Indoor Fastpitch Softball Facility Coming to NY

Heidi Hazen-Forte is bringing an indoor training facility for fastpitch softball to Hastings, NY. According to L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County, this will be the only training facility of its kind in the area.

Hazen-Forte is the former coach of Colgate University and since 1993 has been providing camps, instruction, and clinics. Hazen-Forte looks forward to helping the next generation of athletes advance in the sport of fastpitch softball.

The plan is for the facility to offer both class instruction and individual instruction in all divisions, specialized instruction for each position and open membership time to use the facility with or without instruction. The focus for the facility is primarily for fastpitch softball, but there will also be baseball instruction one day a week as well.

Read the full article on this facility at Oswego County Business.

Cat Osterman Signs with Rockford Thunder

Cat Osterman signs on with the Rockford Thunder (formerly Texas Thunder) for the 2007 National Pro Fastpitch Season.

Thunder Signs Olympic Gold Medalist to Contract

Osterman becomes first pitcher locked up for 2007 season

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford Thunder of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and General Manager Aaron M. Moore announced today that they have signed pitcher Catherine (Cat) Osterman to a contract for the 2007 season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Osterman, 23, most recently went 6-0 for Team USA at the World Championships in Beijing helping them win the gold and the No. 1 seed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 6-2 lefty finished her eligibility at the University of Texas in June of 2006, finishing her career with a record of 135-23. She was 37-2 during her senior season. In addition to her success in college, Osterman has also won several gold medals, including an Olympic Gold in 2004 with Team USA.
"The signing of Cat is extremely exciting for our organization as we continue to prepare for our first season in Rockford," said Moore. "Cat is easily one of the best, if not the best, pitchers in the world. Her ability as an athlete, coupled with the type of person she is, is only going to make Rockford and the whole NPF stronger.

"We think this signing will help make us the team to beat in 2007," stated Moore. "The battery of Cat and Mackenzie (Vandergeest) is going to be special to watch this season."
While at Texas, Osterman set 25 single-season or career pitching marks, including becoming the NCAA’s career strikeout leader with more than 2,200 in her career. During her outstanding career at Texas, Osterman also took home the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award four times, the Honda Award for Softball (presented to the best college softball player) twice and the Big 12 Player of the Week award 25 times.

"I am very excited and very happy to be joining the Thunder," exclaimed Osterman. "The team that is being put together is a good one and I am looking forward to being a part of it.
"This is also special for me because I will be close to some of my family," said Osterman. "It’s going to be nice to be able to see some of my family in the stands for our home games in Rockford."

Osterman was drafted No. 1 overall in last year’s NPF Senior Draft by the Connecticut Brakettes, but chose not to sign with the expansion team, making her officially a free agent on September 30.

For more information on the Thunder or to purchase season tickets for the 2007 season, contact Aaron M. Moore, general manager, at (815) 965-7000 or amoore@thunderprofastpitch.com. Additional information on the team can be obtained on the web at http://www2.blogger.com/www.thunderprofastpitch.com.

Happy Holidays!

Aloha from AllAboutFastpitch.com. I'm just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Please be safe while you enjoy this holiday season and I wish you a wonderful 2007. May the New Year bring us all great things.

Don't forget, the next show of FastpitchTalkRadio.com will not be until January 8th. We're giving you time to recover from the New Year celebrations before getting back into the swing of things. Again, Happy Holidays from AllAboutFastpitch.com!

Christmas is a Week Away!

Wow! Where does the time go? Christmas is EXACTLY one week away. Are you excited? Stressed? Looking forward to it? Whatever the case, stop by and listen to the newest episode of Fastpitch Talk Radio. It's all geared toward the holiday season.

Surprisingly, I'm actually almost done with my Christmas shopping. We also took the kids to take pictures with Santa yesterday. We had our nephew with us too. He's only 1. Needless to say my nephew was yelling in the picture and my son, who had so excitedly said, "Hi Santa" all the way until Santa put him on his lap, was just sitting there looking bored, refusing to smile.

Anyway - I hope this holiday season finds you and your family well. Wishing you a Merry Christmas from AllAboutFastpitch.com!

How Not to Slide Home

I think a little sliding practice is in order. This guy is not so smooth. Yikes!



Can't see the plate, so hard to tell if he's safe or not. What do you think?

I Love Game Day

As a coach, I look forward to game day. It's so much fun. The only thing that would possibly be better is being able to play on game day. LOL, but it's not my turn. Though I have to admit that there are occassions in which I feel like stealing someone's jersey so I can get the job done myself. But my challenge now, as a coach, is to find a way to get the player to get the job done so that I don't feel like doing it for them. So that I can enjoy watching them succeed.

Our next game is Saturday against one of only 2 undefeated teams left on the island. We play them at their field and they are always tough there. We'll see how it goes. I'm definitely looking forward to it. Don't you love game day?

Softball in the Winter

There was something I never even realized until the last couple of days. I figured the biggest reason that most people in the mainland don't play softball in the winter is because of the weather. Our practices recently are limited because our sun is going down earlier. By 6:30 it's dark and we have to get off the field. Our practice doesn't start until 4:30 - so we have 2 hours MAX. But I realized in the last few days is that some places in the mainland - it's dark by 4:30! Yikes - I didn't even think about that. Here it's 4:30 and we are just getting practice started - there, it's already getting dark. Yet another reason why softball in the winter isn't a great idea there. Now I know not to complain that our sun is going down too "early" and shortening our practices. I'm just glad our sun doesn't set at 4:30 and we CAN practice.

Pre-Wrap for Christmas

I just took a bunch of this to the field for my team. We have about 4 different colors and the girls enjoy using Pre-Wrap in their hair and when they need tape. There are a variety of colors to choose from, so I'm sure you'll find something to fit your team.

You can still order in time for Christmas and there is FREE shipping to the US (even Hawaii). For more information go to http://www.pre-wrap.com/Fastpitch-Pre-wrap.html

You can also call in your order - see the image below.

Fastpitch Talk Radio - Episode 5

Episode 5 of Fastpitch Talk Radio is now up and ready for you to listen to. This episode features an interview with Coach Hardin of ChampionshipFastpitch.com. Coach Hardin talks about his biggest challenge as a softball coach, his pet peeve, general coaching philosophy, and more.

Listen now at www.FastpitchTalkRadio.com.