At A Distance

Spent a few days on vacation at the shore, catching up on some resting, reading and relaxing. The summer softball notebooks start this week, and any coaches who wish to contact me can at cooperd@northjersey.com

This weekend is the Blazer Bash in Ridgewood. The biggest summer softball event in Bergen County, 24 teams total (12 each U-16 and U-18). Pool play begins Friday at 6 p.m. and goes through Sunday with the finals at 4:30 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS: just heard that the National federation of High Schools has adopted 43 feet as the pitching distance starting with the 2010-2011 academic year. Individual states can vote to enact it starting in 2009-2010. So we will have to see what the NJSIAA decides to do. But wow, this is a change that has been talked about for a long time.

Last year, if I remember right, it was about 100 degrees in the shade in Ridgewood that weekend and the parents had some sort of special mixed drink behind the backstop (I think it was pina coladas). This year it should be much cooler.
I have been out of the loop, of course, having been away. Congratulations to Ramapo senior PK Ross Krautman who has committed to Syracuse, Ross is considered the top prep kicker in the nation by many scouts.
Last I heard at the AOW dinner was that Dillon Romain was down in Missouri for a visit. I wonder if anything happened with that.
Speaking of the AOW dinner, I extent my congratulations to all of the athletes who were honored and thank all of the parents and coaches. It was a very nice evening, and kind of our finale to the HS sports season.
But we know that youth sports is a 365 day a year program now and during the summer, its always fun to find out what the best in North Jersey are up too.
And here is one, IHA alumnae Bryeanne Ravettine is competing in the US National Championships in Indiana starting tomorrow. Bryeanne is entered in the 100 backstroke (Wed) the 50 freestyle (Thursday) and the 100 freestyle on Friday. She will be mingling with the superstars of the sport. The meet also serves as the World Championship Trials, so we are talking serious stuff here folks.
So what did yall think of the final athlete of the year, team of the year awards? It was nice getting that all together. I was the 3rd person to vote (what can I say? Im up early), and I have to say there were certainly some surprises among the winners. It was fascinating watching the leads see-saw between nominees.