The first annual USSSA South Dakota State Tournament was au huge success. We would like to thank all of the teams who participated and everyone who made this tournament run so well. Thanks to the players who played their hearts out. There were a lot of signs of great sportsmanship displayed by the girls after some very hard fought games and it was fun to watch. Thanks girls and good luck the rest of your season!

Order of finish:

18u
Champs: SD Flash
Runner-up: SD Fusion
3rd Place: KMIT

16u
Champs: SD Fusion Black
Runner-up: SD Fusion Orange
3rd Place: SF Diamonds 16u

14u
Champs: SD Fusion ‘96
Runner-up: SF Diamonds 13u Gold
3rd Place: SD Fusion White

12u
Champs: SF Diamonds Gold
Runner-up: Drake Orthodontics
3rd Place: SF Diamonds ’98

Congratulations to all of the players for their hard work and thank you for showing so much sportsmanship all weekend!

Congratulations to all of the teams. It was a great weekend of very competitive softball. We all had a lot of fun! Thank you to the many volunteers who made this tournament possible!

Results from the 1st annual USSSA SD Open Tournament:

10u Division

1st Place -  SF Diamonds 10u
2nd Place – SF Diamonds 9u Maroon
3rd Place – SF Diamonds 9u White

13u Division

1st Place – Omaha Echoes
2nd Place – SF Diamonds Maroon
3rd Place – SF Diamonds White
4th Place -  SF Diamonds ’98
5th Place – SF Diamonds 12u White

16u Division

1st Place – SF Diamonds 16u
2nd Place – Luverne, MN
3rd Place – SD Flash
4th Place – SF Diamonds 13u Gold
5th Place – SD Dynamite

USSSA on facebook.

The young ladies of South Dakota who play fastpitch softball have for many years played organized softball under basically one softball organization. This is a well run organization and has served the young players in South Dakota well.

USSSA is a different brand of softball and many teams in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and all over the country are starting to play USSSA sanctioned and organized events. You can find more information about USSSA here.

USSSA is seen by many as a competitor to other local softball organizations and I guess in a sense it is, but it is for the benefit of the players in South Dakota. It gives our players another avenue to play competitive softball outside of just one group’s sanctioned events. Our group’s mission is not to compete directly against this national organization as that is impossible, but we would rather co-exist in a friendly manner helping our girls reach their softball dreams and playing with their team mates and having fun. This is really all we are hoping for.

One of the main functions of USSSA is to hold “World Series” events around the country at the end of the summer season for the girls and these are wonderful tournaments. In the past our local teams have had to travel to Nebraska and Missouri and other places to play in USSSA tournaments in order to get qualified for a USSSA year end tournament. A group of local Sioux Falls folks have decided to bring USSSA to Sioux Falls and the area to help these girls and others by creating opportunities locally to qualify for these events.

One of the main things we need to do this is to have tournaments and that is why we are having our first annual  USSSA State Tournament this June here in Sioux Falls. It is our hope that we are able to do this for the players of South Dakota. This has been a difficult process. We need the support of the community to help with this and so far we have received that from the City and many of the people who understand what we are trying to do. With that said, there is one main thing we need to make this a successful tournament and that is umpires. We have had two seperate umpire clinics over the last two months and we have managed to register several local umpires.

Our clinics are very well managed and we have been fortunate to have the help of Mr. Will Curtis the UIC from Nebraska donate his time to come here and put on these clinics. Umpires as you can imagine are very important to our tournaments and I hope we are able to sign up more USSSA umpires before the State Tournament. It is my understanding that some of the local umpires have been told that they will not wear any clothing or equipment of another local organization while doing USSSA tournaments and that someone from this other local organization will be at the USSSA tournaments checking to make sure non of the umpires are wearing any gear associated with the other local organization.

Well I can save this person or people some time right here. All of our USSSA trained umpires order USSSA gear and uniforms for our tournaments. I’m sure that there are some folks who really don’t want USSSA around here and some will likely make this as difficult a process as possible. I can tell you that if anyone mistreats any umpire who decides to register USSSA or threatens any umpire in any manner, this will not be tolerated at any level. Period.

The all volunteer group of folks who are helping bring USSSA to Sioux Falls does not want to see anyone including coaches and manager as well as umpires threatened or mistreated for their association with USSSA. It is our hope that USSSA can grow and work with the other local softball associations in South Dakota in a productive and friendly manner. Thank you.

Ed Kieff

USSSA South Dakota State Director

2010 A/B Fast-pitch Tournament Rule

1. All games will be played by USSSA rules, with the following exceptions:

1. 1. 1. Home team will be the official scorekeeper in all tournament games.
   2. 2. Each team will need to supply a USSSA game ball per game.   The teams can purchase a game ball at tournament headquarters for $5.00 per ball or $50.00 a dozen.)
   3. 3. Pre-game conference and coin flip between manager and umpires will take place 5 minutes prior to the start of the game.
   4. 4. No organized infield practice before the games. Teams may warm up beyond the baselines or in foul territory while infield is being prepared. No live batting practice is allowed on the field or in the complex at any times. Batting nets are allowed.
   5. 5. Time limit for all games is 1 hour and 10 minutes. Time begins after the conclusion of the pre-game meeting.  Time limit could change in case of tournament interruptions. All teams should be prepared to start their game up to 10 minutes early in case we are ahead of schedule. (This will help the tournament keep on time)
   6. 6. Regulation games will be defined by the type of game that it is.  There will be two types of games played in the different formats that GPSP will be using:
      1. 1. Pool play:  Games will be 7 innings or time limit. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will end in a tie.
      2. 2. Bracket Play:  Games will be 7 inning or time limit.  Games that are tied at the end of regulation will use the ITB rule until a winner is declared.
   7. 7. Run rules: 12 runs after 3 innings; 10 runs after 4 innings; 8 runs after 5 innings.
   8. 8. Team manager may consult with the umpires; players, sponsors and other coaches are to keep out of discussions.
   9. 9. No smoking or tobacco use on the field or in the dugouts.

10. Roster Batting will be allowed during Pool Play ONLY tournament.   Conversely, all State and USSSA World Series events will be played by the rule book.  Regardless of the number of players you have, you will need to announce your line-up format at the pre-game conference with the officials.  Due to GPSP allowing roster batting, for teams that choose to roster bat, there are some additional rules that need to be clarified:

1. 1. Injury:
   1. 1. Batter: If a batter cannot fulfill her time at bat due to injury or illness, that player will be eliminated from that entire game. Her spot will be skipped in the batting order.  Teams will not be required to take an automatic out UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
   2. 2. Runner: If a runner cannot continue her time on the bases, that player will be substituted with the last batter not on base. She will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the game. The line-up will compress when her spot comes to bat UNTIL they drop below 9 players.
   3. 2. Ejections:  A player ejection while roster batting will result in the team losing that player for the entire game.  Her spot in the batting order WILL be an automatic out.
   4. 11. Courtesy runner will be allowed for pitcher and catcher at any time.  The courtesy runner will be designated by the following rules:
      1. 1. Rulebook batting line-up:  Per rulebook designation
      2. 2. Roster batting line-up: The last batter not on base. If the last batter not on base is unavailable (i.e. she is the catcher or pitcher), the designated runner will roll back until such time as a possible sub can be found.

12. Teams may begin the game with 8 players. If the additional players arrive after the start of the game, they will be handled in the following manner:

1. 1. Rulebook batting line-up:  Teams may add a 9th player to the line-up. Any additional players will be designated as substitutes.
2. 2. Roster batting line-up: Teams may add any and all players to the end of the line-up. These players must be listed on the line-up card submitted prior to the game. If the players are not present for their time at bat, their spot will be skipped until they arrive with no automatic out being charged (unless below 9 players).

13. The following procedure will be used to determine the seeding after pool play:
A.   if three or more teams are tied with the same record in a division, head-to-head may or may not be used to break ties.
ii. Once a level of tie-breaker is used, we DO NOT revert back to any steps of the tie-breaking procedure. We will continue on down the list until all ties are broken.

1. 1. Highest Winning Percentage (number of wins divided by number of games with a result (ties eliminated form formula)
2. 2. Most Wins
3. 3. Head-to-Head Games
4. 4. Runs allowed per game
5. 5. Runs differential (+/- of 8 runs per game)
6. 6. Coin Flip

14. If a team is playing an extra pool game, the runs allowed and the Win/Loss in that game will not count towards your total. However, the result of the game (win/loss) will be used in head-to-head consideration if a tie in pool play occurs.

15. In case of a rain-shortened tournament, pool play games can be deemed official after 2 ½ innings of play (with home team winning) or 45 minutes of elapsed game time. This policy will only be used through pool play.

Protests:

An umpire judgment calls are final. A Protest Fee of $100 must be posted in cash at the time of protest. If the protest is ruled in your favor, your money will be returned.

Please email us if you have any questions. Thank you!

Ed Kieff

John Seitz

Dawn Haage

Chantel Stratton

Steve Thompson

Gary Harmelink

Please click here to open the USSSA Rulebook

Click here to find where your team ranks against others.

As you play in USSSA events your points are recorded by how well you do in each event. You are able to compare your team against others in this manner to see how you may stack up. While this is not a perfect system, if you play in several USSSA events you will have a better idea of how you rank with others.

Hello and welcome. To register your team with USSSA please click here. You will be able to register your entire team for $30.00 for the year! If you have any questions please fell free to call Ed Kieff 605-212-5916

Thank you!

Welcome all umpires!

Please click here to go to the USSSA National website for registration and other information.

Thank you!