Rounding Third Softball

The movement within the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to adjust the Contact Period from September 1 to July 1 has moved into the voting phase the last several days. Some conferences such as the SEC, NEC, SoCon, WCC and MAC have all voted to keep the date as is, while the PAC-12 has “unanimously” voted to move it. Every head coach is allowed a vote that is then tallied by the HCC (Head Coaches Committee) Rep which is then submitted to NFCA as a vote of yes or no on behalf of what that conference wishes as a majority. This then moves (or doesn’t) any legislation or changes forward to the NCAA for consideration.

Oklahoma Wesleyan will have a change of leadership for the 2021 season. The Eagles have named Shawn Woods their new head coach. Woods replaces Gabby Bogear that has been in the top spot since fall 2017. Woods joins OKWU from Pangburn High School in Arkansas.

Angelina College in Texas has announced it will suspend all athletics for the upcoming 2020-21 season as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This will include the Roadrunner Softball program that went 14-12-1 in the pandemic shortened 2020 season. AC only sponsors six sports which makes it all the more puzzling why they would not attempt to compete with a smaller overall roster of athletes and four of the six sports being winter/spring competition such as softball.

Sources have informed RTS that the National Fastpitch Coaches Association has presented a possible plan to their membership to move back the current Contact Period from September 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. By doing so Division I Coaches would not be allowed to make contact with 2022 graduates (upcoming high school juniors) until a full 10 months after the regularly established date. Sources say this move is to allow coaches to have more evaluation time due to the recruiting slowdown caused by the pandemic. Support from the coaching membership within the association seems split on the matter however.

Premier Girls Fastpitch officially canceled their 18U and 16U National Championships today schedule for July 24-August 1 in Huntington Beach and Irvine, California. The events had hoped to proceed until the State of California recently reinstated restrictions on youth sports due to the uptick of COVID-19 cases. PGF’s All-American Game televised by ESPN is also included in the cancellation.

San Jose State will be searching for a new leader as it was announced Friday the contract of head coach Pete Turner would not be renewed. In his 14 seasons as coach, Turner amassed a 413-329 record with two NCAA appearances and won a WAC and MWC Championship. Sources say a combination of some disgruntled athletes, multiple transfers, and a deteriorated relationship with administration played a role in the non-renewal to lead the program.

After the controversy and subsequent disintegration of the Scrap Yard Dawgs, the USSSA Pride season seemed all but over. Sources now report the new collegiate summer league the Florida Gulf Coast League will step in with an All-Star Team that will compete against the Pride in the coming days. ‪Additional sources have indicated another option being considered for the exhibitions tentatively slated for July 22-24 at Space Coast Stadium include a “mixing” of Pride and FGCL players to form two teams that would then face off.

Sources have confirmed Belmont will name Laura Mathews their new head coach. Mathews comes to Nashville after spending the last three seasons at Wright State where she went 50-76. Wright State recently discontinued their softball program due to budget shortcomings as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

RTS has learned from sources with direct knowledge of the situation that NCAA has had serious discussions on extending the current Dead Period for Division I to December 1 due to the ongoing issues with the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the last few days some administrators have met with coaching staffs to inform and prepare them of the possibility. If the Dead Period is extended, much like the summer, this would wipe out fall recruiting for DI institutes per the softball recruiting calendar.

‪Jacksonville has announced that former Arizona Pitcher Gina Snyder will join Coach Erica Ayers staff as graduate assistant coach. Snyder has gotten her first taste of coaching heading up the Bradenton Slice of the new collegiate league this summer in Florida.