Madison SB Players Show Off Skills in Competition

Still reeling from the popularity of last week's event, Madison Softball hosted an encore performance of the softball skills competition with its 3^rd and 4^th grade division Saturday morning.

Dave Carver, Division Manager for the 3^rd and 4^th grade Madison Softball program, said he was inspired by college softball coaches to host the competition.

"I go to a coaches clinic every year with a bunch of college coaches and one coach told us one thing that always stuck with me," said Carver. " 'Softball is simple: throw catch, hit run.' The team that throws and catches and hits and runs the best tends to do better. So all season long we've been focusing on those four basic fundamental skills. And the idea today is to kind of close the year and end the season with those skills and acknowledge the kids and teams that do it best."

Similar to last weekend's event with the ROOKIE division, the 3^rd and 4^th grade skills competition tested the girls' skills in four areas: hitting, throwing, running and consecutive catching.  An award was given one girl from each team as well as an award for the Fastest Team and the "Catchiest Team."

A group of 25 girls from the Madison Honda, Rose City Jewelers, Rose City Transmission and Madison Pharmacy teams participated in the event at the Green Village School field. Gold medals were awarded to the individuals and teams for their achievements.

Furthest Hit:  
Madison Honda: K'mara Register

Rose City Jewelers: Carissa Finnerty

Rose City Transmission: Ansley Hopton

Madison Pharmacy: Emilee Griggs

Longest Throw:  
Madison Honda: Loryn Camp

Rose City Jewelers:Jenna Tierney

Rose City Transmission: Courtney Bland

Madison Pharmacy: Emilee Griggs

Team Madison Pharmacy clinched the title of Fastest Team with  an average base path speed of 17.2 seconds and Madison Honda earned the "Catchiest Team" title with 24 consecutive catches and throws.

Carver said the event proved how much the girls had improved during the season.

"We started working with these kids back in January," he said. "The amount of improvement, especially with the 9 and 10 year olds, is staggering.  It's always fun to see how far they've come from the very beginning."

 Cassie Christakis, a member of Team Madison Honda, said that although she is happy to receive a medal, the real fun is in playing the game.

"I like softball because I used to only do sports because I liked the trophies," she said. "And now I just like to do it because I like to win and I like to play."