“In the Spot Light”
By Bob Otto/Yucaipa, CA

The final pitch. The last swing of the bat. Paul Algar, Mark Sorenson and Tim Wahl. Add Doug Middleton, Doug Gillis and Michael White.

All six, all ISC All-World. All several times over.

Yes, they’re all veteran stars of the ISC World Tournament and All-World players - and likely will be for years to come. But, Algar, Sorenson, Wahl; Middleton, Gillis and White have something else in common. They’re at that point in their fastpitch softball careers where the “R” word gets mentioned.

Yes, retirement could come quickly for any one of these players. Job or business demands, growing families, injuries, or just plain losing the fire-in-the-belly can exit a player from the sport overnight. Here 20 years, gone tomorrow.

So, who’s poised to replace them? Who are some of the ISC’s rising stars?  Who will we be in the Spot Light for the next five, ten, or twenty years?

In a journey across North America, we went in search of the new stars - those poised to carry fastpitch softball forward. And we discovered some great talent.

Our journey starts out west with Herb Wisdom in Tumacacori, Ariz. Wisdom is the ISC Western Region Vice President and also manages and sponsors the Si Senor fastpitch team. He’s got a couple of “can’t miss” players in Chad Hardesty and Mike Elias.

Chad Hardesty

 Age: 26

Position: pitcher.

At 6-foot-1, and weighing in at 195, Hardesty has the size and athletic ability to become a “premier pitcher,” said Wisdom. “Chad has played in two ISC World Tournaments with the Phoenix Merchants. He has great velocity on all his pitches.”

Along with his pitching ability, Hardesty is an outstanding hitter, says Wisdom. “In 12 at bats in the World Tournament he has hit three home runs.”

Mike Elias

Age: 26, 5-foot-11, 185.

This former New Mexico State baseball player can play all infield positions, and defensively, says Wisdom, “he can hang with Cliff Wisdom (Herb’s son) at second or third. He may be the best I’ve seen, and that includes Christopherson, Herron, and Farinacci.”

Elias is a switch hitter, and not lacking in confidence. “He brags that he owns Darren Zack,” says Wisdom. “Having gotten two hits off him, one from the right side and one from the left.”

Is he ready for the big time? Without a doubt, says Wisdom. “He’s ready now and should be playing for one of the big boy teams.”

 Leaving Wisdom, we journey north to Canada to meet with Craig Crawford, the 28-year-old ‘99 ISC All-World catcher for the Waterloo, Ontario, Hallman Twins. Crawford also serves as the ISC Canadian Player Representative and began playing fastball when he was 8. And he’s found us an outstanding young talent to spot light.

Serge Bourgeois

Age: 24, 5-foot-11, 185

Hometown: St. Antoine, N.B.

Bats right, throws right.

As with a number of Canadian fastball players, Bourgeois is an outstanding hockey talent, playing in El Paso and San Antonio, Texas, this season. And when it comes to fastball, he excels there too.  “He’s a star on the rise,” said Crawford. “He has a great arm and has demonstrated that he can hit for both power and average. At last year’s ISC World Tournament, he came up with some huge clutch hits that helped us in our sixth place performance in Sioux City.”

2000 will find Bourgeois moving from the Twins to the Grand Prairie team which will be “a great opportunity for Serge,” said Crawford. “He just didn’t get the playing time behind the plate that he needed to develop last season and this year will certainly test his skills. He’s a great team player and I wish him the best in Grand Prairie as do all of the Twins that had the pleasure of playing with him last season.”

Notables: Bourgeois attended the Canadian National Team tryout in Victoria, B.C.; won the Midget National Championship in 1994; and lists Mike Piechnik as the top pitcher he’s faced.

On the road again, we head south to Missouri and Bill Cook country. Cook is a player/manager of the Cameron Thunder, an ISC and NAFA ball club. Missouri’s blessed with fastpitch talent, but Cook has four that stand out.

Rodney Doak

Age: 25

Described as a talented catcher and center fielder, Doak is also a daring base runner with a head on his shoulders. “He will hit a long home run in one at bat and then lay down a bunt in the next,” said Cook, “and the bunt’s as good as a double.”

In 1999, Doak was with Meierhoffer of Savannah, but Cook hopes to have him back with the Thunder again in 2000. “In 1998 Rodney led the Thunder with a .412 batting average, 35 stolen bases and five home runs.

“He was injured for most of 1999, but did turn some heads in the Herald & Review Shootout in Decatur,” said Cook. “He came up with numerous key hits.”

Intense. Intimidating at times. Supreme confidence. Unafraid to voice and show his emotions…that’s all part of Doak’s genetics too. “He is so confident that sometimes he says things that will upset you as a teammate or coach,” said Cook. “He will do whatever it takes to get you as focused as he is, and this includes getting in your face if need be. He can turn the momentum of a game very quickly.”

Jason Davison

Age: 25

Team: Herzog Fastpitch, St. Joseph, MO

Quite often the mark of a top player is “who picks him up”. And in Davison’s case, he turned the heads of Meierhoffer of Savannah, and Davenport Heating of Kansas City; both drafted him for ISC World Tournament play. Meierhoffer in 1999, and Davenport in ’98.

And Cook says he’s seen plenty of the young man himself. “He wore us out in our own tourney, the Rex Walker Memorial,” said Cook. “He was awarded all-tournament as he batted over .500 in four games.”

Stars execute star-quality plays: “I once saw him throw out a runner from the outfield fence, 260 feet away,” said Cook. “The runner was on second and the batter hit a one-hopper off the fence. Jason threw a strike to the catcher and the runner was out be five feet.”

Along with a great arm and range as an outfielder, Davison plays all infield positions as well. If there is a weakness says Cook, it’s a bit of a loop in his swing,  “similar to a baseball player.”  And if that’s corrected? “Jeez, he’ll kill us!” said Cook.

Kevin Shaw

Age: 35

Now, you’re thinking: “35? He’s an up-and-coming fastpitch star?” In this case, yes. Because Shaw plays like he’s ten years younger and he’s been in the sport for just half of the 1999 season.

“In a reserve roll last season with Meierhoffer, Kevin played shortstop, caught and played all of the outfield positions,” said Cook.

He may be a 35-year-old rookie, but he’s a fast learner. After striking out miserably three times against the Thunder, Shaw improved dramatically, says Cook. “The next time we saw Kevin, three weeks later, in a double header, he caught the first game and threw out two runners.

“He had two hits in each game, including a home run and a stolen base,” said Cook. “It was bar none the fastest improvement I have ever witnessed. Should he stay in fastpitch, he will be the next MVP of the 40-Over division.”

Brandon Craig

Age: 25

Seasons played: 8

Team: Cameron Thunder.

Called “Bull” by his teammates, Brandon Craig fits the description on the pitching mound. “He led our team in strikeouts in 1999,” said Cook. “When he’s on, Brandon’s as good as any I’ve seen.”

And he was on against the powerful Meierhoffer team of Savannah; coming one out away from a perfect game when a foul ball was misplayed.  Slowed down by injuries in ’99, be forewarned if Craig stays healthy, says Cook.

“He’s received numerous honors in the 23-Under division, and if he increases his stamina and stays free of injuries, Brandon will definitely make some noise in years to come.”

With talk often focused on the demise of fastpitch softball, we sometimes overlook the fact that there are many young players across North America, blessed with the talent and desire to carry the sport forward…and have the spot light on them.