From time to time we’ll publish some letters from the public we think are interesting reading… here are three touching on a months old article still getting play, a quick question the next Hot 100 and a suggestion for a Texas team to be in the FAB 50 conversation.

 

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IMPROVING THE “10 MOST INFLUENTIAL” SELECTION PROCESS

[Editor’s Note: All the way back in Sept. of 2013, we published an article called “The 10 Most Influential People in Softball” and it’s still getting attention, including on message boards like Ultimate College Softball.  Many critique the selection process, but this letter had some valid ideas…]

Thanks for taking the time to do a list like this. Also, thanks for the additional information you posted (even though you did not have to) about how you went about formulating such a list.

I have no qualms with it, but some comments. I am old enough to know a great number of the people on your list, and a great number of people currently involved in the game. I have never had a background in the game (aside from coaching it in college for two years…don’t ask me how I landed that gig), but I have absolutely fallen in love with it. In fact, most of my friends are BECAUSE of softball and actually heckling (in a fun manner) them during games….and more people know me because of my endeavors with softball rather than soccer.

With that being said, with whom you did poll….I noticed you didn’t have any youth polled. To be honest, the future lies with those playing it or are in the infancy stages of their love affair (like I once was and discovered this message board).

It would be interesting if you did another list, and included that demographic, what the top 10 would look like. I am not so familiar with some of the club coaches/behind the scene figures listed. I think if you did post it again, you would find those who are promoting the game on the ground and the great aspects of it through social media to be mentioned much more.

I know so many girls who are 1-10 years out of their playing days who are giving lessons/clinics/etc and making impressions on the younger generation. You have people like Murphy, Haylie McCleney who have over 20-30,000 followers. After a WCWS event, those usually in the championship game are “the hot thing on twitter” and their followers jump at an exponential way (Lauren Chamberlain recently comes to mind).

It’s tough to admit, but that is how these younger folks (and myself) communicate and identify with people. I love that Sue Enquist and Jennie are high on the list. They have a CONSTANT presence not only around the game, but also SM. It is because of social media that I connected with Sue and she and I spoke on the phone for over an hour about coaching —WHAT A TREAT.

Expand that to people who cover the game (Graham Hays comes to mind) and highlight great athletes/stories around the country and you peak people’s interests in places you might not reach.

It would be quite interesting to see where the pulse of this sporting community lies and what aspect of it is truly having the most impact.

Great job! I look forward to other things you put out.

Emily

 

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WHERE ARE THE HOT 100 ‘16’S

I was wondering when you were going to post your listing of top 2016 players?

Thanks.

Shep Jones

[Editor’s Note: We’re gearing up for the 2016’s… first step will be reaching out to club coaches all over the country to help build a 2016 “Watch List.”  Then comes the research and putting it together.  Hoping to start before the Holidays! haha]

 

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DON’T FORGET FOSTER

Hi Brentt:

I feel like you are missing out on a great legacy powerhouse softball team in Texas’s own Richmond Foster outside of Houston for your FAB 50.

Foster went to State last year finishing 3^rd in Texas 4A, but has a constant presence as one of the top programs in the state every year.  Kristen Clark, a senior this year and a Univ of Texas Longhorn signee for fall 2014 is the pitcher, and they have done great again this year.

Below is the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll for April 7:

Class 4A
	1.	Barbers Hill (21-0)
	2.	Vidor (25-4)
	3.	Hallsville (23-2)
	4.	Medina Valley (26-2)
	5.	North Forney (20-3)
	6.	Hays (19-3)
	7.	Ennis (23-4)
	8.	Azle (23-4)
	9.	Richmond Foster (21-2)
	10.	Mansfield Legacy (19-3)
	11.	Leander (23-4)
	12.	Frisco Centennial (21-2)
	13.	Hutto (18-8)
	14.	Angleton (17-4)
	15.	Little Cypress Mauriceville (21-6)
	16.	Dripping Springs (22-5)
	17.	Canyon (21-5)
	18.	Burleson Centennial (19-3)
	19.	The Colony (17-4)
	20.	Brewer (16-6)
	21.	Montgomery (19-5)
	22.	Pearland Dawson (18-6)
	23.	Mesquite Poteet
	24.	Elgin (17-7)
	25.	Denton Guyer (20-4)
	26.	El Paso Chapin (21-7)
	27.	Lockhart (19-7)
	28.	East View (23-4)
	29.	Magnolia West (18-6)
	30.	Nederland (16-8)

Comments: Mesquite Poteet beat Newman Smith 16-0 in three innings as Cassie Vasquez fanned five and allowed one hit.  Four different Pirates had at least three RBIs.  Centennial beat Prosper 16-10 as the two teams combined for 35 hits.  Hutto beat Elgin 3-2 then scored 28 runs on Connally.  Vidor is 23-4, 11-0 after beating Lumberton 9-3.  Littlie Cypress Mauriceville beat Nederland 3-1 and Ozen 18-0.  LCM pitcher Hope Russell has not allowed an earned run in the past four games. Barbers Hill remains undefeated, 21-0.  Dayton solid second place.  .  Frisco Centennial clipped Liberty 12-5 but in a pair of District 9 upsets, Heritage beat The Colony 6-3 and Little Elm surprised Frisco 7-5.  Richmond Foster’s Kristen Clark hurled a pair of shutouts allowing a combined three this while striking out 19 in 12 innings,  Clark had six hits in eight at bats including two homeruns and seven RBIs.  Azle beat Denton Guyer 4-1. Hutto has swept Elgin this season winning 15-0 and 3-2