Yesterday and Today were great days in Beijing. I would call them official Chinese Ceremony/Event Days. Many Cultural Decisions. Saturday started with the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing University Softball & Baseball Association. There was the traditional speeches and ceremonial hand shakes. I was honored with a seat at the front table. There were Beijing Government Officials, Major League Baseball Officials and University Officials from all across Beijing. I was humbled to be asked to sit and be recognized with them for my work. After this ceremony we moved to the Baseball Playing Field for Ceremonial First Pitches. Rick Dell from MLB CHINA through out the first pitch. He was able to throw a strike. Many of the Chinese were impressed. Then 5 more Chinese Officials through out first pitches. I saw some very interesting throwing mechanics. But it was a great deal of fun. MLB CHINA had set up the sound system. And they were playing traditional Baseball music over the system. Many of the Chinese did not recognize the music. But after missing MLB opening day in the USA. This music and environment gave me a great sense of happiness. It is amazing what the game of Softball/Baseball can do for fun and enjoyment. I was able to to watch several University Softball Games. I was amazed at the level of play that I saw from the female University Softball athletes. It was a very low level of play. I then asked some questions. And found out that many of these players were playing softball for the first time in there lives. I saw many big smiles. And I tried to help as much as I could.

The future/potential of Baseball and Softball in China is huge. When young players learn the game. They seem to enjoy it very much. I am very excited and happy to know now that Softball is being taught and played in elementary and college institutions.

On Monday I will head back to the USA. I am very excited to go see my sister. It has been a great trip to China and Asia.

The last two days have been spent conducting clinics for Beijing youth Softball Teams. And teaching at the training for North China University of Technology Softball Team. The girls are so very excited to learn. The language barrier is there but we find a way to communicate. The potential for Softball and Baseball in China is huge. We must find a way to share our great game with more young people in China.

Tomorrow is opening day for the Beijing University Softball & Baseball Association. I was asked to stay and attend the opening ceremony by MLB China and the local Universities. I am excited and honored to attend this event. There are several Beijing University Softball and Baseball Teams that will be competing here this weekend.

Sean Morley from Hong Kong is flying in tonight to Beijing. And we will have TFS product division meetings on Saturday. I am excited to see my friend and business partner.

It will be an exciting weekend.

Yours in Softball!

Coach B

Today I was able to spend the day on a large Universities Campus in Beijing. Observing the Chinese educational system is so interesting. There system and style is so different from what we see in North America. You can feel the discipline and structure. And the foremost task is to get the best grade and or test score. Have not observed any interaction between a professor and student. It is so fun to analyze the memorized learning that is taking place versus the analytical learning.

Also today I led my second clinic with the North China Technological University Team. These young ladies are a lot of fun and so interested in learning. The language barrier is still a major issue. But I have learned to use my shut up and show/teach coaching style and it is fun.

I have introduced my TFS Crick-HIT swing and hitting system to this team. They are a perfect group to introduce this system too. We have been able to eliminate excessive rotational movements. And place a major focus on getting to a proper
connection point and delivering the maximum energy in to the ball. The results have been a amazing. The girls are giving me a lot of Waa's...! Mandarin for WOW!

On a personal note. I have not consumed any NOTTEA for the entire trip here. No carbonated soda. Amazingly the caffeine withdrawal has not been bad. I am wondering if the Chinese Tea is providing that fix?

I received my Ultimate Pitching Plates from our factory. I am very excited to get this new TFS product out and being used.

The rest of the week I will spend some time assisting with the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Universities Softball and Baseball Opening Day and Opening Ceremonies. This will be fun!

Until My next blog. Keep Grinding!

For the LOVE of the GAME!

Coach B

Sorry I didn’t write blog for long time. I been pretty busy and I have a hard time to keep my schoolwork up with softball.

We started our season in Feb. 11th. There were lots of things going on before the season. Our 4th batter didn’t come back and our pitching coach was gone after three weeks of practice. I started the first game against Charlotte. I did pretty well until 7th inning. I wasn’t strong enough to finish that game. So we lost 3-4 but coach Wohlbach and me both felt good about the game. The week after that we went to Florida Gulf Coast tournament, I did pretty well over there. I relieved two games, against Boston College and FGCU. I pitched totally 6 innings without gave any run. The tournament we went in Norfolk, VA didn’t go well for me. It was really windy, and freezing cold.

Then we went to Stockton, CA. I was sick before we went, I was really worry about I won’t get the chance to start against Washington. Fortunately， my coach trust me enough to put me on the mount. I wasn’t doing well when we start, they hit fore hit straight in the first inning. I was mad about myself and ask myself am I really not good enough to pitch against Washington. So I claimed down try to focus more. Then I did pretty well until the forth inning that they kinda figure me out since our calling pitches was kinda too easy. Then I relieved a inning against Pacific without run. The next day, I relieved against Sacramento State. I didn’t do well on defense. After we lost all of three games, we have to play Washington again. Since the first game, I learned I have to mix my pitch more to make them guess what is coming. We did way better job. I give up 5 hit for the entire game but still gave 5 runs since I hit two batter and they both scored. Overall, it was an awesome weekend. I proved myself against the team who is NO.3 in the nation. And also I was really happy to see Coach Bastian and Donna. I learned a lot from the game and Michael. Also, my coach and me had more communication about the game.

Last weekend is really rough. We went to Miami play against DePaul and FIU. It was rough not because I wasn’t pitch well. It was because of umpires. I’m not really a pitcher like to talk about umpires that much, but the umpires I had last week are absolutely the worst umpires I have seen in America. The first game against DePaul we made some errors in first inning and then because of the umpire won’t call my pitch, which break from the plate to out of the plate. And he only gave me outside corner and middle between waist and above knee. I gave 3 runs, 2 runs scored by walk. After that two walks, I learned about the umpire strike zone better. I pitched entire game gave two earn runs. The next day, second time against DePaul the umpire was even worse. He will not give me anything. I gave up a homerun in 1st inning but in normal strike zone I had already strike her out twice. I was really mad and feel hopeless. Coach and me had a conversation after the game that she gave me a complement about what I did against DePaul. She told me there are only amount things I can do, and I did my job pretty well. However, I still think I can do better. I should not lose to DePaul even if they are ranking 25 in the nation.

After the game against Washington and DePaul, I gained a lot of confidence and also know myself better about what I can do. And also I know there were a lot of problem I have to solve about my pitching. I have to start off stronger and close the game stronger.

This week we will start our home game, against Temple on Wednesday and home tournament on weekends. I want to get my first win in UD this week so bad. So please wish me good luck.

I had a great summer. After the performance at National tournament, I got offers from University of Delaware, Iowa state University, Utah State University, Hawaii University and UTEP. It was crazy! I can’t image after 4 month that no one gives offer to five D1 school wants me at same time. After the whole week discussion with Coach Bastian, I decided to go to University of Delaware.

After I decided to be Blue Hens, I got another great news. I got NJCAA 2nd Team All-American. I finally achieved both my goals. I don’t know how to describe how I felt.

I went back to home on June 1st. My high school coach helped me got the internship from Chinese Softball Association. I love work there. I had great experience there. I worked World softball day in Beijing and also the national slow pitch tournament opening ceremony. I met a lot new people who works in this field and also met a lot my old friends that I haven see them for a while.

During I worked for CSA, I met the president of the sports school that Beijing Softball team at, he invented me to train with Beijing team. I stayed there for two weeks. It was really hard practice.

The best part of the summer is when I was in national team. I get invented to practice with the new China national team for a while. It’s great to get in touch with the highest-level player in the world. However, I wasn’t able to show my strength to the coach. I was really upset about that. I’m not as fast as Wang lan or Li qi, maybe I’ll never be that fast but that’s how I play. People always confuse what I’m pitching to make the hitter cannot hit off me. Just like today, I had a one-hitter game against Temple. I hope I can get another chance to show them how I play.

By: Coach Bastian ~ Saturday, September 3, 2011

Today was again a day of Chinese Softball Foundation (CSF) work, softball and human development. Zhou Yu, Bailu, Yichun Chang, Lan Su (Chang Xiaoxue’s father and mother) and I went to dinner in Beijing, where we had some of the best authentic Hot Pot in all of China, I am told- most definitely the best in Beijing- and we drank wine that Yichun Chang brought back from Italy. It was fun for Zhou and Bailu to get to know Xiaoxue’s parents. Her parents presented me with gifts of a Chinese moon cake and ancient Chinese coins. The Chinese Fall Festival begins later this month and those are traditional gifts given during that time. Those were great gifts from them, and I was honored to receive them. Xiaoxue’s parents are very excited about her life right now. I shared with them that Xiaoxue has told me that she may stay in the United States to live and work, and they are ok with that and excited for her. It has been a wonderful journey for Xiaoxue and the work that we have done- that is what the Chinese Softball Foundation and The Fastpitch School stand for.

After dinner, Zhou, Bailu and I went to a cinema in the French market, which is close to their home, and watched Cars 2. The movie was very expensive- close to twenty dollars. Movies have gotten much more expensive in China! It was interesting to watch a movie with Chinese people, the accents, use of the English language (Larry the Cable Guy?!). It was fun to see if the people understood some of the subtle humor involved.

Overall, my time in China so far has involved some great communication and learning experiences. We will see what my final three days have in store!

By: Coach Bastian ~ Friday, September 2, 2011

Another eventful day in China- the day ended up being spent with Qi Yan and Coach Chen, who is Chen Ying Yi’s father. He drove from Tianjin to Beijing to see me. We had a lunch of Peking Duck with Coach Chen out close to Zhou Yu’s house. It was the first time on this trip that a Chinese person wanted me to drink with them, so I drank Pijiu- which is beer. I told him no Baijiu because it was 12:30 and too early, so I drank Pijiu and plum juice with him and we talked and discussed many things in life: softball, what he is doing in Tianjin. He asked me to come visit him and help him coach, but I declined politely because of my schedule being busy. He is a wonderfully nice man and is excited about Chen Ying Yi coming to America and wanted to learn more about that. Chen Ying Yi right now is training with the Chinese National Softball Team in Nanjing, China, and we confirmed that she will be coming to the USA at the completion of the Asian Games in Chinese Taipei, so our next CSF student-athlete will arrive in America on or around October 1st. She will be going to Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, and Coach Jordan and the Scotties softball team are very excited- so that was good news.

After we finished lunch, Qi Yan had to leave. I thought I was going back to the apartment, but Coach Chen had different plans. He ended up taking me to a massage, and I had one of the most interesting days of my Chinese life. I proceeded to get a foot massage like none I’ve had before, which included a deep tissue of the plantar fasciitis area (bottom of the foot) which made me holler and cry, which the little girls laughed at, and then they decided to beat me and pound me with hammers. Also, I’m laying there and watched them get out the glass cups, fire and fuel for the fire (alcohol) and they started cupping Coach Chen, and I realized they were planning and preparing to cup me! So I took as much video and pictures of Coach Chen being cupped as I could, and then, for the first time, I had my back cupped for the first time in traditional Chinese cupping style. That was one crazy and amazing day at the spa. The two Chinese spa therapists were 20-22 years old, and they were funny- wanted to speak English and know where I was from and talk to me. It was another fun and cultural experience.

After we got done with the massage, Coach Chen took me to a market and wanted to buy me a bunch of food- basically, this is his way in the Chinese culture of saying “thank you” for what I have done. I am honored to help him and his daughter- they have worked hard. I want to say “thank you” to Coach Chen and his family.

After that I came home tired and sore and watched the English movies that I bought earlier.

By: Coach Bastian ~ September 1, 2011

Well, hello… It’s only 10 minutes after 2am now in lovely Beijing, China.

Last night as I was sending the last message, there were major thunderstorms and lightening, and today was one of the most beautiful, wonderful days that you can have in Beijing- no humidity, no pollution, no dirt- just sunny, blue skies and temperatures around 78-80 degrees. It was a gorgeous day.

I started off with a lunch meeting with Madam Jiang, who is the President/Leader of the Chinese Softball Association, and who hired me to coach the Chinese National Softball Team. I affectionately call her my Chinese mother and she calls me her American son- her crazy American son. We met today and she bought me all kinds of jiaozi. We had a great lunch today of Chinese dumplings and some other Chinese delicacies from a local restaurant. Interesting that none of her interpreters were available except for a young man that works for the Chinese Field Hockey Association; Jiang- same family name – he did a great job and I would like to thank him for interpreting. Our subject today was life- lots of things. We talked about the past, the state of softball in China today and what they are doing for development. Madam Jiang was on her way to Nanjing, where there are going to be 21u games for the Chinese provincial teams playing at the Nanjing University of Technology. The Chinese National Women’s Softball Team is in Nanjing, too, training for the upcoming Asian Championships being held in Chinese Taipei later this year. One of the biggest things that Madam Jiang wanted to talk about was my trip to Europe and my communications with the European Softball Federation. I was trying to share with her what is happening with the European Softball Federation, just as I tried to share with those in Europe what is going on in China, and also tried to explain to her what is going on in America. It is an interesting and challenging role to try to be an international softball ambassador and to try to share information with the different leaders of the different federations. It is very humbling and hard work because of the cultural difference and the language barriers, but I was able to get most of that information across.

The International Softball Federation will be holding their council meetings coming up in Oklahoma City in October. I know the leaders are looking forward to meeting there. Hopefully, I will be able to get a credential to be a part of those meetings so that we can continue our development of international softball, trying to get softball back on the Olympic Programme.

After having the lunch meeting with Madam Jiang, I headed off for another experience of trying to hook up with another interpreter for the day. I went back over to the Pearl Market and gave Xin Miao, my interpreter for the day, a tour of the black market. We walked around the Pearl Market, and it was interesting to note that Xin Miao was very interested to see the black market because they don’t like to let Chinese citizens in there because of the security leaks that can take place, and I guess “ratting out” their information. We were able to enter, but one of the most interesting things is that Xin Miao and I were treated much differently than I was when I was alone. I was treated much differently with a Chinese citizen with me- they were suspicious and tried to understand why she was there with me. That was culturally interesting. After that, we headed out to one of the most emotional experiences for me on this China trip. I hadn’t seen Zhou Yin for a while. Xin Miao contacted Zhou Yin on the phone and Zhou Yin decided to that she wanted to drive in her car and come pick us up. While we were waiting, Xin Miao and I found a Chinese Chess game. What is interesting culturally is that all throughout China in every province you will see groups of men gathering in big crowds. When you get down to what is going on you will find the Chinese Chess board and two men squared off playing this game. Sometimes hundreds of men will like to watch and cheer. One of the things I learned culturally is that the Chinese like to watch the game because they believe it stimulates good brain processing and good thinking, and that it is healthy for the mind to think the game and understand the game of Chinese chess with all the strategy and forward moves and anticipating what is going to happen.

Zhou Yin drove up in her car, and it was fun to see a 6’1”-6’2” Chinese girl get out and give me a hug. She knew Xin Miao from the Beijing team. It was great to see her and we hugged and had fun going off on a drive through Beijing. It was fun to see Zhou Yin’s driving skills- she did very well. We didn’t get in any wrecks and safely made it to the Chinese Hot Pot- to a restaurant where we and her mother had eaten before, and had some very delicious Chinese Hot Pot of beef, pork and spices and vegetables- its one of their favorites. I had the peanut sauce and Zhou Yin had the seafood sauce, but you can get a lot of different sauces- its amazing. The true Chinese food is so outstanding and has great flavors. Today I can call my day of Chinese cuisine because I got to have Chinese dumplings for lunch and got to have good Chinese Hot Pot for dinner- it was a perfect day for Chinese food and I’m definitely feeling fat and happy tonight as I go to bed.

It was fun telling stories with Zhou Yin. We talked about her time in the USA and California and about her time with the National Team. We talked about her experiences with the Beijing Team and her experiences playing softball in America and in China. It was a lot of fun reminiscing. She said to make sure she sends her hello and love to all her friends and family in Northern California: To Lance Whittaker, Paul Moore, and Glenn Yonan and to their families. She wanted to make sure to say hello to Natalie Yonan and Glenn Yonan’s wife and also to Lance’s wife and family also. She got tears in her eyes when she talked about Reno, Susanville, Chico and Lassen College- it was fun to see her think about that and to remember those good times. She wants to come back someday. She also said to say hello to Sarah and Donna. I finally found out what she is doing. She has a good paying security job now working for the Chinese government in Beijing. She has a contract/sworn agreement to not tell anyone what she is doing, but is in security. I can understand why the Chinese government would hire a big, strong girl like her for security.

By: Coach Bastian ~ August 31, 2011

Well… It’s 4:30 in the morning and I’m listening to the Chicago Cubs/Giants game. I’m not sure what my body’s clock is doing…..

I’ve lost a little track of time. The last couple of days have been somewhat eventful. I chose to do a shopping day at the Hongqiao Pearl Market area. Interesting to note that they have the area of the international market that is open to the public and everybody, but through relationships and friendships, I’ve been able to find kind of the black market/underground Chinese market, which is highly secured. You have to walk through the back streets of the hutong area of Beijing until you come to basically a warehouse that has armored doors and cameras outside, and if you know which door to walk up to and knock on, they will look at you and decide whether or not they want to let you in. The reason for this is they sell a lot of products there that are trying to be protected by copyright and trademarks, but they are still having the products made at the factories and they sell them any way they can. When you walk into this warehouse, it’s amazing what you will find in there. There is a jewelry and watch department where you can get some very high quality watches and jewelry. My favorite place to go to is the movie/CD department- which I’ve been told by the Chinese is changing a little bit because of the ability to watch movies for free online right now. I still enjoy picking up the CD’s for 5 RNB, which is very, very cheap and I was able to pick up some of the newest releases- copies of the American movies, but they are very high quality and they will actually replace the CD if it doesn’t work well, so they actually have some quality standards there. They also have a high quality golf club department. They have an amazing shoe department where you can get converse, Nike and all kinds of sporting shoes, flip flops, dress shoes, leather shoes of very high quality. I picked up some Air Max shoes- I guess I’ll call them Nike’s- I thought they looked cool and they’re not like any other Nike’s I have seen. They also have an optical/glasses department with corrective lenses and also an amazing selection of fashion sunglasses- Oakley and all the different companies and brands are in there. They also have purses and clothing of all kinds. Interesting to note: I purchases a couple of shirts that play on the Chinese/USA relationship with a facial photo of President Obama superimposed on the outline of Hu Jintao’s with a background of the Chinese military surrounding it, basically written in Chinese script on the shirt is “To serve the People”, which should tell you a lot about the China/USA relationship right now and their evolving sense of humor and also their understanding of the economic and political challenges that the two countries have. On the back of the t-shirt I think it says “Mao Bama” or “Hu Bama”.

It is always interesting to see the items the Chinese have and to see the “Made in China” quality issue being addressed and changed. It gives you a real understanding of how many products are made in China.

Also on that day, I decided to do my “spa day” and spent several hours in the spa. I was able to get a Chinese massage- which is amazing. Their spas are so inexpensive still. My favorite part now is to get a pedicure because they always look at my feet and then send out a male pedicurist, who will look at my feet and grunt because of the challenge of the skin on my feet. They use, basically a set of knives- they don’t clip anything on your feet, they basically cut your feet. They peeled my toenails and the skin on the bottom of my feet basically like a potato. A Chinese pedicure is always a treat and my feet feel much better and I’m amazed that they can tear into my feet with basically knife blade and never cut me. Their skill level is amazing.

Also, I had a dinner with Qi Yan and her son, Lu Jun Qi “Little Qi”. It’s always great to see Qi. She is no longer working with the Chinese Softball Association, which she said she’s really happy. It’s kind of sad and very educational and speaks for itself that Zhou Yu and Qi not longer work for the CSA because of losing trust and respect for the CSA leadership. Had a wonderful dinner, and it’s kind of funny to note that we spoke again about where we wanted to eat: Did we want Chinese food, Italian, American? It was chosen last night that we went to Pizza Hut! It was a crazy night at Pizza Hut. The menu is completely different than in America. It had some interesting salads, French fries, some appetizers that were crazy, the pizza… it is hard to explain what they do to it, but the meal was interesting.

By: Coach Bastian ~ August 29, 2011

It’s 3am and I’m still wide awake right now…

The last three days have been spent touring Beijing with friends, and working on a new product for the TFS Product Division.

Some exciting news: I talked to Zhou Yin, a CSF student-athlete that came over to America. I spoke with her and we set up a date when we are going to spend the day together. It was exciting to talk to her about her life and her family a little bit. She is doing ok. Her English is very, very bad now- as I said to her “very bu hao”- so we spoke some broken “Chenglish”, but she is doing ok. I also was excited to talk to Qi Yan. She was basically the lady that was responsible for getting me to come to China and coach the Chinese National Softball Team; she was also my first interpreter. Qi was an officer with the Chinese Softball Association in the past and is now working with the General Administration of Sport for the whole offices of the Chinese Softball Association. I spoke with her about how she is doing in her life and how her son is doing- he is my Chinese son- and we also set up a meeting to get together with her and hopefully Madam Jiang, who is President of the Chinese Softball Association and a Vice President with the International Softball Federation.

I got to tour around with Zhou and Bailu a little bit in Beijing. I was excited and laughing a little bit that I got to eat some Chinese food in the International Plaza Mall, but the Chinese people that I was with wanted to eat at McDonalds and Subway. I was a little bit humbled and didn’t know if I should be embarrassed or proud that they wanted to partake in the American fast food establishments that were there in Beijing, China. I thought it was pretty funny that they wanted to have American food- McDonalds and Subway while we were there.

I’m looking forward to seeing some more friends here in Beijing, and will still be doing some work on a product for the TFS Product Division. We are looking to have that out early in 2012.