ASANA 2018

2018 ASANA

WORLD SERIES

2018 ASANA SPECIAL EDITION

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TEAMS & DIVISIONS

Teams & divisions DIVISON B Rebels/Eileen Cioe CFP Absolut Mess Houston Blaze Fully Loaded/Berserk Athletics Free Agents Team Grind Nick's Bar and Grille Ballers 2nas DIVISON C Switch Hitters Night Riders Austin ULTRA Black Ice Real Quik Nubians DTX MASHUP HeartBreakers Pitch Black Click Click Boom Laid Back Madison Missfits Assassins Brewers GO! Girls Push Play Orthomerica Luna Chics Rockstar Day Drinkers Bad Reputation Chaos I'd Hit That Aberration the fun team.

What Had Happened Was DIVISON D Outlaws Lowriderz Austin Angels Austin SWAT

Cleats & Cleavage Raw Energy AfterShock DGs Sluggers Last Call Eve&Eve Alley Katz Dirty Hellions Girls Who Like Bacon Kansas City Crowns Kansas City Fusion KC Storm Hott Mess Fuzion Down N Dirty Sidekicks CenterFielders So Envy Us TeamX Madison Missfits Resting Pitch Face Turtles & Friends Casey's Battitude Gecko's Girls Auto Clinic Toasted Walnut SF Blazing Hot Peppers SJ MashUp SJ Sidewinders Speedy Honu TNA DC Sharks DC Swag Krazy Pitches DIVISON E Breaking Bats Filthy Shots Spectacles Dirt Divas The Jokers

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2018 Asana Special Edition 10 ASANA – CLOUD TV PARTNERSHIP 14 SPORTS DIVERSITY IN ACTION! 3 TEAMS & DIVISIONS 6 COMMISSIONER’S LETTER Angela “Butterbean” Smith 8 EDITOR’S LETTER Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT

2018 ASANA

WORLD SERIES

9 WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS 12 EVENTS 19 MY DAY AS A GOLDFISH 2018 ASANA SPECIAL EDITION

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20 THE PEANUT FOUNDATION 22 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

COVER ATHLETES AJ Johnson, Rachel Sweigart, Victoria Rainey, Kara Gulvas

23 2018 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Sport: Softball

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FROM THE COMISSIONER

The Big Easy

Welcomes You!

W

elcome players, coaches, managers, spouses, partners and fans – we are finally in New Orleans, ready to begin Ballin’ in the Bayou.

The New Orleans host city committee and the ASANA board hope you have an amazing experience.

While you’re in New Orleans make sure to enjoy all the beignets, pralines and Cajun food you can eat, but don’t forget to leave plenty of room for all those frozen hurricanes!

This year ASANA is proud to be partnering with Cloud Sports Network to be live streaming eight pool play, 12 bracket games and all championship games on our own YouTube Channel. Now fans from across the United States can join in on all of the excitement and pride of the ASANA World Series.

On behalf of myself and the ASANA Board we thank you for being the foundation of this great organization and we look forward to many more World Series to come!

As they say in this city of easy Southern hospitality, laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll)!

Angela “Butterbean” Smith, SDL ASANA Commissioner

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FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

hitting it out of the

park

Thanks to groups like ASANA, the Amateur Sports Alliance of North America, women’s recreational sports are continuing to grow in popularity, finally gaining some longawaited recognition. These female athletes are tough competitors who know how to hit a ball out of the park, both literally and figuratively!

On an organizational level ASANA continues to hit it out of the park. Just last year for its tenth annual Softball World Series, ASANA introduced flag football as a new sport to its schedule. And this year is no exception. The organization’s 2018 figurative swing for the fences is introducing a partnership with Cloud Sports Network (CSN).

Cloud Sports Network is a professional streaming service dedicated to amateur sports coverage, CSN is broadcasting tournament games live in a format accessible from any internet-connected device in the world. For the ASANA athletes it means that their family, friends and fans can now see them hit it out of the park literally – and in real time.

Way to go, ASANA – this is another win for women’s recreational sports!

Keep Smiling,

ASANA 2018 ISSUE COMPETE MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT connie@competenetwork.com PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle, SDLT eric@competenetwork.com This special issue of Compete was created in partnership with ASANA. If your organization produces or hosts a run, tournament, sports festival, awards ceremony or other type of event, please contact Compete today to find out how we can partner to produce a high-quality issue unique to your organization and its special events. Send us an email at publications@competenetwork.com MISSION STATEMENT Compete unites the world through sports.

Copyright © 2018 MEDIA OUT LOUD, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Corporate Office 6991 E Camelback Rd., Ste. D-300 Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 (480) 386-7174 Compete is a trademark of Media Out Loud, LLC competenetwork.com facebook.com/competemag @competesports

Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT Editor-in-Chief @CompeteConnie

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connie@competenetwork.com

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Compete Magazine instagram.com/competemagazine

WELCOME

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PARTNERSHIP

2018 asana softball world series coming to a screen near you

By Harry Andrew

T

hanks to a newly announced partnership with Cloud Sports Network (CSN), you won’t miss the fun and excitement of ASANA games in the future. CSN is the first professional streaming service dedicated to amateur sports coverage, broadcasting tournament games live in a format accessible from any internet-connected device in the world.

ASANA Commissioner Angela Smith said that “Being able to broadcast our games live across different social media channels simultaneously will make this and future ASANA Softball World Series even more accessible for softball fans and the friends and families of the players.”

Live broadcasts will begin on Thursday, September 20 at 9:00 a.m. and will be available on ASANA’s

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Facebook page and YouTube channel simultaneously. But here’s the best part – because of the interactivity of the social media platforms, viewers will also be able to leave comments as the games are being played!

“It’s an honor for CSN to be the chosen carrier for the 2018 ASANA Softball World Series,” said network founder Roman Jimenez. “For a young venture, this is a really big deal for us.

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WELCOME

We are looking forward to bringing our technology and viewing experience to the ASANA family.”

CSN began broadcasting live softball games in May 2018 and the response has been impressive. In addition to play-by-play and color commentary, the network brings multiple camera angles and places three microphones on the field to capture all the sights and sounds of the action.

“Unlike baseball, softball at this level is fast-paced,” Jimenez said. “Each game lasts only about 50 minutes; that means less time between pitches, between batters and less time between innings.

It’s an incredibly exciting game to watch on a screen, even for non-softball fans.”

Viewers appear to agree with Jimenez’ assessment. CSN’s early test broadcast received thousands of views for an average of more than six minutes per view, more than three times the average viewing time of an online video.

That statistic has caught the attention of potential advertisers.

Because the ASANA Softball World Series is an event by and for LGBTQ+ women and their allies, this year’s

tournament provides a unique marketing opportunity. “We’ve already started the dialogue with potential advertisers and the response has been extremely positive,” said Smith. “They are interested because we are offering the kind of return on investment usually associated only with micro targeting but on a macro scale.

“There has never been a way for advertisers to reach out directly to the LGBTQ+ athlete in a broadcast medium before,” she continued, “because our games have never been on TV. But now, because the 2018 ASANA World Series will be professionally broadcast live across a variety of platforms, and because these videos will always be available for viewing long after their initial broadcast, advertisers now have a way to reach our athletes not just once but on an ongoing basis.”

Cloud Sports Network is the first live-streaming broadcast company dedicated to providing professional level broadcasts of amateur sports.

With multiple cameras, on-field microphones and professional play-by-play and color commentary, Cloud Sports Network is finally bringing amateur athletes the coverage they deserve.

For more information on Cloud Sports Network, please contact Roman Jimenez at 619-838-9776.

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ASANA EVENTS

event information & schedule Each year ASANA partners with a host city to deliver the ASANA Softball World Series, one of the largest annual all-female sporting events in the world. Over 1,500 athletes, coaches and fans from 25 member-cities across North America travel to compete and celebrate equality ‌ one game at a time.

This year the 2018 ASANA World Series is celebrating its 11th anniversary in New Orleans – what a place to celebrate!

Sunday, September 16

12:30 p.m. ASANA Swamp Tour, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park/Preserve

Monday, September 17

9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Summer Council Meeting, Omni Riverfront

5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ASANA Delegates & Friends Happy Hour, Coyote Ugly

Tuesday, September 18

Noon-3:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Managers Meeting, Omni Riverfront

Bat Check, Omni Riverfront

5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Umpires Meeting, Omni Riverfront

6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Opening Party & Player Registration, Mardi Gras World

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ASANA EVENTS Wednesday September 19

• Pool play begins, Val Reiss Park

• Bat Check, Val Reiss Park

• Player Registration, Val Reiss Park

7:00 p.m.

Hall of Fame Dinner, Riverview Room

Thursday September 20

• Pool play continues, Val Reiss Park

• Player Registration, Val Reiss Park

• Bracket play begins, Val Reiss Park

Friday, September 21

• Bracket play, Val Reiss Park

• Player Registration, Val Reiss Park

Saturday, September 22

• Championship Play, Val Reiss Park

• 2nd Annual ASANA / Lynn Lewis Foundation Flag Football Invitational

• Closing Party, Fulton Alley

Sunday, September 23

• 2nd Annual ASANA / Lynn Lewis Foundation Flag Football Invitational

NOTES 1. Pool play will run Wednesday - Thursday. Bracket play begins on Thursday and runs through Friday.

Saturday is championship day and 1st - 3rd place will be awarded.

2. All players must register in person prior to playing in

their first game. Registration will be available at the Opening Party and at Val Reiss Park.

3.

ID Checks - In addition to championship

game ID checks, ASANA may randomly check IDs for players throughout the series for any reason or for no reason. Please make sure your team has their IDs with them for all games. www.CompeteNetwork.com

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SPORTS DIVERSITY

L-R AJ, RACHEL, VICTORIA, KARA

Sports diversity

In action!

By Connie Wardman

S

ports diversity is all about inclusion, diversity, accessibility and equality.

Some people talk a good game when it comes to including the LGBTQ community or those of a different race or ethnic background on their teams. But when it comes to an athlete with a disability they sometimes assume that that athlete can’t help their team win. Thank goodness the Quit Your Pitching softball team knows better!

Meet Kara Gulvas, Alicia “AJ” Johnson, Victoria Rainey and Rachel Sweigart, all enthusiastic athletes who don’t believe their Deafness is a disability or that it can prevent them from playing winning softball … or doing anything else they put their minds to!

Quit Your Pitching is the clever name of one of the teams participating in this year’s ASANA World Series.

In spite of a team name change, Quit

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Your Pitching has had Deaf players for the last two years. Their team is part of CAPS, the LGBTQ and ally-friendly Chesapeake & Potomac Softball League that draws players from the greater Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area.

In addition to all playing for Quit Your Pitching, Kara, AJ, Victoria and Rachel have other similarities. They’ve all attended Gallaudet University for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in

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SPORTS DIVERSITY Washington D.C. and played a wide variety of sports. They’ve also settled in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area, are in their mid-to-late 20s and all four are “taken” in terms of a personal relationship.

Don't be confused by the different shirts they wear - they all play on additional softball teams and leagues, including the National Softball Association of the Deaf (NSAD).

But their passion for playing sports doesn’t stop at softball. All told, the list includes tackle football, flag football, basketball, soccer, track & field, volleyball, cheerleading, golf, cornhole, even funambulism (tight rope walking)!

What has impressed me most about these women is their passion for living and enjoying a full productive life. For those who may think that being Deaf is a disability, you only have to read what they’ve had to “say” about being Deaf and about their ability to play softball.

Their only request to me was to correct any spelling or grammar errors because, as they reminded me, English isn’t their first language – it’s American Sign Language (ASL).

Learning ASL is perhaps one of the best things hearing athletes can do to improve the feeling of inclusion on a team. Here’s what Victoria has to say about it: "As a Deaf person and a Deaf athlete, it’s important to be included in everything.

Exclusivity is a common problem among the Deaf community. We are often pushed aside because of the communication barrier that can easily be solved … if they just learned our language.

There is a way to overcome that and it is by trying. Start somewhere. We 'hear' this often (pun intended), that they want to learn ASL. Now the question is, what’s really stopping them from learning this beautiful language?"

Due to limited space, here are just a few questions I asked each of these Wonder Women. When you read their answers, I’m sure you’ll be as impressed by them as I am. Just maybe you’ll not only expand your vision of what sports diversity really is but also sign up to learn ALS! Compete: Does your team have a hearing player fluent in sign language?

And if you don’t have an interpreter on the team, what do you do when you play away games, like the ASANA World Series in New Orleans?

AJ: We don’t have any hearing players who know sign language on our team [Quit Your Pitching].

We don’t need an interpreter

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SPORTS DIVERSITY "I love sports because it gives me hope. It gives me reasons to be better.

Over the years sports have taught me that hard work pays off, physically and mentally. I learned how to be confident and if I wasn’t, how to change that. I could go on and on how sports benefit me, but the main reason why I love sports is because it has shaped me into the woman I am today."

to play the game we know and love.

But we would prefer to have an interpreter for hearing people doing presentations, events, coaches talking or other people asking something. For New Orleans, I’m going there to play softball and maybe educate others [about Deaf players] but then I’m there to have fun as well as everyone else.

Compete: As a Deaf person, how are you able to play a team sport?

What do you need as a player and how is the team able to interact with you in a fast-moving sport like softball?

Rachel: To me, I have never really considered my Deafness as a barrier in sports. The game is the same regardless of who plays it. However, I love playing with my Deaf community since it does add more conversation and comfort to the game. For my hearing leagues, we discuss signs or gestures prior to the games to be able to communicate on the field.

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Victoria AJ: I am an athlete; I have been playing sports my whole life and I’m a fast learner. Sports are invented mostly by gestures. If I’m going to play with hearing people who don’t know sign language, we will use gestures in softball language. If the team knows how to interact with me in sports they can just be themselves and work with me.

But usually when they’ve never met a Deaf person, they will avoid us or act weird since they don’t know how to react or respond. Honestly, Americans are usually the only people who don’t know how to gesture with others and then panic. You’ve just got to be yourself and try your best to learn how to work with others. We Deaf people have been working with hearing people our whole lives. Hearing people just need to learn to be themselves, interact and learn from there.

Kara: Each team has its own dynamics and I would adjust to the

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SPORTS DIVERSITY team and the team would have to adjust to playing with me. We would learn each other’s weakness and strengths. Also, I apply my knowledge to the game and play.

Victoria: As a Deaf person, I can play a team sport like everyone else. The only difference between the “hearing” players and Deaf players is our form of communication. I use my hands – they use their voices. Deaf people usually communicate using their hands and sometimes, both. It might be perceived as a barrier to others but it’s not always the case. If everyone knows the rules, everything can fall into place. It might not be the easiest thing to accomplish but it’s possible to establish some sort of communication before playing.

It helps if you build some sort of connection with the people on your team and the people officiating your team.

AJ

Compete: Why do you love sports?

Victoria: That’s almost like asking us why we breathe. I love sports because it gives me hope. It gives me reasons to be better. Over the years sports have taught me that hard work pays off, physically and mentally. I learned how to be confident and if I wasn’t, how to change that. I could go on and on how sports benefit me, but the main reason why I love sports is because it has shaped me into the woman I am today.

AJ: Sports are my life! It is one of the reasons that keep me going. I play for the Love of the Game!

Kara

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SPORTS DIVERSITY

Kara: I love sports because of two things; the camaraderie of being on a team and it keeps me busy.

Rachel: I am a small-town girl who didn’t have much else to do growing up.

It’s always felt like therapy for me and I always have such a blast playing.

moment. I want the younger generation to learn to always treat others with respect and if you see someone struggle, help them rather than watch.

Be the best you can be.

Compete: What would you like to tell your younger self or perhaps say to younger Deaf athletes looking up to you as a role model?

AJ: For the younger Deaf generation, if you want to play the sport you love, fight for it and commit to it.

Do not degrade yourself to others and become lazy and cocky. Stay humble, support each other and don’t go against each other.

Kara: If I was given the chance to tell my younger self something, I would say this: 'Have courage, know that you’re worthy of great things, give back, be grateful, value relationships over things, stop comparing yourself to others and most importantly, love yourself.'

Victoria: If I was able to teach the younger generation, especially younger Deaf individuals who may be looking up to me, I would say: 'Try. Don’t sell yourself short and don’t think the worst before trying. If you fail, try again. You miss all the opportunities you don’t take.'

Rachel: If I could go back and tell my younger self something, I think I would say don’t be so hard on yourself, let go of the little things and always stand up for what you believe in no matter how difficult it may seem at the

Thank you, AJ, Kara, Rachel and Victoria for taking part in this interview. Now go to New Orleans and show the hearing athletes that the Deaf athletes definitely know how to “Play Ball!”

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SDLC

MY DAY AS A GOLDFISH!

By Angela Smith, SDL

Last month I got to “Jump Into the Goldfish Bowl” to showcase ASANA, the organization I love. Not only did ASANA compete but we tied for first place. For those who don’t know, ASANA became a charter member of the Sports Diversity Leadership Council (SDLC) in 2018. ASANA represents a sports community of female athletes rich with pride, unity and love for who we are. For just those reasons we were chosen as one of four SDLC finalists for the Goldfish Bowl competition.

A fun take on the TV show “Shark Tank,” this was sponsored by Compete Magazine, Connect Sports, Diversitas Media and several other media partners with over $18,000 in cash and prizes for the winners. But it was also a great SDLC learning exercise on how to put together and deliver your organization’s best presentation for potential partners and sponsors.

So with sweaty hands and my Southern drawl it was time to showcase ASANA with a concise PowerPoint presentation I created. With an unexpected lump in my throat I began explaining what ASANA was, who and what we represented and the family we’ve become.

As I went on to highlight our Peanut Foundation, the many charity organizations we’ve supported over the years and the softball play of the World Series I found myself tearing up, realizing that not only was I representing the organization but also all the players past, present and future who carry on our great tradition.

This wasn’t just about a contest to win, it was who I was and who we all are, proud and fierce organizations with significant purposes. To myself I thought, “Wow, no matter who wins this, we all are really winners!”

Editor’s Note: Congratulations ASANA on your Goldfish Bowl Win! We'd like to thank all semi-finalists including Gay Polo League (tied for first place) and WeHo/USA Dodgeball and Lynn Lewis Foundation (tied for third place). Special thanks to Connect Sports and our judges, DJ Doran, Catherine "CJ" Kelly and Danielle Vincentes.

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PHILANTHROPY

THE PEANUT

FOUNDATION:

POWER IN ACTION

By Miriam Latto

Back in 2007, the year ASANA was founded, another very important event happened – Peanut the puppy was born.

She became the beloved fur baby of Nina Cole, the ASANA treasurer. And just like her mom, she was crazy about softball and began attending World Series games with Nina. Peanut quickly became the ASANA mascot.

Over the years there had been lots of thought given to starting a foundation to enable ASANA members to apply for scholarships or grants. Then in 2015 a non-profit foundation was formed and in addition to scholarships and grants, ASANA members were able to apply for funds to L-R ANGELA SANHUEZA, CARRIE cover advertisements, membership and any SELMAN other activity the foundation board members deemed necessary.

Since Peanut was at every game carefully watching her mom write the checks, ASANA Commissioner Angela Smith suggested that the foundation should be named after Peanut. And that is how The Peanut Foundation with its paw-in-hand logo became a reality.

It is funded only through the generosity of ASANA members and vendors as well as by public donations

With a motto of “Where your donations help all of us,” in 2016 the foundation granted its initial scholarship to Angela Sanhueza; by the next year three scholarships were granted. Needless to say, all donations are greatly appreciated.

If you’re inclined to share some of your resources, please go to the ASANA website because, to paraphrase the old proverb, great softball players from a tiny Peanut grow.

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NINA AND PEANUT COLE

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HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

YEAR & INDUCTEES 2017 Jennifer Brown - Philadelphia

Chrissy Hunsberger - Philadelphia 2016

Tracee Borger - Kansas City Laura Kilmer - Los Angeles Nikki Mitchell - Kansas City Sam Roger - Long Beach

2015 Terri Watkins - Long Beach

Brandi Fitzgerald - Philadelphia 2014

Adrienne Freeman - Atlanta Erin Henry - Houston Jennifer Reiser - Kansas City Lisa Tinnerman - San Diego

2013 Angela Smith - Atlanta

Kim Nordike - Kansas City 2012 Barbara Clanton - Orlando

Kellie Cohen - Phoenix Rebecca Evans - Greater Palm Beaches

Julie Faagau - Los Angeles

Dani Goodlett - San Diego

Stacey Hayashi - San Diego

Tammy Kagarice - Kansas City 2011 Karen Brickhouse - Norfolk

Nancy MacKenzie - Chicago

Nancy Nomura - Los Angeles 2010 Katrina Nason - Los Angeles Deborah Jean Brown "Brownie" Kansas City Candace Kissee "Candy" - Kansas City 2009 Carrie Gundermann - Portland Cheryl O'Bryan - Greater Palm Beaches 2008 Theresa Bredwell - Atlanta

Noelle Buckley - Portland

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2007 Carol O'Neill - Philadelphia

Robin Rutherford - Philadelphia 2006

Jeanette Fulcher - Atlanta Rhonda Graham - Atlanta Virginia Gutierrez - Philadelphia Lynne Mobley - Atlanta Ace Palodichuk - Minneapolis Patty Price - San Francisco* Toni Carr - Portland

2005 Pam Dunnam - Dallas

Maggie Weis - San Francisco

Gretchen Gruber - Atlanta 2004 Debra Jean Lowrey - Dallas Sharon "Willie" Wilson - Twin Cities 2003 Liz Alling - Southern New England

Rosalyn Bugg - Los Angeles

Julie Colwell - Chicago WCAA

Wendy Gershow - San Francisco

Carron Harris - Twin Cities

Rhonda Mariani - Connecticut 2002 Sue Ellen Garner - Washington, D.C.

Marie Kurby - Chicago WCAA

Sue Marohn - Chicago WCAA*

Dee Reinking - Twin Cities 2001 First Year of NAGAAA Women's Induction

Susie Arnold - Chicago WCAA

Maureen Bennett - San Francisco

Nina Cole - Atlanta Joanie McElligott - Chicago WCAA

Claire Monfort - San Francisco

Leslie Tiffany - Boston

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2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

INDUCTEE: JAMIE FRY League: Heart of America Softball City: Kansas City, Missouri

INDUCTEE: DANNY GILMORE League: San Jose Women's Softball League (SJWSL) City: San Jose, California

INDUCTEE: KRISTIN GRUBB League: City of Brotherly Love Softball League (CBLSL) City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

INDUCTEE: PAM RUIS League: Heart of America Softball League (HASL) City: Kansas City, Missouri

INDUCTEE: AMY TORRES League: Softball Austin City: Austin, Texas www.CompeteNetwork.com

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2018

MARK BINGHAM ATHLETE

of the

YEAR SEARCH

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Eric Carlyle Founder of Media Out Loud, LLC

Layshia Clarendon WNBA Athlete

Allison Jones Multi-Gold Medal Paralympian

SELECTION CRITERIA > Commitment to personal achievement. > Active participation in an individual or team sport. > Commitment to supporting and/or encouraging others in sports. > Commitment to the LGBTQ sporting community and/or the LGBTQ community.

Winner to be announced at the 9th Annual Petey Awards.

Stephen Alexander H.S. Coach & Sports Illustrated Trailblazer Award Winner

Connie Wardman Media Out Loud Editor & SDLC Education Director

Chris Balton NAGAAA Commissioner

To apply visit: competenetwork.com/aoty