- PoliceSoftball.com - Complete Guide to Police Tournament Softball

Name	Chris Killop
Nickname
Uniform #	7
Team	Michigan Lawmen
Agency	Shelby TWP. Police Department
Assignment	Patrol Division Evidence Technician
PS.com Nick	KILSMOKE

Nickname: I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A TEAM NICKNAME AS OF YET...BUT I HAVE BEEN CALLED MANY OF THINGS...

Name on PoliceSoftball.com: MY NAME ON PS.COM IS KILSMOKE. COMES FROM MY FIREFIGHTER DAYS...

Sports Background:
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SPORTS FROM CHILDHOOD TILL PRESENT DAY. I ATTENDED EMU ON AN ATHLETIC FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE 1987 MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE AND CALIFORNIA BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM...( EMU 30 - SAN JOSE STATE 27...I STILL HAVE NOT LOST TO A WEST COAST TEAM IN A BIG GAME)

I HAVE ENJOYED BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FOR MANY OF YEARS. AFTER COLLEGE I NEEDED TO CONTINUE MY COMPETITIVE DRIVE AND SOFTBALL FIT THE NEED. I HAVE PLAYED ON AND CONTINUE TO PLAY ON SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL TEAMS THAT HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR YEARS. ALOT OF LOCAL TOURNAMENTS WE HAVE WON.

Current Police Team:
I CURRENTLY PLAY WITH THE MICHIGAN LAWMEN AS A THIRD BASEMAN. OUR TEAM HAS ALOT OF DEPTH IN EACH AND EVERY POSITION. I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO START, AND TO SERVE AS A ROLE PLAYER, HELPING OUR TEAM ACHIEVE ITS OVERALL GOAL OF WINNING AND MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND CONTACTS IN OUR PROFESSION. I WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP OUR TEAM REACH THESE GOALS.

I AM IN MY SECOND SEASON WITH THE MICHIGAN LAWMEN AND HAVE ENJOYED BEING ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER OFFICERS WHO ARE JUST AS COMPETITIVE AS I AM. I PLAY AN AGGRESSIVE HARD NOSE THIRD BASE, I PLAY EVEN WITH OR JUST A FEW FEET BEHIND THIRD BASE. MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS SIMPLE, EITHER HIT IT THROUGH ME OR GO THE OTHER WAY. I AM FORTUNATE TO HAVE QUICK HANDS AND FEET FOR MY SIZE, AND I AM NOT AFRAID TO GET DIRTY OR TAKE ONE OFF THE CHIN. IF THERE IS A BANG BANG PLAY AT THIRD, I AIN'T MOVING. THAT BAG IS MINE AND YOU HAD BEST EARN IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE UP MY SPACE AND AIR.

Past Police Teams:
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN MY FIRST POLICE SOFTBALL TOURNEY WITH THE WAYNE OAKLAND SOFTBALL CLUB IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN IN 2003. IT WAS A VERY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE. I HAD A GREAT TIME AND MET ALOT OF SOLID PEOPLE.

Proudest Softball Moment:
MY PROUDEST MOMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY FIRST TOURNEY WITH THE MICHIGAN LAWMEN IN VIRGINA BEACH. I HAD ALOT OF BUTTERFLIES AND WAS WORRIED IF I COULD HANG WITH THE BIG DAWGS SINCE I WAS A NEW COMER. ON THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO MAKE A PLAY IN OUR FIRST GAME...RUNNER ON FIRST AND ONE OUT. THE BATTER HIT A SHOT BETWEEN SHORT AND THIRD, I DOVE HARD LEFT, FULLY EXTENDED AND WAS ABLE TO FIELD THE BALL. I WAS ON MY BELLY, CAME TO MY KNEES AND THREW FROM THE DIRT TO OUR 6 MAN INFIELDER, OLD MAN MAC (WHO IS LEFT HANDED). IT WAS A BANG BANG PLAY AND MAC TWISTED THE DOUBLE PLAY TO BIG SCOTTY AT FIRST BASE. END OF INNING.

RUNNING INTO THE DUGOUT WITH DIRT CAKED ON MY CHEST AND LIPS, EVERYONE WAS SLAPPING MY HEAD LIKE I WAS IN A STREET BRAWL...I SURPRISED ALOT OF FOLK WITH MY FIELDING THAT TOURNEY...WE EVENTUALLY WON THE TOURNEY. EVERYONE WAS JUST EXPLOSIVE THAT WEEKEND. THERE WERE SOME GREAT PLAYS BOTH OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSIVELY. IT WAS A GREAT TEAM SHOWING......

Lowest Moment in Police Softball:
I THINK MY LOWEST MOMENT WAS LOSING TO NEW YORK BLUES IN DAYTON THIS PAST YEAR ON SUNDAY. WHEN OUR TEAM DOUBLE DIPPED NEW YORK METRO ON SATURDAY OUR TEAM WAS JUST ELECTRIFIED. WE WERE SO SPENT AFTER PLAYING ALL DAY, WE JUST RAN OUT OF GAS ON SUNDAY MORNING. WE HAD SEVERAL INJURIES AND THERE WERE SOME PLAYERS WHO COULD NOT MAKE THE TOURNEY DUE TO WORK OBLIGATIONS FOR THE BASEBALL ALL STAR GAME IN DETROIT THAT WEEKEND. BUT NONE THE LESS, IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND WITH ALOT OF NEW FRIENDS AND CONTACTS BEING MADE.

Future Softball Goals:
MY FUTURE SOFTBALL GOALS ARE REALLY SIMPLE. I PLAY EVERY PLAY AS IF IT GOING TO BE MY LAST. I DON'T SAVE ANYTHING FOR THE NEXT PLAY. IF THE BIG FELLA DECIDES TO END MY BALL PLAYING DAYS WITH AN INJURY THEN SO BE IT... I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO PLAY ON GREAT TEAMS, WITH GREAT PLAYERS, WITH GREAT SPONSERS, AND GO TO PLACES FOR MINI VACATIONS, TO ESCAPE THE REALITY OF THIS PROFESSION WE CHOSE. I CAN ACCEPT THIS EVEN WITH ONLY PLAYING FOR THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

Where do you see our sport in 5-10 years:
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY COMPETIVELY ON THE FIRE SOFTBALL CIRCUIT AS WELL AS THE POLICE SOFTBALL CIRCUIT. BOTH ARE FINE EXAMPLES OF THE BROTHERHOOD THAT IS FORMED IN THESE DIFFICULT PROFESSIONS.

THERE IS A COMPETITIVENESS IN ALL OF US. BUT WHAT I HAVE NOTICED BETWEEN THE TWO IS THAT SOME POLICE OFFICERS TAKE THINGS VERY PERSONAL. OUR PURPOSE AND FUNCTION AT THESE EVENTS IS TO UNWIND FROM THE EVERY DAY GRIND OF DEALING WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S PROBLEMS. LETTING THINGS GO MOST OFTEN DOES NOT OCCUR... FROM OUR VERY INCEPTION INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT WE ARE DRILLED WITH THE MENTALLITY THAT WE WILL NOT LOSE, WE ARE THE LEADERS, WE WILL CONTROL EVERY SITUATION THAT COMES OUR WAY...SOME PEOPLE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS JUST SOFTBALL, NOT WORK. EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM. IF YOUR WRONG, ADMIT IT. APOLOGISE IF YOU ARE INCORRECT OR SAY SOMETHING IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, AND EXTEND YOUR HAND FOR A HANDSHAKE. SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO EAT CROW WHEN IT IS WARM. I HAVE NOT MET AN OFFICER/PLAYER IN THIS LEAGUE WHO WOULD NOT ACCEPT AN APOLOGY FROM SOMEBODY. BUT IF IT IS LET GO AND NOT DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY...WATCH OUT!!!!

SOFTBALL IS PICKING UP MOMENTUM EVERY YEAR. IT IS A GAME THAT CAN BE PLAYED BOTH COMPETITIVELY AND RECREATIONALLY...THIS GAME WILL NOT EVER LOSE ITS BALANCE...I THINK PLAYERS NEED TO BE HONEST WITH THEMSELVES WHEN IT COMES TO EQUIPMENT...ESPECIALLY BATS!!!! THE FENCE IS ONLY 300 FT. IT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN 300 FT. 10 YEARS FROM NOW THE SCORE BOOK WILL STILL POST A HOMERUN...I CAN'T REMEMBER LOOKING INTO A LINE UP BOOK AND SEEING A SECTION FOR DISTANCE TRAVELED...TO SOME IT IS VERY IMPORTANT...I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE GAME...300FT IS IMPRESSIVE...400 IS NOT...(ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FIVE FEET SIX AND A BUCK SIXTY) ENOUGH SAID....

I THINK IF ANY CHANGES NEED TO OCCUR IN THIS GAME IT WILL HAVE TO DO WITH THE HEAD HUNTING IN THE PITCHERS POSITION. AGAIN, WITH THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE REREAD MY LAST TWO ABOVE PARAGRAPHS...

Misc:
LASTLY, A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR BOYS AT PS.COM. THIS SITE ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE TO OUR FELLOW BROTHERS DAILY ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION TO INFORM OURSELVES BOTH FOR RECREATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I HAVE MET SOME REAL SOLID PEOPLE BEING INVOLVED WITH THIS SILLY GAME THEY CALL SOFTBALL.....