By Frank Rizzo
MONTICELLO — February 27, 2001 – The Monticello Pro Prospects softball team won an American Softball Association (ASA) 18-and-under national tournament over the Presidents’ Day weekend at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.
The tourney was part of Disney’s Fast Pitch Festival.
Pro Prospects beat the New Jersey Silver Starz 4-1 behind Analey Dietrich of Smallwood and Monticello High School.
Dietrich yielded one hit and struck out five while walking nine.
“It was a real small strike zone,” the hurler commented.
Analey shared the game’s MVP with her sister Shannon, who went 2-for-3 with a double and triple and one RBI and even stole home.
Kristie Beamer of Monticello drove in a couple of runs.
Shannon also made a diving catch behind second base with runners on second and third for the game’s final out.
Monticello HS softball teammate Kim Donohue, the catcher, had two pickoffs.
Pro Prospects began the tourney with a 5-4 loss to the Jersey Silver Starz, with Dietrich taking the loss.
The Prospects then underwent what coach Dennis Dietrich called a couple of “Mickey Mouse” situations.
First, their next opponent, the Dutch national team, showed up and they were all over 18 years of age and were wearing steel spikes — both violations.
“They wanted us to sign a waiver releasing them from responsibility in case of injury, but we said no,” Dennis related.
As a result, Prospects won by forfeit.
The Maitland Sting of the Orlando area then showed up an hour late for the 1:15 game, and also had to forfeit. According to Dennis Dietrich, the local squad arrived scant minutes after the umpires had already called the game.
Prospects did agree to play a scrimmage against Maitland, however, and won 2-1 behind Michelle Olsen of Liberty. Crystal Forget of Monticello copped this game’s MVP.
Dennis Dietrich said the facilities at the Wide World of Sports Complex were first class. He gave his thanks on behalf of the team and the other coaches — Kristi Dean, Pat Shuart, and Charlie Beamer — for all the people whose contributions helped make the trip possible.
The Prospects hope to travel to another national-caliber tourney later this year.