WENDY'S SPRING CLASSIC
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL INVITATIONAL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3-22-04
TESTIMONIALS
The Wendy's staff welcomes comments from coaches, players & fans.  Feel free to e-mail any board
member using the CONTACT US link at www.wendysspringclassic.com.
COACHES COMMENTS
PERRY PETERSON, Barrington (IL) High School. (Barrington's home field has been selected as the No. 1 high school
softball facility in the USA.)  "The competition we've seen here both years has been outstanding.  Our girls are used
to electronic scoreboards and announcers and music between innings, so they love being out here.  Great experi-
ence!  I'm thankful to have been invited."
LARRY THOMAS, Louisville (KY) DuPont Manual.  "This is the most awesome, professionally run tournament!  I
haven't seen anything better.  It's just an excellent opportunity.  What a great mix of teams!"
BILL HERMAN, JR, Loudonville (OH) High School. (Led the Lady Redbirds to consecutive state title games in 2001 &
2002.)  "It's a great chance for the kids to get the feel of state tournament-type pressure, but it also gives the
coaches a chance to work on situations.  We always leave here feeling better about our team."
CHUCK HUGGINS, North Robinson (OH) Colonel Crawford. (Coach Huggins is a 2004 inductee into Ohio's softball
coaches Hall of Fame.) "Each and every year we approach the Wendy's as a great opportunity to improve our team.
We come over here and everything is FIRST class. The facilities are perfectly set up for a format like this.  We are
honored to be invited each year."
DOUG JOHNSON, Lanark (IL) Eastland. (Coached Illinois high school legend, Sarah Martz, and was undefeated in
the 2000 Wendy's Classic.) "It's so well run.  The facilities and the hospitality are great.  The quality of the pitching
here is as good as we will see.  It kind of puts your kids in an early-season pressure situation, but it's still fun."
DENNY THRONEBURG, Casey (IL) Westfield. (Coach Throneburg is a past national high school Coach of the Year.)
"Every team that has the opportunity should play in Ashland.  They won't be disappointed!  The Wendy's is a first
class tournament that is well run and well organized.  We played well at times, and at times we did not, but we
immensely enjoyed the experience of the state tournament-type atmosphere."
RAY FOWLER, Akron (OH) Springfield. (Coach Fowler won 8 big-school state titles with the Lady Spartans, still a
state record.) "The Wendy's is an amazing event that is hard to fully appreciate.  I was impressed with the level
of competition, the tremendous support and the enthusiasm of the Ashland community and the excellent facilities.
They are always at the ready."
DIANE LAFFEY, Harper Woods (MI) Regina. (Coach Laffey was the first Michigan softball coach to reach 500 wins.)
"It was a great experience for the kids.  I don't believe we have ever played on finer facilities.  The competition was
great, to say the least.  We went 1-2 (in 1995) and 0-3 (in 1996), and it still turned out to be positive for my team."
PHIL ADAM, Ashwaubenon (WI) High School. (Coach Adam, a true Packer fan, led Ashwaubenon to a record 14
state tournament appearances.)  "We had a great time at the Wendy's Classic.  It allowed us to play quality compe-
tition from other areas of the country, while at the same time giving us the opportunity to make new friends."
DON DUFFY, Tallmadge (OH) High School. (Won back-to-back state titles in 1997 & 1998 with the Lady Blue Devils,
one of Ohio's most respected programs.) "It is truly an honor to have been invited to participate in the Wendy's
since its inception.  It has been very exciting to watch the invitational grow and become so highly competitive. Our
players look forward to the Classic and the opportunity to play on Brookside Park's Main diamond, home of the
OHSAA state finals.  I can't believe all the state champions they bring to Ashland!"
MEDIA COMMENTS
STACY PAETZ, ESPN sportscaster. (Ms. Paetz was the former host/commentator for "Scholastic Sports America",
which enjoyed a 15-year run on ESPN.) "My visit to Ashland, Ohio was such a great experience.  Not only was I there
to cover an exciting event, but the people were so great!  I believe the Wendy's Classic is one of the top high school
tournaments in the country.  It brings nationally ranked teams and the most talented players together for great
competition.  I've played competitive softball for more than half my life and I wish I could have competed in a
tournament with as much talent and class as the Wendy's represents."
BRIAN REUSCH, Asst Sports Director for WCCI-FM in Savanna, IL. (Mr. Reusch delivered the play-by-play for WCCI as
Lanark (IL) Eastland provided so many lasting memories in the 2000 Classic.) "The Wendy's Classic is a first-rate,
top-notch softball invitational!  Like any great event, its success can be directly attributed to the quality people
running it.  Schools should consider it an honor and a challenge to be invited."
PLAYERS COMMENTS
KATIE CHAIN, North Canton (OH) Hoover. (Ms. Chain tossed three complete game victories in the 1998 Wendy's
against three reigning state champions -  Pickerington (OH), Merrillville (IN) & Portage (MI) Northern and later
starred at Ohio State.) "The Wendy's Classic was a tournament I really looked forward to.  I only had one chance
to play in it, but it was a great experience.  First, the Classic had a lot of media coverage, including ESPN, which
was very exciting.  Another reason I liked it was because it was in Ashland, a great fastpitch community with so
many fans who were there to watch because they like the sport.  Also, the fields we played on were great!  The
Brookside complex made it easy to watch other great teams when we were idle."