Published: Saturday, August 21, 2010, 9:39 PM
By Geoff Mott | The Saginaw News
MIDLAND — It was an all-Ontario finale in the International Softball Congress 19-under World Tournament title game at Emerson Park Saturday.
The Scarborough (Ont.) Champion Indians shut out the Oshawa (Ont.) Double Bs 6-0 in the title game of the 10-team tourney.
Richville and Munger Fastpitch had an eye-opening experience at the ISC 19-under Worlds as each team finished the tournament 0-4. The two area teams used the three-day tournament as a learning experience.
Richville pitcher Kyle Ackerman, a 2010 graduate of Reese High School, is one of the players the Thumb Fastpitch Development League is trying to season at tournaments like this. Richville, which consists mostly of players from Reese, Frankenmuth, Vassar and Millington, was outscored 44-14 in the tournament but finally starting hitting, losing 11-10 to the Sebringville (Ont.) Sting Saturday morning.
“I started playing fastpitch about five years ago, but this is my first full year as a pitcher,” said the 18-year-old Ackerman, who learned the game from his grandfather Russell Ackerman, a member of the Michigan Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.
“I like this game because it’s a lot quicker than baseball. These Canadian hitters jump on the ball quick and it’s challenging.”
Kyle Ackerman spent a lot of time at the tournament watching the top pitchers from around the world compete in the ISC Worlds tourney. He especially watched the windmill style of Australia native Adam Folkard, whose 88 mph pitch is among the fastest in the game.
“I don’t feel safe behind the backstop watching that guy,” Kyle Ackerman said. “This has been a good experience. Yeah, it’s fun to win, but even the learning experience has been fun.”
Munger Fastpitch, which boasts players from Bay City, Munger and Reese, was outscored 27-5.
“This is only my fourth tournament and it’s tons of fun,” said catcher Jared Steward, who played baseball and graduated from Bay City Western in the spring. “I got hooked on this. It’s a faster-paced game and it leaves a lot less room for error.
“These Canadians start out much younger than we do so we have to play catch-up. I’ll play this game until I can’t play anymore.”
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