St. Louis. Not a fastpitch hot bead. Our league has one or two "national" quality teams. They go to the World Tournament every year and go 1-2 or 2-2 and out. Of course, a 52 year old isn't on one of them. But, that means this 52 year old has to compete against them.
The only pitcher that you might recognize...his name is/was Cooper. I don't recall his first name. He's no longer around. Unbelieveable good. From New Zealand. Was paid a nice liveable salary to play softball in the US for the summer. Then went home for our winter (their summer) Then back for our summer. He did this for several years. The rest of the pitching in our league was a level down from him.
Softball is dying due to lack of pitching. And, I'll never understand why graduated college baseball players are attracted to slow pitch softball when they could play fastpitch.
I'll say this also. Pick whatever mlb player you want. Pick Barry Bonds. He would not do well his first few at bats/games. The speed and the movement of the great pitchers from the short distance is extremely difficult.
Of course, he would make adjustments and then be outstanding....way better than everyone else.
Cooper was no Michael White or Peter Meredith. But, very very good. If Michael White/Peter Meredith = Randy Johnson in his prime then Cooper = Andy Pettitte in his prime.
In my prime we took 9th in the nation at the "A" level. A level down from "Major". 1988. Fargo ND.
To this day a play haunts me. 0-0 game. Bottom of 6th. Runner on second base. One out. Runner takes off to steal 3B. Unheard of. Batter bunts. Run & bunt. I field the bunt up the third baseline, throw to first, get the out. The return throw is late and run scores. We lose 1-0. I wish like hell I would've faked the throw to first and tagged the runner trying to score.
We lose next game in losers backet to a team from Superior Mn. Their right fielder was none other than............Brett Hull.