Staying Home For Nationals Spokane’s Top Softball Teams Simply Drive To Franklin Park

For years, Spokane women’s modified teams have had to raise large amounts of money to travel east to play in the Amateur Softball Association Women’s Major Modified Pitch National Tournament.

This year, however, the five teams representing Spokane will only have to travel as far as Franklin Park, giving them much more time to concentrate on honing their skills on the field.

“I don’t think there’s as much pressure when you’re playing at home because you’re not spending six or seven thousand dollars to go over there and lose two ball games,” said Janet Wolkey, Team Spokane’s center fielder.

Spokane will be represented by Pyramid Stereo, Kimmel Athletic, Waffles and More and tournament hosts Team Spokane and Brunette Sportswear in this weekend’s double-elimination competition.

“I’m really excited about it,” said Fuzzy Buckenberger, commissioner of the Spokane Amateur Softball Association and coach of Brunette Sportswear. “We have some good teams here in Spokane that have an opportunity to win a national tournament.”

The last time the nationals were in Spokane was in 1991, when Brunette Sportswear finished seventh and Team Spokane finished ninth.

Colville’s Hites/Crawford Doors will also attend along with nine teams from all over the United States, including former champions The House That Jack Built, from New York, and PA Club, from Massachusetts.

Host teams Brunette Sportswear and Team Spokane expect Spokane teams to have a big advantage over teams that had to travel.

“The fact that we don’t have jet lag and we don’t have to get used to somebody else’s environment and weather is going to be a big plus for us,” Crystal Benson, Brunette Sportswear’s first baseman, said.

Familiarity with the facility will also play a big part.

“All of the Spokane teams have played at Franklin enough that we know the feel of the fields,” Kristi Kuntz, catcher for Brunette Sportswear, said. “It’s just nice to be able to travel 10 minutes to get to the games as opposed to worrying about how you get to the field.”

Another advantage Spokane teams will have is fan support.

“We have a lot of friends and everybody’s got their families here; that’s got to help,” Daryl Ragon, second baseman for Team Spokane, said. “It’s fun to travel and see different things, but it’s a tremendous advantage to be a host team. You’re staying at your house, you can go home and take a shower; it’s really going to be a neat experience.”

Team Spokane has the most experience of the Spokane teams, attending national tournaments each year.

George Albano, who has coached Team Spokane for the last 21 years, believes his team’s experience in national tournaments will help.

“We’ve played against a lot of these teams and we know how to pitch to a lot of them,” Albano said. “We’ve played against the best there is.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story:

National facts

Site: Franklin Park Dates: Today, Saturday, Sunday Game times: Today, 4-8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Opening ceremonies: Friday, 6 p.m. Ticket prices: $12 adult for 3-day pass, $8 youth; $5 adult daily, $4 youth Teams: 15, including 2 former champions, The House That Jack Built (Jamestown, N.Y.) and PA Club (Massachusetts) Local teams: Brunette Sportswear, Team Spokane, Kimmel, Waffles and More, Pyramid, Hites/Crawford Doors (Colville)