News from the Dugout

February 2004

"The only thing my father and I have in common is that our similarities are different."

Dale Berra (1957-), Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop and son of noted linguist Yogi Berra

NOTICE

If you don’t see the complete newsletter in email, click here to see it online.

In this edition of News from the Dugout:

· Vote!

· Pitch Us Your Input!

· Team of the Month

Tournament News

Sign Up Now! Triple Crown Spring Nationals in Clearwater, Florida

Slots are filling fast, but some are still available. Come play ball and check out some MLB Spring Training! Every team that signs up will receive a free membership for a basic team package with USA Sports Rankings!! The tournament takes place March 26^th – March 28^th. For more information, click here, or contact Craig Petroff at (970) 223-6644 x160 (craig@triplecrownsports.com).

Voting Schedule

March 1 – March 15 Preseason State Rankings

March 18 – March 31 Preseason National Rankings

April 4 – August 4 Regular Season Rankings

August 8 – August 16 Final 2004 State Rankings

August 18 – August 25 Final 2004 National Rankings

Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote!

Don’t forget to vote—the more votes, the credibility of the rankings. Voting polls have changed this year. Instead of a 2 day window, state polls will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A snapshot of the votes will be done on Tuesday at 12:00 pm, Mountain Time. If you vote on Wednesday, then your vote will be tallied for the following week’s rankings.

Ranking schedule

Noon Tuesday	State votes tallied
Wednesday	State Rankings posted
Wednesday	National polls open as soon as state rankings posted
Midnight Thursday	National polls closed
Friday	National rankings posted

Voting package prices have been reduced! If you don’t have a voting package, purchase one now! The package includes a link to your own website if it’s not on USA, the ability to post your team’s W/L record, and the privilege to vote! You are the expert; your vote really does count!

New Enhancements!

Manage your team e-mail distribution lists from your USA web page—available with both basic and advanced team packages. Click on “Our Contact Information” to create your team contact list. Click on “Send Update to Team” to send a message to your team. The e-mail addresses may be home addresses, work addresses, or text message addresses, so team members will get the update as soon as it’s ready.

Coming Soon!

Message board update - you will soon be able to choose whether you see all messages (as you do now) or to see only those for your state. Watch for details.

Pitch Us Your Input!

Teams play at different levels, and we think we would provide added value to you if we were to classify teams by the level at which they play. Let us know what you think and why—agree? Disagree? E-mail us at info@usasportsrankings.com.

Team of the Month

For a competitive travel team only in its second year, the Georgia Rough-Riders are turning heads among the 100 or more 13-and-under teams in the Atlanta area. Manager and coach Keith Miller said their goal for their first year was a .500 W/L record, and they beat that by 5 games, winning the championship of the NWBA American League "West Division," 2nd place in the NWBA American League and 3rd place in the Attalla Sports Qualifier. In addition, they ranked 5^th in Georgia in USA Sports Rankings in April 2003 and stayed in the top 20 from March through August 2003.

The Millers got started in baseball in a pony league recreational team when Keith’s son, Avery, was six years old. When Avery made all-star for several years running, Keith decided they needed a more competitive team and formed the Georgia Rough Riders as a 12-and-under select team. Now 13-and-under, the team plans to remain intact until they graduate from high school, acting as a “feeder” team for the Alexander High School. Proud of his players, Keith said, “This team has seven power hitters who can hit over 300’, a lot for players at this age.”

Head coach Anthony Campbell is also the Alexander High School baseball team coach, assisted by Gary Hardie, a former Mets player. Campbell’s son, Taylor, also plays on the team, and his older son, Andy, is a pitching coach. Another Alexander H.S. senior, Shawn Kimberley, shares pitching coach duties with Andy, while his younger brother, Dustin is a player, making this something of a family team. Keith says he and his son “really enjoy their time together on the field.”

The Rough Riders’ goal for 2004 is to win a state championship. They plan to play in USSSA, BPA and Southern Sports Association tournaments, the last one in July. They will play in seven tournaments altogether, and hope to place in the top two in at least four of them, shooting for a .700 W/L record.

Not content just to compete, the Georgia Rough Riders are hosting their second annual 34-team fund-raising tournament, the “Presidents Challenge,” in Douglasville. Last summer, they hosted two other successful tournaments as well.

In addition to his other responsibilities, Keith updates their website, and through USA SportsRankings, many people have contacted him for help getting a team started and getting their web pages up and running. Keith likes USA because it gives the Rough Riders recognition, and provides him with a good tool for researching other teams, especially helpful for seeding when planning tournaments. He says the site is run professionally and maintained by people who are serious about baseball.

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