Yeah -- the championships are terrific.

And what a great video -- as one who coached a fast pitch pitcher from the time she was 10 until after she went to college, a girl who was in her day, because of a wicked rise ball, the best high school pitcher in her state -- I love this game.

It is much different than baseball -- it is primarily a pitchers game, and for someone who has never followed softball, this video contains a treasure trove of examples of excellent pitches, bunts and defensive play. (Control, and a good rise ball and a good let-up can take you a long way if you're a fast pitch pitcher.)

4:11 -- excellent let-up. The ball floats in, throwing off the batter's timing.

4:08 -- excellent drop ball, that the batter slap bunts perfectly. Watch the girl's eyes -- she follows the ball onto the bat.

3:52 -- wicked rise ball. You can watch it climb over the bat. The perfect rise starts out heading right for the strike zone, then rises just out of it. It comes so fast that the batter must commit early.

3:36 -- excellent sacrifice bunt -- making the pitcher field it, and throw over-hand.

3:34 -- another drop ball, another excellent chop-bunt.

2:38 -- a rise, in the strike zone, but one that runs over the bat.

2:31 -- looks like a drop ball that the pitcher got up too high -- she was lucky.

2:04 -- center fielder making the catch of her lifetime. (She's the same girl who's such a great bunter.)

1:33 -- another wicked rise, perfectly placed.

1:30 -- perfect slap bunt through the infield. In the slow motion repeats, notice the batter (the center fieldere) watch the ball hit the bat.

1:06 -- rise ball

0:50 -- beautifully disguised let-up.

0:28 -- rise ball popped up.

0:21 -- let-up that throws the batter way off balance (she's way out in front of it).

Forgive me my enthusiasm, but watching this video takes me back to a wonderful time in my life.

Clawmute