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Thanks to all of the Shamrocks who contributed to this Japan Trip blog. I was amazed at the participation and received many comments from people who enjoyed reading them. Please see the Shamrocks website for more information.
James Brackin
Shamrocks Webmaster
http://www.shamrocksoftball.org
BLOG posts are shown in order of most recent to most ancient, and only the most recent come up automatically in the first screen. If you want to read them in sequence of the trip, you will have to go all the way to the bottom, start with the eldest, and read your way backwards. In the right hand frame of the first screen, you will find a list of "Previous Posts", which shows the title of every post. Happy blogging!
Sinsai (Coach) Brackin – follow up to Japan trip
PowerPoint presentation for this BLOG post is here (MS Powerpoint, 25 MB).
August 10-14 we went to play in the American Fastpitch Association (AFA) International Friendship Tournament in Anaheim, CA. I have been bringing teams to this tournament, off and on, for about 13 years. It is clearly the most fun tournament anywhere. Very laid back, no games scheduled after 4 PM any day, so there is plenty of time to go out for dinners or enjoy the many activities available in beautiful Southern California. We love this tournament.
We consider this a Fall Tournament, so not all of our current players attend. I take players who are hoping to play for us the following year, mix in a couple of my batting students, and we just go play and have fun. The roster included 16U Shamrocks Kaila Jenkins, Bridgette Desbois, who did not go with us to Japan, and Britt Gardner who did. From our awesome 14U Shamrocks team, we had Alicia Field, Caroline Jones, Kelley Engman, Dorian Shaw, Rachael Davies, and Reba Tutt. I filled out the roster with three of my current batting students Katie Gleason, Samantha Miller, and Angie Ortiz.
In addition to great softball competition, we had the opportunity to return some of the hospitality shown us in Japan. We took the Hakuryo HS softball group, of 13 players and 9 adults, as our guests, to the Anaheim Angels vs Baltimore Orioles baseball game. What a great time we had. They played the last game of the day, so they arrived after us. We were thrilled to see them walk in, all wearing the souvenir tee-shirts we gave them as gifts during our Japan trip. We mixed up the seating arrangement so that we could get to know each other, and it was fantastic. I don’t think they had ever had cotton candy, but they seemed to enjoy it.
We played them in a three-inning scrimmage prior to the start of the tournament, and beat them 3-0. However, when we met them in the loser’s bracket semi-final, they kicked our butts big time, 5-0. The pitcher who had struggled so much when we played in Japan, came back and showed great determination, confidence, and skill. She obviously felt she had something to prove, and she did a great job of keeping our hitters off balance, and shut us out. I was very impressed with their combination of speed, great defensive skill, and timely hitting. That day, they were too much for us, and they knocked us out of the tournament. We finished fifth in the tournament. They went on to win the next game, but lost to the eventual champions 1-0, finishing third. They did very well.
At the closing Sayanora Banquet, the Japanese players again wore their Shamrock tee-shirts. I am sure the other teams were saying, what's up with all the Shamrock stuff. It was great! I had a wonderful time getting to know their coach, Sensei Sakamoto-san. He is a very personable man with a strong sense of humor. He is very well respected man, and very knowledgeable of softball.
Sunday 7/11/2004
We are headed to Tokyo today, fourteen million people live there! The girls boarded the bus at the school and met us at the hotel. The adults did not get to say goodbye to our hosts, but I am sure (?) the girls remembered to say ‘domo arigato’ for the wonderful stay in Shizuoka. What a party they threw for us last night, it was awesome!
Shizuoka is the green tea capital of Japan, and we see the bushes all along the road, for as far as the eye can see. This is incredibly beautiful countryside. It is about a three-hour bus ride, so we stopped half way. This time, we felt a little more comfortable figuring out where to go, and what we wanted to buy. Baskin Robbins ice cream, and Sinsai Chris, Patty Neiss, and I found a little old lady selling fresh fruit. Would you like to have a beautiful cantaloupe??? That will be 2,000 yen ($20). Uhhhh... note to myself -- buy myself a nice melon when I get back to the States... I think I will settle for a bunch of grapes and a bottle of water. Chris bought a bunch, and they were so good, I bought a bunch to pass around on the bus. At the rest area, we met up with a bus-load of US Marines, who had been camping on Mt Fuji.
We arrived at Toho HS about an hour and a half before game time. We got our stuff and headed into the school. I did not think things through, and left my coaching uniforms in my luggage, which was transported directly to the hotel. So, I had to coach in sandals, and what I had on. I was wearing a baseball cap from Johnan Shizuoka HS, so I didn’t look very ‘Shamrock-ish’.
Oh yes, I am such a great ambassador. All the Japanese, who attended the games today, now think American coaches dress for games like they dress for the beach.
Upon our arrival, they took us to a large private room, with lots of Domino’s Pizza and a nice variety of beverages. While we were chowing down, the Japanese were hot and heavy into their pre-game warmup. At this point in the trip, we were all tired, but I knew our girls would rise to the occasion.
Britt Gardner was in pain, with a nasty bruise on her shin, suffered from a hard hit ball in Shizuoka. I was hitting ground balls before the game, and hit her directly on the same spot. Poor kid, it hurt me more than it did her??? I had her slated to pitch the second game, so it gave her some time to recover.
Shamrock parents getting ready to cheer us on!
We won both games rather easily, but I don’t remember the scores.
The Japanese assign one of the subs to be the human scoreboard -- very cool!
In the second game, our girls pounded out some major shots early in the game. After a while, their pitcher also began struggling with her control, and losing her composure. She was obviously very distressed on the mound, and I tried to take my time giving signs and called time out to talk to a batter. I was trying to give her a minute to collect herself. I felt so sorry for her. She was trying so hard, but it was not working. Their coach seldom leaves his seat near the bench area, just sort of glares onto the field and shouts instructions (reprimands). I don’t speak Japanese, but it did not sound like encouragement. A simple timeout, and trip to the circle, possibly could have helped the situation.
Uhhhh, the stride may have been a little too long on this swing.
Looking much better here!
Leading off the third or fourth inning, she walked our leadoff batter on four straight pitches. The coach stands straight up and shouts for her to get off the field, and waves the next pitcher in. The poor kid was in tears, and was very embarrassed about her performance. I wanted to go over and give her a hug, but I am not sure how that would have played Japan. It might have been a major international incident? The 60 foot walk from the circle to their dugout must have felt like miles to her. He sent her off to the next field, where she practiced pitching for much of the remainder of the game.
An inning or so later, we were hitting some pretty good shots, and their shortstop made a couple of errors. He called time out, stood up from his seat, shouted and waved for her to get off the field, and sent another kid out to play the position. He sent her over with the first pitcher, and she practiced ground balls for much of the remainder of the game. I love the discipline shown by the Japanese teams, which is a reflection of their culture, but the methods employed by many of their coaches are consistently harsh in my estimation. Of course, I don’t have any idea of the recent history of those players, and what led up to the incident, but just my opinion. Also, I don’t mean to pass judgment of them, because I have no business judging them by my standards.
I know this paragraph is out of the context of a diary, but this is an interesting note. The coach's move, and the pitcher's extra practice must have worked. Fast forward to one month later, we met the same team, and the same pitcher in the AFA International Friendship Tournament in Anaheim, CA .... we beat them 3-0 in a 3 inning scrimmage before the tournament started, but when we met in the loser bracket semi-final, that all changed! She shut us out, and they kicked our butts big time. They beat us 5-0, and appeared to be taking it easy on us at the end. Those kids obviously wanted to prove something, and they are awesome competitors!
Calli Jo Varner pitched the first game.
Britt Gardner started the second game, but became ill, and had to leave the game after the first inning. Calli Jo was a trooper, strained groin muscle and all, and pitched the rest of the second game as well. We showed a combination of good defense, and the most offensive power we had all week. Never did I have a doubt about the outcome of either game. Britt felt much better after a major belch, which rocked the field. Very impressive!
There was another feast after the game. They offered a place for our girls to shower first. However, they figured we would have brought our own towels??? Many bathrooms in Japan do not have any paper towels to dry your hands after washing, either. Apparently, you are supposed to have that sort of stuff with you at all times. Some of our girls opted to shower anyway, and drip dry, I guess.
As we were becoming accustomed, they were magnificent hosts! The food was great, again, and there was plenty of it. Their team members entertained us by playing out famous movie parts, we had to guess the movie. They were very happy that our group got every one right away. I am not sure why I did not take photos at this event, but maybe someone will send me some. It was great fun. The host families were introduced, and they named who would be staying with them. The Japanese are such nice people, and they definitely know how to throw a party. We took off for the Hotel Associa, and the girls gathered their voluminous luggage, and crowded into their cars for the trip home.
This hotel was the most spectacular of the three we adults stayed in the entire trip! Everything about it was absolutely beautiful, and very fancy. The buffet breakfast had everything you could imagine, western or Japanese style. I think most of us put on a few pounds on this trip; with all that food, there was no way to avoid it… I couldn’t turn it down.
Some of the adults ventured out to find a local watering hole, while others went up to the top floor bar, for a couple of $14 beers. Chris and I opted to pass, and crashed right away. The next two days would be devoted to sightseeing and shopping, and I knew I would be dragging without significant sleep. At this point, we figured the most fun times had passed, and it would just be cool to walk around Tokyo and Nikko. We could not have underestimated it more! Really great stuff was just ahead! Just when you think it can’t get any better!
Sinsai Brackin – Saturday in Shizuoka
We were up, bright and early again today. The first, of three games, is scheduled for a 10 AM start. Our breakfast coupon is for the ‘Garden View Restaurant’ downstairs, so we head through a magnificent lobby, very fancy, passing hotel employees posted every 50 feet or so, who bow and say “good morning”. Not a bad joint! My back is suffering from all the bowing I am doing, and my jaw is sore from this constant smile on my face. We walk in to as good a buffet breakfast as I have ever had. Scrambled eggs, omelets, bacon, ham, pancakes, great bread, lots of delicious fruit, coffee, tea, potatoes (or is it potatos), and other stuff I can’t remember … it was yet another a feast! And as the name indicated, we had a beautiful view of large Japanese style garden.
We took the hotel shuttle bus to Johnan HS, where, of course, the Kakegawa HS team was already hot and heavy into their pre-game practice. Did I mention that Japanese teams practice a lot? I was anxious about this game because, AFA National Director, Terry Fullmer told me this would be the best team we played all week. We soon found out why they had just won the Prefecture (State) Championship. I also knew our girls would be tired from the three consecutive, hectic days leading up to today.
Their warmup was quite impressive. They obviously do their infield/outfield drill every day, because they had two or three balls moving at all times. As quickly as the coach hit a ball, another one was being tossed to him, and he never hesitated in hitting the next one. It was magnificently choreographed and executed. As a player, we always took great pride in our pre-game infield drill, and I miss it with the girl’s game. We are seldom allowed to take infield before games.
They had very good speed, a good pitcher, and were strong at every defensive position. They were all good contact hitters, who put the ball in play frequently, except for their SS. She was a stud! Late in the game it was close, maybe 2-1, their favor. With a combination of our, all too common, defensive miscues, hits, and walks, they loaded the bases. So, of course, up comes their stud. In her previous at bats, she had hit a rocket to RF on a good down and away pitch, and hit a high and tight pitch to the gap in LCF. I didn’t want to pitch to her, but the bases were loaded with one out, late in the game, and we were already behind by a run. I figured, lets see if she can hit a changeup… woops, bad coaching decision! She smoked a line drive down the left field line for a double, scoring all three of their speedy base runners! Just when I think I have the game of softball figured out …. Game over, and we had our only loss of the trip. The gift exchanges and photo ops after the game were a great time as usual. They were very nice to us, especially after they kicked our butts.
Next we played the host team, Johnan HS. There is no end to the formalities here
They also were very good, very fast, etc, but there was an obvious drop off from the Kakegawa team. However, their pitcher is a great hitter. We could not get her out! She hit frozen rope shots every time up. I understand that she is being groomed for a future Olympic player for them. We were actually losing that game, about 4-2 late, when Sam Ingersoll hit a 3-run bomb to RCF to save our butts. We gave up yet another run, and the game ended in a 5-5 tie. As I said, they don’t play ITB in Japan. Everyone is happy with the tie score.
Break time! Between the second and third game, they fed us. The families had everything laid out for us! It was awesome! They had rows of bags of MacDonald’s food, and several items of Japanese cuisine, plenty of delicious fruit, and a nice selection of water, juice, etc. You could tell they put quite a bit of thought (and expense) into the meal. Gary Gardner was showing us all how to get into the spirit of things by eating his MacDonalds hamburger with chop sticks!
Then we got to relax and get to know each other better, and pose for more photos of course.
There was quite a bit of confusion concerning our third game of the day. The team we were scheduled to play said they did not want to play. It was raining off and on, and the field was wet. They had an important tournament starting the next day, and they wanted to beg off, fearing injury on the wet field. We heard that the head of the host softball team felt it was a disgrace, and told them “you WILL show up, even if you don’t play!”. So the poor kids loaded into the bus, came to the field, and apologized for not playing us. We felt sorry for them for having to go through all that trouble, and we gave them all gift bags anyway. Tom Guyton, from Tom's Pins, donated very nice bags for our trip. They were a light canvas material, with a handle, and a replica of our pin printed on the outside. Inside, we put one of our commemorative tee-shirts and one of our awesome pins. They did not expect it, because they felt they were dis-ing us, so there were many very happy and excited kids when they realized that we were not upset. Hey, we were exhausted, and would have been just as happy to cancel the game. As the saying goes, “Let’s don’t, and say we did”. Anyway, the host HS scared up some of their younger kids (JV team) to give us the game they promised us. We hobbled onto the field and played. We won the game, and they won our hearts.
After the game... what else... “Let’s put the feed bag on again”. There would be a cookout party after the game. We were pretty exhausted after three games. Little did we know that what was to come, that night, was one of the major highlights of our trip to Japan! I was still a little full from eating 4 MacDonald’s hamburgers for lunch, but we walked into the HS gymnasium (they moved it indoors because of the threat of rain) to a big-time, major feast! 
They had an industrial sized grill wheeled into the gymnasium, all kinds of meats, shrimp, vegetables, and fruit all laid out on tables. Their parents were cooking like crazy, and just could not do enough for us. For the adults, there were kegs of beer, Shochu (sort of a cross between vodka and scotch, made from sweet potatoe, which is mixed primarily with green tea and ice - I heard it is very good....), and of course, Sake. The kegs were empty early, so they went out and bought many large bottles of beer. For the kids, there were plenty of different kinds of drinks as well. This was obviously a very expensive party they had put together for us, and they did everything they could to show us a great time. And we enjoyed ourselves immensely!
As I said, this was their HS gym. The kids had drawn a Welcome Shamrocks sign on the stage, and the Japanese and American flags were together, high on the wall.
It brought a smile to my face when I saw it. It was very thoughtful of them. Calli Jo and Gina found a new best friend.
After eating, our kids went up on the stage and performed team cheers, and sang “Take me out to the ball game”.
They received a standing ovation from everyone in the audience.
As I went up to the stands to negotiate a better camera angle, I found the Japanese “Dads”, relaxing, smoking and drinking with a great vantage point! Men are men, no matter their nationality.
After our girls finished their performance, the Shizuoka HS team took the stage. They performed a choreographed dance routine which some knew better than others. Choreographed, but obviously not practiced.
We loved it! The donned the traditional ‘happy jackets’. Our girls were invited onto the stage to join them, and tried to learn the dance … which some of the Japanese girls couldn’t even do …
so, the whole thing turned into a dosey-do your partner country line dance.
Even American girls, who think they don’t like country music, know that country is the most fun when it comes down to it. They let our girls wear their happy jackets, which was very cool!
Then came the Taiko (fat drum) troupe, which was a MAJOR highlight of our trip. Just when you think it can’t get any better! There were 5 or 6 young Japanese girls, and 5 or 6 VERY young Japanese girls, and some very fat drums.
The older girls went first, then the younger ones (maybe 10-11 years old). They use large wooden dowels as drumsticks, and the show was awesome. The beat was breathtaking, and required much skill and practice. Co-captain Brie Carmack presented each of the troupe with Shamrock pins.
They are very talented. Our girls went up on the stage to give it a try, followed by yours truly, then by what seemed to be our entire group, rotating from drum to drum, then back to the end of the line. By the finaly, there could have been more people on the stage than in the audience!
We probably did not smell too great, since we were all still wearing the same clothes we had on all day outside in the heat at the ball field, but who cared? We were all having a great time! We were passing from drum to drum, pounding out a tune. I have not had that much fun in quite a while! Scott Heon kept the Japanese players entertained much of the evening. I can't tell if Allie was impressed with her Dad's stand up act ... or horrified?
This is the point where my camera became full, so I hope someone will send me photos from the remainder of the evening ... more fun! Chris and I noticed that the jump ball circle in the center of the gym looked remarkably similar to the Dohyo (ring) at the Sumo tournament. So, we proceeded to stage a sumo match. We drew quite a crowd, and went through the entire ceremony, complete with false starts, salt throw, leg lifts, etc. The only thing that was missing was the thong diapers, but that is a visual no one was ready for … “visual! Please get out of my head!” Then came a fast and furious match, won easily by yours truly. Of course, we had agreed beforehand, that this was just for show, no one would win, and we would not go at it hard… but I sucker punched him, and he let Sinsai number 1 win the match. Then the real show came. Gina Guzzo took on one of the Japanese girls. Hey, I wouldn’t want to go up against Gina! She was awesome. She even demonstrated her amazing flexibility, which drew a big round of awe and applause from the crowd. She balanced on one foot, and put her other foot straight up in the air, and held it for a few seconds! She can do a split vertically! Wow, was that great!
Just when you think it can’t get any better!
We headed back to the beautiful hotel and the homes for our final night in Shizuoka. It did not take much for me to fall asleep after all that. I slept like a baby, and Chris tells me the pictures on the wall were bouncing up and down with my snoring. The next morning, I could not find my camera. I was freaking out, because I knew it had some great shots. I was less concerned about the camera than I was about the photos I had taken the day before. Luckily, Gina Guzzo saw it on the way out of the gym and picked it up for me. Thanks Gina!
We had another spectacular visit to the Garden View Restaurant the next morning. The garden looked just like my back yard … j/k … with everything perfect. Our picture was in the Shizouka paper this AM.
As we waited for our bus in the lobby, the owner of a lobby wedding store invited us in to look at traditional wedding kimonos. She let Carol Guerin put one on, and it was magnificent.
Carol looked great in it, and Mike Guerin was hanging way back, fully expecting Carol to give him the “What the heck, the price is only $5,000”! Gosh Mike, what a tight wad! And you could have negotiated it down to $4,500 or so. When the girls arrived in the bus, they ran in to check it out … they all wanted one, or course! Just remember girls, the husband is chosen by the Japanese girl’s family – how many of you would like your parents to chose your spouse for you?
So, off we went to Tokyo. We have two games this afternoon, and another party tonight. I am getting too old for all this fun. Have I mentioned, "Just when you think it can’t get any better!"
