The Missouri Amateur Softball Association is moving to St. James, Missouri! State Commissioner Joey Rich states the move will allow the association to reach out to more of the state, since St. James is near the center of Missouri. Phone and fax number is 573-265-2267 and mailing address is 524 Home Drive, 65559. Note that office hours will be sporadic during the transition period in September and October. The old address with the Parks Department in Springfield will still work as mail and faxes will be picked up on a weekly basis. Thanks for your patience during the move!

State Commissioner Joey Rich (ASA National President) and Missouri ASA State Junior Olympic Commissioner Kristy Bullock of St. James attending a portion of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Below, left to right: Gold Medal Game Action, Japan vs. USA; Team USA receives silver medals and flowers from ISF Officials; on the right, Team USA is joined by Australia and Japan players to show their desire to have softball reinstated for the 2016 Olympics.

 Mendoza Finalist for the WSF Sportswoman of the Year

 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Amateur Softball Association is pleased to announce that USA Softball’s very own Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) is a finalist for the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year. Vote TODAY for Mendoza, as she helped lead the USA Softball team to a silver medal finish at the 2008 Olympic Games and has been a major staple through the 2008 season.

 Mendoza started in all nine games of the 2008 Olympic Games at left field, hitting .333 (8-for-24). She scored 10 runs with four homeruns. She contributed nine RBI while remaining perfect in the outfield. Her four homeruns help set a new Olympic Record for most homeruns in Olympic games by a team with 15. Mendoza is not only a leader inside the lines buts also outside. Just moments after the Gold Medal Game, where the team was dealt a devastating loss Mendoza reached out to the Gold Medalists Japan team and Bronze Medal Australian team. Together they formed the statement  ‘2016’ with softballs and joined together chanting “Back Softball, Back Softball”, hoping to make a statement for the future of the sport. Throughout the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour, where the team barnstormed the Nation playing exhibition games, Mendoza hit .495 with a team high 89 runs scored with 107 RBI. She was also perfect in left field in 59 games played.

 Athletes were considered for the 2008 award based on their athletic achievements between August 1, 2007, and August 24, 2008.  Criteria include championships won, records set and awards won.  Voting has begun and will conclude September 2, 2008.  Please vote today at www.womensportsfoundation.com. The awards will be presented, at the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner on October 14, 2008 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. 

ASA announces Candrea’s retirement as Women’s National Team head coach

 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. ---   The Amateur Softball Association announced today that USA Softball Women’s National Team head coach Mike Candrea (Tucson, Ariz.) will be retiring from the coaching reigns of the Women’s National team effective immediately.  The head coach since 2002, Candrea has led the U.S. team to one Olympic Gold Medal and most recently the Silver Medal finish at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.  “It has been the highest honor to coach for the United States,” said Candrea.  “I wouldn’t trade it for a minute.  The experiences I have had through USA Softball and more importantly the relationships I have made with athletes and staff are wonderful.  It’s been a tremendous ride and blessing to be a part of all of this.  But I am ready to settle down and begin my life at home and allow someone else this honor.”

Candrea will continue his involvement with ASA/USA Softball through a series of educational roles to continue the development of the sport both domestically and internationally.  From regional coaching clinics with ASA, to enhanced curriculum with the ASA’s ACE Program to further enhancing ASA partnership’s with Liberty Mutual Group and ResponsibleSports.com, Candrea will remain actively involved with the National Governing Body.  Up next, he has a 10-day trip in September to do clinics in London and in Pisa, Italy with National Team member Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) in order to assist development in European areas where the sport needs grow.  The IOC will vote in October 2009 on the host city for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.  The IOC will also select the sports to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games.  The clinics are needed to bring awareness for the sport of softball to the European IOC voters. “I am anxious to continue my involvement to help get this sport back in the Olympic Games,” said Candrea.  “We have 14 months to show the IOC that the sport of softball belongs at the Olympic level.  I plan to assist in the education process for both athletes and coaches at all levels in order to keep the pipeline alive and healthy.”

 “Coach Candrea provided our Women’s National Team program amazing stability and an expectation of greatness that will long be remembered,” said Ron Radigonda, ASA’s Executive Director.  “His passion for making everyone better and drive towards excellence will be missed, but we are equally excited about the future and regaining our number one spot in the world next year during international play.“

 Candrea’s resume with the USA Softball National team dates back to over a decade as an assistant coach in 1994 on the Women’s World Championship team that captured the Gold Medal in Canada.  Since that time, Candrea has been involved with over ten Women’s National teams while taking over the head coach reigns for the 2002 World Championships.  During his tenure, the U.S. has captured two World Championship Gold Medals, two Pan-American Gold Medals, two World Cup titles, one Olympic Gold Medal and one Olympic Silver Medal.  (See below for complete USA Softball resume).  In 2004, he was awarded with the United States Olympic Committee’s highest honor with the Olympic Shield award.  An honor given in recognition for an individual’s outstanding service to the USOC and the Olympic movement, Candrea is only the 45th person to receive this award since 1966. The first ever Olympic coach in the award’s 39 year history, this honor has only been awarded on 12 occasions since its inception.

 Candrea earned an associate’s degree at Central Arizona College in 1975, a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State in 1978 and a master’s degree from ASU in 1980. Candrea was married to the former Sue Ellen Hudson for 28 years until her tragic death in July 2004, just 10 days prior to the Olympic Games. On Dec. 30, 2006, Candrea opened a new chapter of his life, as he wed the former Tina Tilton in Tucson, Arizona. Candrea has a son Mikel, 28, and daughter Michelle, 26, in addition to stepsons Ryan and Sean Tilton. Mikel is currently in his second year as an assistant softball coach at the University of the Pacific and Michelle works for Caterpillar.  Michelle celebrated the birth of her son, Jaylen Mikel, on Oct. 27, 2005. Jaylen is Candrea’s first grandchild. Ryan and Sean are both students at the University of Arizona. 

CANDREA USA SOFTBALL RESUME


2008: • Head Coach of USA National Team which won a Silver Medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

 2007: • Head Coach of USA National Team which captured Gold Medals at the Canada Cup, World Cup, Pan American Games and Japan Cup

2006: • Head coach of USA National Team that won its first World Cup title with an undefeated record and defended its sixth consecutive World Championship Gold Medal in Beijing, China

2005: • Head Coach of USA National Team who finished second in the World Cup and Japan Cup

2004: • Head Coach of USA National Team who captured its third Olympic Gold Medal with a perfect 9-0 record; Team USA outscored opponents 51-1

 2003: • Head Coach of USA National Team that captured the Pan American Gold Medal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2002: • Head Coach of USA National Team who claimed the World Championship Gold Medal in Saskatoon, S.K., Canada

• Adult Team: $20.00

• Youth Team: $20.00

• Fall League Team: $15.00 (start play after August 1)

• Individual Registration (required for all competitive J.O. teams-available for leagues, including baseball teams!

  • $0 deductible plan is $11.00 per person (includes $250,000 accident coverage and $5 million liability)

  • $250 deductible plan is $8.00 per person (includes $250,000 accident coverage and $5 million liability)

• Umpire (any age): $40.00

• SANCTION YOUR INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT ASA: Tourn. Sanction Form

Benefits include team scorebook, rule book to manager and all Individually registered coaches. Umpires get umpire manual and insurance. REMEMBER, Junior Olympic individually registered teams are entitled to add as many "additional insureds" as desired!! No additional charge.

• NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS INFO: http://www.asasoftball.com/tournaments/current_finals.asp

• REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS INFO: http://www.kasasoftball.org/MidAmericaRegion/Index_Tournaments.htm 

• Check out ASA Fundraising Information:  here!

• More ASA/USA Training Series Box Set, GO TO: USA Box Set

• Get the New Cat Osterman  Pitching DVD Set here: DVD Set

• ASA teams up with ISC for Men's Fast Pitch Pitcher Development Program, GO TO:  Mens Fast Pitch Dev. Program

• USA Softball News! To view a listing of upcoming USA Softball televised games on ESPN click here: USA SOFTBALL

• Mens 45 & Over Fast Pitch National Championship to be held in Springfield, MO. For information, click here!

• ASA announces broad increase in liability coverage! A.S.A. insurance broker Bollinger Insurance has announced that programs of the ASA will now have a $5,000,000 liability coverage limit, an increase from the previous $2,000,000. For info. page, click here!

• ASA Unveils NEW 2008 USA Softball Training DVD set, GO TO: DVD Set

• 2008 ASA RULES CHANGES: http://downloads.asasoftball.com/umpires/pdf/2008PlayingRuleChangeswithComments.pdf

• 2008 ASA CODE CHANGES:  http://downloads.asasoftball.com/about/pdf/2008CodeChangesandComments.pdf

• NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS RESULTS: http://www.asasoftball.com/tournaments/current_finals.asp

• To see the STADIUM CAM of the Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, go to: http://www.asasoftball.com/complex/stadiumcamera.aps

•  ASA's Bat Testing and Certification Program and approved bat list: http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp.

• ASA'S BALLS & STRIKES ONLINE MAGAZINE NOW AVAILABLE: FREE! BALLS AND STRIKES

• ACE, the A.S.A. Coaching Certification program, is now available on line: ACE ON LINE

• Joey Rich Retirement Article, Missouri Parks and Recreation: JR

  Missouri A.S.A. Code and Corporate Documents

 MASA Corporate By Laws         Board of Directors' Minutes             2008 Missouri A.S.A. Code

1923 N. Weller, Springfield, MO 65803, 417-869-2120  Fax: 417-863-1026   

• Joey Rich, State Commissioner
• Mike Halloran, President
• Bob Garner, Vice-President
• Ken Kwantes, Deputy State Commissioner, At-Large Player Rep.
• Kermit Daniel, State Umpire-in-Chief
• Kristy Bullock, Junior Olympic State Commissioner
• Robert Davis, Boys Junior Olympic Commissioner
• Jack McCracken, MO Player Rep.
• Mark Nelson, ASA Allied Member, MPRA
• District Commissioners on Board of Directors: Mark Hewett, Carol Riney, Robert Davis

St. Louis web: http://www.asasoftball.com/stlouis/                   Kansas City web: http://www.asakc.org