If you ended up here, you must be curious about us or not so handy with your mouse. Either way, here you are, we're glad you made it. Please allow me to introduce myself and personally welcome you to OTC Sports, my name is Jeff LeRiche, better known at ballparks around the nation as DeMarini Jeff. My family and I started OTC Sports together and we are collectively stoked to bring our expertise, service and passion for baseball, fastpitch and slowpitch to you, the serious baller!

A little about me: After my baseball playing days were in the rear-view mirror, I filled my evenings and weekends with slowpitch softball. From my first at bat my passion for the sport ran deep. For the better part of a decade I managed and played on my own team. We won our share of games and traveled the country, playing 20+ tournaments a year. It was not long before I was all-in; playing, running tournaments and writing for softball publications, all while working a full-time job.

My dedication to the game resulted in me being asked to serve on various softball association committees and boards. Once the powers that be figured out they were not going to easily get rid of me, they eventually made me the State Director. I remained in the State Director position, and at times the Umpire in Chief too, for 10+ years.

Being that we were from the same area, I knew of Ray DeMarini and I was already using his bat. I say bat, because the Ultimate Weapon was the only DeMarini made at the time. I first met him at a tournament. He was half-watching one of our games as he talked with the director of the tournament. I saw him standing behind the back stop, and anxious to make an impression, I stepped to the plate with my Ultimate Weapon in hand. The first pitch was grooved, the perfect height and just a bit inside, which matched my slightly open stance well. I turned hard on the ball and launched a high line-shot that cleared the left field wall.

Ray reacted like someone had slapped him with a cattle prod! Here was this guy jumping around, hollering and more or less, acting a maniac. Make no mistake; this was a guy who clearly loved bombs! Upon my return to the dugout, he walked over and said "Great shot man, but you didn't even get all of it!" Although it sure felt like I got all of it, or at least most of it, you always want to think that you have a little more to give, so I agreed with the man. Then from his bag, he pulled an unfamiliar stick, and said "Try this one next time."

When the order came around to me again, I carried the bat he had handed me to the plate and after watching a couple of unsavory pitches pass by, I jumped on my pitch, flat and on the inside corner, and put a good swing on it. I heard an unfamiliar loud crack in my ear as the ball jumped from the barrel and launched into a majestic fly that carried through the top of the sixty-foot trees that rose about twenty feet beyond the left field fence. As I made my way around the bases, I briefly reflected about how all of my prior homeruns had landed at the base of the same trees. Of course, Ray had resumed his jumping around and yelling and was there to meet me with an enthusiastic high five at the dugout entrance.

"You got all of that *$^#$@!&*%#@!!" Ray yelled, as the opposing team glared. This was my first experience with Ray and with the DeMarini Doublewall Distance! Both made a profound impression on me. From that first towering shot, to this day, I have yet to step to the plate with anything but a DeMarini in my hands!

Ray's intense passion for the game and his bats radiated from him. His insane dedication was contagious. While Ray was much more demonstrative than I was, or anyone else I have ever met on the fields, for that matter, we connected through our love for the game. I really admired and respected the King of Softball and was sorry to see him pass away much too soon.

I was so inspired by Ray and the enthusiasm he had for the game and his company that I even offered to work at DeMarini for free for three months to prove my worth. While he did not take me up on that offer, I did later get an opportunity to proudly represent DeMarini around the country as a Mobile Marketing Coordinator on the Wilson/ DeMarini Experience Tour. I had the pleasure to attend some the largest baseball, fastpitch and slowpitch events around the country while promoting and educating all comers, from kids just learning the game, to collegiate and major league players about Wilson and DeMarini products.

After several years as the ultimate baseball/softball road warrior, I was promoted to the position of DeMarini National Manager of Slowpitch Softball. It was during this period that I became the voice of DeMarini slowpitch and thus "DeMarini Jeff". I managed all of the DeMarini tournament and event sponsorships, the DeMarini factory teams and hitters and continued my travels around the country with the Longhaul Bomber Stadium Tour, The Distance Tour and The Off the Chain Tour. I continued to write articles for various softball publications and directed episodes of the DeMarini Ultimate Softball Show.

I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet players from all over the world. Regardless of age or ability, they have all shared a common bond, a pure passion and love for the game! It is my intention to bring that same passion and love for the game to OTC Sports, everyday!

If you have any questions or feedback, I very much look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to hit me with a phone call or e-mail anytime. Until then, Swing for the Fences!

Jeff LeRiche
President- OTC Sports