like something you might hear in a pool hall rather than on the ball diamond. You gotta keep it light. You cant take it too seriously, Ingersoll Crush catcher Darryl Wharram said. Its important to keep guys coming out. The important thing is to have fun and keep guys loose. Atta babe. -- Darryl Smart Sports Editor, Woodstock Sentinel-Review 16 Brock Street Woodstock, Ontario N4S 3B4 (519) 537-2341 ext. 258 From: Darryl Smart <dsmart(at)bowesnet.com> Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball Visit our New Web Site! http://www.pmihrm.com VIA http://www.webbox.com
_______________________________________________ Alsfastball mailing list Alsfastball@fastpitchwest.com http://fastpitchwest.com/mailman/listinfo/alsfastball_fastpitchwest.com