Okay, so let's start off this last column of the season with a question. And yes, I expect an answer. No, it's not multiple choice. Okay, maybe I don't really want 10,000 e-mails in my inbox, but a few dozen would be lovely. Here it is: What the heck is going on with playing Slow Pitch in Fall Ball? I don't mean at colleges and universities where everything is carefully orchestrated to follow NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA rules. I mean at the high school level and below. Now I certainly don't want to infringe upon my colleague Floyd's area in his column "Child's Play," but I just couldn't resist asking.

Having just returned to the States from Holland, and trying to ease into my first true off-season for awhile, I was beginning to need a softball fix, like any good junkie (no, ISF, this is NOT an invitation to give me another round of urinalysis testing next year). I had just come back from the gym, when Lo and behold, I spied two softball games being played by two Middle School teams. I pulled in to watch, as I sometimes do. There's something about watching the game played with this age group that always makes me a bit nostalgic, and it really keeps my feet firmly on the ground, thinking about my own roots in the game I love so much. Of course, I also have to admit that I get a little evil pleasure out of standing there and letting all the parents try to figure out my connection to one of the players on either of the teams. I watch with equanimity and applaud for both – which only deepens their confusion. Unless they've read this column or know of my around-the-world exploits, I think they usually figure I'm a college scout (Oh noooo!) or a local coach come to check out the competition or look for future players for a travel team. But... I digress... So, I pulled up, got out of the car, and much to my consternation (yep...it's in my contract. I have to use one or more big, latinate words per column), what did I spy? Slow-pitch. The girls were playing Slow Pitch? Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with Slow Pitch of course, and although some of my past and future teammates may groan a bit, I have played and enjoyed the game. It's different to be sure, but I still maintain that some of the hardest balls I've EVER had hit at me were in the upper levels of a Co-Ed (big ball/small ball) league I played in. If you can field a worm-assassinating, prairie dog- scorching groundball at 3B or SS hit by a guy with biceps the size of my thighs, then you can field about anything. But... what were these girls doing playing Slow Pitch? Before I went overseas to play, I watched a few Fall Ball games here in the Spokane area. They were all, without fail, windmilling, base stealing, bunting fastballers. In two years, something has changed with our sport. Is this something just occurring here in Spokane, or is it more widespread?

I'm truly interested in hearing from you all on this topic, because I believe it may be a barometer of sorts for Fastpitch. I have watched Fastpitch virtually disappear as an adult sport here in Spokane, where once it was extremely strong. Now, all that remains is a Men's modified league that women can sometimes beg their way into, and of course, Slow Pitch in Co-Ed, Men's and Women's flavors. I have heard many folks say they think our sport has been damaged by "Soccer Syndrome" -- a pandemic (there's the other latinate for this issue) siphoning of young athletes, beginning about 10 or 15 years ago that has lead to a dearth of Fastpitch players – not a dearth of talent, because those committed to the game have continued -- but a certain lack of sheer numbers that have sounded the death knell of recreational and adult Fastpitch that was once very strong in the Spokane area. Those young female athletes who went to soccer 15 years ago instead of the cathedral of red dirt, chalk, white bases, and freshly mown outfield grass are now adults, and lacking the Fastpitch skills usually acquired in youth, now place no demands on the system for Fastpitch leagues. I wonder now if the girls who went to soccer 10 years ago are now the reason for Fall Ball slow pitch? I have heard it discussed that Slow Pitch is far more inclusive – that girls who could not normally play on a Middle School or High School team can play for their school in Fall Ball Slow Pitch competitions. If so, I applaud the effort to bring more players into the sport – IF they choose to acquire the skills and make the transition to Fastpitch in the Spring. If this is not the intention, are we doing damage to our young and promising fastballers? I ask because of something I saw on a young pitcher's face yesterday. She was snapping her wrist, popping the ball into the glove between pitches – an obvious windmiller's movement – and when she released one (slingshot only) with a little speed and no arc (a good pitch by all accounts in Fastpitch), and had her ball called as an illegal pitch (too fast; no arc), I watched her face sink and her eyes lose their gleam. She went back to the circle, and threw a ball with arc that was horribly out of the zone. She walked batter after batter, unable to throw a slow pitch arc, and I could clearly see her frustration. My only hope is that we don't lose her and others with her competitive spirit, passion, and skills while we try to gain new converts to the sport. Please do send me your thoughts. I believe we are in a critical time for Fastpitch worldwide, and the better informed we are the better able we will be to take actions to save our sport.

Bottom of the 7th, two outs --Last words for the season : As the leaves begin to fall, and the temperatures dip, chilled hands wrap numb fingers around balls for just a few more throws and the bat stings just a little more, I'm reminded what a great year it has been. I've been truly fortunate to play in Australia and Holland this last year, to play in my first European Cup, to cover the Junior World Championships, and to have the opportunity to write this column. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all of your feedback, and I'm happy to say I've been invited back to write again next season. I hope all of you have had wonderful seasons, and I look forward to another great year next year! Make sure to support Olympic reinstatement of Fastpitch (go to www.backsoftball.com) and keep the game's passion in your heart STRONG -- 'cuz there "Ain't Nothin' Soft" about it.