2023 Extra Elite 100 start: now Oct. 31 (not Oct. 24)
This is Brentt Eads of Extra Inning Softball.
Following upon the post we put up earlier this week about the FINAL 2023 Extra Elite 100 rankings launch being pushed back a week to start on Monday, October 31, 2022, a week later than originally planned.
Note: we also hope to have the the Top 100 announced by Signing Day, which is the second Monday in November (Nov. 9).
From our interactions with coaches, players and parents, many have not learned of the later start, so I wanted to repeat this so as many as possible will know of the change.
My Health (Updated)
Also, as I wrote on Monday, the delay is on ME because of health reasons… here’s an update on what’s transpired over the last 72 hours (want to update for the many who’ve reached out in concern but I haven’t been able to get back to):
- On Monday morning, I went to my family physician because I haven’t been feeling well for a week or two, most notably a pain in my left side below the ribs. It was a dull ache, not a sharp pain like I’ve had previously from kidney stones (cue dramatic music!)
- My physician did a blood test and x-rays and both indicated, to my surprise, I had not one, but TWO, kidney stones.
- Fortunately, neither had dropped–and that’s when there’s the intense pain–but I was still directed to go to the Emergency Room to get further testing done, which included blood draws and a CT scan among others. I didn’t get out of the hospital until after 10 pm.
- Yesterday (Wednesday), I met with the Urologist who was on call when I was at the hospital and he gave me three options, the least intrusive being laser or shock wave lithotripsy, which “treats kidney stones by sending focused ultrasonic energy or shock waves directly to the stone first located with fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray “movie”) and then the shock waves break a large stone into smaller stones that will pass through the urinary system.”
- Fortunately, last night, my local hospital was able to get me in and I was put under general anesthesia for an hour while the procedure was done. Apparently, the shock waves are pretty painful and make the body “tighten” up so it’s necessary to be totally out when done.
- From post-procedure reports, everything went well and I was able to come home last night. The only concern was at 4:30 am this morning when I went to go to the bathroom, the medication they gave me made me pretty tipsy and I almost passed out. I was able to get back to bed, however, get some more sleep and at this point Thursday afternoon I feel better, though I’ll likely be in bed for the next day or two (thank goodness for laptops!).
As mentioned before, the health situation will prevent me from going to the strong PGF Ultimate Challenge in Salinas, Calif. this weekend, but huge props to our Justin McLeod who is flying there to cover for me and represent Extra Inning Softball.
Final Notes
Perhaps more detail than you wanted/needed (!) to explain the pushing back of the 2023 rankings a week, but before I finish, here are a few final points:
- my apologies to those whose stories I’ve been working on are being delayed because of my health, shouldn’t be more than a few days.
- because of the delay in the rankings launch, we can take final nominations up until Saturday (Oct 22) at 10 pm EST. Normally wouldn’t do this, but want to make sure all deserving seniors are considered.
- as mentioned on Monday, this 2023 Extra Elite 100 will be a “more streamlined top 100” list and, unlike previous editions of Extra Elite 100 rankings which had ‘ties’ to get more talented players honored, this edition and ones to follow will be more of a true Top 100 list.
- the previous 2023 class rankings were published in May 2021; click HERE to see who made last year’s Top 100.
If you have any questions, feel free to write us at info@extrainningsoftball.com.
