Ten items a week we think you'll find interesting and unique. The Ledger List for July 3, 2009, brought to you by Revolution Tea (past Lists, click here)

1. To watch: Many of the top softball teams are off in Colorado for college showcases this weekend. Locally, Triple Crown Sports offers a warm-up tournament before nationals.

2. To watch: USSSA basketball has its Summer Sizzle this weekend for boys teams up through eighth grade.

3. Hold that line: Hamilton High School football coach Steve Belles was talking about the significance of passing league competition after his team won a 26-team tournament in Surprise. “The difference is when you get to regular season, you have a bunch of big linemen on both sides of the ball,” he said. “Of course, we have pretty good lineman. So we should be able to do the things we do here.”

4. Ed Thomas: The high school football coach who was gunned down in Iowa seems to have exemplified what every coach should be. He put more emphasis on making his players good citizens, helping them become better people than on-field success. And he had plenty of on-field success. He received some national media attention while he was alive, but nothing like he has since he was allegedly gunned down by a former player. It’s a shame we don’t know get to learn more about people like Thomas until they’re gone.

5. Fetters to GCU: Mike Fetters is best-known in the Valley as a stocky former Diamondbacks relief pitcher whose signature whip of the head Mark Grace imitated in his only major league pitching performance (right before Gracie gave up a monster home run). But in Fetter’s native Hawaii, he is remembered as a high school basketball star. His son Micah of Hamilton High School is carrying on that tradition, committing to play hoops at Grand Canyon University.

6. Gold touch: Arizona Hotshots Gatti became the first team from the Grand Canyon State to qualify for the ASA Gold Nationals, the top junior softball competition in the country. The Hotshots won the berth at York, Pa., beating two top Virginia outfits, the Legends and the Shamrocks.

7. State champs: Scottsdale won the 9u Cal Ripken state title last month. The roster included : Alec DeGregoris, Jarrett Pille, Connor Riley, Cole Roosma, Grant Roosma, Jacob Emerson, Jack Harmon, Hunter Wheaton, Austin Montano, Cole Welp, Cole Figuero, Evan Kelly, Ian McMilian, Slater Zellers and Carson Blair.

8. Sunbelt Classic champs: All the buzz at the Sunbelt Classic baseball tournament in Oklahoma last weekend was about the Texas team. The defending champs scored 74 runs going into the final against Arizona. The Texans had already beaten the Arizona boys 14-5. But in the final, Arizona won 10-7. Arizona’s Tyler Giannonatti was named tournament’s most valuable pitcher. The same group won the junior event last year.

9. Great staff: After RAMMS won the Cal Ripken state 11u championship, head coach Dave Caddell was quick to credit his coaching staff -- Todd Zellman, Keith Vercauteren and volunteer coach Chris Hernandez.

10. Joining LeBron: Last weekend Kenzie Fowler joined some elite company when she became the first student-athlete ever to win back-to-back Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year swards. She is also the sixth athlete in the program's 24-year history to win Gatorade National Player of the Year honors more than once, joining LeBron James (2001-02, 2002-03), Greg Oden (2004-05, 2005-06), Candace Parker (2002-03, 2003-04), Marion Jones (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93) and Cynthia Barboza (2003-04, 2004-05). Consider this: Two years ago at this time, Fowler was texting with her left hand because she couldn’t use her right. She had just had blood clots removed from her right side and nearly died. Don’t remember LeBron having to deal with something like that.

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