ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 TAG: 9704230023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS LANG THE ROANOKE TIMES
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 24, 1997.
AAU fast-pitch softball national tournament qualification rules were
incorrectly reported in Wednesday's Current. Any team in the
18-and-under, 16-and-under and 14-and-under age brackets may play in the
national tournament provided they play in the state tournament July
25-26. For further details, call AAU softball chairman David Tuck at
951-3131.
Fast pitch softball becomes the latest sport to be included under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union.
In the ever expanding world of youth sports, girls' softball may be expanding faster than any in the New River Valley.
Softball teams are popping up at such local high schools as Blacksburg, Pulaski County and Giles. The demand for increased opportunities to play the sport is growing.
Recently, the Amateur Athletic Union expanded its sports choices to include fast pitch softball for girls 11-18 , said David Tuck, the chairman of the state's AAU fast pitch program.
The emergence of softball as a high school sport has probably helped it along at the AAU level.
"It's got a lot to do with it," Tuck said. "AAU sports is probably the only club that covers all the sports that kids could possibly be interested in."
So far, the only active club is the Blacksburg Indians. This year, there are three age divisions: 15-16, 13-14 and 11-12.
With the late start, only the 11-12 group will qualify for the national tournament to be held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., June 9-15. The problem is that there are not enough girls to fill the roster.
"The 12-year old group is trying to go to nationals this year," Tuck said. "But we only have nine kids. We need about 11 more to fill the team."
Tryouts for the team will be held twice in the coming week. The first tryout will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. tonight at Beeks Elementary School in Blacksburg. If it rains, Tuck said, registration will still be held at the school. The second date is noon-2 p.m. Sunday at Kipps Elementary's field No. 2.
Cox's batting range is doing its part to help the team prepare for the national tournament, donating one day of the week free of charge to let the girls practice batting, Tuck said.
"Especially right now in this age group, we're looking for pitchers," Tuck said.
Next year, there will be individual age groups for 18-year-olds all the way down to 11-year-olds as the interest in fast pitch continues to increase.
Play will begin May 24 with an open tournament in Blacksburg. The first state tournament will be held July 26-27 in either Blacksburg or Pulaski, Tuck said.
Girls who turned 13 after Jan. 1 of this year are still eligible to participate in the 12-year old group.
The team is still in need of coaches and sponsors as well as players.
"We are looking for sponsors from the area as well," Tuck said. "Someone to put their names on the girls' uniforms."
Those interested in playing, coaching or sponsoring the AAU club should call Tuck at 951-3131 for further information. Interested girls from all around the NRV including Floyd, Pulaski, Giles and Christiansburg as well as Blacksburg are encouraged to call.
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chris Lang at 381-1664 in Montgomery County or Radford or 1-800-346-1234, extension 664 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
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