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This week On Deck we sit down with the head coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Kelley Green. Coach Green is in her 10^th season in-charge at CCU and has lead the transition of the program from the Big South Conference to the Sun Belt Conference. The Chants have consistently dialed up winning seasons during Green’s time leading the program. The 2012 season has proven to be the Chants most successful season under Kelley as the program collected 44 wins on the season while winning the Big South Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to leading Coastal Carolina, Green spent 10 seasons as head coach at Lock Haven University. While at LHU she led the Eagles to two Division II National Championships in in 2006 and 2009 while posting a 346-134 record. Before landing at Lock Haven she served as an assistant coach at Penn State. Green a standout All-Big 10 and All-American athlete at Northwestern University also competed professionally for the Virginia Roadsters.  

Lee Dobbins: Coach Green you took over the program at Coastal Carolina after the retirement of Coach Jess Dannelly after he lead the program for 22 season stretch; Along with that transition you have gone through a lot of expansion and growth in the CCU Athletic Department, including transition from the smaller Big South Conference to a Group of Five Conference in the Sun Belt. In your 10 years at Coastal how has this growth and expansion helped you transition the program into what we see today?

Kelley Green: Our transition from the Big South to the Sun Belt has been exciting. We certainly enjoyed our time in the Big South and experienced so much success over the years. Moving to the Sun Belt certainly has had its challenges early on, but we see those as opportunities. We now feel we are building a program to get to Oklahoma City and that’s exciting. Our President has backed this move 100% and provided us with the resources necessary to reach new heights. We have had upgrades to our facilities, increased budgets and overwhelming support. All the programs here at Coastal have benefited tremendously. The growth on both the academic and athletic side is impressive and Conway is a great place to be. This allows us to target a new level of recruit as we move forward. We feel like we are building something very special here and it’s fantastic to be part of it.

Dobbins: Over the last few years recruiting has been a major topic of conversation particularly when it comes to the average (young) age that Prospective Student Athletes are being recruited and making verbal commitments to programs. Legislation has now been initiated restricting contact/offers to PSAs until the start of their junior years in high school. Talk a bit about that change in the recruiting dynamic since that legislation has been adopted. Has it slowed the process and made balancing recruiting better? Has the legislation been effective in curving earlier recruiting in any way? 

Green: The new recruiting rule is such a mindful move for our sport. I’m not sure that we have seen the affects yet in our program because we had recruiting classes committed for a while before the rule, but we expect it to be a very positive change. We now have more time to track athletes and see them develop. It benefits the prospect even more though. A ninth or 10^th grader no longer has to stress about making a college decision. They can just play, work on their skills and develop on and off the field. They will now be making their decisions at a higher level of maturity.

Dobbins: Being in the hotbed area that encompasses “SEC/ACC Country”, what have you seen as both challenges and benefits in recruiting to a school like Coastal that falls very much in-between that Mid-Major and Power 5 level institute?  What have you and your staff done to carve out your recruiting niche to get top-recruits to pick the Chanticleers? 

Green: It certainly is tough to recruit against Power 5 and other top mid-major programs. Coastal offers such a unique experience though so we use that to our advantage. We may be considered a mid-major, but when you are on campus, you get a big-time feel. We have so much pride on campus. We have teal and Chanticleers everywhere! Our facilities are top notch and there are certainly not many universities that can boast being so close to the beach. You just can’t go wrong with palm trees in the outfield. The entire campus is so beautiful. The people are the best part about Coastal though. From our President to all our support staff, people truly care about each other. Once we get a recruit on campus, they feel this right away.

Dobbins: I recently heard a phrase directly referenced to collegiate softball; “The era of the free agent has begun.” This seemingly is referencing the latest NCAA Transfer Legislation that eliminates the permission-to-contact process. The transfer rates in the last five years had seemingly already been at an all-time high. Recently however, it seems the flood gates have opened directly connected with this legislation. What are your thoughts on this legislation and its effect on the collegiate game?

Green: It’s disappointing to see the transfer rates so high. I struggle with formulating an opinion on this because I believe everyone should be able to make choices to make their life better, but I also feel like there is a lack of commitment now. I see both sides of it. Each transfer has their own reason and individual story though, so I try not to judge. Transfer rates were already increasing before the new rule, but now it will skyrocket. That’s the reality of it, so we will be prepared to adjust as necessary.

Dobbins: Collegiate Softball has boomed in popularity in the last 10 years and this seems to be based on its visibility on different media outlets (TV, online, Social Media, etc.). How has that dynamic of visibility has changed the way the game is played and how you run your program? What is the next progression of promotion of the game/advancement would you like to see as a head coach?

Green: Access to more media has only improved our game. I learn so much from watching what others are doing. My phone is filled with hitting GIFs! Scouting an opponent is so easy now as I usually just have to turn on ESPN to find games. We definitely go into a game more prepared than ever. Of course, so do our opponents! The media growth in our game will only continue to make our sport better too. With all the access kids have now, they will grow up watching the best hitters and pitchers and look to emulate. This will lead to an even greater skill set over a wider population of athletes. I hope the see the increased coverage leads to more opportunities professionally in our sport. I would also expect to see replay emerge in the next few years throughout all divisions and conferences.

University of Missouri Kansas City has confirmed to RTS that assistant coach Greg Bachkora has returned to his coaching position after a voluntary leave of absence since February.

UMKC released the following statement about Bachkora returning to the coaching staff.

“The department has completed its comprehensive review of the UMKC Softball program and has found no issues of concern that require any further corrective action. Assistant coach Greg Bachkora has completed his voluntary leave of absence and has returned to his coaching duties.”

Bachkora had been the target of sexual harassment allegations by three former student-athletes that have seemingly been proven inaccurate after the aforementioned comprehensive investigation by UMKC Athletic Director Brandon Martin and his staff.

Current members of the UMKC Softball Program have come to the defense of Bachkora from day one disputing the allegations. Current players have said many of the accusations were taken out of context and were used by the former student-athletes to paint a certain narrative of the coaching staff.  Current members of the squad have indicated the accusations from the three former student-athletes were geared toward getting the coaching staff removed from their positions after being unhappy with their roles with the program and discipline that they had been subject to, rather than any wrongdoings by Coach Bachkora or any of the coaching staff.

The initial story filed by the Kansas City Star with the accusation has yet to be retracted nor updated with the findings of the investigation and clearing of Coach Bachkora to return to his position. Other outlets having reported on the claims have also followed suit in the same narrative as the KC Star. Several “interest groups” that have a very anti-male sentiment and used the story as a narrative for males having no place in female sports have also remained silent since the new findings.

On the field UMKC currently sits 23-17 overall on the season and 3-6 in the WAC. 

This week On Deck we sit down with the head coach of the University of North Alabama, Ashley Cozart. Cozart is entering her sixth season as head coach of the Lions and has found unparalleled success in that short time. In only her third year at the helm of UNA she led the Lions to the NCAA Division II National Championship along with the programs first Gulf South Conference Championship. Following that season, she and her staff were named the DII National Coaching Staff of the Year for that banner season and accomplishments. She has amassed a record of 231-80 since arriving at North Alabama. Before arriving in Florence, she served as head coach at Lindsey Wilson College where she led the Blue Raiders to the NAIA National Tournament all four years with the program while also winning the Mid-South Conference Championship each year. She served one season as an assistant coach at Lee University before taking her first head coaching job at LWC. Cozart (formerly McCool) was a standout player breaking many school records at Trevecca Nazarene University.

Lee Dobbins: Coach Cozart you took over the program at North Alabama and have taken it on a meteoric rise from an average program, to DII National Champions, and now have made the move into DI and are doing so in a very competitive fashion; How have you made these strides in just six seasons that have led to such successes for a program very much in transition? 

Ashley Cozart: I think the most important thing is our culture and what we believe drives female athletes. Confidence and Love. We preach from day one that if you don’t have confidence and a love to be the best student athlete you can be, then you do not belong here. You don’t HAVE to come to practice, class, or make a difference in our community; you GET to. It also helps to recruit the right kids. There is so much talent around North Alabama and we focused on targeting and winning those athletes first and building around that. My coaching philosophy is based on that confidence and love. Those two things mixed with a female and sports works wonders in what makes us successful.

Dobbins: Over the last few years recruiting has been a major topic of conversation particularly when it comes to the average (young) age that Prospective Student Athletes are being recruited and making verbal commitments to programs. Legislation has now been initiated restricting contact/offers to PSAs until the start of their junior years in high school. Talk a bit about that change in the recruiting dynamic since that legislation has been adopted. Has it slowed the process and made balancing recruiting better? Has the legislation been effective in curving earlier recruiting in any way? 

Cozart: I am a huge fan of the new recruiting calendar. I think this gives kids chances to be kids but also grow and learn as a person and athlete without the stress of making a huge decision when they aren’t ready. I think this takes pressure off families and the athlete to take their time and look at all options and not do something based on being scared of missing an opportunity. I think the new recruiting rule will help athletes make more of the right decisions and not a decision based off money, popularity, or afraid of missing an opportunity. I do think this puts more pressure on coaches. Once that date hits where we can talk with a prospective student athlete, we have to make sure we are prepared and ready to show them what we can offer. But the good far outweighs the bad on this one.

Dobbins: Being in a state heavily populated by both DI and DII programs, what have you done to carve out your niche in recruiting and draw athletes to a mid-major DI like UNA? Have you found it more difficult to recruit in this transition period that seems to be a “no man’s land” when schools are in between DII and DI?

Cozart: Alabama is loaded with so much talent! When I coached in Kentucky, I recruited so many athletes from Alabama so I said I just need to move and take a job there. It is important for us to locate the great local talent and build around that. Some of the best players I have had the pleasure to coach have been from small towns around North Alabama. Also, there are so many wonderful junior colleges around that we have been able to recruit players from and fill positions where we may need more experience right away. In this transition, you have to look at it as the glass is half full. This is such an exciting time for our program and university. An athlete gets to come in and be a part of a “first” for us. Also, our goals have changed. Now our conference tournament is our National Championship. That’s our ultimate goal over the next 4 years and we embrace that. The experiences that our players are getting to face is exciting and we are embracing every moment and every opportunity we are given.

Dobbins: I recently heard a phrase directly referenced to collegiate softball; “The era of the free agent has begun.” This seemingly is referencing the latest NCAA Transfer Legislation that eliminates the permission-to-contact process. The transfer rates in the last five years had seemingly already been at an all-time high. Recently however, it seems the flood gates have opened directly connected with this legislation. What are your thoughts on this legislation and its effect on the collegiate game?

Cozart: I am indifferent about the transfer portal and eliminating the permission to contact policy. I do feel like athletes should have options because sometimes their path turns out different than what they had imagined or planned. Sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances or coaching changes that are beyond their control. We cannot give athletes a revolving door to transfer whenever they want. In the real world if something doesn’t go our way with our job or family do we just leave or make a decision to not fight or make things better? What are these kids learning if something doesn’t go their way and they decide to handle failure by transferring or quitting? I have a young team this year, and we try and have individual meetings once a week to discuss things and what I hear most from my freshmen is they don’t know how to handle not playing and not feeling like they are good enough if they don’t start or play every game. That frustration then turns into handling it in a negative way or parents telling them to quit or transfer. I think coaches AND parents need to do a better job of teaching this generation the importance of perseverance and being tough. If you’re not getting the playing time you want, what are you doing to fix it? You can go so many different ways with it. However, athletes these days want to point fingers and not work for it but complain about it. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have the transfer portal and this outlet for athletes, but is it being used in the right way? We have gotten some great athletes that have been transfers and it has changed their life for the better and I truly believe God has led them to us. So, it can be beneficial if it is used correctly and benefiting everyone.

Dobbins: Collegiate Softball has boomed in popularity in the last 10 years and this seems to be based on its visibility on different media outlets (TV, online, Social Media, etc.). How has that dynamic of visibility has changed the way the game is played and how you run your program? What is the next progression of promotion of the game/advancement would you like to see as a head coach?

Cozart: Softball is so exciting and absolutely one of the most exciting and talked about sports these days. Seeing a female being successful in the sport of softball is incredible. The diving plays, the home runs, the athleticism is a beautiful thing! Having softball on TV for these young girls to watch is what it’s all about. They are role models to everyone who watches them play. One of the greatest things about us moving to DI is our games are now broadcast on ESPN. Every play is out there for everyone to see and we get to embrace the successes of our girls for the way they perform. Recruits now get to see more than ever how teams interact with each other, how coaches react in certain situations, and what your program is all about. It’s great for recruits and also great for scouting teams you play. There’s not much that’s a secret when playing an opponent that you can’t find on TV. I guess the next progression I would like to see from our sport is more games on TV. Having more channels available for all schools to be on TV and also highlighting the success of every program and their athletes on more media outlets. I think the sport of softball has progressed very well and will continue to be very popular and exciting.

Tiffin University Head Coach Jeff Nickerson became the all-time winningest coach in program history with an 8-0 win over Urbana on Tuesday. Nickerson has 287 wins in 11 seasons with the Dragons. He also has amassed 427 career wins in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach including stops at Presbyterian College and Ohio Northern University.

Florida State’s Atlantic Coast Conference unbeaten series streak came to an end Monday night as they lost game three of their conference series to Louisville 10-9. Seventh inning rally was an understatement as FSU trailing 7-3 scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 9-7 lead. Louisville then answered with a three runs in the bottom of the frame after loading the based then ending the deciding game three of the series on a walk-off double. Florida State streak of ACC Series wins had stood at 52 straight until losing to Louisville. The Seminoles had not lost a series since 2012 when they dropped two of three to then conference foe Maryland.

The 2019 season will be University of Detroit Mercy Coach John Conway’s final season with the Titan Softball program. Conway recently announced his intentions to retire at the conclusion of his fifth season as head coach in Motown.

Conway took over the program at Detroit Mercy before the 2015 season, and through his fifth campaign has amassed 74 victories while helping start the turn of a program that had seen little success in recent years. Conway had seen win improvements in each of his first three seasons with the Titans. During his time he has also produced numerous All-Horizon League Honorees over his five seasons.

Conway reflected on his time and felt fortunate to have had coaching career that spanned 25 years counting his time on the Elite Club Level

“I have been so fortunate to begin my career coaching as a club coach and then to transition into being an NCAA coach for the past 17 years.”, Conway commented. “I never imagined starting as a part-time Division III coach at Fontbonne University to then coach at the Division I and II levels. I have had so many wonderful experiences with all these young ladies who I have been fortunate to hopefully give them an enjoyable four year career each stop.” Conway went on to thank his family. “I want to thank my daughter Nicole for bringing me into this career by asking me to play catch with me as a five-year-old and then going on to play for me in club ball as well in college. Most of all my wife Kathy for putting up with me these past 17 years and always acting as a consultant in all I did.” Conway went on to say his time coaching might not be completely over just yet. “I plan to stay involved somehow with softball but no longer as a head coach.”

Conway also had stops as head coach at Saint Leo University, Saint Louis University, and the aforementioned Fontbonne University before coming to Detroit.

UDM currently sits 15-21 on the season and 7-5 in the Horizon League good for fourth place in the standings with 12 conference games remaining.

This week On Deck we sit down with the first year head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, Jennifer McFalls. Coach McFalls comes to Lawrence after serving on the coaching staff at the University of Texas since 2010. McFalls helped the Longhorns to the NCAA Postseason in each of her eight seasons in Austin including a berth in the Super Regionals in 2012 and appearance in the Women’s College World Series in 2013. While serving at Texas she also spent her 2015 offseason as head coach of professional softball’s Dallas Charge. McFalls was an All-American standout and Hall of Fame Inductee at Texas A&M. After her time with the Aggies she joined the U.S. National Team and won a Gold Medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. McFalls also had coaching stops at her Alma mater Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and stops at Hockaday and Midlothian High Schools. From 2005-2010 she also served on the USA Softball Selection Committee.

Lee Dobbins: Coach McFalls you took over a program at Kansas that hasn’t had a lot of sustained success in the Big 12 and on the national level. What are going to be the keys for you and your staff to change that from an on-field aspect and culturally?

Jennifer McFalls: Our goal is to be more prepared as we enter conference play.  With that being said, we will play a tough pre-season schedule that will allow us to face strong pitching and top ranked teams.

Dobbins: Being as familiar as you are with the Big 12 having served on coaching staffs at Oklahoma and Texas; What has it it been like the last six months since taking your first head coaching job and how has that transition been for you? Has familiarity to Big 12 made it easier for you? Or has it been more challenging compared to being at league juggernauts like Texas and Oklahoma?

McFalls:  Being familiar with the Big XII is certainly helpful in a lot of ways.  First of all, I understand the level of competition we will face, the opposing coaching philosophies, and the tough environments our team will play in.  My goal is to prepare us both physically and mentally to face some of the best teams in the country that our in our conference.  If we can be competitive enough to finish in the top half of the Big XII, I believe that will give us an opportunity to get to post season play.

Dobbins: Over the last few years recruiting has been a major topic of conversation particularly when it comes to the average (young) age that Prospective Student Athletes are being recruited and making verbal commitments to programs. Legislation has now been initiated restricting contact/offers to PSAs until the start of their junior years in high school. Talk a bit about that change in the recruiting dynamic since that legislation has been adopted. Has it slowed the process and made balancing recruiting better? Has the legislation been effective in curving earlier recruiting in any way?

McFalls: I am personally in favor of the rule changes for recruiting.  It will allow coaches to make better decisions on a student-athlete based on their physical talent and academic status.  I definitely think the new rules will help slow down the recruiting process for sure and take away a lot of third party involvement.  There was so much pressure on kids to commit as 8^th and 9^th graders and they truly have not even had time to develop into great players.  Coaches were projecting their talent level simply based on athleticism and size.  Athletes need to learn the game of softball, not just play.  I think the early recruiting rules will help athletes focus on developing more, specifically in position play, knowledge of the game, and making long term commitments to programs. 

Dobbins: I recently heard a phrase directly referenced to collegiate softball; “The era of the free agent has begun.” This seemingly is referencing the latest NCAA Transfer Legislation that eliminates the permission-to-contact process. The transfer rates in the last five years had seemingly already been at an all-time high. Recently however, it seems the flood gates have opened directly connected with this legislation. What are your thoughts on this legislation and its effect on the collegiate game?

McFalls:  I hate the fact that athletes have the freedom to up and leave a program just because they are unhappy with playing time, coaching decisions, or simply not getting their way.  Whatever happened to the word COMMITMENT?  It is way too easy for players to quit or transfer just because things get hard.  Leaving programs midyear is absolutely unacceptable in my opinion.  It puts coaches and programs in a really difficult position as they are trying to prepare for the upcoming season. I believe that the way the rules are currently, it opens the door for a number of unethical conversations and tampering that effects athletes transferring. I am hopeful that the NCAA will put an end to mid-year transfers.

Dobbins: Softball (Collegiate Game particularly) has boomed in popularity in the last 10 years and this seems to be based on its visibility on different media outlets (TV, online, Social Media, etc.). How has that dynamic of visibility has changed the way the game is played and how you run your program? What is the next progression of promotion of the game/advancement would you like to see as a Head Coach? 

McFalls: I think that it is amazing that we can see the game of softball as much as we can on TV and multiple social media outlets.  I think it has impacted so many young players and their interest and love for the game.  In addition, it is incredible that family and friends can follow games on social media even when they are not televised.  I do believe it has impacted programs and media relations to promote teams any way possible on the social media platform.  I think that it becomes ridiculously competitive at times between programs to solicit their teams, but definitely a positive avenue to continue to promote our sport and the amazing athletes that we have playing our game.  In addition, it has opened several doors for former players to pursue their career in commentating and promoting our sport.  It is awesome to see women promoting women and creating new career avenues for female athletes because of the success of fastpitch softball.

RTS has learned from sources close to the process that the NCAA has awarded the 2020 Division II Softball Championship to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event originally scheduled to take place as part of the NCAA Division II Championship Sports Festival in St. Louis, was relocated due to scheduling concerns on length of the season with the spring softball calendar and general scheduling for teams in the 2020 season. The championship will run May 21-25 and utilize the 3,000 seat Jim Frost Stadium and adjacent Warner Park Complex.

This week On Deck we sit down with the head coach of Division I’s newest program, Bill Baber. Baber is starting his ninth season as head coach at California Baptist University after serving as an assistant coach with the program before his elevation to the Captains Seat in 2011. Baber has been with California Baptist through their transition from NAIA, though DII, to the current level at DI. He served on the CBU Staff through eight straight Golden State Athletic Conference Championships, with the highlight of that run coming in the form of the 2009 NAIA National Championship. As the head coach he has amassed an overall record of 320-128, five straight NCAA Regional appearances (2014-18), and an NCCAA National Championship in 2012. Before joining the staff at Cal Baptist he served one season as the head coach at Biola University. 

Lee Dobbins: Coach Baber you are going into your first season of Division I competition and very much in a big transition at Cal Baptist. You are a coach that has been part of a program as either an assistant and now head coach that has made a meteoric rise from NAIA, to DII, to now DI. Talk a little about that transition and the challenges of doing so. What have you done as a head coach to prepare the program to make their debut in the highest level of softball?

Bill Baber: It has been a pretty quick transition from being in the NAIA and then only being in DII for 7 years. Some of the biggest adjustments have come from the recruiting part. Going from NAIA which doesn’t have a lot of recruiting rules, to NCAA DII that has a lot of rules, and now DI that has even more restrictions on when you can go watch and talk to recruits. Playing in the highest level, we have tried this year to play some tough teams and go to places that would be much different than in DII. Going to Texas A&M to start the season and to play in such a great stadium and play against DI competition was really eye opening to our players. Our hope was to have a tough schedule so we would be ready for conference play.

Dobbins: With Cal Baptist being located in-the-middle of the greatest concentration of talent in all of softball; What is the key in selling the Southern California talent on staying home and not considering larger programs in-and-out-of-state? Are you finding being the newest DI program is an advantage of drawing recruits, or has it been more of a challenge with some of the programs you are competing for recruits?

Baber: I think there is a lot of local players that want to stay home and go to a private small school, even though we aren’t that small anymore. We have a very nice stadium to play in and with the new construction starting in just a couple of years, our facilities will be one that players will want to play in. We also make sure our players graduate in 4 years. Sometimes that is tough when you are at a larger school. When recruits come to campus and look around, they are always amazed about how nice and beautiful our campus is. Now that we are D1, we are getting more recruits in and out of state coming to see what we have to offer. Before D1 many PSAs thought we were too small and wouldn’t come for a visit.

Dobbins: Over the last few years recruiting has been a major topic of conversation particularly when it comes to the average (young) age that Prospective Student Athletes are being recruited and making verbal commitments to programs. Legislation has now been initiated restricting contact/offers to PSAs until the start of their junior years in high school. Talk a bit about that change in the recruiting dynamic since that legislation has been adopted. Has it slowed the process and made balancing recruiting better? Has the legislation been effective in curving earlier recruiting in any way?

Baber: I think the new legislation and with not being able to talk with a recruit until their junior year is good. I have seen so many players verbal at such an early age in the past and so many of them end up transferring. I think trying to get a freshman, sophomore, or even younger PSA to decide what university is best form them, is just crazy. Hopefully recruits will make better and more educated decisions with waiting until they are older. I think with us, it hasn’t slowed down our recruiting. I have always wanted the PSA to make sure that our university is the right fit for them with softball and their education.

Dobbins: I recently heard a phrase directly referenced to collegiate softball; “The era of the free agent has begun.” This seemingly is referencing the latest NCAA Transfer Legislation that eliminates the permission-to-contact process. The transfer rates in the last five years had seemingly already been at an all-time high. Recently however, it seems the flood gates have opened directly connected with this legislation. What are your thoughts on this legislation and its effect on the collegiate game?

Baber: The Transfer legislation has been pretty crazy this first year. I’m not so sure I am a fan of the NCAA “Portal”. I understand that sometimes there are legitimate reasons to transfer, but with it being so easy to transfer everyone is always looking to go somewhere else and thinking the next place will be better. Many actually find out that the grass is not always greener at the next university. I also feel that some don’t look at the educational part of it and are only looking to move because of softball. Like I mentioned before, PSA’s making a decision on where to go to college when they are very young, don’t always look for the best fit, they are only looking at where to play softball and not the degree they will receive.

Dobbins: There has always been talk of the divide between what is considered a “mid-major” type program and those in the “Power 5”. Although a few mid-majors are very much considered as good as some of the Power 5, many head coaches of the smaller programs have lobbied not to compete against the bigger schools feeling that those schools need the smaller ones more than they need them to achieve win plateaus to achieve postseason eligibility. What are your thoughts on competing against these institutions and that theory? 

Baber: I think with where we are right now and not being able to go to post season for our first 4 years, we need to play some of the Power 5 schools. It’s a great experience for our players to go to places and face the toughest completion a few times during the season. I know our players really look forward to playing a few power 5 schools. I think it would also be great to have a power 5 school come and play us at our place. I know we would have a sell out that day! When we are eligible to go to post season, I think I will still play power 5 schools because if you do win the conference and go to the regionals, you will be playing at a power 5 stadium and I would want my team to have had some experience before the regional tournament.

One person to guide our game might seem very anti-democratic and borderline monarchical. Hear me out though. In the last 24 hours since the revelations of corruption, in-fighting, and other scandalous type behavior and actions brought to light by an Outside the Lines Investigation by ESPN; One independent and impartial voice is what the Sport of Softball needs. It’s become apparent the bureaucrats that currently dictate the direction of our game like USA Softball and NPF and the “Professional”/Travel Ball Franchise Scrap Yard Sports can’t be trusted to do what’s best for the game and the athletes in it. This isn’t just an issue on the Professional or National/Olympic Team levels either. It is now spanning down to  the collegiate game as it has become a more popular and revenue producing sport, and even more distributing to the Travel/Summer/Rec. Ball Levels as the accountant/construction worker/dentist/Walmart Greeter look to make their first “Million” putting together dues paying “organizations” and the next 500 team “Showcase” Event. 

The game has attracted individuals and groups wanting to turn softball into something resembling Corporate America more than the sport we all use to know. One individual to police organizations like USA Softball, NPF, NFCA, PGF, USSSA, the Showcase and Travel Ball Organizations, and the rest of the list of “Power Brokers” in the game too big to list, doesn’t sound as farfetched for these groups to have to answer to one individual independent and vested in what’s best for the game and not a particular group or their financial benefits.

At first it sounds crazy to lay that type of power in one persons hands; However, is it any less crazy to let it lay in hundreds of people’s hands only vested in what is best for them and their particular groups? Our sport yesterday joined (publicly anyway) the long line of sports that have had their eyes blackened not by the athletes that play the game, but those that run it and dictate policy for their own benefits will little thought of how it affects its participants. How far are we willing to let it go before we decide we can’t be trusted with what’s good for the game any longer?