The ProFastpitch X-treme Tour is the creation of Olympic Gold medalist and orthopedic surgeon Dot Richardson. The PFX promotes softball by having a touring team of professional players to provide live excitement for their fans. Included on the tour are amateur games to promote upcoming talent and clinics to nurture skills and sustain the game. Richardson is not participating in the current tour, but she created, developed and oversees the project.

The tour begins after the NPF league season ends. This allows their players to join the tour, carries the game through the off season and provides a chance to sharpen skills to both the novice and the All Star. The entry fee is $300.00 and is open to teams in the ranges of 8U to 18U. This takes you from kindergarten to college and showcases every range of talent conceivable.

Parents of the amateur players comment on the level of teaching and the attention that the players provide. Not only do these women provide instruction and take part in drills and bp with the kids, they also watch the amateur games. Imagine being an 8 year old and having Lisa Fernandez watch you take an at bat. More importantly, imagine having her teach you how to use the full field and lay down a bunt.

Since the NPF is located in the Northeast and Midwest the PFX tours areas outside of their locale. This year they have been to Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania and California and have stops scheduled this month in Illinois, Tennessee and Florida. With a pro game, three amateur matches and clinics this is a full day of softball for a relatively low price. Also included are autograph sessions, meet and greats and clinics for players and coaches.

Included among the sponsors and a sometime participant is Don Mattingly. Every little girl can benefit from hitting lessons instructed by Donny Baseball. Mattingly believes in the program and the commitment of the pro players. He could be sitting behind a table at a card show charging for each autograph and cleaning up like lots of former greats. Instead, he is touring the country with softball players, teaching hitting to girls and being part of a meet and greet.

Players rotate in and out according to availability, but the players who have signed on for the complete ’08 tour boasts several greats. The lineup includes Fernandez, Laura Berg, Meagan Denny, Tairia Flowers, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman, Jennie Ritter, Dana Sorenson and Natasha Watley. This is a roster of Olympians, International Champions, NCAA Champions and professionals.

Having retired from the WNT, this is the only opportunity to see Fernandez play. She is one of the best known softball players in the world. She holds three Gold medals, and had a 545 batting average in’04 Games. As a pitcher at UCLA she recorded 93 victories with only 7 losses. Of her 93 wins, 74 were shutouts. In her senior year she batted 510. I guess it is proof that Fernandez improves with age. In 1999 I had the opportunity to watch her practice up close. The speeds of her pitches were blinding and her bat skills were as impressive as anything I had witnessed at MLB bps. She is a power pitcher and a hitter that can swat long balls and hit for average. Along with pitching Fernandez has played third base.

Fernandez lives in Long Beach, CA and often conducts clinics in the LA area. The opportunity to benefit from her knowledge in other parts of the country is worth the entry fee alone. However, along with Fernandez you have sure handed fielders like Watley and clutch hitters like Flowers to add to the wealth of smarts and skill.

The PFX is a labor of love. It is apparent by how much time the players spend on the field. Before and after their games they are there for the kids. No question goes unanswered and nothing is too foolish to ask. They are interested in the girls from the amateur teams and willingly spend their time giving them tips and cheering them on. As for the kids, they are eager to learn and listen intently as the players speak.

For many of the younger girls this may be the only opportunity they will have to watch many of these players in action. Fernandez considers herself retired and Wately has not played professionally since ’06. Being able to watch them play and gain from their insight is not to be missed.

Women’s softball has the most hands on teaching of any sport. Yes, baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer hold clinics, but they are few and far between. During spring training you can get close to a player, but he isn’t going to give you tips or instruction. The WNT, NPF and PFX all provide clinics and the players work hard in instructing the kids.

The reason is simple, they want to promote the game. Athletic role models are not as abundant for girls. Soccer is dependent upon the WNT for women since there is still no major league of consequence in North America. Basketball has the WNBA, but outside of league sponsored activities the players are not as accessible. Add the potential to make money overseas after the season ends and it becomes clear that clinics and workshops are not available in the off season. Softball players are available throughout the year. When the NPF season concludes players take to the PFX tour and hit areas missed by their league.

The result of this attention is the proliferation of talent in the high school and college levels. If the sport is admitted back into the Olympics it is unlikely that the WNT will miss a beat. I don’t want to label a softball player another Fernandez anymore than I would label a baseball player another DiMaggio, but the pool is deep. There is a lot of talent at the scholastic level. With the help of these pros it is getting deeper. If their attitude is as infectious as their playing abilities the sport has a great future ahead.