Softball club formed for girls
A new fast-pitch softball organization named the “Valley Fever Fast-Pitch Softball Club” has been created to give girls ages 9-14 the opportunity to play competitive or “select” softball in the greater Snoqualmie Valley.
The select softball program will complement the current Little League opportunities and provide girls with the highest level of softball instruction and competition attainable. North Bend dentist Dr. Rodger Galloway, board member of the new nonprofit club, explains that “currently girls have one of two choices to play softball in the Snoqualmie Valley. They can either play in one of the local Little League programs or they can travel to Issaquah, Redmond or Kirkland to play in a more competitive tournament program.”
The Valley Fever Fast-Pitch Softball Club is being established to provide an Amateur Softball Association (ASA) tournament program similar to those in the surrounding areas that is geographically located in the Snoqualmie Valley.
“The greater Snoqualmie Valley needed an advanced development program to complement the current Little League opportunities,” said Galloway. “Over the years the more competitive players who live in the Valley either changed to playing other sports or had to travel outside the immediate area in order to play in an ASA program.”
The goal of the Valley Fever Fast-Pitch Softball Club is to initially have three girls’ softball tournament teams, ages 10U, 12U and 14U, with the hope of adding a 16- and 18-year-old program in the next few years.
Ron Johnson, co-founder and board member of the new club, has extensive background in the world of girls’ fast-pitch softball and will be the head coach of the 10U team. For many years Johnson has been manager and head coach for various girls’ fast-pitch teams in the Snoqualmie Valley, and was a former assistant coach of the Mount Si High School girls’ softball team. Since 1999 Johnson was the vice president of softball for the Snoqualmie Valley Little League.
Johnson left the Little League program to help form the select club. Johnson said, “The Snoqualmie Valley Little League program is a great place for girls interested in softball to learn the fundamentals of the game. I’m excited about bringing a tournament-level program to the Snoqualmie Valley. There are a lot of talented players in our area and the new club will help develop their skills and prepare them to play softball in high school and beyond.”
Tryouts for the upcoming 2004 season will be held Jan. 24 and 25 at Mt. Si Sports and Fitness, 1546 Boalch Ave., N.W. in North Bend, located across the street from Children’s Services of Sno-Valley. “Any girl aged 9-14 who has a desire to play softball and develop their skills is encouraged to attend the try outs,” said Johnson. And while most of the girls who will be playing in the new club have prior softball experience, it is not necessary. “Desire to play softball,” said Johnson, is the key ingredient to playing with the Valley Fever.
* For information about the new club, to preregister for try-outs or if interested in coaching or being a part of the player-development group, contact Johnson via e-mail at rljohnson@centurytel.net or co-founder Joe Stone at Jstone9182@aol.com. Or call (425) 831-6021.
Sign up for Little League
Snoqualmie Valley Little League (SVLL) will be registering boys and girls, ages 5-18, at the North Bend Depot from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, and 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13. Parents are asked to bring birth certificates for each child. Late fees are $20 per child after Jan. 13. Anyone signing up at tryouts will be on a waiting list.
SVLL is in operation to provide quality baseball and softball programs for kids in the community with support and help from volunteer efforts. Opportunities are available in managing, coaching, team parenting and more.
For information, contact SVLL at (425) 888-1518 or visit www.svll.net. The North Bend Depot is located at 205 McClellan St.
Girls/boys tournament offered
WTA (Washington Tournament Association) is offering a basketball tournament for boys and girls in grades fifth through ninth on Jan. 17 and 18 at Edmonds Community College. Each team is guaranteed four games with awards given to first- and second-place teams. Cost to enter is $230 per team. To sign-up, or for more information, logon to http://www.yourwta.com; e-mail yourwta@msn.com, or phone (425) 744-1860.
Apply for all-star basketball camp
Applications are now being evaluated for The Ten Star All Star Summer Basketball Camp that will take place in Olympia. The camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible to apply. Past participants in the nation-wide program include Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and Antawn Jamison.
* For a free brochure, call (704) 373-0873 anytime.
