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Adam In Albany: Assembly Position on Sexual Predators
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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. July 11, 2004: The Assembly recently passed legislation to help safeguard our children and families from sexual predators, including strengthening the Sex Offender Registry Act.
First and foremost, these bills are designed to prevent sexual predators from committing these horrible crimes in the first place. They send a clear message that those who commit these brutal crimes will be punished – severely.
Cracking down on brutal killers
To protect our communities and punish those who prey on innocent children, I sponsored legislation requiring a mandatory life sentence without parole as the minimum sentence for a person convicted of murdering a child under the age of 14 in the course of committing a felony sex crime against the child (A.11557).
The legislation – which is known as Joan’s Law in memory of Joan D’Alessandro, a New Jersey girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered while delivering Girl Scout cookies – also has Senate approval, and is expected to be signed into law by the governor.
Hopefully this legislation will help deter these awful crimes, and return a small measure of comfort and security to families and communities who have suffered from the loss of a child.
Preventing child abductions
To improve the Amber Alert Plan, which was created to serve as a quick and ready response to child abductions, I supported legislation the Assembly passed that would allow information about a missing child to be transmitted through e-mail, electronic organizers or mobile phones by service providers who voluntarily agree to send messages (A.11532). The legislation also passed the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.
The Assembly passed another measure I supported criminalizing the act of luring a child under 14 for the purpose of committing a violent or sexual felony (A.11521).
We must act to protect our children from dangerous predators. These measures do so, and make sure tough penalties are in place for these heinous crimes.
Protecting our community
To strengthen the Sex Offender Registration Act, which requires convicted sex offenders to register with local law enforcement, I worked to pass measures – which have both passed the Senate – that:
· require the Division of Criminal Justice Services to regularly remind officials in other states that they must tell New York officials when a sex offender moves into this state, and mandating that the DCJS notify sex offenders in New York State that they may have to register in another state if they move (A.11599); and
· provide a toll-free telephone number for the sex offender registry and allow youth service organizations to perform background checks on up to 20 people per call (A.11590).
The Sex Offender Registry is an important tool in keeping our loved ones safe from sexual predators, and these new measures will make it even more effective by improving access to it, and making sure it’s up to date. I hope the governor will join us by supporting this legislation, which improves the efficiency of the registry.
Support Group for Adults With Epilepsy to Meet in WP
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A support group is forming in White Plains for adults living with epilepsy to get together for support, education and the opportunity to share with people who truly understand. The group will meet the last Wednesday of the month from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Westchester Independent Living Center, 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains.
For information contact Nancy at 723-5578 or Carol at 576-5866.
The group is sponsored by the Westchester Self-Help Clearinghouse, a program of Westchester Jewish Community Services.
Media Blacks Out Women’s Pro Fastpitch League from the Wires. Part III
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Fastpitch Johnny. July 9, 2004, Part Three: When the New York Times and the Gannett paper can devote reams of coverage to the boring pro golf tour, the NASCAR circuit, athletes’ steroid problems, soccer, track, gymnastics, as they have done this week, and now the ridiculous coverage of the Greek soccer team (who cares?), and the Tour de France (bicycling racing – now if they bet on the cyclists, that might be a story) — and print as news the most minor of transactions, it is a major crime against womens sports in the New York area not to cover Juggernaut games.
At least give the scores and the standings. Really.
GORDON’S PANTHERS, In blue, from Southern California toured and showcased their legendary fastpitch prowness June 24 to 27 in Edison, N.J. Girls who play for the elite fastpitch travel teams of America are hoping the National Pro Fastpitch league survives for their future in the game they love. Photo by WPCNR Sports
Times does not know a Naut from a Knick. But Knicks play far uglier.
WPCNR interviewed the Sports Editor of The New York Times, Tom Jolly, and asked him why the Times was not following Juggernaut games.
Jolly said it was basically a lack of space, with 11 pro sports teams to cover, and the Brooklyn Cyclones and Staten Island Yankees and Newark Bears all demanding coverage. He also said he had not been receiving results on the Associated Press wire, and suggested that the Juggernaut get their games and results on the AP wire.
Asked why the Times printed Yankee, Mets, Liberty and Metrostars schedules and ticket information, and not the Nauts, Jolly said he would consider doing so, if informed of the schedule, but again used lack of space as a consideration.
Again, the Juggernaut management claim the Times has been given extensive material on schedules, players, results. Mr. Jolly knows nothing about it. Are you kidding us, New York Times?
WPCNR did not ask if Jolly considered the Nauts a minor league team, which they are definitely not, being the only professional women’s fastpitch softball league, recognized by Major League Baseball.
All the Sports You Least Want to Know About.
The Juggernaut General Manager Richard Perrotty told WPCNR last week that the Juggernaut sends box scores and game recaps to the Associated Press every game, as well as to the New York Times Sports Editor. Results are even sent to a woman reporter at the times. Whoever is feeding material to Mr. Jolly obviously is making very bad editorial decisions as to what Mr. Jolly sees.
When the New York Times can cover Olympic Gymnastics on their Sports Section front page as they did last Tuesday, and do a feature on kayaking as they did July 1, I suggest they are out of touch. You can do a story on The Juggernaut after the first third of the season if you had any fairness or sense of sports news.
To Run a National Title IX Story and Ignore Nauts Is Hypocrisy.
Tuesday morning, June 29, the Times Sports Section ran an extensive sports story on Title IX as it applies to high school sports, using a softball player in a visual. The story detailed a number of Title IX suits involving school districts being sued by parents of softball teams for unequal facilities compared to boys baseball.
This compounds the Times felony against fastpitch.
Mr. Jolly, you’re ignoring fastpitch in your own town!
The Title IX article was a typical self-righteous Times article that appears to be so politically correct.
The articles goes on to detail the discrimination against girls (not to mention the manipulation and downright physical abuse of players by overpitching them that is typical of high school softball), across the country.
How About Title IX for the Media.
WPCNR suggests that Title IX should be applied to the men who run the media, too, and for the Times to ignore the National Pro Fastpitch league and the local Nauts as they have is simply wrong.
The attitude towards women in sports is still pretty awful. I daresay that we do not care about the hiring of new coaches at colleges I never heard of in the Times results columns, when National Pro Fastpitch standings and results could be appearing in that space.
Tuesday’s section even has a long critique of ESPN’s telecast of the Arena Football Bowl. They could have done a similar story on the YES telecast of the Juggernaut.
Associated Press: “It’s softball, isn’t It?”
Unfortunately, Mr. Jolly won’t be seeing Juggernaut results on the Associated Press wire any time soon. The AP doesn’t consider softball a sport. The
Tom Canavan, the Newark-based AP Bureau reporter told WPCNR that he was aware of the Juggernaut, but that the decisions as to what was carried on the AP “Agate” sportswire, as he termed it, were made in
Terri Taylor, a woman, is Sports Editor for the Associated Press in
No Demand.
Ms. Taylor told WPCNR Tuesday afternoon, June 29, when asked why the AP wire was not carrying National Pro Fastpitch results, said,
“We don’t have any demand for it. None of our newspapers have shown any interest in it. It would be extremely difficult for us to chase down the results at night. There’s also a lack of space. I just got back from a sports editors convention (in
WPCNR pointed out to Ms. Taylor that Aaron Moore National Pro Fast pitch headquarters in
It’s Clear: Media Ignoring National Pro Fastpitch.
Has-beens and hooligans of the National Football League, washed up heavyweights, bicyclists, sportscar drivers, horses, drafts of players no one knows, and the latest Yankee parasite problem are more interesting to sports editors today.
Upright, outstanding intelligent women players, smart enough to negotiate their own contracts, teach and coach on the college level and still play a caliber of game that is fun to watch, economical to attend, and fun to see at the ballpark are not.
Even though they give 110%.
Gretsas Tells All WED 6 PM on 76: The Gretsas Years With Ron Jackson.
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WPCNR CITY HALL SPIN. Special to WPCNR. July 8, 2004, UPDATED 5 P.M. July 12, 2004: Ron Jackson, “The Last Activist,” and the only advocate for the African-American community in White Plains won a television reporter coup Thursday. Mr. Jackson will interview George Gretsas on Mr. Jackson’s show Winbrook Like It Is, cabling on Public Access Television this Wednesday evening at 6:00 P.M, on Channel 76, “The Spirit of 76.”
THE MAN IN THE BLACK SUIT. George Gretsas Photo from WPCNR News Archive
RON JACKSON, host of WINBROOK LIKE IT IS, right, from an appearance on White Plains Week in March of this year, with John Bailey, left. Photo From WPW Archive.
Mr. Jackson announced to WPCNR that the city’s soon-to-be-former Executive Officer, the reclusive and highly private and image-concious George Gretsas, who leaves the city employ July 16 to take the City Manager job in Fort Lauderdale August 2, will appeared for taping Monday morning.
Gretsas, acerbic, businesslike, fast-thinking, adept at dodging questions, and creating positive impressions has previously always been content to remain the man behind Mayor Joseph Delfino’s success, has apparently agreed to submit to one of the city’s bluntest and most irreverent commentators, the direct Ron Jackson.
Gretsas granted Mr. Jackson the opportunity to question him in Mr. G’s first television interview on Public Access Television in the six years Gretsas has been orchestrating “the city’s business,” as he is fond of saying.
The Gretsas show, is sure to be a sought-after addition to the White Plains Public Library public record of the city’s history. Mr. Jackson’s popular Winbrook Like It Is is the sought-after spotlight by spinning politicians for years, was taped Monday and will air next Wednesday evening at 6 P.M. on WPPA-TV, The Spirit of 76. Though that has yet to be confirmed.
Gretsas has refused numerous requests to be interviewed on White Plains Week. Mayor Joseph Delfino, too has refused to be interviewed on White Plains Week the City News Roundup Show. Gretsas, apparently wrapping up his assignment in White Plains is expected to give a perspective of accomplishment and the city’s future after The Gretsas Years end Friday.
Hockley Cries to Brooklyn; Abinanti Dazzles; Stay Granted. Usurper Stays 2 Wks
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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. July 8, 2004: Glen Hockley is refusing to go quietly and leave the Council as directed by the Attorney General. He won a Temporary Restraining order Thursday from the Appellate Court in Brooklyn, allowing him to stay on the Common Council another two weeks.
OH WON’T YOU STAY…JUST A LITTLE BIT LONG-GER…PUL-LEASE LET ME STA-AY: Councilman Glen Hockley at one of his characteristic soliloquies at the Common Council in May of this year. Mr. and Mrs. White Plains will have Mr. Hockley around for at least two more weeks as the Appellate Court changed its mind and temporarily blocked his ordered ouster from the Common Council as a demonstrated usurper of Larry Delgado’s seat based on a quo warranto action initiated by the New York State Attorney General. Photo by WPCNR News
QUO WARRANTO WALTZ CONTINUES: The persuasive litigator, Thomas Abinanti, Glen Hockley’s attorney, convinced a clerk at the Appellate Court, Second Department in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon to ask a new judge to grant Glen Hockley a Temporary Restraining Order which would delay Mr. Hockley’s N.Y. Attorney General-ordered removal from the White Plains Common Council which was rumored, but never officially confirmed to be taking place next week. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
Hockley, sources say, is confident that after arguments on the motion due July 19 before the Appellate Court, he will win a further stay, allowing him to stay on the Common Council indefinitely until his appeal of Judge Nicolai’s decision is decided perhaps in September. But, that will happen only if the Appellate Court expedites the Hockley appeal.
Delgado Attorney: Will go for the Hockley Backpay.
Jeffrey Binder, Larry Delgado’s attorney told WPCNR, that in view of the latest Hockley delaying tactic, and Mr. Hockley’s refusal to leave his seat honorably, Mr. Delgado has now decided to seek full restitution from Mr. Hockley of all wages and pension contributions Mr. Hockley received during the almost 28 months Hockley has served so far.
Binder said Mr. Hockley can count on it.
Hockley has mounted legal maneuver after legal maneuver to avoid a defining result to the disputed 2001 election when the voting machine jammed in District 18, costing Mr. Delgado a victory, as defined by the Attorney General’s quo warranto investigation recently completed and ruled on by Judge Francis Nicolai ruling Hockley be removed and Delgado instated.
Binder Notes on Latest Ploy
Binder described Abinanti’s argument as convincing the clerk at the Appellate Court that the Hockley request for a jury trial and cross-examination of the 103 sworn affidavitts from citizens who say they voted for Mr. Delgado that November, should be looked on in a new light. Binder said the clerk took argument to a different judge from any who had ruled against granting Hockley the Temporary Restraining Order last week. Last week the Appellates turned down Hockley’s request for a stay flat, 4-0.
Binder acidly said the Abinanti argument casts Judge Nicolai in the role of “usurping” a jury’s role in deciding whether the voters who swore the affidavitts were believable.
The stay was granted at 3:30 Thursday afternoon, according to Mr. Binder.
Latimer Walk to Kick Off Campaign for Assembly
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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2004. From the Latimer Campaign for Assembly. July 8, 2004:George Latimer, candidate for the New York State Assembly, is kicking off his campaign on Thursday, July 15th in an energetic and unique way. Latimer, a Westchester County Legislator, will walk the length of the 91st Assembly District, a distance of more than eleven miles, meeting with residents at specific locations to discuss issues facing the Sound Shore area, and talking with people along the route.
Latimer will stroll, or stride, through Rye Brook, Port Chester, Rye City, Mamaroneck
Village, Mamaroneck Town, Larchmont and New Rochelle.
“The 91st District is one that includes large and small cities, villages and towns – some that are very suburban and some that are more developed. Having represented almost half the district for thirteen years, I know many of the people and the issues they care about. But I still have a lot to learn and a lot of people to meet. Walking the
district will give me the chance to listen to people, to bring a sense of unity to the area, and most importantly, to show that my campaign and my service as an Assemblyman will be one that addresses every community
in the district”, said Latimer.
Even when he wasn’t in the midst of a campaign, Latimer has used walking tours and door-to-door visits to keep in touch with his constituents. “It is fitting that I am beginning my campaign this way, rather than
holding the traditional announcement flanked by my supporters”, he explained. Latimer entered the race for the 91st Assembly District at the urging of forty current and former local elected officials from the district, so gathering a group of supporters could have been easily accomplished.
“This race is about the people of the Sound Shore, the issues that are important to them – and my willingness to take the time and effort to get to know the residents and their concerns. It is what I did every day for four years as a Councilman in my home community, and for 13 years in the County Legislature. It is what I intend to do every
day if have the opportunity to serve in the State Assembly”.
Latimer will begin his day at 8:00 a.m. at the Rye Ridge Deli in Rye Brook hosting a breakfast with Rye Brook residents. At 9:00 a.m., he will proceed down Westchester Avenue into Port Chester. His route will
take him down So.Main Street to the Boston Post Rd. (US 1), where he will continue through every community until he reaches the Thruway Diner in New Rochelle. Along the route, he will be meeting to discuss healthcare, historic preservation, the environment and water quality, property taxes, education, traffic, and jobs. Various local officials,
supporters – and members of the press – will participate for part of the duration of the walk.
Latimer is seeking the Democratic, Working Families and Independence Party lines in this November’s election. His previous public service includes two terms as Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
Media Blacks Out Pro Fastpitch League Ignores Growth of Sport, Part II
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Fastpitch Johnny. July 8, 2004 (Part Two of Three): When you consider that fastpitch softball is played nationally and involves over 10 Million girls and women, and the media coverage never mentions it, you get an idea of just how anti-women’s sports the media are. The last two weeks, college showcase tournaments were held in Boulder, Colorado, and in Edison New Jersey. No media covered the New Jersey tournament and it is a natural story, just as no media covered significant events of the National Pro Fastpitch season. Why? WPCNR wants to know.
THE Girls Who Play Ball come to play from All Over the World in Edison, N.J., Boulder, Colorado and more.
WHITE PLAINS’ TIGER KELSEY KULK of the Brooklyn Beach Girls facing the Inferno of New Jersey in the Edison Angels Summer Showcase, June 24. 26 teams from the West Coast, Florida, Georgia, Massachussetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio performed for swarms of big name college coaches in games that took your breath away. Only WPCNR was there. No local T.V. coverage. Why? Photo by WPCNR Sports.
When WPCNR pointed out to ESPN’s SportsCenter spokesperson that 26 18-and-under fastpitch teams from across the country competed in
WPCNR informed Mr. Quinn of ESPN that national tournaments are held every year by the ASA and PONY organizations attracting around 200 teams to each tournament. Quinn did not know that.
Do you think ESPN might do one live report from the ASA Nationals this year, just as a change for the relentless NBA, NFL preseason camp coverage?
From this reporter’s perspective when millions of teen girls from all over the country gather in spots for hundreds of softball games that bring America together and let us see that we are the same all over, like at the nationals, that is news.
Isn’t it worth 1 minute on SportsCenter, or 60 Minutes, or at least on the local television stations? On my network it is.
COLLEGE COACHES FROM IONA, PENN STATE, RUTGERS, INDIANA, St. Joseph’s, Cornell were just a few of the coaches on hand to see Thursday June 24 action. Here they watch the Beachgirls in action. College coaches told WPCNR that they prefer watching tournament showcases like this one in Edison June 24-27 to high school scouting because they see more really good ball players. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
If you are interested in sports news it is. But sports news has been forgotten. Nowadays, the Tom Jolleys, Dan Quinns and Mark Chernoffs of the world deal in sports promotion, not sports news.
Fastpitch tournaments are held all over the country. They are huge in the Midwest South and far west. On Memorial Day, in
.
Or, perhaps the fastpitch people are not aggressively promoting their game.
Let’s Look in the Papers.
The print media have tacitly ignored the debut of the Juggernaut in the metropolitan area with the exception of the Bergen Record. The first ever pitching performance in the
Time to take off the
I wonder if Ms Smith had torn off her uniform jersey to celebrate her shutout, whether the media would have covered it (it might have been a good idea for the beautiful Ms. Smith to do that, since that seems to have worked for Women’s soccer. It also shows a lot about the sexist mentality at the television networks, that they’d show that shot over and over again).
Only Manager Firing in New York
Then to compound the no-coverage felonies committed by the area Sports Directors and Sports Editors, Juggernaut owner Paul S. Plemenos, (distraught, sources say over his manager’s pitching strategies, and stunned by a three-game sweep of the all-star Juggernauts by the haughty Texas Thunder in Houston), fired his Manager Linda Derk Sunday afternoon, June 13, 9 games into the season.
But perhaps the ultimate measure of the
NOT COVERED: KACI CLARK PITCHED 22 INNINGS in Record 27 inning game in June and got no ink except on WPCNR, and maybe the Jersey papers. Photo by WPNCR Sports
When the longest professional baseball game was played between
Not a word in The New York Times, the Post, or the Daily News on Ms.Clark’s 22-inning stint to our knowledge.
How can you as a sports editor, not cover that? How can you not write a human interest story on Paul Plemenos as the second George Steinbrenner for his ousting of Derk?
Hello….sports editors…that’s news, boys. This is George Steinbrenner stuff (and you know how much ink and airtime every Yankee-Steinbrenner feud gets, or Jason Giambi’s parasite gets).
There was no excuse for not covering the Plemenos “Derkicide,” either. It was announced on the YES Network telecast of the Juggernaut game.
YES is the only word.
WPCNR has already commented on that amateurish production by the YES producers on Juggernaut games. At least some sportswriter had to be watching that game on YES, and some
Why is WPCNR the only electronic media other than YES reporting on the Juggernauts?
That is a very good question.
Where is the National Pro Fastpitch partner, Major League Baseball? For instance.
Why is Major League Baseball, (the “marketing partner” of National Pro Fastpitch the women’s pro league, featuring teams in Sacremento, Houston, New York/NJ, Akron, New England and Arizona)not demanding of Fox Sports and ESPN that those networks promote National Pro Fastpitch, or (perish the thought) even televise some National Pro Fastpitch games nationally?
Paul Panages, Sports Editor of the Akron Beacon-Journal wonders. Paul has been covering the Akron Racers of National Pro Fastpitch with features on players and regular scores. This is more than the
“They put some money in it, and then they don’t promote it. It’s strange, they don’t seem to be promoting it very well.”
Major League Baseball could care less about women’s sports.
The national game has let the young women of
Muscle your networks, Bud Selig, (Commissioner of Baseball). Do what the NBA did. The NBA forced their network to carry WNBA games when the NBA decided to back that league.
It is all the more shameful that Mr. Selig is not doing more to push National Pro Fastpitch, because he has a daughter. He must know how girls are given short shrift across the nation in education aid, sports aid, academic aid, and sports programs.
Yankees Aloof But Semi-Involved. Mets know nothing.
Meanwhile the local
Instead of doing something key on opening day, the Yankees did nothing tied in with the Juggernaut Opening Night. Couldn’t George Steinbrenner, who also has a daughter, have shown up on Opening Night and joined with Mr. Plemenos in launching the Naut season? Or how about the Mets owner doing something?
THE OPENER NOT COVERED: Yogi Berra showed up at the Naut Opener June 1. The Yankees, The Mets, Bud Selig and ESPN, MSG, and WFAN were “No-Shows” Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Mets, notified by Major League Baseball that they should support the local Pro Fastpitch entry, when WPCNR called them did not even know who the Juggernaut were.
That’s embarrassing to the Mets organization. After WPCNR had contacted the Mets, they announced the Juggernauts on their P.A. system at a Mets game.
The Yankees have announced that Alex Rodriguez will throw out a ball and make a personal appearance at a Nauts game. The Yanks will also hold a clinic at the Yankee Stadium with the Nauts? When? The last week of the season? It will do a lot of good then, won’t it?
But it is getting late.
The time to showcase the Nauts and the rest of the Pro Fastpitch league teams was the last two weeks. Whatever promotion is being done appears to be being done in a manner that gives the appearance of being supportive of womens professional fastpitch softball, but executed in a timing sequence that makes that support the least effective.
WPCNR believes this is being done deliberately to discredit and kill the girls fastpitch game. No one supports the excellence of the female athlete.
Nauts Do the Little Things, Get 2-Out Hits, Take Out Thunder, 2-1
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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F.Bailey. July 8, 2004: The New York-New Jersey Juggernaut moved the runners bette, got a successful sacrifice from Lisa Iancin and depended on two big 2-out hits from Germaine Fairchild and Venus Taylor to pull out a 2-1 win for Kaci “22” Clark, Wednesday night before 801 fans at Montclair State University Stadium. The executions of the fundamentals allowed the Nauts to take 2 of three games from third place Texas Thunder and move within 2 games of the First Place Akron Racers in the National Pro Fastpitch circuit, with the Arizona Heat coming into Montclair Friday night.
MOVING EM UP: Lisa Iancin at the plate in the sixth last night facing Christa Williams inthe circle with Lyndsey Klein at first, just before her successful sacrifice bunt moved Klein (on first) to second to set up Venus Taylor’s smash rifled past a sprawling, diving first-baser Marrissa Young. Taylor’s cue shot scored Klein with the game-winning run. Klein went 3 for 3 and scored both Naut runs, turning the final play of the game with a scrambling backhand stop to her right and rope to first. Iancin has shown a talent for creating the key at bat in Naut victories. Photo by WPCNR Sports
After the Thunder got on the board in the opening frame when Kristen Zaleski beat a bunt to first, stole second and scored on Selena Collins rip into right center for a 1-0 lead, the Nauts came back to even it in the bottom of the second stanza.
Lyndsey Klein got the first of her three hits on a Baltimore Chop off the sunbaked MSU Stadium infield that went high off the thirdbaser’s glove. Klein just beat the throw to first. Iancin failed to move Klein on a sacrifice. But Klein wound up on second, anyway when Christa Williams uncorked a pitch that catcher Selena Collins could not get.
Venus Taylor walked and Naut Newcomer Laura Harms looped a soft liner to second. With two out Germaine Fairchild came to the plate.
Williams got her 1-2, then Fairchild said Williams threw a rise ball that “G,” as the players call her, blooped into straight away center fooling centerfielder Kristen Zaleski. She did not move in for it, and it fell 20 feet in front of her, scoring Klein who wheeled around third with the equalizer.
NAUTS HEROINE VENUS TAYLOR SIGNS THE VISOR OF A FAN after the game. Photo by WPCNR Sports
That’s the way she stayed, 1-1 until the sixth when Klein lead off with a rip up the middle, Iancin sacrificed perfectly, setting the stage for Venus Taylor. Venus said Williams first pitch was inside, and she was expecting a pitch on the outside part of the plate and was ready. She got it all and took it into the first base hole scorching the ball past sprawling firstbaser Marrissa Young and the speedy Klein cruised home from second with the winning run.
Lisa Iancin, whose knack for building an inning has distinguished her play this season bunts by choking up on the bat, hands together high on the barrel. It’s an unusual style, that allows her to hold that bat more at eye level and push the ball out harder. She missed her first attempt to bunt in the second inning and attacked differently in the sixth:
“I think the first time around, my bat was too far away from my eye level, so I was trying to keep it closer to my face and use more of my knees and my body to position myself exactly where I have to be to be able to meet the pitch,” Iancin analyzed it. “And also, to move up in the box, and be more confident, more determined, and trying to guess what she’s going to throw me.”
Asked about the Iancin choke-up bunt technique, Lisa said, “When I was younger I used to pinch the bat with one hand, and when I got around 14 years old, I got more strength and coordination and trust in your hands, and my coach decided to teach me to put my hands together up towards the barrel.”
She said, choking up “gives you more control of the bat and bring the bat closer to your eye level, the sweet part of the bat where you can actually see where you need to have contact point. You can also draw the ball by putting your top hand behind the barrel. The top hand actually acts as a cushion so you don’t bat it back hard to the pitcher.”
Iancin’s gamer-builder in the sixth looked as if she had rolled it out there with her hand, it was that perfectly placed.
Defensive Gems by the Juggernaut.
Newcomer Laura Hamms playing right field for the Nauts, from Bradley University, distinguished herself with a terrific throwout from the centerfield fence to rob Lindsay Gardner of a double in the 5th. Gardner was running full-tilt to second on a ball that hit and rolled to the centerfield fence. Hamms cut it off and threw a strike to Carri Leto at second. Gardner veered to the left of second trying to get a hand in, but Leto’s snake-like tag hung her out to dry. Venus Taylor commented that Hamms has a terrific arm, having coached her in Illinois, and that the league would soon get to know you can’t run on Hamms.
Circle on the Scorecard.
Naut Hot Cornerette, Jaclyn Pasquerella made the game-saving play in the top of the sixth on the Thunder’s Erin Evans, after Kaci Clark had walked Selena Collins and the speedy Liz Bouck pinch-running was sacrificed to second. Erin Evans turned on a Kaci pitch and hit a missile to Pasquerella’s right at third base.
Pasquerella incredibly, backhanded the line drive across her body at her ankle for one out and whipped it to the instinctive Carrie Leto right on second for an inning-ending double play. Instead of a double that easily would have scored the pinchrunner, Pasquerella’s lightning glove turned two.
KACI ROUNDS TO THE CABIN: Kaci Clark fires the last pitch of the game to Juliette Brooks. Erica Hansen is playing first. Jaclyn Pasquerella is crouched at third. Clark got the Thunder 1-2-3 in the seventh to earn her 4th win against 3 defeats, walking 3, and striking out 5 Thunders. The Thunder threatened in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th but Clark eased out of the jams.Photo by WPCNR Sports
Winning Battery Signs for Fans after the Game: That’s Germaine Fairchild, background, Catcher, and Kaci Clark, looking at the camera, signing for the dozens of Fastpitch players from the eleven fastpitch teams that attended the game. Photo by WPCNR Sports.
Clark said in reviewing the game, “It was an absolutely awesome win. It was such a team game. The defense was phenomonal. You can see there was a limited number of strikeouts, so the defense was absolutely awesome. We hit the ball very very well. Although we only had five hits, it seemed like we had so many more because so many of us were doing such a good job of getting on base. We did a great job of getting the bunt down, moving the runners when we needed to, and it paid off for us. It was a great team game. My catcher called a great game. We worked very well together tonight.”
Asked about her seemingly shaky start, Clark faulted her spots:
“I didn’t necessarily feel shaky. I felt I got one pitch a little too far over the plate and you know sometimes those infield basehits are going to happen. It’s just making sure you’re hitting good spots. It’s not always about how well the pitch is breaking or how hard you’re throwing it it’s more about you’re hitting good spots with it.”
Asked what she thought about the fan support , Clark beamed,
“The traveling can be a little bit tough and all it’s an awesome opportunity for us to get to go see the other markets and see how they’re building because we’re so excited about the progress of National Pro Fastpitch. In a lot of places the crowds are good, some of them, we’d like to see more. The crowd here was great tonight.
We got a lot of kids, a lot of parents out and we really want to make a special appeal to the ballplayers and their parents. If they want this (NPF) to be around for their kids to be able to play, which is what we’re here for, you know, they need to get to games, get in the seats, and if they can’t be sure to be watching us whenever we’re on YES (Network), because they’re keeping an eye on who’s watching us.”
The Marauders, featured Fastpitch team stand for the National Anthem with the Nauts at the start of last night’s game. Eleven other teams from around the metro area attended the game, including the NJ Tornados, Lady Vikings, The Rampage, Morris County Belles. The Sparta and Nanuet Little Leagues and the New Milford Extreme. Photo by WPCNR Sports
The Current Homestand
Friday, July 9: Arizona Heat, 7:35 P.M.
Saturday, July 10: Arizona Heat, 7:35 P.M.
Sunday July 11: Arizona Heat, 7:35 P.M. Telecast Live on the YES Network.
National Pro Fastpitch Standings. July 8, 2004
W L Pct. Games Behind
Akron Racers 19 7 .731 __
The Juggernaut 19 11 .633 2
Texas Thunder 16 11 .593 3-1
New England Riptide 13 17 .433 8
Arizona Heat 10 19 .345 10-1/2
California Sunbirds 9 21 .300 12
Wednesday’s Scores
New York-New Jersey Juggernaut 2, Texas 1.
Akron 5, California 0
New England 7, Arizona 1
Zanaros to Fete Shakas and Moovas July 19 at VIP Opening.
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WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE CRAWLER. July 8, 2004: Zanaro’s the cornorstone restaurant of the City Center being fitted out at the old Home Savings Bank classic building on Mamaroneck and Main will open with a VIP party July 19 from 5 to 9. Invitations to the event are in the mail.