LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Student-athletes from nine collegiate institutions have been selected 2017 Diamond Sports Catchers of the Year, announced the association on Wednesday afternoon.

The award is presented annually to the player determined to be the most outstanding catcher from an NFCA member institution. This year the collegiate awards honorees were recognized during their respective All-American announcements. The High School winner will be announced in July.

A committee comprised of elected head coaches in each of the nine represented divisions selects the winner of their respective award.  This year’s Diamond Sports Catcher of the Year recipient are as follows: 

NCAA Division I

Kendyl Lindaman – Freshman – Minnesota

Lindaman (pictured), the Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year, finished off a tremendous rookie campaign with a .426 batting average, 63 hits, 63 walks, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, a .598 on-base percentage and a .899 slugging percentage. A top-3 Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year finalist and first team All-American, Lindaman finished third in the NCAA in walks and on-base percentage, tied for third in runs batted in, fifth in slugging, and led all NCAA freshmen ranking seventh in home runs.

 

NCAA Division II

Marisa Monasseri – Junior – Caldwell University

A first-team All-America selection, Monasseri finished 2017 with a .503 average (3rd/NCAA), 11 homers, 11 doubles and a NCAA-best .624 on-base percentage. She posted a .787 slugging percentage and drove in a team-best 67 runs (6th/NCAA). Additionally, Monasseri ranked sixth in the NCAA with 48 walks and was a top-10 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player of the Year.

 

NCAA Division III

Janae Matos – Junior – Moravian College

Matos, who was selected as the 2017 Landmark Conference Player of the Yea paced the Greyhounds at the plate with a .523 average that included 56 hits, a school-record 22 doubles, three home runs, 45 RBI, a .621 on-base percentage and an .813 slugging percentage. Matos had a team-high 203 putouts behind the plate to go with 13 assists and zero errors for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

 

NAIA

Jaci Smith – Sophomore – Oklahoma City University

Smith was third in the NAIA with a team-best .516 batting average and 111 hits, helping the Stars to a second straight NAIA national title. She ended the year on a 14-game hitting streak and recorded at least one hit in 54 of the 68 games she played in this season. The first-team All-American’s 80 RBI and 23 doubles ranked sixth and tied for the seventh in the NAIA.

 

NJCAA Division I

Evelyn Loyola – Freshman – Howard College

Loyola  hit .423 with 11 doubles, 13 homers, 62 RBI and 40 runs scored. The first-team All-American slugged .744 and threw out six of 17 runners attempting to steal for a .353 caught stealing percentage.

 

NJCAA Division II

Maddie Hansen – Sophomore – Kirkwood Community College

Hansen, a two-time first-team All-America selection, finished second in NJCAA II with 92 RBI, fourth with a .534 batting average and tied for fourth with 19 home runs.

 

NJCAA Division III

Hannah Long – Freshman – Rock Valley College

A NFCA All-American, Long batted .430 with 16 doubles, three triples, a homer and 40 RBI. Behind the dish, she recorded 220 putouts, 12 assists and just two errors for a .991 fielding percentage.

 

Cal JC

Taylor Jaurique – Sophomore – Mt. San Antonio College
Jaurique played a key role in the Mounties’ runner-up finish at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships. She led the Mountie’s with a .477 average, 51 hits, 10 home runs, 44 RBI, 35 runs scored, .907 slugging percentage and .517 on-base percentage. Tabbed a NFCA All-American, Jaurique did not commit an error in 190 chances, while keeping runners at bay. Only 12 opponents attempted to steal on Jaurique, who threw out four of those would be base stealers.

 

NWAC

Amber Writer – Freshman – Wenatchee Valley College
In helping Wenatchee Valley to a NWAC Championship, Writer scored 76 runs, which was the second best total in the NWAC, while her 69 RBI and 565 on-base percentage was third and sixth, respectively. The NFCA All-American hit .467 with 15 doubles and 14 round trippers. She struck out just five times in 165 at bats.

— Image courtesy of Minnesota Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kirkwood Community College’s Taylor Nearad repeats as the Schutt Sports/NFCA Junior College National Player of the Year, announced the Association on Tuesday afternoon. Nearad collects her second straight honor after being selected the inaugural winner in 2016. 

The award was voted on by the members of the NFCA’s Junior College All-American and Coaching Staff of the Committees, which are comprised of NJCAA I, II & III, Cal JC and NWAC. 

A two-time NFCA First Team All-American, Nearad led the nation with 112 hits, 35 doubles and 106 runs. Additionally, she was third with a 1.014 slugging percentage, tied for fourth in home runs with 19 and sixth in RBI with 80. Hitting at a .516 clip, the Solon, Iowa native swept the Region XI Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

In 125 career games with the Eagles, Nearad hit .561 with 257 hits, 66 doubles, 19 triples, 49 home runs, 209 RBI and 220 runs scored. She slugged 1.109 and posted a .592 on-base percentage. She shattered the program’s career batting average and records by .63 points and 92 base knocks, respective, while also breaking the home run mark by four. 

Legal marijuana is about to become a reality in Canada. (Editor’s note: Marijuana was legalized in Canada on October 17th, 2018.)

The move could prove to be a sea change for local economies, policing efforts, governments, schools, workplaces — you name it.

But what about the U.S. border? What should Canadians know if they’re crossing over after marijuana is legalized?

To answer this question, HuffPost Canada reached out to Len Saunders, an attorney based in Blaine, Wash. who regularly works with clients barred or denied from entering the U.S. over marijuana-related issues.

Here are some of his tips for travellers crossing the border after weed becomes legal:

You most definitely cannot bring marijuana with you across the border

The federal government has made it abundantly clear that even though pot will be legal in Canada on Oct. 17, it is absolutely, totally, 100 per cent not allowed to be taken out of the country.

Even if you accidentally forgot some in your car, Saunders says, officers could slap you with a hefty fine and a lifetime ban from the U.S.

You can’t bring pot back from the U.S., either, even if you’re coming back from a state that has legalized it like Washington State or Colorado.

This also applies to medical marijuana.

If for some reason you do have cannabis with you or in your car — please don’t do this — while entering Canada or the U.S., declare it to the Canada Border Services Agency.

U.S. border guards are likely to ask Canadians more about pot once it’s legal

Right now, the only border states with Canada that have legalized pot for recreational use are Washington State, Alaska, Vermont and Maine.

Saunders says it’s likely that border officers at these crossings will be more keen to ask travellers about their pot use or involvement in cannabis. But once pot is legal everywhere in Canada, he noted, guards at every single border crossing could become extra vigilant.

Saunders said he expects a “tidal wave” of cases of Canadians getting barred over marijuana related issues.

Officers could pull you aside for more questions if you make them “suspicious”

The federal government says the U.S. has made it clear that it’s business as usual at the border when it comes to marijuana-related inspections.

Stevie O’Brien, chief of staff to Border Security Minister Bill Blair, told HuffPost Canada that U.S. officers might pull a traveller aside for further questioning if they’re given “reason to be suspicious.”

So, what constitutes a “reason” to be suspicious?

“When you approach that border, don’t give the Americans the reason to believe, either by the aroma or flicking something away as you approach the border, don’t give them a reason to believe there’s an offence,” Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told CTV in June.

You can still be banned from the U.S. if you admit to pot use or if you say you work in (legal) cannabis

You read that right. Just admitting to having used marijuana in the past could get you a lifetime ban from the U.S., Saunders said.

Even though some states have legalized it for recreational use, cannabis is still illegal in the eyes of the U.S. federal government.

“It won’t be a controlled substance in Canada, and it won’t be a controlled substance in many border states like Vermont and Washington State,” he said, “but it will be a controlled substance at that thin line … called the U.S. border.”

The Canadian government’s messaging on this so far is that travellers going south should always tell the truth if they’re asked about their pot use. But Saunders called that “dangerous” advice, since it can result in a lifetime ban that will require the traveller to use a waiver every time they want to enter the U.S. — and that costs a lot of time and a lot of money.

You can choose to not answer questions about pot

Saunders said he regularly advises people to refrain from answering questions about pot use at the border. Not answering the question might get you turned away, he said, but it at least helps you avoid being barred from the U.S., not to mention the torturously expensive and complicated process required to get a permit waiving the ban.

“In order to avoid a life-time bar … it’s better to just not answer that question. They can’t force you to answer that question,” he said.

“You can say ‘I don’t feel comfortable answering that question’ and withdraw your application [to enter].”

Saunders says officers might reject your entry and turn you back, but you won’t be barred.

“You can go back to the border at any point and try a re-entry. Most officers, once you go back, … are not going to pursue the marijuana thing. It’s not like every officer is zealously trying to get Canadians to admit to marijuana smoking.”

CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this story did not include Alaska in a list of border states with legal marijuana.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Coming off a second straight national title, Oklahoma is the unanimous No. 1 team in the final 2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. Collecting all 32 first-place votes the Sooners (61-9) swept Florida in a thrilling WCWS Championship Series to earn their fourth overall title and third in five years.

OU’s run to the championship started off on the wrong foot following a regional-opening defeat to North Dakota State. That would be their last postseason loss. The 10th-seeded Sooners won four elimination games, including pair over Tulsa in the regional final, to start a run of 11 consecutive victories. In the championship series, Oklahoma outlasted Florida, 7-5, in an epic 17-inning affair, the longest WCWS game in finals history, followed by a 5-4 nailbiter in game two. Prior to the series, the Sooners knocked off No. 15 seed Baylor (6-3), No. 6 seed Washington (3-1) and No. 3 seed Oregon (4-2).

National runner-up Florida is No. 2. The Gators (58-10) blanked No. 9 seed Texas A&M (8-0) and No. 13 seed LSU (7-0), before topping Washington (5-2) to reach its third championship series in four years. UF’s run featured two wins over RV Oklahoma State, including a 5-0 triumph in the Gainesville Regional “if necessary” game. The Gators rallied from an opening loss to No. 16 seed Alabama in the Super Regionals with 2-0 and 2-1 wins over the Crimson Tide.

National semifinalists Washington and Oregon finish ranked No. 3 and No. 4. The Huskies (50-14) put together a 7-2 postseason mark, sweeping through the Seattle Regional with victories over Montana (8-0) and Michigan (12-4, 4-2) and knocking off 11th-seeded Utah in a three-game Super Regional (10-4, 8-9, 2-1). At the WCWS, UW defeated Oregon (3-1) and No. 5 seed UCLA (1-0). The Ducks (54-8) won their first five games in route to the WCWS. Oregon trumped UIC (13-0) and Wisconsin (6-5 in 8 inn. / 9-0) in regionals and swept 14th-seed Kentucky in supers. After falling to Washington, the Ducks won two elimination games over Baylor (7-4) ad LSU (4-1) to reach the semifinals.

A pair of 48-win programs, UCLA and LSU, come in at No. 5 and 6. The Bruins (48-15) cruised through regionals with three eight-run victories over Lehigh (8-0), San Jose State (10-2) and Cal State Fullerton (9-1). They were tested in Super Regionals by No. 12 seed Ole Miss, edging the Rebels in a pair of one-run contests (8-7 in 11 inn./1-0). UCLA went 1-2 at the WCWS, picking up a win over Texas A&M. The Tigers (48-22) had to win three straight elimination games, the final to over Louisiana, to get out of the Baton Rouge Regional. Faced with similar odds at No. 4 seed Florida State in the Super Regionals, LSU bounced back from a game one defeat (1-3), to win two close games on the road (1-0, 6-4) against the Seminoles. The Tigers would open the WCWS with a win over UCLA before dropping their next two contest. 

The final two WCWS participants hail from the Lone Star State as Baylor and Texas A&M are ranked No. 7 and No. 8. The Bears (48-15) survived a very tough Waco Regional thanks in large part to Gia Rodoni, who tossed a pair of no-hitters in 1-0 victories over Kent State and then-No. 11 James Madison. Following the regional sweep, Baylor faced off against No. 2 seeded Arizona in Tucson, which featured three tightly contested affairs. After a 3-2 walk-off defeat in game one, the Bears rallied from a deficit in each of the final two contests to shock the Wildcats (6-4, 6-5) and advance to the WCWS. After a three-game regional sweep, the Aggies (47-13) bounced back from a Super Regional-opening loss at No. 8 seed Tennessee with a pair of close wins over the Volunteers (6-5, 5-3). In their first WCWS appearance since 2008, Texas A&M fell to Florida and UCLA. 

Rounding out the top-10 is a pair of Super Regional participants, Arizona and Florida State. The Wildcats (52-9) rolled through regionals before falling to a “never say die” Baylor squad in the supers. The Seminoles (55-8) also swept through regionals and were upended by LSU in the Super Regionals.

Super Regional participants, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Utah and Ole Miss, along with Minnesota make up 11 through 16.

The 2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.  

2017 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll
Final – June 12, 2017

 

Rank Team Totals 2017 Record Last Poll     1 Oklahoma 800 61-9 6   2 Florida 768 58-10 2   3 Washington 718 50-14 7   4 Oregon 707 54-8 3   5 UCLA 670 48-15 9   6 LSU 630 48-22 18   7 Baylor 594 48-15 17   8 Texas A&M 572 47-13 12   9 Arizona 528 52-9 5   10 Florida State 513 55-8 4   11 Tennessee 442 48-12 10   12 Alabama 431 46-18 15   13 Auburn 420 49-12 8   14 Utah 379 37-16 16   15 Minnesota 371 56-5 1   16 Ole Miss 362 43-20 13   17 Kentucky 303 39-19 19   18 James Madison 246 52-8 11   19 Louisiana 219 47-8 14   20 Michigan 191 43-13 20   21 BYU 159 46-13 21   22 Tulsa 106 41-17 23   23 Arizona State 80 31-22 22   24 Marshall 45 42-12 RV   25 Georgia 32 35-23 25     South Carolina 32 34-25 24                      

 

Dropped Out: None 

New to Poll: No. 24 Marshall

Receiving Votes: California (24), Oklahoma State (19), Wisconsin (11), North Dakota State (5), Arkansas (4), USC Upstate (4), Illinois (4), Mississippi State (4), Florida International (2), Texas State (2), Cal State Fullerton (2), Oregon State (1).

The USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.   

— Images courtesy of Ty Russell

Oh, Christmas tree!

For many Canadians, selecting and cutting down the perfect tree is a cherished holiday tradition. The tree becomes a backdrop for the season, and conjures up festive memories with its scent and twinkly lights.

There are plenty of choose-and-cut tree farms in every Canadian province, but for those who want to try tree hunting, à la Griswold family, and head out onto public land to collect their conifer, the legality of doing so varies across Canada. No two provinces have the same process and guidelines for cutting down a Christmas tree.

The most wonderful time of the year is creeping up — and so are your stress levels, probably — so we’ve done the research. Here’s what you need to know in each province about foraging for your own Christmas tree:

Newfoundland and Labrador

A permit is not required to cut down a tree on Crown land, but the provincial government asks that foragers keep several things in mind before sawing begins.

Under the “Cutting of Timber Regulations,” it is illegal to cut any tree within 102 metres of the centre line of any highway, cut any trees in a forest improvement or preservation area, or to cut down a large tree just to saw off the top for use as a Christmas tree.

The government also asks that residents carefully decide on a tree before any cutting begins, as it’s illegal to leave cut trees behind in the forest if there’s a change of heart.

Nova Scotia

There’s nothing illegal about cutting down your own tree in Nova Scotia, per se, but the provincial website warns that Nova Scotians should avoid heading into the woods with a saw: “you may be trespassing and stealing!”

Instead, the government recommends that Bluenosers head to a u-pick.

P.E.I.

Prince Edward Island does not have any rules in place making it illegal to cut down your own Christmas tree, but they don’t offer a permit either.

“We hope that anyone doing that activity would check with the landowner, first, if they’re looking at cutting on private land,” government spokesman Wayne MacKinnon told HuffPost Canada.

New Brunswick

In New Brunswick it’s up to an official to decide whether a tree cutting permit will be granted, based on where the applicant is planning to cut. This is done to keep people from taking trees from protected areas. Permit applications can be obtained from a district office of the Department of Energy and Resource Development.

Additionally, anyone interested in gathering balsam fir branches to create wreaths and holiday centrepieces must pay $20 for a tipping permit.

Planning to cut down your own tree this year? Watch these tips before you head out:

Quebec

Cutting down a tree in the wilderness is an absolute no-go in Quebec, where the practice has been banned in the Sustainable Forest Management Act. Offenders face a first-time fine of $300, which goes up for each re-offence.

Ontario

Cutting an tree from public land in Ontario may result in an all-out field trip, especially for those living in the southern part of the province.

The provincial government requires tree hunters to head north, specifically north of the French and Mattawa rivers, if they want to cut their own tree. The cutting of conifers is not permitted in the southern part of the province. Also, each Ontarian is allowed to cut only one tree for their own personal use.

A spokesperson for the government, however, told the Globe and Mail that they prefer people not forage their own tree, and buy from a Christmas tree vendor, instead.

Manitoba

Manitobans can help themselves to a tree on Crown land, but will need a permit to do so. The $5 permit allows the holder to cut down a tree less than three metres tall from a designated area.

Once the tree is cut, tree owners are not allowed to sell or barter it, nor can they give it away to another person.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan government does not require a permit for Christmas tree harvesting, but asks that chopped trees be under four meters tall and not be taken from a renewed area.

Alberta

Albertans who want to collect their own tree require a $5 foraging permit, which can be purchased from either the Sustainable Resource Development website or local website.

Permit holders can cut down as many as three trees under 2.5 metres in height in any approved area, but foragers are asked to avoid removing trees from viewpoints, turnouts, reclaimed sites and steep slopes where the trees help keep the soil in place.

British Columbia

There’s no charge to cut down your own tree in British Columbia, but a permit is required. Applicants must state where they intend to cut and are asked to not cut on private land or parks, from areas near water, or from plantations and research areas.

British Columbians can apply for their permit on the Natural Resources website, and the permit is good for 30 days from the date of application.

How to keep your Christmas tree fresh:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – NPFTV will be the primary outlet in 2017 for NPF regular season coverage. The digital platform, in its second season of existence, is poised to deliver all 120 regular season games live to NPF fans throughout the world.

 

NPFTV is a digital option and will be viewable on desktop computers, smart tv’s, and hand-held devices such as tablets and smart phones. The games can be accessed on those devices through league and team websites as well as the NPF app. 

 

“NPFTV is a vital initiative for the league due to the fact that it is the home of our number one asset – game action, both live and archived, of the most competitive level in existence in the sport of fastpitch softball,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “Creating, developing and continuing to build this destination is a commitment we are dedicated to. We have a lot of archived footage along with the addition of current season action, NPF conversation, and eventual original content that we know will be enjoyable and appreciated by softball fans throughout the world.”

 

NPFTV enters its second season in 2017 and the league has established several priorities including an improvement on overall production content, a more fan friendly landing page/portal for event selection, and the ongoing additions of past season’s game action, player interviews and behind the scenes footage.

 

“We continue to seek a true partner that is willing to commit to delivering the NPF product on a routine basis to the popular medium that is national television,” continued Kempf. “However, we also recognize the potential and exploding popularity of digital delivery, the viewing conveniences it offers, and the flexibility it gives us with our partners. Because of all those positives, we will continue to prioritize NPFTV.”

 

NPFTV is a subscription based digital platform with subscriptions available on a monthly or annual basis at $24.99 and $49.99 respectively.

 

In addition to subscriptions, NPF will again offer a game of the week at no charge. NPFTV will make its 2017 primary debut on April 24th with free live coverage of the 2017 NPF Draft Presented by 2XU. 

 

The NPF season opens on June 1, when the Chicago Bandits host the Akron Racers at The Ballpark at Rosemont. That opening game will be followed by the remaining 119 2017 NPF regular season contests, all featured on NPFTV. 

 

— Courtesy of NPF