April 2, 2025 • 33 mins
Join us for a dynamic episode where we explore the incredible impact of youth fast-pitch softball on the Northeast Tennessee community, featuring special guest Tina Gale. With nearly two decades of experience, Tina has transformed local sports by creating the Diamond Classic tournaments, bringing together families and young athletes in exhilarating competition each year.
Dive into the story of how Tina began her journey, fueled by a passion for empowering young girls through sports. She shares valuable insights into the economic benefits of these tournaments, highlighting how they attract hundreds of families and generate substantial revenue for local businesses, from hotels to restaurants. But it isn’t just about the numbers; Tina emphasizes the life skills and self-esteem these young players gain from competing and collaborating on the field.
Learn how parents can help their children take their first steps into softball, whether starting at recreational leagues or transitioning to travel teams. This engaging discussion also features heartwarming anecdotes about young athletes who have transitioned from these tournaments to collegiate-level play, showcasing the nurturing environment Tina has cultivated over the years.
As we reflect on the importance of fostering community through activities and sports, tune in to discover how you can get involved and support local softball. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you find value in our work—your engagement helps us to continue shining a light on the amazing stories within our community!
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And now your host, christine Reed.
Welcome back everybody toanother episode of Benchmark
Happenings Podcast.
Like always, we are just alwaysexcited to have the star of our
show a special guest today.
She's also a dear friend ofmine who I love.
(01:03):
Tina Gale, thank you for beingon today.
Thank you for having me.
Absolutely, it's our pleasure.
We've known each other for along time, a long time, and,
tina, so you're a top realtor inthe East Tennessee market with
Conservas Real Estate, and Iknow that you've partnered with
(01:24):
Steve for a long time.
So thank you for that.
Well, we appreciate Steve.
He's the best.
Well, thank you.
But really, what we're here fortoday?
You really branch out there asa businesswoman and there's a
lot of things you're involved inin the community, but you've
started Diamond Classic, fastPitch softball tournaments, and
(01:50):
so really, what we're here fortoday is I want you to share
with us what this is all about,how you started this, and I want
people to understand how muchyou bring to the community in
the amount of revenue and howmuch this has grown over the
years.
So so, tina, tell me, how didyou get involved with this to
(02:12):
begin with?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
So I'm going into my.
This will be my 17th yearhosting.
I did not know that youth fastpitch, girls fast pitch.
Another friend of ours, amyPatterson I don't know if I've
ever told you this storyactually approached me 17 years
ago because they had a need togrow girls softball in our area.
(02:34):
She was someone else who wasinvolved and asked if I would be
interested in hosting some fastpitch tournaments and I was
like, well sure I had run acouple of fundraisers for United
Way back when I worked atCitigroup back in the day so.
I said, sure, we'll do it.
And the first tournament that Iran, we had like 10 teams.
It wasn't a big tournament atall.
(02:55):
Okay, so enjoyed it.
We did really well.
It was very organized.
And then here we are, 17 yearslater now, affiliated with
diamond classic fast pitch inthe area, locally in our area,
and we've grown that actually inthe last year, for for the last
12 months um, I held a littleover, I think it was over 27
(03:19):
events here in the johnson cityarea, my goodness, with over
1300 kids or over 1300 teamsteams that played last year in
our area each weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Oh my gosh, how do you keep that?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
straight.
There's a system, right, you'vegot to have a system and we
have built systems over the yearand rebuilt them and rebuilt
them.
So right now you've got goodpeople.
I've got good people that helpkind of keep all the wheels
greased for me, literally.
I have my dad keeps my wagonwheels greased so that I can
pull a trailer on the weekend.
Used to when I first startedout, I could fit everything in
(03:53):
my car that I would take to theball field.
There's no way I can fit it allin there now, so it's been fun.
It's very rewarding to see howthis has grown in our area over
the last 17 years?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, and so when does the season start, tina, for,
like this year, for 2025?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And that's funny you ask.
So it has definitely evolvedover the years.
We are very fortunate here inJohnson City that we've had
leaders that have invested inour ball fields.
That have invested in our ballfields Just across the road.
We've opened up four brand-newturf fields here in Johnson City
, which has allowed us to startearlier, so we're not having to
worry about wet weather earlythis year.
(04:33):
Right down the road inJonesboro there are four more
brand-new turf ball fields atBoone's Creek Elementary School.
So in the last year we haveeight new turf fields.
So that is allowing us to startearlier.
In the year I think theyactually had a um, um college
tournament, um, middle ofFebruary.
(04:55):
So and we will now used to wewould start first of March.
So now we start the first ofFebruary and um, in the past we
would be done probably middle ofOctober and we're running
through the first weekend inDecember, as long as Mother
Nature allows it to be abovefreezing.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But yeah, we've been very blessed with the leaders
here in the Washington CountyJohnson City area that has put
back into the ball fields andthey also see the economic
impact that it brings.
Yes, not only with justsoftball, we've got softball
baseball and the fields here inJohnson City now are
multipurpose fields.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So they can do soccer there as well.
That's great and you know,talking about Johnson City, I
participated last year in aclass that's called Johnson City
101.
And you go to everymunicipality that Johnson City
provides.
You meet all the leaders, youlearn about it.
You municipality that JohnsonCity provides, you meet all the
leaders, you learn about it, youmeet the Johnson City
Commission.
It was probably one of the mostbeneficial classes that I took
(05:53):
and I loved it and I saw thatand I understood that of how
they've reinvested into thecommunity, especially, you know,
with these ball fields beingturf and that's not cheap to do
but I think, just bringingpeople together.
And I think one thing that Iwas astounded is you had shared
(06:14):
the amount of revenue that comesinto the area just for a
tournament.
So about how many people do youtypically expect that comes for
a tournament that's going tocome into this area?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, so on.
So most of my events are mainlyone day tournaments, and that's
kind of what put me on the maphere in our area, Cause we are
right on the line with Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina Knoxville canmake a one day's trip over here,
Um so so we will have a lot-daytrip over here.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So we will have a lot of them come over.
They may come and spend Fridaynight, they may stay Saturday
night, they may just drive inSaturday morning and leave
Saturday night and go home.
But on a typical weekend now,when summer is, you know,
rearing up and going we'll have50 teams on a weekend.
50 to 60 teams.
Well, you figure there's atleast 10 kids on a team times at
(07:09):
least two parents per team.
So you know, on a 50 team, whatyou're looking at thousand, you
know at least a thousandparents.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That doesn't include the coaches and all that coming
through right, right, and sothat's revenue for all the
hotels here, not to mentionrestaurants that are getting
business from this.
So typically in a season ormaybe with a conference, tina,
how much revenue do you think isbrought?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
in basically because they have a sports tourism
director.
I work very closely with themon a lot of events, and this is
just on our one-day events.
There's other events that comein and they're in here for a
week at a time.
So these are just the one daysthat are here every Saturday and
we're trending right around $4million a year for an economic
(08:01):
impact.
Wow, we're talking 25tournaments that are just one
day.
I know we also haveoccasionally we will have a
larger event, you know, anational tournament that comes
in that Johnson City will go andbid on and those teams will
come in and stay four and fivenights and the economic impact
of the.
I know I hosted one about threeyears ago that it rained for
(08:25):
three days straight.
I said I think the economicimpact doubled because when
they're not on the ball field,where do you think they were?
They were at the mall.
I had all kinds of people sayingI saw your teams from Florida
and they're in there, they'reshopping.
So absolutely, when they comein they're buying gas.
They're going A lot of times.
(08:47):
It's fun when we go to some ofthe smaller town, like we've had
a couple of events in Irwin,very small town, but those local
vendors, the small restaurants,love that, because I think
Powell's ran out of cheddarrounds the first weekend that we
were there, you know.
So it definitely brings dollarsto the community.
Of course you know that's justa subset of it.
(09:09):
We sure love watching the girlscome in and having a place to
play locally as well.
So and it's it is kind of neatnow that I've done this for so
long that I've started to seegirls who came in and started
playing, because we startedeight and under.
So I've seen girls come in andstart at seven years old, eight
years old, and now they've gonethrough the whole program,
(09:30):
they've graduated and they'replaying ball at UT or King or
Emory Henry, etsu.
So that's kind of fun to seethat progress also.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So are you following some of these girls that like at
UT?
So do you have some favoritesthat stand out to you?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
You know they're all my favorites, but I know right
now Cameron Sarvis graduatedfrom Daniel Boone High School.
I've watched her go all the waythrough the ranks and she is a
junior now at UT.
So right now I'm following herpretty closely as well.
We've got some local girls thatjust graduated, also recently,
(10:09):
from Dobbins Bennett, that Iknow will be going to ETSU, so
they're just getting started intheir collegiate program.
So, and you know, some of themplay at a smaller level.
You know that not every girlcan graduate and go play in a D1
school and that's okay.
And not every girl graduates andwants to play softball at a
higher level, but hopefullythey've developed skills over
(10:32):
time that you know last, beyondjust the seasons, absolutely,
and I love that what you saidabout skills, tina, because
really what you're providing forwomen and for young girls is
some of those things that last alifetime.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So building that self-esteem, being able to
participate as a team and seeinghow important it is to rely on
other individuals to bring homea win or just to play a game
well, those skill sets and thatemotional intelligence are
things that you take with you,whether, like you said, you
(11:14):
continue to play ball or not, sodefinitely can help in the
professional arena or just youknow your personal life
basically.
And so what's your kind ofopinion with women's sports?
I know that there's been a lotabout that here lately and I
just think it's something thatwe really need to protect
(11:35):
Absolutely For girls, 100% wouldagree with that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
You know, trying to protect the sport in itself.
You know we are Girls, fastPitch, without going into a
whole lot of detail.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Right?
No, I know I understand.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I think there's a place for everybody in sports.
You know, girls Fast Pitch isGirls Fast Pitch, it's right.
That's right and we definitelywant to protect that brand and
their competitiveness withintheir own.
You know male, female realms.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yes, yes, Cause there's so many, there's so much
differences there.
Absolutely, yeah, and uh, and Ithink these girls uh, one thing
I admire is, uh, uh, femaleathletes and and girls that are
participating in sports, whetherit's, you know, the little
leagues, you know, just startingout like T-ball Remember T-ball
?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yep, did you play T-ball?
I played T-ball and you know,even when I played, we played.
I said you know what travelball was when I was young?
It meant I played atBloomingdale Rec ball at 5 pm
and then mom put me in the carand took me to Sullivan Gardens
Recreation ball at 7 pm and thenEastman.
I might've had a rec game thatnight at 9 pm.
So we didn't really have travelball then like we do now.
(12:52):
The sport has really, reallyevolved and the girls are good.
I mean, it's crazy to come outand watch a 10-year-old be able
to sling a ball in like they doand throw a fastball or a rise
ball or a drop ball.
They're doing that at 10 yearsold now, so it's pretty
impressive.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It is, and so a fast pitch, and I've watched them on
TV.
How fast does that ball go,tina?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
It depends, and here's what we've also learned
about softball.
You know, I would say we'veprobably got them at our level.
You know, 50 miles an hourcoming in, but a lot of times
it's not even about how fastit's coming in, it's the
movement on the ball.
There's so many differentpitches now and how they throw
them in and are they hitting thecorners, and so it's crazy to
(13:40):
think that kids at that youngerlevel are being able to say I
can pitch a change-up.
So it's definitely evolved waymore than whenever we were just
throwing strikes, you know, backin the day.
So, um, but yeah, you know, we,I always go back.
You know my own daughter.
(14:01):
You know I had high hopes thatshe would go and play in college
.
She could have, but she chosenot to.
And I I look at her to this dayand she I always say, if I had
to do it all over again, I woulddefinitely have involved her in
the travel ball sports, becausewe had a great coach who taught
the girls how to win and losewith class.
(14:22):
You know, not, not every gamecan be about the win.
You know, a win is just asubset of of the, it's just a
product of the game, butsometimes losses are wins too,
you know.
So I know that she's been ableto take a lot of long-term life
lessons from those travel balltournaments and to be able to
(14:44):
apply to her daily routine nowas well.
Yeah, was this.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Leah.
Yes, yes, I can see that, andcoach.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Travis Patterson was her coach.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Oh, couldn't have had a better coach, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Very class act.
Class act on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
So yes, yes, and also Travis.
He coached DB Dobbins Bennettgirls.
He was an assistant this year.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yes To the state tournament State tournament yeah
, first time ever as a softballteam at Dobbins Bennett, they
were, yeah, state tournamentchampions.
That's awesome and several ofthose girls have all played in
these local tournaments here.
Yeah, and, like I said, there'sa few of those that have signed
and they're going on to play atthe collegiate level as well.
So that's been fun to watchthem do well in the area as well
(15:30):
.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
So that's been fun to watch them do well in the areas
.
So parents listening to this,how can they?
How can they?
They have a child.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
That's you know wants to get involved.
What do they need to do, tina?
How do you get signed up forthis?
You know a lot of them willstart at the rec level.
You know the local parks andrec.
Johnson City has a parks andrec.
Kingsport has a parks andRecreation Department.
So a lot of them will start atthat level and then they will.
Sometimes they want just thatlittle bit more, and travel ball
(16:01):
is not for everyone.
There's nothing wrong withstaying back and just playing
rec ball too.
But as they get to wanting more, a little higher caliber of
players.
There's all kinds of Facebookgroups.
A lot of them will reach out tome as well and say, hey, do you
know a team that's havingtryouts?
And so I get that a lot to say.
I've got a girl right nowthat's 12 years old.
She's been playing rec ball.
(16:22):
Is there a local team that ishaving a tryout?
And I will try to connect them.
But there's also local groups onFacebook.
I think just about every teamout there has their own team
page.
There are some teams that havean actual program.
You know local programs andthey'll have an eight U, a 10 U,
a 12 U, a 14 U, so they have aage group in all ages.
(16:44):
You know they'll have a team inall ages.
So you know, if there's someoneout there that you know they're
looking to get their childstarted and they want to give me
a call, I'll be happy to.
I've got a website.
It's tennesseesoftballcom.
I think I've got just abouteverything on there that someone
could possibly need to getgoing, and I certainly don't
mind to field a phone call hereand there and try to help them
out as well.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Awesome, so tennesseesoftballcom.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yes tennesseesoftballcom.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
So yeah, we'll mention that again before we
wrap up today, and then, if youwant to provide any other
contact information, I thinkthat would be great for those
listening, and so what's some ofyour favorite stories, tina?
From doing this, I mean, Iwould think that over 17 years,
(17:28):
you've we have stories we loveand some that we want to forget.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Um, you've, uh, we have stories we love and some
that we want to forget.
So, um, yeah, we did go viralone time for a little thing
called brickyard brawl inkingsport, so everybody talks
about that.
So those are the things wedon't want to have happen.
Was that parents?
Was it parents?
it was and they were not localteams, they were teams from out
of this area and the two teamsweren't even playing each other,
but there was a littlealtercation, if you will, that
(17:55):
went very viral.
So actually the Today Showtried to get me on to talk about
it and I declined them,christine.
So they're not a Christine.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That's right, so you came to benchmark happiness.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Absolutely yes, so we could talk about good things.
Yes, yes, Absolutely yes, so wecan talk about good things.
Yes, yes, you know, I think allof it's hard to kind of say
what is some of the well, okay,I can give you one.
Actually, it was just last year.
James Ellis was the Parks andRec director at Johnson City for
years and he passed away Iguess it might have been a year
(18:29):
and a half ago.
He was a very big advocate forthese turf ball fields.
So the very first tournamentthat we were able to have this
past year on the turf ballfields, it poured the rain the
night before.
Every other probably everyfield was in the South.
I said probably nobody was ableto play except for us and there
(18:52):
was a rainbow.
I've got a picture of it.
We had a rainbow at this event,Like it was almost like James
was upstairs going.
You know what?
We're playing ball today.
Yeah, You're playing ball.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You can thank me later, but thank me for those
turf fields.
So with a, that's that's a coolstory.
So with a turf field versus aregular field with dirt, what
are some advantages of a turffield?
Are there any disadvantages?
I mean, I know the weather andthe rain and things like that,
but is there any difference inthat type of?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
field, very few disadvantage.
I mean I can tell you we hadevents last year that monsooned
the rain.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
I mean literally.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
I don't know that anybody between you know
Northeast Tennessee, southCarolina, north Carolina were
able to play but we would stillget started at eight o'clock in
the morning.
You know some of the girls.
It's funny to like our veryfirst games that we had the turf
, even when it's dry it's slickbecause it's turf.
So the girls, as they're slidinginto bases, just kept on
(19:53):
sliding.
They're like wait, come backhere, base.
So we've laughed about that alot.
As the girls have learnedsliding into the bases, the
shoes are a little different Onthe dirt.
A lot of the older girls liketo wear the metal cleats on the
dirt, but on the turf we don'tallow the metal cleats because
it'll tear up the turf.
(20:14):
So they do have to wear eithertennis shoes or turf.
So that's been a little bit ofa got to make sure that
everybody that comes in knowsyou can't wear the cleats Right,
because you could tear it allto pieces.
But, we communicate that tothem up front in advance.
Outside of that there's themaintenance of them, which I
don't necessarily do.
That you know the Parks and Rectakes care of that.
(20:35):
It's a little different in howthey maintain the fields.
They're not having to come inand lie on a field or having to
keep up with that throughout theday, so we've loved that.
You know, after about threeballgames usually the batter's
boxes are gone on a dirt field.
So on these we have batter'sboxes all day long.
So there's very fewdisadvantages, I guess, outside
(20:56):
of just the upfront cost ofthese cities that are having to
foot the bill for that.
But it has been proven with theeconomic impact that they are
profitable for them, absolutely.
And just a place for the kids tobe able to come and play.
I had a quote last year that Iused over and over again Kids on
(21:18):
fields is better than kids onthe phone, right?
So we want the kids on the ballfield playing.
So less rain outs means morekids are playing ball and not on
their cell phones Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
That's great, because we know that these cell phones
and children are getting themway too young, oh yeah, and it's
causing so much anxiety.
Yeah, I just I cringe when Isee an eight-year-old with a
cell phone, with an iPhone, justhaving that access to that much
information.
Yeah, to that much information.
(21:55):
But I see that what you'redoing, tina, you know you're
really contributing to thecommunity.
You know developing camaraderie, helping people, and I mean the
revenue, that's just.
You know, like you said, that'sjust a gift, byproduct of what
it is, but you're helping tobuild lasting memories and we
always say here at BenchmarkHappenings that people are dying
(22:18):
to move here to East Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Oh, absolutely, and I can tell you, I've been able to
assist Johnson City, visitJohnson City and hosting three
national tournaments herelocally.
Well, with the nationaltournaments, that's when you
have these teams outside of thearea from all different states
coming in and it's really neatto hear them talk about gosh,
(22:40):
look at the mountains, or howgreen everything is, because
that's not the case everywhere.
And when we had some of theteams were playing at Ridgeview
and Gray, they all like to talkabout the farmland on the way
out to the ball field.
You know.
So people don't always see that.
You know, in these, some ofthese other states, so it's been
neat to be able to hear that.
We kind of take parts of thatfor granted until you hear
(23:03):
people outside of the area.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Come in and brag about how pretty it is.
And you know, here off theBristol Highway, we know we have
where the ball fields are.
You know Wingdeer Park.
Wingdeer Park is beautiful.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I have so many sunrise.
I always say Wingdeer Park hasthe best sunrise picture because
the sunrise will come right upover, like where the park is,
and above the mountains, and ofcourse we're always there at
dark so I always get to see.
I see the sunrise in themorning and Boone's Creek School
right now has one of the bestsunsets and it's sitting right
over the farmland behind theirnew school.
(23:36):
Well, that's good information.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
So all of you hikers out there that are into nature,
so remember sunrise, wing DeerPark, sunset.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Boone's Creek, which is like the ridges area.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah, the sunset's really pretty there.
That is awesome.
Have you ever seen?
And Steve's been showing thesevideos to me lately and we're
going to eventually get ticketsto go see these people play the
Savannah Bananas.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yes, yeah, they are funny, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
So now that you know who I'm talking about, the
tickets are insanely expensive.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Oh, I haven't priced them, but I'm sure they are.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
There is a wait list to actually get there, and
they're actually going to be inNashville in a few weeks, but I
was just thinking about thesoftball and the tournaments.
If, at one point in time, ifthe girls could just break out
and a song, come on and theyjust do a little dance routine.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Oh, they do that already.
They have walk-up songs A lotof Most of them have their own
walk-up songs and then a lot oftimes what we will see,
especially before thechampionship games.
They're all kind of gettingready.
The younger girls, particularlythe 10-year-olds and the
8-year-olds and 12-year-olds alot of them will do their little
line dance.
You'll have both teams come outand do that in between the
(24:52):
innings or whatever Last year.
So I have a Halloween tournamentevery year.
We don't do it on Halloween,but we do it usually about the
second week of October and I letthe teams come in and dress up
and they'll do their tents andwe give away prizes for that.
And a team actually dressed uplike the Savannah Bananas last
year how cool.
And I did not know this.
(25:13):
No one clued me in, but thecoach and my umpire had kind of
already gotten together ahead oftime Like they were arguing
during the game, which I thoughtwas a real thing.
I was like wait, wait, wait.
What's going on?
But they were doing it onpurpose, so it was just part of
the act.
That was fun to see as well.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's great.
Well, I think that's fun and Ihaven't been to one of these
softball tournaments.
I need to come if they're goingto be like.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Bananas.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Maybe if we could get the Savannah Bananas here to do
an exhibition game for us, youknow what We've got a high-end
turf field.
Absolutely.
Well, maybe you work on thatAbsolutely.
Yep, well, maybe you work onthat, tina.
I'm writing that down right now.
I think that would be.
You know, talk about, yeah,that would be.
I mean, when I just watch them,I mean it makes me happy.
Oh yeah, you know, you justlaugh and you think how creative
(26:09):
and the owner of that team hasto be.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
He's a genius basically, but I love what
you're doing.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Tina, and I know I know you personally and I know
your heart and your heart forpeople and and bringing people
together and always wanting toprovide a safe, absolutely
Environment, fun environmentbringing family.
I love just the fact that.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
And Mac is helping me with it.
Now too, my husband andeverybody loves Mac.
Oh my gosh, If you all haven'tmet.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Mac and you all need to start your videos back again.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
I know he is funny.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Yeah, so Mac Tina's husband is probably one of the
nicest men I have ever met, andhe is everybody's favorite right
, tina, even at the moment.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
he's gotten so involved in my tournaments over
the last few years.
Now when I show up everybodygoes where's Mac?
We want Mac?
Absolutely Nobody asks.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Mac.
Where's Tina?
That's the way it is with.
Steve, but yeah, but he is sofunny and I really enjoyed your
videos.
That and I know you do quite abit on social media as well.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
We do you just about have to in this day and time.
But Mac makes it easier, likethe content's not hard to chase
after.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah, licking the A1 bottle at the restaurant.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
That's a classic?
That is definitely a classic,and you just have to know Mac to
really appreciate that video,and it was done on accident.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
It makes you wonder how many other people have done
it and didn't tell right.
And he told on himself to thewaitress he's like I can't put
that back on the table.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
To the waitress he's like I can't put that back on
the table and I didn't have apurse to put it in, so didn't
have a purse to put it in, soyou had to.
He had to tell on his self,didn't he?
He did.
Well, that sounds awesome, Tina, and I just you know.
So let's, let's review again,like how can the website, how
can people get in touch with you?
The website, how?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
can people get in touch with you?
So I do have a Facebook page.
I have Facebook which isDiamond Classic Fast Pitch of
Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
We also have a Diamond ClassicFast Pitch is actually owned by
Mr Chad Green out of Spartanburg, south Carolina.
He also has the main page isDiamond Classic Fast Pitch
(28:31):
Facebook page.
I have a website for the localteams.
He also has.
The main page is DiamondClassic Fast Pitch Facebook page
.
I have a website for the localteams.
It's wwwtennesseesoftballcom.
It's very easy to and my phonenumber is on there.
Okay, there's not necessarilyteam information on there, but
my phone number is on there andI can certainly get someone in
touch with teams that are havingtryouts, okay.
And then we also have our mainpage is just DCfastpitchcom as
(28:54):
well.
So we're out there.
We're not too hard to find.
And then I would also say youknow, if they're not ready, not
everybody is ready to start at atravel ball level, not only
from skill.
But you know there's moneyinvolved in that too.
You know they're paying foruniforms and hotel rooms.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
When they're going out of town.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
But if they're wanting to just start at the rec
level, like, I said, here inJohnson City Parks and Rec has a
phenomenal softball program,and then the Kingsport Parks and
Rec.
I know they have a pretty bigprogram.
I think Churchill has one.
Just about every municipalityaround here, Wow.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Even.
Bristol, I would think Bristolwould have one.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Someone recently told me that just Bluff City has
started one also and that theyhad like a couple hundred girls
come out.
So it is definitely.
I can tell you this year Ialways look and see what age
group has the most in it, forthe year Will kind of tell me
what is going to happen in theyears to come with our program.
And right now, so next weekend,I have a tournament here in
(29:57):
Johnson City and have 17, 10 andunder teams alone.
That's unheard.
I've never had that many 10 newteams.
So that tells me that thegrowth of our program is going
to be huge in the cause.
That's the younger crowd, youknow.
So 17, 10 and under teams isenough to put at one park by
(30:18):
themselves.
So they're, they're booming atthe seams right now.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So what's the youngest in in fast pitch?
Speaker 3 (30:26):
So we start at eight and under eight and that is a
coach pitch.
So we actually have a coachpitches to those those little
girls, okay.
Then they move up to 10 andunder and at 10 and under it's
player pitch.
So they've got, you know, theselittle girls are um, will
graduate from eight and under to10 and under and they're
actually pitching and the youknow, the batters are hitting
(30:47):
off of a live picture as well.
So we go 8U, 10u, 12u, 14u, 16uand 18U.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Wow, and then they go on to college.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
And then hopefully they'll go on to college.
And some says you know what Ilove my travel ball team, but
I'm ready just to focus onacademics and that's okay too.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Absolutely yeah, or they may end up.
You know scholarships right.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Oh, absolutely.
So last fall I think it wasfall we had signing day like
they always have signing days,and for, like the spring sports
and the um so softball.
When they had signing day forthe spring sports and of course
it was softball, baseball, allthe other, whatever else, I just
remember there was a list and I, when I looked at all the
(31:33):
spring athletes that had gottenscholarships, softball was the
number one sport For theathletes for that particular
season.
There was more scholarshipsthan girls softball for the
spring sports.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
That is awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I think that's a testament to our area around
here it really is.
We've got some great coaches.
I think that's a testament toour area around here.
It really is.
We've got some great coaches.
Umpires, listen.
I've got to give them a littleshout out too, because we don't
say enough about the umpires.
It's kind of a niche that hasfallen off the wagon because we
just don't have enough of them.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Every time.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
I see a girl that's getting ready to graduate and
they're not playing anymore.
I try to get them to come back.
An umpire, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
We need more umpires.
Okay, all right.
So those of you out there,contact Tina if you want to ump
a softball game?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Absolutely yes, we'll get them trained.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Tina, thank you for being on today.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
I've learned so much.
I love to talk about it andalways love spending time with
you, christine.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yes, I love spending time with you, and also Tina is
my inspiration for working out.
So if you want tips, on gettinghealthy and building a
fantastic physique.
You can contact Tina.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
She posts those videos too.
I just follow instructions, Dowhat my trainer tells me.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Okay, well, we'll hope you come back and come back
on the show with us after thisseason.
Maybe we'll do another one tofollow up.
Yes, that would be great.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I appreciate it, okay , thanks, tina, thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(33:24):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(33:46):
Benchmark Happenings.
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And now your host, christine Reed.
Welcome back everybody toanother episode of Benchmark
Happenings Podcast.
Like always, we are just alwaysexcited to have the star of our
show a special guest today.
She's also a dear friend ofmine who I love.
(01:03):
Tina Gale, thank you for beingon today.
Thank you for having me.
Absolutely, it's our pleasure.
We've known each other for along time, a long time, and,
tina, so you're a top realtor inthe East Tennessee market with
Conservas Real Estate, and Iknow that you've partnered with
(01:24):
Steve for a long time.
So thank you for that.
Well, we appreciate Steve.
He's the best.
Well, thank you.
But really, what we're here fortoday?
You really branch out there asa businesswoman and there's a
lot of things you're involved inin the community, but you've
started Diamond Classic, fastPitch softball tournaments, and
(01:50):
so really, what we're here fortoday is I want you to share
with us what this is all about,how you started this, and I want
people to understand how muchyou bring to the community in
the amount of revenue and howmuch this has grown over the
years.
So so, tina, tell me, how didyou get involved with this to
(02:12):
begin with?
Speaker 3 (02:13):
So I'm going into my.
This will be my 17th yearhosting.
I did not know that youth fastpitch, girls fast pitch.
Another friend of ours, amyPatterson I don't know if I've
ever told you this storyactually approached me 17 years
ago because they had a need togrow girls softball in our area.
(02:34):
She was someone else who wasinvolved and asked if I would be
interested in hosting some fastpitch tournaments and I was
like, well sure I had run acouple of fundraisers for United
Way back when I worked atCitigroup back in the day so.
I said, sure, we'll do it.
And the first tournament that Iran, we had like 10 teams.
It wasn't a big tournament atall.
(02:55):
Okay, so enjoyed it.
We did really well.
It was very organized.
And then here we are, 17 yearslater now, affiliated with
diamond classic fast pitch inthe area, locally in our area,
and we've grown that actually inthe last year, for for the last
12 months um, I held a littleover, I think it was over 27
(03:19):
events here in the johnson cityarea, my goodness, with over
1300 kids or over 1300 teamsteams that played last year in
our area each weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Oh my gosh, how do you keep that?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
straight.
There's a system, right, you'vegot to have a system and we
have built systems over the yearand rebuilt them and rebuilt
them.
So right now you've got goodpeople.
I've got good people that helpkind of keep all the wheels
greased for me, literally.
I have my dad keeps my wagonwheels greased so that I can
pull a trailer on the weekend.
Used to when I first startedout, I could fit everything in
(03:53):
my car that I would take to theball field.
There's no way I can fit it allin there now, so it's been fun.
It's very rewarding to see howthis has grown in our area over
the last 17 years?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, and so when does the season start, tina, for,
like this year, for 2025?
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And that's funny you ask.
So it has definitely evolvedover the years.
We are very fortunate here inJohnson City that we've had
leaders that have invested inour ball fields.
That have invested in our ballfields Just across the road.
We've opened up four brand-newturf fields here in Johnson City
, which has allowed us to startearlier, so we're not having to
worry about wet weather earlythis year.
(04:33):
Right down the road inJonesboro there are four more
brand-new turf ball fields atBoone's Creek Elementary School.
So in the last year we haveeight new turf fields.
So that is allowing us to startearlier.
In the year I think theyactually had a um, um college
tournament, um, middle ofFebruary.
(04:55):
So and we will now used to wewould start first of March.
So now we start the first ofFebruary and um, in the past we
would be done probably middle ofOctober and we're running
through the first weekend inDecember, as long as Mother
Nature allows it to be abovefreezing.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But yeah, we've been very blessed with the leaders
here in the Washington CountyJohnson City area that has put
back into the ball fields andthey also see the economic
impact that it brings.
Yes, not only with justsoftball, we've got softball
baseball and the fields here inJohnson City now are
multipurpose fields.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
So they can do soccer there as well.
That's great and you know,talking about Johnson City, I
participated last year in aclass that's called Johnson City
101.
And you go to everymunicipality that Johnson City
provides.
You meet all the leaders, youlearn about it.
You municipality that JohnsonCity provides, you meet all the
leaders, you learn about it, youmeet the Johnson City
Commission.
It was probably one of the mostbeneficial classes that I took
(05:53):
and I loved it and I saw thatand I understood that of how
they've reinvested into thecommunity, especially, you know,
with these ball fields beingturf and that's not cheap to do
but I think, just bringingpeople together.
And I think one thing that Iwas astounded is you had shared
(06:14):
the amount of revenue that comesinto the area just for a
tournament.
So about how many people do youtypically expect that comes for
a tournament that's going tocome into this area?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, so on.
So most of my events are mainlyone day tournaments, and that's
kind of what put me on the maphere in our area, Cause we are
right on the line with Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina Knoxville canmake a one day's trip over here,
Um so so we will have a lot-daytrip over here.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
So we will have a lot of them come over.
They may come and spend Fridaynight, they may stay Saturday
night, they may just drive inSaturday morning and leave
Saturday night and go home.
But on a typical weekend now,when summer is, you know,
rearing up and going we'll have50 teams on a weekend.
50 to 60 teams.
Well, you figure there's atleast 10 kids on a team times at
(07:09):
least two parents per team.
So you know, on a 50 team, whatyou're looking at thousand, you
know at least a thousandparents.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
That doesn't include the coaches and all that coming
through right, right, and sothat's revenue for all the
hotels here, not to mentionrestaurants that are getting
business from this.
So typically in a season ormaybe with a conference, tina,
how much revenue do you think isbrought?
Speaker 3 (07:39):
in basically because they have a sports tourism
director.
I work very closely with themon a lot of events, and this is
just on our one-day events.
There's other events that comein and they're in here for a
week at a time.
So these are just the one daysthat are here every Saturday and
we're trending right around $4million a year for an economic
(08:01):
impact.
Wow, we're talking 25tournaments that are just one
day.
I know we also haveoccasionally we will have a
larger event, you know, anational tournament that comes
in that Johnson City will go andbid on and those teams will
come in and stay four and fivenights and the economic impact
of the.
I know I hosted one about threeyears ago that it rained for
(08:25):
three days straight.
I said I think the economicimpact doubled because when
they're not on the ball field,where do you think they were?
They were at the mall.
I had all kinds of people sayingI saw your teams from Florida
and they're in there, they'reshopping.
So absolutely, when they comein they're buying gas.
They're going A lot of times.
(08:47):
It's fun when we go to some ofthe smaller town, like we've had
a couple of events in Irwin,very small town, but those local
vendors, the small restaurants,love that, because I think
Powell's ran out of cheddarrounds the first weekend that we
were there, you know.
So it definitely brings dollarsto the community.
Of course you know that's justa subset of it.
(09:09):
We sure love watching the girlscome in and having a place to
play locally as well.
So and it's it is kind of neatnow that I've done this for so
long that I've started to seegirls who came in and started
playing, because we startedeight and under.
So I've seen girls come in andstart at seven years old, eight
years old, and now they've gonethrough the whole program,
(09:30):
they've graduated and they'replaying ball at UT or King or
Emory Henry, etsu.
So that's kind of fun to seethat progress also.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
So are you following some of these girls that like at
UT?
So do you have some favoritesthat stand out to you?
Speaker 3 (09:47):
You know they're all my favorites, but I know right
now Cameron Sarvis graduatedfrom Daniel Boone High School.
I've watched her go all the waythrough the ranks and she is a
junior now at UT.
So right now I'm following herpretty closely as well.
We've got some local girls thatjust graduated, also recently,
(10:09):
from Dobbins Bennett, that Iknow will be going to ETSU, so
they're just getting started intheir collegiate program.
So, and you know, some of themplay at a smaller level.
You know that not every girlcan graduate and go play in a D1
school and that's okay.
And not every girl graduates andwants to play softball at a
higher level, but hopefullythey've developed skills over
(10:32):
time that you know last, beyondjust the seasons, absolutely,
and I love that what you saidabout skills, tina, because
really what you're providing forwomen and for young girls is
some of those things that last alifetime.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
So building that self-esteem, being able to
participate as a team and seeinghow important it is to rely on
other individuals to bring homea win or just to play a game
well, those skill sets and thatemotional intelligence are
things that you take with you,whether, like you said, you
(11:14):
continue to play ball or not, sodefinitely can help in the
professional arena or just youknow your personal life
basically.
And so what's your kind ofopinion with women's sports?
I know that there's been a lotabout that here lately and I
just think it's something thatwe really need to protect
(11:35):
Absolutely For girls, 100% wouldagree with that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
You know, trying to protect the sport in itself.
You know we are Girls, fastPitch, without going into a
whole lot of detail.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Right?
No, I know I understand.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
I think there's a place for everybody in sports.
You know, girls Fast Pitch isGirls Fast Pitch, it's right.
That's right and we definitelywant to protect that brand and
their competitiveness withintheir own.
You know male, female realms.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
Yes, yes, Cause there's so many, there's so much
differences there.
Absolutely, yeah, and uh, and Ithink these girls uh, one thing
I admire is, uh, uh, femaleathletes and and girls that are
participating in sports, whetherit's, you know, the little
leagues, you know, just startingout like T-ball Remember T-ball
?
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yep, did you play T-ball?
I played T-ball and you know,even when I played, we played.
I said you know what travelball was when I was young?
It meant I played atBloomingdale Rec ball at 5 pm
and then mom put me in the carand took me to Sullivan Gardens
Recreation ball at 7 pm and thenEastman.
I might've had a rec game thatnight at 9 pm.
So we didn't really have travelball then like we do now.
(12:52):
The sport has really, reallyevolved and the girls are good.
I mean, it's crazy to come outand watch a 10-year-old be able
to sling a ball in like they doand throw a fastball or a rise
ball or a drop ball.
They're doing that at 10 yearsold now, so it's pretty
impressive.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
It is, and so a fast pitch, and I've watched them on
TV.
How fast does that ball go,tina?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
It depends, and here's what we've also learned
about softball.
You know, I would say we'veprobably got them at our level.
You know, 50 miles an hourcoming in, but a lot of times
it's not even about how fastit's coming in, it's the
movement on the ball.
There's so many differentpitches now and how they throw
them in and are they hitting thecorners, and so it's crazy to
(13:40):
think that kids at that youngerlevel are being able to say I
can pitch a change-up.
So it's definitely evolved waymore than whenever we were just
throwing strikes, you know, backin the day.
So, um, but yeah, you know, we,I always go back.
You know my own daughter.
(14:01):
You know I had high hopes thatshe would go and play in college
.
She could have, but she chosenot to.
And I I look at her to this dayand she I always say, if I had
to do it all over again, I woulddefinitely have involved her in
the travel ball sports, becausewe had a great coach who taught
the girls how to win and losewith class.
(14:22):
You know, not, not every gamecan be about the win.
You know, a win is just asubset of of the, it's just a
product of the game, butsometimes losses are wins too,
you know.
So I know that she's been ableto take a lot of long-term life
lessons from those travel balltournaments and to be able to
(14:44):
apply to her daily routine nowas well.
Yeah, was this.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Leah.
Yes, yes, I can see that, andcoach.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Travis Patterson was her coach.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Oh, couldn't have had a better coach, yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Very class act.
Class act on and off the field.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
So yes, yes, and also Travis.
He coached DB Dobbins Bennettgirls.
He was an assistant this year.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yes To the state tournament State tournament yeah
, first time ever as a softballteam at Dobbins Bennett, they
were, yeah, state tournamentchampions.
That's awesome and several ofthose girls have all played in
these local tournaments here.
Yeah, and, like I said, there'sa few of those that have signed
and they're going on to play atthe collegiate level as well.
So that's been fun to watchthem do well in the area as well
(15:30):
.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
So that's been fun to watch them do well in the areas
.
So parents listening to this,how can they?
How can they?
They have a child.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
That's you know wants to get involved.
What do they need to do, tina?
How do you get signed up forthis?
You know a lot of them willstart at the rec level.
You know the local parks andrec.
Johnson City has a parks andrec.
Kingsport has a parks andRecreation Department.
So a lot of them will start atthat level and then they will.
Sometimes they want just thatlittle bit more, and travel ball
(16:01):
is not for everyone.
There's nothing wrong withstaying back and just playing
rec ball too.
But as they get to wanting more, a little higher caliber of
players.
There's all kinds of Facebookgroups.
A lot of them will reach out tome as well and say, hey, do you
know a team that's havingtryouts?
And so I get that a lot to say.
I've got a girl right nowthat's 12 years old.
She's been playing rec ball.
(16:22):
Is there a local team that ishaving a tryout?
And I will try to connect them.
But there's also local groups onFacebook.
I think just about every teamout there has their own team
page.
There are some teams that havean actual program.
You know local programs andthey'll have an eight U, a 10 U,
a 12 U, a 14 U, so they have aage group in all ages.
(16:44):
You know they'll have a team inall ages.
So you know, if there's someoneout there that you know they're
looking to get their childstarted and they want to give me
a call, I'll be happy to.
I've got a website.
It's tennesseesoftballcom.
I think I've got just abouteverything on there that someone
could possibly need to getgoing, and I certainly don't
mind to field a phone call hereand there and try to help them
out as well.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Awesome, so tennesseesoftballcom.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yes tennesseesoftballcom.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
So yeah, we'll mention that again before we
wrap up today, and then, if youwant to provide any other
contact information, I thinkthat would be great for those
listening, and so what's some ofyour favorite stories, tina?
From doing this, I mean, Iwould think that over 17 years,
(17:28):
you've we have stories we loveand some that we want to forget.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Um, you've, uh, we have stories we love and some
that we want to forget.
So, um, yeah, we did go viralone time for a little thing
called brickyard brawl inkingsport, so everybody talks
about that.
So those are the things wedon't want to have happen.
Was that parents?
Was it parents?
it was and they were not localteams, they were teams from out
of this area and the two teamsweren't even playing each other,
but there was a littlealtercation, if you will, that
(17:55):
went very viral.
So actually the Today Showtried to get me on to talk about
it and I declined them,christine.
So they're not a Christine.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
That's right, so you came to benchmark happiness.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Absolutely yes, so we could talk about good things.
Yes, yes, Absolutely yes, so wecan talk about good things.
Yes, yes, you know, I think allof it's hard to kind of say
what is some of the well, okay,I can give you one.
Actually, it was just last year.
James Ellis was the Parks andRec director at Johnson City for
years and he passed away Iguess it might have been a year
(18:29):
and a half ago.
He was a very big advocate forthese turf ball fields.
So the very first tournamentthat we were able to have this
past year on the turf ballfields, it poured the rain the
night before.
Every other probably everyfield was in the South.
I said probably nobody was ableto play except for us and there
(18:52):
was a rainbow.
I've got a picture of it.
We had a rainbow at this event,Like it was almost like James
was upstairs going.
You know what?
We're playing ball today.
Yeah, You're playing ball.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
You can thank me later, but thank me for those
turf fields.
So with a, that's that's a coolstory.
So with a turf field versus aregular field with dirt, what
are some advantages of a turffield?
Are there any disadvantages?
I mean, I know the weather andthe rain and things like that,
but is there any difference inthat type of?
Speaker 3 (19:20):
field, very few disadvantage.
I mean I can tell you we hadevents last year that monsooned
the rain.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
I mean literally.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
I don't know that anybody between you know
Northeast Tennessee, southCarolina, north Carolina were
able to play but we would stillget started at eight o'clock in
the morning.
You know some of the girls.
It's funny to like our veryfirst games that we had the turf
, even when it's dry it's slickbecause it's turf.
So the girls, as they're slidinginto bases, just kept on
(19:53):
sliding.
They're like wait, come backhere, base.
So we've laughed about that alot.
As the girls have learnedsliding into the bases, the
shoes are a little different Onthe dirt.
A lot of the older girls liketo wear the metal cleats on the
dirt, but on the turf we don'tallow the metal cleats because
it'll tear up the turf.
(20:14):
So they do have to wear eithertennis shoes or turf.
So that's been a little bit ofa got to make sure that
everybody that comes in knowsyou can't wear the cleats Right,
because you could tear it allto pieces.
But, we communicate that tothem up front in advance.
Outside of that there's themaintenance of them, which I
don't necessarily do.
That you know the Parks and Rectakes care of that.
(20:35):
It's a little different in howthey maintain the fields.
They're not having to come inand lie on a field or having to
keep up with that throughout theday, so we've loved that.
You know, after about threeballgames usually the batter's
boxes are gone on a dirt field.
So on these we have batter'sboxes all day long.
So there's very fewdisadvantages, I guess, outside
(20:56):
of just the upfront cost ofthese cities that are having to
foot the bill for that.
But it has been proven with theeconomic impact that they are
profitable for them, absolutely.
And just a place for the kids tobe able to come and play.
I had a quote last year that Iused over and over again Kids on
(21:18):
fields is better than kids onthe phone, right?
So we want the kids on the ballfield playing.
So less rain outs means morekids are playing ball and not on
their cell phones Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
That's great, because we know that these cell phones
and children are getting themway too young, oh yeah, and it's
causing so much anxiety.
Yeah, I just I cringe when Isee an eight-year-old with a
cell phone, with an iPhone, justhaving that access to that much
information.
Yeah, to that much information.
(21:55):
But I see that what you'redoing, tina, you know you're
really contributing to thecommunity.
You know developing camaraderie, helping people, and I mean the
revenue, that's just.
You know, like you said, that'sjust a gift, byproduct of what
it is, but you're helping tobuild lasting memories and we
always say here at BenchmarkHappenings that people are dying
(22:18):
to move here to East Tennessee.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Oh, absolutely, and I can tell you, I've been able to
assist Johnson City, visitJohnson City and hosting three
national tournaments herelocally.
Well, with the nationaltournaments, that's when you
have these teams outside of thearea from all different states
coming in and it's really neatto hear them talk about gosh,
(22:40):
look at the mountains, or howgreen everything is, because
that's not the case everywhere.
And when we had some of theteams were playing at Ridgeview
and Gray, they all like to talkabout the farmland on the way
out to the ball field.
You know.
So people don't always see that.
You know, in these, some ofthese other states, so it's been
neat to be able to hear that.
We kind of take parts of thatfor granted until you hear
(23:03):
people outside of the area.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Come in and brag about how pretty it is.
And you know, here off theBristol Highway, we know we have
where the ball fields are.
You know Wingdeer Park.
Wingdeer Park is beautiful.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
I have so many sunrise.
I always say Wingdeer Park hasthe best sunrise picture because
the sunrise will come right upover, like where the park is,
and above the mountains, and ofcourse we're always there at
dark so I always get to see.
I see the sunrise in themorning and Boone's Creek School
right now has one of the bestsunsets and it's sitting right
over the farmland behind theirnew school.
(23:36):
Well, that's good information.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
So all of you hikers out there that are into nature,
so remember sunrise, wing DeerPark, sunset.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Boone's Creek, which is like the ridges area.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah, the sunset's really pretty there.
That is awesome.
Have you ever seen?
And Steve's been showing thesevideos to me lately and we're
going to eventually get ticketsto go see these people play the
Savannah Bananas.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
Yes, yeah, they are funny, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
So now that you know who I'm talking about, the
tickets are insanely expensive.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Oh, I haven't priced them, but I'm sure they are.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
There is a wait list to actually get there, and
they're actually going to be inNashville in a few weeks, but I
was just thinking about thesoftball and the tournaments.
If, at one point in time, ifthe girls could just break out
and a song, come on and theyjust do a little dance routine.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
Oh, they do that already.
They have walk-up songs A lotof Most of them have their own
walk-up songs and then a lot oftimes what we will see,
especially before thechampionship games.
They're all kind of gettingready.
The younger girls, particularlythe 10-year-olds and the
8-year-olds and 12-year-olds alot of them will do their little
line dance.
You'll have both teams come outand do that in between the
(24:52):
innings or whatever Last year.
So I have a Halloween tournamentevery year.
We don't do it on Halloween,but we do it usually about the
second week of October and I letthe teams come in and dress up
and they'll do their tents andwe give away prizes for that.
And a team actually dressed uplike the Savannah Bananas last
year how cool.
And I did not know this.
(25:13):
No one clued me in, but thecoach and my umpire had kind of
already gotten together ahead oftime Like they were arguing
during the game, which I thoughtwas a real thing.
I was like wait, wait, wait.
What's going on?
But they were doing it onpurpose, so it was just part of
the act.
That was fun to see as well.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's great.
Well, I think that's fun and Ihaven't been to one of these
softball tournaments.
I need to come if they're goingto be like.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Bananas.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
I know.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
Maybe if we could get the Savannah Bananas here to do
an exhibition game for us, youknow what We've got a high-end
turf field.
Absolutely.
Well, maybe you work on thatAbsolutely.
Yep, well, maybe you work onthat, tina.
I'm writing that down right now.
I think that would be.
You know, talk about, yeah,that would be.
I mean, when I just watch them,I mean it makes me happy.
Oh yeah, you know, you justlaugh and you think how creative
(26:09):
and the owner of that team hasto be.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
He's a genius basically, but I love what
you're doing.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Tina, and I know I know you personally and I know
your heart and your heart forpeople and and bringing people
together and always wanting toprovide a safe, absolutely
Environment, fun environmentbringing family.
I love just the fact that.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
And Mac is helping me with it.
Now too, my husband andeverybody loves Mac.
Oh my gosh, If you all haven'tmet.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Mac and you all need to start your videos back again.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
I know he is funny.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Yeah, so Mac Tina's husband is probably one of the
nicest men I have ever met, andhe is everybody's favorite right
, tina, even at the moment.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
he's gotten so involved in my tournaments over
the last few years.
Now when I show up everybodygoes where's Mac?
We want Mac?
Absolutely Nobody asks.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Mac.
Where's Tina?
That's the way it is with.
Steve, but yeah, but he is sofunny and I really enjoyed your
videos.
That and I know you do quite abit on social media as well.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
We do you just about have to in this day and time.
But Mac makes it easier, likethe content's not hard to chase
after.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah, licking the A1 bottle at the restaurant.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
That's a classic?
That is definitely a classic,and you just have to know Mac to
really appreciate that video,and it was done on accident.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
It makes you wonder how many other people have done
it and didn't tell right.
And he told on himself to thewaitress he's like I can't put
that back on the table.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
To the waitress he's like I can't put that back on
the table and I didn't have apurse to put it in, so didn't
have a purse to put it in, soyou had to.
He had to tell on his self,didn't he?
He did.
Well, that sounds awesome, Tina, and I just you know.
So let's, let's review again,like how can the website, how
can people get in touch with you?
The website, how?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
can people get in touch with you?
So I do have a Facebook page.
I have Facebook which isDiamond Classic Fast Pitch of
Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
We also have a Diamond ClassicFast Pitch is actually owned by
Mr Chad Green out of Spartanburg, south Carolina.
He also has the main page isDiamond Classic Fast Pitch
(28:31):
Facebook page.
I have a website for the localteams.
He also has.
The main page is DiamondClassic Fast Pitch Facebook page
.
I have a website for the localteams.
It's wwwtennesseesoftballcom.
It's very easy to and my phonenumber is on there.
Okay, there's not necessarilyteam information on there, but
my phone number is on there andI can certainly get someone in
touch with teams that are havingtryouts, okay.
And then we also have our mainpage is just DCfastpitchcom as
(28:54):
well.
So we're out there.
We're not too hard to find.
And then I would also say youknow, if they're not ready, not
everybody is ready to start at atravel ball level, not only
from skill.
But you know there's moneyinvolved in that too.
You know they're paying foruniforms and hotel rooms.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
When they're going out of town.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
But if they're wanting to just start at the rec
level, like, I said, here inJohnson City Parks and Rec has a
phenomenal softball program,and then the Kingsport Parks and
Rec.
I know they have a pretty bigprogram.
I think Churchill has one.
Just about every municipalityaround here, Wow.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Even.
Bristol, I would think Bristolwould have one.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
Someone recently told me that just Bluff City has
started one also and that theyhad like a couple hundred girls
come out.
So it is definitely.
I can tell you this year Ialways look and see what age
group has the most in it, forthe year Will kind of tell me
what is going to happen in theyears to come with our program.
And right now, so next weekend,I have a tournament here in
(29:57):
Johnson City and have 17, 10 andunder teams alone.
That's unheard.
I've never had that many 10 newteams.
So that tells me that thegrowth of our program is going
to be huge in the cause.
That's the younger crowd, youknow.
So 17, 10 and under teams isenough to put at one park by
(30:18):
themselves.
So they're, they're booming atthe seams right now.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So what's the youngest in in fast pitch?
Speaker 3 (30:26):
So we start at eight and under eight and that is a
coach pitch.
So we actually have a coachpitches to those those little
girls, okay.
Then they move up to 10 andunder and at 10 and under it's
player pitch.
So they've got, you know, theselittle girls are um, will
graduate from eight and under to10 and under and they're
actually pitching and the youknow, the batters are hitting
(30:47):
off of a live picture as well.
So we go 8U, 10u, 12u, 14u, 16uand 18U.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Wow, and then they go on to college.
Speaker 3 (30:58):
And then hopefully they'll go on to college.
And some says you know what Ilove my travel ball team, but
I'm ready just to focus onacademics and that's okay too.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Absolutely yeah, or they may end up.
You know scholarships right.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Oh, absolutely.
So last fall I think it wasfall we had signing day like
they always have signing days,and for, like the spring sports
and the um so softball.
When they had signing day forthe spring sports and of course
it was softball, baseball, allthe other, whatever else, I just
remember there was a list and I, when I looked at all the
(31:33):
spring athletes that had gottenscholarships, softball was the
number one sport For theathletes for that particular
season.
There was more scholarshipsthan girls softball for the
spring sports.
Speaker 2 (31:46):
That is awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
I think that's a testament to our area around
here it really is.
We've got some great coaches.
I think that's a testament toour area around here.
It really is.
We've got some great coaches.
Umpires, listen.
I've got to give them a littleshout out too, because we don't
say enough about the umpires.
It's kind of a niche that hasfallen off the wagon because we
just don't have enough of them.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Every time.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
I see a girl that's getting ready to graduate and
they're not playing anymore.
I try to get them to come back.
An umpire, yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
We need more umpires.
Okay, all right.
So those of you out there,contact Tina if you want to ump
a softball game?
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Absolutely yes, we'll get them trained.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Tina, thank you for being on today.
Speaker 3 (32:24):
Thank you, I appreciate it.
I've learned so much.
I love to talk about it andalways love spending time with
you, christine.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Yes, I love spending time with you, and also Tina is
my inspiration for working out.
So if you want tips, on gettinghealthy and building a
fantastic physique.
You can contact Tina.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
She posts those videos too.
I just follow instructions, Dowhat my trainer tells me.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
Okay, well, we'll hope you come back and come back
on the show with us after thisseason.
Maybe we'll do another one tofollow up.
Yes, that would be great.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I appreciate it, okay , thanks, tina, thank you.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(33:24):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(33:46):
Benchmark Happenings.
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