ASA players happy to return to Q-C

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By Shannon Heaton | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:46 AM CDT | () comments

Four years ago, when the Quad-Cities hosted its first ASA national softball tournament with the 12-year-olds and younger, the buzz around Moline’s Greenvalley Park was that it was a hit with visiting coaches, players and fans.

This year, two teams in this week’s 18-and-under nationals are serving as proof that the buzz had more to it than just words.

One of the two Tampa Mustangs teams in town this week and the Arizona Hotshots were here as 12-and-under teams in 2004.

“I’ve been coaching for 14 years, and I’ve been to many different nationals, whether Kentucky or Rockford, Texas or the Pacific Northwest, this is probably the friendliest, one of the most pleasant nationals I’ve been to,” Hotshots coach Gary Davis said.

“It’s night and day between Rockford and this town. As far as the community embracing it, the friendliness and helpfulness, I enjoy coming to this venue very much. You go to some places, it’s like you’re encroaching on their territory.”

While many players in this week’s tournament might have played in the Quad-Cities for nationals before, the Mustangs and Hotshots are the only non-local teams in the Q-C with the same coaching staff and — mostly — the same nucleus of players.

The Hotshots have eight of their 15 players with Moline experience from 2004; the Mustangs boast six of 13. The high number of returners might be expected from smaller-market teams, but both teams come from large metropolitan areas — the Hotshots are from the greater Phoenix area.

“There is a chemistry there. They’ve matured nicely. They’re disciplined in every way,” Mustangs coach Debbie Holle said. “They’re here to do a job, but they respect each other and like to play with each other.”

The Mustangs’ players who were in the Q-C recall not having a whole lot to do away from the park — though designated player Arianna Stewart recalled seeing some typically-stormy Midwest weather during her stay in 2004.

“The sky was green. There were vortexes,” Stewart said. “I remember me and my mom and my brother going across the street to the mall in ponchos.”

And the Mustangs remember Diamond No. 7, where they lost to the LaGrange (Ohio) Lady Lasers Purple in a knockout match. Tampa had a better time of it Monday in pool play, defeating the St. Louis Classics 4-1 — on Diamond No. 7.

“We just want to win. We don’t care where it is,” Tampa pitcher Megan Still said.

Meanwhile, the Hotshots’ return to Greenvalley didn’t work out quite as well, as they lost to the Ohio Jaguars 3-1. Still, though, it’s early — and, perhaps, some local magic might work in the Hotshots’ favor.

“We’re getting ready to go up to Whitey’s,” Davis said Monday night, several hours after the pool-play loss. “We’re out there doing things to support the community while we’re here. We plan to be here all week.”

Contact the sports desk at (563) 383-2285 or e-mail sports@qctimes.com