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North by Northwest

Portland De Marini Rose Cup Tournament Brings out the Best Teams West of the Rockies
<>by Jim Flanagan, Editor, www.fastpitchwest.com <>

When you talk about the best fastpitch teams and tournaments west of the Rockies, all eyes turn North by Northwest. The Pacific Northwest, that is, and in recent years, to the Portland DeMarini Rose Cup tournament. The 2004 Rose year’s tournament was held on June 26-27, 2004, under picture perfect Portland sunny summer skies, hosting fourteen teams, including three of the top 10 teams in the world (Broken Bow Spirit, Victoria BC and Vancouver BC) and two more in the top 20 (Team Rainey, and Portland’s own DeMarini Merchant team.) Broken Bow NY, the defending ISC World Champions came away the winner, adding another tournament title to the one they won last month at Red Rock in St. George Utah. (As covered in the July 2004 issue of Softball Magazine)

In fastpitch’s earlier heyday, the Rose Cup tournament was a fixture, but had gone by the boards, like so many others. But thanks to energetic organization by Tom Ree and his staff of volunteers and support of the City of Portland Parks and Recreation Department and local community, the tournament was revived starting in 2001 and has quickly become a team and fan favorite. The tournament is designated as an official “Rose Festival” event, part of the month-long festivities of all kinds going on in Portland. Teams are housed in local hotels in the Jantzen Beach area, at the north end of Portland, just a stones throw from the Columbia River that separates Portland Oregon from Vancouver Washington. Local restaurant and tournament sponsor Damon’s joined in the fun by hosting a player buffet on Friday and Saturday night, as they did last year. The “Rotunda” as some player call it serves as a gathering place throughout the day, for teams to unwind after a game, or share stories while they wait for their next.

But above all, it is top flite men’s fastpitch played in a top notch facility, Delta Park that is the biggest draw for these highly competitive teams, who now earmark the last weekend in June for Rose Cup a “can’t miss” event. The games are played at Delta Park, a five diamond complex set up “wagon-wheel” style, with a large rotunda shaped concession building complete with air conditioning, restaurant style seating, TV’s, plenty of food and of course, everyone’s’ favorite beverage. The “Rotunda” as some of the players call it, serves as a gathering place where teams unwind after a game or get ready for the next, while chatting it up with teams from other cities and states. For the second year in a row, the #1 ranked team and defending ISC World champions made the trek to the Portland Rose Cup.

While the majority of the top ranked men’s fastpitch teams in the world hail from east of the Rockies, there is a solid, and growing group playing fastpitch in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and meet up in the Rose Cup tournament. Victoria Travellers Inn and the Vancouver Grey Sox, both of British Columbia are familiar rivals, as are the Rose Cup host team, the Portland DeMarini Merchants. Last year’s NAFA AA champions have reformed as Morgan Transfer of Olympia WA and give the Norwest region four nationally ranked open level teams. All four compete in the “Norwest League” generally recognized as the strongest men’s league out west. British Columbia also has two other upper level teams in Linus Software Stealers of Richmond and Meraloma of Vancouver. Add to that Bodle Chiropractic of Washington and CR/Adidas of Portland Oregon, and you have 8 of the best men’s fastpitch teams all within driving distance of each other, and a great nucleus for the field of teams in the Rose Cup tournament, and good drawing power to teams outside the region, like those in California, Utah and New York that made the trip in 2004. For the first time this year, selected games (six in all) were broadcast live on the internet to a worldwide listening audience, by Jim Flanagan of Fastpitchwest.com.

The Tournament

The Broken Bow Spirit of Amsterdam NY captured the 2004 Portland DeMarini Rose Cup championship with a 6-0 win in the title game over Team Rainey of Whittier, California on July 27, 2004 at Delta Park in Portland Oregon. It marked the second time in two years that the defending ISC World Champions had won the Rose Cup title (St. Joe’s Frontier Casino Players doing it last year). Broken Bow finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record, scoring 35 runs, while surrendering only 4.

8-0 win over Vancouver Grey Sox BC

3-1 win over Morgan Transfer WA

4-1 win over Team Rainey CA

8-0 win over Morgan Transfer WA (quarterfinal)

12-2 win over Portland DeMarini OR (semi-final)

6-0 win over Team Rainey CA (championship)

Frank Cox was the winning pitcher in the championship game as the Spirit finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record. Broken Bow started the day as one of two #1 pool play seeds, earning a first round bye, defeated Morgan Transfer of Olympia WA 8-0 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 13-2 mercy rule win over host Portland DeMarini in the semis, to put them into the championship game.

For Team Rainey, it was the second year in a row that they reached the championship game, and the second year that they found themselves facing the defending ISC World Champions and #1 team in the world in the finals. (Last year, it was St. Joe's Frontier Casino Players) Team Rainey reached the finals this year with a 2-0 win over the Fullerton Leafs in a 9am opening round game, behind the pitching of Tony Peeples, followed by a quarterfinal win over #6 ranked Victoria Travellers Inn, 10-2, with Travis Price picking up the win. Rainey brought out the big bats in that one, as Chris Wright, Nate Devine and Mike Butler all homered, Butler hitting two, his second and third home runs on the tournament. Tony Peeples struck out 11 in the semis against Castlewood, as Rainey defeated the Utah team and advanced to the final. Peeples was named to the All Tournament team with a 0.70 ERA in 20 innings pitched, striking out a Gagnesque 37 batters while walking two. Rainey teammates Mike Butler and Jason Porto earned All Tourney honors as well. Porto had 9 hits, hit .476, while driving in 5 with a homer and two doubles, while Mike Butler turned heads with his three home run performance, two of them coming in their upset win over Victoria that catapulted them into the semifinals. Rainey’s victory over #6 ranked Victoria was one of two upsets on the day, with another California team, the River City Rockers providing the other, with a 7-6 win over #10 ranked Vancouver Grey Sox. Vancouver’s last inning rally of double, double, homer came up just short, resulting in an early exit for the top two Canadian teams.

Ryan Wolfe of the Broken Bow Spirit was named the Most Valuable Player of the Rose Cup tournament, creating havoc from the leadoff spot all weekend long, and playing some great defense in centerfield. Wolfe led all hitters in the tournament with 10 hits, posting a batting average of .476, scored 7 runs and stole 4 bases. In the championship game, Wolfe had 2 hits, stole 2 bases, scored two runs, and ran through the portable fencing to take a home run away from Rainey's Nate Devine.

Broken Bow’s Gerald Muizelaar was the Most Valuable pitcher, picking up two wins Sunday to go with two he had on Saturday. Broken Bow teammates Darren Box and Jody Eidt joined Wolfe and Muizelaar on the All Tourney Squad. Box hit .353 with 6 hits and 6 RBI, while Eidt hit .368 with 7 hits, 4 RBI and 6 runs scored.

Host Portland DeMarini and Castlewood Utah tied for third, reaching the final four. Hometown favorite Rob Gehrke went deep twice in the tournament, earning All Tourney honors along with teammate Larry Ybarra. Castlewood pitcher Steve Black and Chris Hathaway were also named to the All Tourney team. Host Portland DeMarini had struggled earlier in the season appeared to be regaining its 2003 form which saw them in the “Sweet Sixteen” of the ISC World Tournament. For Castlewood Utah, which plays at the “ISC-II” (intermediate) level, it was the second major tournament of 2004 where they finished in the Final Four, very impressive when considering the field of teams they were competing against.

DeMarini Classic

In addition to the 14 Rose Cup teams, there were also 8 intermediate level teams in town, playing in the “DeMarini” Classic, also at Delta Park. The Boise Clippers from Idaho topped JRW & Associates of Yakima WA, 7-4 to win the DeMarini title. Boise pitcher John Clark was 6-0, earning MVPitcher honors, while teammate Mike Lehman, Boise’s first baseman was named the tournament’s MVP.

Two That Had the Fans Talking

Two pitchers at this year’s Rose Cup tournament had the fans talking. The first was Collin McKenzie, the hard throwing right-hander for Victoria Travellers Inn. Collin has already notched a NAFA AAA World Series title, while pitching for Fineline Painting. But at this year’s Rose Cup, he did something else remarkable, throwing not one but two perfect games, striking out 26 batters along the way.

Another pitcher who turned heads was Robin Freels, who threw for Paole’s, a local Portland team which competed in the DeMarini (intermediate level) tournament. Robin’s appearance in the tournament was noteworthy, because she was the only female player in the otherwise all male tournament. (Shades of Anika Sorenstam) Like Anika, Robin silenced the critics, performing admirably in the tournament, pitching from men’s regulation distance of 46’ instead of the 43 feet that she pitches for at college back east. While a few didn’t seem to like the idea (the one that struck out, perhaps), she was generally well received by other players in the tournament. At the end of the day, she answered the “can she compete” question with a resounding “yes”, and that is all anyone can ask.

Judging from the comments heard ‘round the fields over the weekend, the Portland Demarini Rose Cup tournament is alive and well, and players and fans alike will be making plans to be in Portland for the 2005 edition of the Rose Cup Tournament..

2004 Rose Cup Scores

Round Robin Pool Play:

Team Rainey CA over Meraloma BC 6-0
Larry Miller, UT over Bodle Chiropractic WA, 6-0
CR/Adidas OR over Morgan Transfer WA, 7-6
Victoria Travellers Inn BC over Leafs CA, 6-0 *
Broken Bow NY over Vancouver Grey Sox BC, 8-0
Linus Software Stealers BC over Portland DeMarini OR, 10-2
Leafs CA over River City Rockers CA, 7-4
Castlewood UT over Meraloma Club BC, 11-1
Victoria Travellers Inn BC over Larry Miller UT, 13-2
Morgan Transfer WA over Team Rainey CA, 1-0
River City Rockers CA over Bodle Chiro WA, 10-4
Castlewood UT over Linus Software Stealers, BC, 9-2
Bodle Chiro WA over Portland DeMarini OR, 4-1
Broken Bow NY over Morgan Transfer WA, 3-1
Linus Software Stealers BC over Leafs CA, 8-0
Vancouver Grey Sox BC over CR/Adidas OR, 8-0
Broken Bow NY over Team Rainey CA, 4-1
Victoria Travellers Inn BC over River City Rockers CA, 13-0 *
Vancouver Grey Sox BC over Castlewood UT, 8-0
Portland DeMarini over Larry Miller UT, 3-2
Meraloma Club BC over CR/Adidas OR, 4-2

Single Elimination Championship Bracket

River City Rockers CA over Vancouver Grey Sox, 7-6
Meraloma Club BC over Linus Software Stealers, 6-3
Castlewood UT over Larry Miller UT
Portland DeMarini OR over CR/Adidas OR, 10-1
Team Rainey CA over Leafs CA, 2-0
Morgan Transfer WA over Bodle Chiropractic7-4
Broken Bow NY over Morgan Transfer/Olympia WA, 8-0
Team Rainey over Victoria Travellers Inn, 10-2
Castlewood UT over River City Rockers
Portland DeMarini OR over Meraloma Club BC
Team Rainey CA over Castlewood UT, 3-1 (semifinal)
Broken Bow Spirit NY over Portland DeMarini12-2 (semifinal)
Broken Bow Spirit NY over Team Rainey CA, 6-0 (championship game)

All Tournament team selections for the 2004 Portland Demarini Tournament:

Most Valuable Player - Ryan Wolfe, Broken Bow Spirit, NY

Most Valuable Pitcher - Gerald Muizelaar, Broken Bow Spirit, NY

All Tournament Team:

Darren Box, Broken Bow Spirit, NY

Jody Eidt, Broken Bown Spirit, NY

Tony Peeples, Team Rainey, CA

Mike Butler, Team Rainey, CA

Jason Porto, Team Rainey, CA

Rob Gehrke, Portland DeMarini Merchants, OR

Larry Ybarra, Portland DeMarini Merchants, OR

Chris Hathaway, Castlewood, UT

Steve Black, Castelwood, UT

Collin McKenzie, Victorial Travellers Inn (2 perfect games)

Final Order of Finish:

Champions - Broken Bow Spirit

Runnerups - Team Rainey, CA

3rd - Portland DeMarini, OR

3rd - Castlewood, UT

5th - Morgan Transfer, WA

5th - Victoria Travellers Inn BC,

5th - River City Rockers CA

5th - Meraloma Club, BC

9th - Vancouver Grey Sox, BC

9th - Leafs, CA

9th - Linus Software Stealers, BC

9th - Larry Miller Hogs, UT

9th - Bodle Chiropractic

9th - CR/Adidas

Links to Box Scores and play-by-play for all 6 wins of 2004 Rose Cup Champion Broken Bow

For convenience, here are the links to the box scores and play by play for all of Rose Cup champion Broken Bow's 6 wins

Broken Bow 8, Vancouver Grey Sox 0
Broken Bow 3, Morgan Transfer/Olympia 1
Broken Bow 4, Team Rainey 1
Broken Bow 8, Morgan Transfer/Olympia WA 0
Broken Bow 13, Portland Demarini 2
Broken Bow 6, Team Rainey 0, championship game

Box Scores and Play-by-Play logs courtesy of Broken Bow Spirit, Amsterdam NY

Not Quite Nostradamus

In the recent "Predict the Rose Cup Final Four" poll, voters were 2 for 4 on the weekend. No danger of becoming a Nostradamus quatrain, but a pretty good showing nonetheless. By the time the first pitch was thrown on Saturday morning by Meraloma Clubs' Fabian McCarty to Team Rainey's Jesse Duncan, voters had predicted the following Final Four (with vote totals shown):

1) Broken Bow (139)
2) Victoria (116)
3) Vancouver (98)
4) Team Rainey (97)

On Sunday afternoon, when Broken Bow's Rhys Casley squeezed the ball for out number three of the championship game, the official Final Four order was set:

1) Broken Bow
2) Team Rainey
3) tie-Portland DeMarini and Castlewood, UT

The predicted order of finish followed the ISC rankings as the teams entered the weekend, with Broken Bow the obvious #1 choice. Victoria was ranked #6, Vancouver #10, and Team Rainey #17. (Voters apparently noting that Rainey had beaten Portland over Memorial Weekend) The voters were actually pretty close in that they pegged Portland to finish 5th, earning 49 votes, and had Castlewood at 7th, though with only 12 votes. But ranking are just that - rankings, and often replaced by what actually takes place on the field. That's what makes them so much fun to follow, and the games so interesting to watch.

Upsets at the Rose Cup were aplenty, with the #9 Vancouver Grey Sox Sunday morning elimination loss to #24 ISC-II ranked River City Rockers of Sacramento among the more notable. Many expected to see either Victoria or Vancouver in the finals with Broken Bow. Saving ace Nick Underhill, Vancouver was eliminated even before the quarterfinals. River City took a 7-3 lead into the 7th inning against Vancouver as players and fans alike drifted over to the catch the end of the game, double checking the scoreboard to see if they had heard it right. The Grey Sox finished with a flourish, nearly pulling it out of the fire with a double-double-homer to cut the lead to 7-6. But the Rockers made a timely pitching change and hung on for the upset victory.

A couple hours later, it was the #6 Victoria Travellers Inn, picked as the most likely finals opponent of Broken Bow coming up short against #17 (now #15) Team Rainey. Despite being a good margin apart in the ISC rankings, these two teams seem pretty evenly matched. More surprising than the outcome perhaps, was the final score: 10-2 in 6 innings. Korrey Gareau and Travis Price were knotted up at 2 in a good pitching duel, til a discussion over an illegal substitution led to a 15 minute delay which seemed to hurt Gareau. When play resume, Rainey exploded for 8 runs, hitting 4 home runs on the day. Mike Butler got his second homer of the day in the 4th, then came back and hit another in the 6th, a walk off run rule homer in the 6th. It was the first and only game on Sunday for Travellers' Inn. Like Vancouver's Underhill, Victoria's Collin McKenzie, who tossed two perfect games the day before, never threw a pitch.

Team Rainey, the eventual runner-up got knocked off by #30 Morgan Transfer of Olympia. An upset on paper, these two appeared evenly matched, with Bricklin Anderson outdueling Tony Peeples 1-0, suggesting more that Morgan Transfers' #30 ranking was too low, than the other way around. In fairness to the ISC rankers, Morgan Transfer is a new team for 2004, actually a bolstered Bucknell Park team with Bricklin Anderson one of the notable additions that have already taken Scott Meyer's team to the next level. Next to Broken Bow's aces, Muizellar and Cox, and the two perfectos by Collin McKenzie, Anderson turned in the most impressive pitching performances of the tournament.

Morgan Transfer/Olympia (ISC #30) suffered an upset loss themselves, dropping their tournament opener to ISC-II #7 ranked CR Adidas, 7-6. (Olympia perhaps looking ahead to their other two pool play games against Broken Bow and Team Rainey)

Host (#14 ranked) Portland DeMarini bounced back on Sunday with a couple of wins, but suffered an upset loss of their own, falling in to ISC #42 Bodle Chiropractic in a pool play game Saturday.

Meraloma Club knocked off the highly regarded Linus Software Stealers, in the "Battle of British Columbia". Linus was a top 10 ISC-II team until their pitching staff made them ineligible. The Stealers were one of only four teams in the Rose Cup to post winning records on Saturday, finishing with a 2-1 record.

Castlewood's 3rd place finish marked the second major in row where they made the Final Four, with Red Rock being the other. Impressive for a team that came in among the ISC II teams, ranked #21.

In a separate poll, FPW poll voters did accurately predict Castlewood (ISC-II #21) as the top finishing ISC-II team (probably noting the final four finish at Red Rock). They were a narrow choice over the Fullerton Leafs, and CR Adidas, who owned a higher ranking, ISC-II #7. Castlewood exceeded expectations in finishing third, while voters predicted the top ISC-II team would finish no better than fifth place.

Can Anyone Beat Broken Bow? After watching Broken Bow dismantle the competition at Red Rock, the question was whether anyone would give them a run for their money at Rose Cup.

Current #9 team Vancouver got a chance early Saturday and came up short, losing a 8-0 game. Fans at the tournament were anxious to see how Nick Underhill's collarbone had healed. He surrendered 4 earned runs through 5 innings, but his defense added two free runs, so this one was over early.

Current #30 Morgan Transfer of Olympia WA (a bolstered Bucknell Park team) made its case for an even higher ranking, losing to Broken Bow by a 3-1 score, and actually outhitting them along the way, 5-4, with Bricklin Anderson on the mound against Gerald Muizelaar. What made Anderson's performance even more impressive was that it came on the heels of a 1-0 shutout of Team Rainey. Muizelaar proved to be the difference maker in this one though, striking out 13, and getting outs when he needed them.

Current #15 Team Rainey got the Bow in the final game on Saturday, losing 4-1 in a well pitched game by Frank Cox and Travis Price. Price avoided the big inning that Broken Bow so often has, but Mike Butler's home run proved to be Rainey's only offense.

Sunday proved easier for Broken Bow, cruising to easy victories, 8-0 over Morgan Transfer in the quarters and 12-2 in 5 innings over Portland in the semis.

Rainey got another shot in the finals, but this one was not as close as Saturday's 4-1 margin, with the Spirit winning this one, a three-hit, 6-0 shutout by Frank Cox. Cox was masterful, with pinpoint control "living on the edges" [of the plate] as someone noted after the game. Despite the 6-0 deficit though, Rainey did not go quietly, with Nate Devine sending eventual MVP Ryan Wolfe running through the portable fencing with a near home run, and then loading the bases against the Spirit in the 7th inning, bringing home run hero Mike Butler to the plate. Team Rainey players and fans, listening to the live audio no doubt recalled Butler's home run against Cox on Saturday, (and two against Victoria earlier on Sunday. And wondered. And hoped. But Cox closed it out, as he and Muizelaar did all weeekend long, sealing the shutout win.

Better competition for the Bow? Yes. Beat them? Not this weekend. Of course, The (3# ranked) Farm knocked them off at Amsterdam a couple weeks ago. And #2 County Materials will take them on in the Friday night feature at Monkton Ontario tonight.

No telling what Nostradamus is predicting for that one......

Championship Game ( Game #34) Box Score and Play by Play

Click the title/link above for the Championship game box score and play by play, courtesy of the Broken Bow website.

Rose Cup - Post Tournament Sunday Night Summary

The Broken Bow Spirit of Amsterdam NY captured the 2004 Portland DeMarini Rose Cup championship with a 6-0 win over Team Rainey of Whittier, California Sunday afternoon at Delta Park.

Frank Cox was the winning pitcher, as the Spirit finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 record. BBS started the day as one of two #1 pool play seeds, earning a first round bye, defeated Morgan Transfer of Olympia WA 8-0 in the quarterfinals, followed by a 13-2 mercy rule win over host Portland DeMarini in the semis, to put them into the championship game.

For Team Rainey, it was the second year in a row that they reached the championship game, and the second year that they found themselves facing the defending ISC World Champions and #1 team in the world in the finals. (Last year, it was St. Joe's Frontier Casino Players) Team Rainey reached the finals this year with a 2-0 win over the Fullerton Leafs in a 9am opening round game, behind the pitching of Tony Peeples, followed by a quarterfinal win over #6 ranked Victoria Travellers Inn, 10-2, with Travis Price picking up the win. Rainey brought out the big bats in that one, as Chris Wright, Nate Devine and Mike Butler all homered, Butler hitting two, his second and third home runs on the tournament. Peeples struck out 11 in the semis against Castlewood, as Rainey defeated the Utah team and advanced to the finals.

For Broken Bow, it marked the second tournament victory in as many months, after their Red Rock tournament win in May, as chronicled in the latest edition of Softball Magazine.

Ryan Wolfe was named the Most Valuable Player of the Rose Cup tournament, creating havoc from the leadoff spot all weekend long, and playing some great defense in centerfield. In the championship game, Wolfe ran through the portable fencing to take a home run away from Rainey's Nate Devine. Gerald Muizelaar was the Most Valuable pitcher, picking up two wins yesterday and two more today.

Host Portland DeMarini and Castlewood tied for third, reaching the final four. Castlewood outpeformed fastpitchwest voters, which predicted that the top finishing ISC-II team would fare no better than 6th place.

It will be an interesting week as the ISC ranking committees consider the results of this tournament, which included a number of upsets, including two notables today, with #17 Team Rainey knocking off #6 Victoria Travellers Inn, and ISC-II #24 River City Rockers knocking off #10 ranked Vancouver Grey Sox. For Team Rainey, it was another win over a higher ranked opponent, added to the list which now includes #7 Midland, #9 Houston and #13 Portland DeMarini.

For Tom Ree and the folks in Portland, we echo the comments of the players who describe this tournament as one of the best around, and one that they don't want to miss next season. It was a weekend of perfect weather in Portland under sunny skies, shorts and shirtsleeves weather.

We'll be updating the site in the next day or so, so check back for more later, including Maddy's photo gallery, coming soon to a theater or drive in near you.

Click here for box score and play by play, courtesy of the www.bowspirit.com website.

Game # 34 - Championship Game - Broken Bow 6, Team Rainey 0

WP-Frank Cox; LP-Travis Price
Player of the Game: Ryan Wolfe, 2 hits, 2 stolen bases and robbed Nate Devine of home run, running through the portable fencing in centerfield.

Broken Bow scored single runs in the 1st, 2nd and 4th innings, and broke things open in the 6th with 3 more. Frank Cox was masterful, surrendering only 3 hits while striking out 7.
The Spirit scored their run in the first on a lead off single by Ryan Wolfe, who stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Darren Box. In the second inning, Sean O'Brien singled, and was out on an interference call. Casley, aboard on the fielder's choice, scored on a single by Mike Taylor. Bow added another in the fourth on a solo home run over the centerfield fence by Rhys Casley. The big inning for Broken Bow came in the sixth when Jarrad Martin drew a walk, Darren Box singled, with Martin scoring. Jody Eidt tripled, driving home Martin, and scored on a single by Joe Morales.
Jesse Duncan, Chris Hunt and Paul Reyes had the hits for Team Rainey. Cox had a one-hitter going into the 7th, but Rainey would not go quietly. Ryan Wolfe ran through the portable fencing in centerfield to rob Nate Devine of a home run, to start the inning. Rainey loaded the bases, with hits by Duncan and Reyes and an infield error but Cox retired the side, and Broken Bow claimed the Rose Cup championship trophy.

Game # 32 - Elimination Semi Final - Team Rainey 3, Castlewood 1

WP-Tony Peeples; LP-Steve Black
Player of the Game: Ralph Salcido, two hits, leading off innings to start rallies and scored two runs.

Team Rainey's Tony Peeples was working on a string of 20 consecutive scoreless innings, lost the shutout in the 7th, but won the game in a dominant performance, striking out 11 enroute to the semi-final win. Rainey third baseman Ralph Salcido keyed two Rainey rallies, leading off innings with a base hit, and coming home to score two of the three Rainey runs, a win that put Rainey in the Rose Cup finals for the second year in a row. For Castlewood, it was another solid showing, making the Final Four and finishing as the highest finishing ISC-II team in the tournament. It also marked their second Final Four finish in major west coast tournaments. (Red Rock last month). Watch for this squad to move up in the ISC II rankings.

Game # 33 - Box score and play-by-play - Broken Bow 13, Portland DeMarini 2

Click the title/link above for box and play by play, courtesy of Broken Bow.

Game # 33 - Broken Bow 13, Portland DeMarini 2, 5 innings

WP-Gerald Muizelaar; LP-Mark Bennett
Player of the Game: Mike Taylor (Broken Bow), who homered and doubled in the big second inning and had 4 RBI's

Broken Bow broke this one wide open with 11 runs on 7 hits in the second inning and cruised to a 13-2 mercy rule victory. Omar Moraga and Mike Taylor homered in the inning. Careless came on in relief of Mark Bennett, but didn't have much better luck. Bahler eventually came on in relief of Careless.

In the 2nd inning, Sean O'Brien reached on an error by p. Rhys Casley flied out to lf. Joe Morales singled, RBI; Sean O'Brien scored, unearned. Mike Taylor doubled, RBI; Joe Morales scored. Ryan Wolfe singled; Taylor advanced to third. Moraga homered, 3 RBI; Wolfe scored; Taylor scored. Careless to p for Bennett. Martin walked. Box doubled; Martin advanced to third. Jody Eidt singled, 2 RBI; Box scored; Martin scored. O'Brien walked; Eidt advanced to second. Casley walked; O'Brien advanced to second; Eidt advanced to third. Morales reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Casley advanced to second; O'Brien out at third 3b unassisted; Eidt scored. Taylor homered, 3 RBI; Morales scored; Casley scored. Wolfe popped up to 3b. 11 runs, 7 hits, 1 error, 0
LOB.

Rob Gerhke homered for one of Portland's two runs.

Game # 29 - Team Rainey 10, Victoria Travellers Inn 2, 6 innings

WP-Travis Price; LP-Korrey Garreau
Player of the Game - Mike Butler, Team Rainey (2 home runs, including a walk off in the 6th to end it)

The final score was not at all indicative of the kind of game this one was. Victoria scored two runs in the 3rd on a single by Harv Stavenson, a triple by Glen Ormsby and a sac fly by Kevin Bobroske. Team Rainey knotted things up in their half of the 3rd on a solo home run by Chris Wright, bunt single by Tony Acedo, and double by Jesse Duncan. The game was knotted at two in a great pitching battle between Korrey Garreau and Travis Price, attracting the largest crowd amongst the 11am games. After a VTI protest on a Rainey baserunner substitution was upheld and Ralph Salcido disqualified, the delay seemed to hurt Garreau, as Rainey exploded for 8 runs, with a home run barrage. In the bottom half of the 4th, a walk, hit and two errors put Rainey on top 4-2. Mike Butler struck the big blow with a three run homer. Nate Devine added a homer in the 5th running the score to 9-2. In the bottom of the 6th, Mike Butler did it again, and with it, ending the game in walk off fashion, due to the 8-run rule. For Rainey, it was their fifth win this season over higher ranked teams (#6 Victoria, #7 Midland, #9 Houston HIS and #13 Portland DeMarini (2x).) Credit young Travis Price for bearing down in this one against a powerhouse offense which put an awful lot of runs on the board over the weekend.

Game # 28 - Broken Bow 8, Morgan Transfer/Olympia 0 - Recap

In a game that Olympia had been looking forward to for the second straight day, things just didn't go their way in this one. Scoreless going into the third and with two outs, and two on for Broken Bow, Darren Box hit a line drive down the left field line that Olympia thought was foul but the umpire didn't see it that way. Two scored on the play and Box scored moments later on a wild pitch. It remained 3-0 till the 5th when Broken Bow opened things up, scoring five times, making the final 8-0. Bricklen Anderson was impressive again for Olympia giving up only 3 hits until Bow's big 5th inning. He finished with 7 stikeouts, 2 walks, and gave up 7 hits. Gerald Muzielaar got his second win over Olympia giving up 3 hits, no walks, and struck out 9. Sisko Sabate got two of Olympia's 3 hits going 2 x 2 with a triple.

Although they did not make it to the semi-finals, Olympia felt their weekend was a success, knocking off off the runner up, Team Rainey (#15), and playing the eventual champs Broken Bow (# 1) as tough as anyone did all weekend they felt some strides were made against some of the top competition that will be seen at the ISC's. Having the two teams that made it to the championship game in your pool play, and then meeting the
defending ISC champs on Sunday was a tough task but the club played well and were just a few breaks away.

Olympia was a little shorthanded for the weekend without the services of their starting catcher and also Tim Wahl who was finishing up coaching. Outfielder Shaye Anderson swung a hot bat for Olympia all weekend. Chad Bryden also got some key hits throughout the weekend playing both second base and outfield. Kasey Knight did a fine job behind the plate in some emergency action and was also consistant with the bat.

This information provided courtesy of:

Scott Meyer
Morgan Transfer/United Van Lines Fastpitch
mailto:Meyer at biia.wa.gov

Game 22 - Elimination Game - River City Rockers 7, Vancouver Grey Sox 6

One of two 9am upsets of a 7 seed beating a 2 seed, as #10 ranked Vancouver Grey Sox fell to ISC-II #24 ranked River City Rockers. The Rockers took a 7-3 lead into the 7th. Vancouver made a charge with a double-double-homer to cut the lead to one, but the Rockers escaped with the victory.

Game # 23 - Elimination Game - Meraloma Club 6, Linus Software Stealers 3

The other upset, with 7 seed Meraloma overcoming a 3-2 deficit for the win in the battle of two teams from British Columbia Canada.

Game # 27 - Morgan Transfer/Olympia 8, Bodle Chiropractic 4

WP-Sammy Aldridge; LP-
Player of the Game: Kasey Knight (4 x 4)

A matchup of 4 and 5 seeds, the winner of this Sunday morning game would get the # 1 seed through pool play, Broken Bow. Morgan Transfer came out swinging the bats well wanting another chance at Broken Bow, having lost a close 3-1 game on Saturday. It was "Knight in the Morning", with Kasey Knight going 4 for 4, while Trevor Knight was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Scott Meyer had a double with a run scored, Sisko Sabate reached base three times and scored on all three.
Shaye Anderson hit a solo home run in the sixth. Sammy Aldridge earned the win for Olympia, striking out four and scattering 7 hits throughout the game.

Game # 26 - Elimination game - Team Rainey 2, Fullerton Leafs 0

WP-Tony Peeples; LP-Spud Barker
Player of the Game: Tony Peeples

Team Rainey's Tony Peeples ran his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 13 with a 2-0 shutout of the Leafs, in the "Battle for Southern California".

Game # 24 - Elimination Game - Castlewood, UT over Larry Miller Hogs

3 seed Castlewood over 6 seed Larry Miller, in the battle for Utah.

Game # 25 - Elimination Game - Portland DeMarini 10, CR Adidas OR 1, 5 innings

WP-Mark Bennett; LP-Mike Warren
Player of the Game - Mark Bennett

After struggling on Saturday, ISC #13 ranked Portland DeMarini broke out in a big way, for a 10-1 mercy rule win over CR Adidas in the "Battle for Portland". Mark Bennett got plenty of run support in this one, including a home run by Rob Gehrke, one of two he hit on the day.

This was one of 6 games broadcast live on the internet. During the broadcast, we noted an apparent injury to Portland's Santiago Latairre, but didn't have any more information to report during the broadcast. We spoke to him after the game and learned that he disclocated his shoulder during warmups in between innings. (He stayed in the game.)

Editor's Note - Sunday morning

We'll be on the air broadcasting live today at 9am, 1pm and 3pm, so our reports will be posted here in between. I will be posting an audio report on the 9am games about 11:30am or so, and will post an update or two during the 11am games.

After that, we'll post following the 1pm semi-finals, before going on the air for the championship game at 3pm and a final report about 5pm or so.

Hope you're enjoying the action. We sure are.....

---
Jim Flanagan

Saturday Recap of Scores with ISC/ISC-II Rankings

Pool Play/Round Robin Results from the Portland DeMarini Rose Cup Tournament
@ Portland, Oregon, June 26, 2004: (rankings are ISC, except where noted as ISC-II)

Game 1.....#17 Team Rainey, CA over unranked Meraloma Club, BC, 6-0
Game 2.....#35 Larry Miller Hogs over ISC II #42 Bodle Chiropractic, WA 6-0
Game 3.....ISC-II #7 CR Adidas, OR over #34 Morgan Transfer/Olympia, WA 7-6
Game 4.....#6 Victoria Travellers Inn, BC over ISC-II #59 Fullerton Leafs, BC, 6-0

Game 5.....#1 Broken Bow Spirit, NY over #10 Vancouver Grey Sox, BC, 8-0
Game 6.....unranked Linus Software Stealers, BC over #13 Portland DeMarini, OR 10-2
Game 7.....ISCII #59 Fullerton Leafs, CA over ISCII #24 River City Rockers, CA, 7-4
Game 8.....ISCII #21 Castlewood, UT over unranked Meraloma Club, BC 11-1

Game 9.....#6 Victoria Travellers Inn, BC over #35 Larry Miller Hogs, UT, 13-2
Game 10...#34 Morgan Transfer/Olympia, WA over #17 Team Rainey, CA 1-0
Game 11...ISCII# 24 River City Rockers, CA over ISCII #42 Bodle Chiropractic, WA 10-4
Game 12...ISCII #21 Castlewood, UT over unranked Linus Software Stealers, BC 9-2

Game 13...ISCII#42 Bodle Chiropractic WA over #13 Portland DeMarini, OR 4-1
Game 14...#1 Broken Bow Spirit NY over #34 Morgan Transfer/Olympia, WA 3-1
Game 15...unranked Linus Software Stealers, BC over ISCII#59 Fullerton Leafs, CA, 8-0
Game 16...#10 Vancouver Grey Sox, BC over ISCII#7 CR Adidas, OR 8-1

Game 17...#1 Broken Bow Spirit, NY over #17 Team Rainey, CA 4-1
Game 18...#6 Victoria Travellers Inn, BC over ISCII #24 River City Rockers, CA 13-0
Game 19...#10 Vancouver Grey Sox, BC over ISCII #21 Castlewood, UT 8-0
Game 20...#13 Portland DeMarini, OR over #35 Larry Miller Hogs, UT, 3-2
Game 21...unranked Meraloma Club over ISCII#7 CR Adidas, OR 4-2

Pool Play Records:

#1...... Broken Bow Spirit.....................3-0
#6.......Victoria Travellers Inn................3-0

#10.....Vancouver Grey Sox..................2-1
UR......Linus Software Stealers, BC.......2-1

All others ..............................................1-2

Game # 28 - Box score and play-by-play - Broken Bow 8, Morgan Transfer/Olympia 0

Click title/link above for box score and play-by-play, courtesy of Broken Bow.

Game # 30 - Elimination Game - Castlewood UT over River City Rockers, CA

Castlewood came out on top of this battle of ISC-II top 20 teams, with #21 Castlewood prevailing over #24 River City Rockers.

Audio Broadcast Schedule for Sunday

The schedule for "internet radio" audio broadcast for Sunday is as follows:

9am
Portland DeMarini v. CR Adidas

1pm
Semi-final game at the bottom of the bracket

3pm
Championship game

All times PST, West coast/Portland Oregon time.

Click link above (Audio Broadcast Schedule for Sunday) for more.

Saturday summary

It was the favorites -- the highest ranked teams in the tournament, Broken Bow (ISC #1) and Victoria Travellers Inn (#6) finishing the day with perfect 3-0 records. Gerald Muizelaar posted two wins, while Frank Cox picked up the third for Broken Bow. Broken Bow started out the day defeating the Vancouver Grey Sox 8-0, then Morgan Transfer 3-1 and Team Rainey 4-1. Broken Bow continually capitalized on their opponents mistakes, and made few, if any of their own.

Meanwhile, big Collin McKenzie was virtually unhittable, pitching two perfect games in the same day, including a 19 strikeout performance in their first game of the day. If anyone knows of a pitcher who has ever accomplished this feat, I would like to hear about it. Thanks to Victoria's scorekeeper, Allen Duddridge for providing the information from Victoria's games, which is posted below. (Heard in the hotel elevator where Victoria is staying "Collin, I was going to buy you dinner if you threw three perfect games, but since you "only" threw two, no deal")

The #2 seeds went to two Vancouver teams, the Vancouver Grey Sox and the Linus Software Stealers, with 2-1 records. Castlewood Utah was also 2-1, grabbing the #3 seed in the A pool, based on their head to head loss to the Vancouver Grey Sox.

Meanwhile everyone else beat up on each other, and finished with 1-2 records, with seeding determined according to tie breaker formula. The 1-2 teams included:

Morgan Transfer
Bodle Chiro
Portland DeMarini
CR Adidas
Meraloma Club
Team Rainey
Leafs
Larry Miller
and the
River City Rockers

We'll post some additional details and photos by tomorrow morning, and will be back on the air to broadcast three more games tomorrow.

Our apologies for the disconnects in the 5pm broadcast. We're using a slow dial up connection subject to the occasional disconnects.

8:41pm Portland time/// next update will be very late this evening or early in the morning.

Game #18 - Victoria Travellers Inn 13, River City Rockers 0, 5 innings - McKenzie fires SECOND PERFECT GAME OF THE DAY

Victoria Traveller's Inn Fastpitch team have wrapped up the round-robin portion of the Rose Cup Tourney in Portland, Oregon with a 3-0 record after beating Sacramento, Calif., River City Rockers this afternoon 13-0 in 5 innings. With the win Traveller's Inn wrap up first place on their side of the draw
and a bye straight to the championship quarter-finals Sunday morning at 11:00 A.M. Their opponent in that game will be determined in early Sunday morning games. Collin McKenzie fired his second perfect game of the day in beating the Rockers - he put down 15 batters in a row, including striking out 10. Earlier today McKenzie had thrown a 7-inning perfect game against Fullerton, Calif. Leafs. Glenn Ormsby led the offence with a 3-run home run in the 1st inning. Kevin Bobroske went 2-2 and hit a 2-run homer, giving him a home run in each game today. Gerry Kennedy went 2-3 with 5 RBI's, all coming via a solo and a grand slam home run.

Al Duddridge (by way of Suki Johal)
dudds@shaw.ca

Sunday's Schedule of Games

9am
Morgan Transfer/Olympia (1-2) vs. Bodle Chiropractic (1-2)
9am
Portland DeMarini (1-2) vs. CR Adidas (1-2)
9am
Meraloma Club (1-2) vs. Linus Software Stealers (2-1)
9am
Team Rainey (1-2) vs. Leafs (1-2)
9am
Castlewood (2-1) vs. Larry Miller (1-2)
9am
Vancouver Grey Sox (2-1) vs. River City Rockers(1-2)
11am
Broken Bow Spirit (3-0) vs. Winner of Morgan Transfer vs. Bodle Chiropractic
11am
Victoria Travellers Inn (3-0) vs. Winner of Team Rainey v. Leafs
1pm
Semi Finals x 2
3pm
Championship game

Games #17-21

Game 17
Broken Bow 4, Team Rainey 1
Game 18
Victoria 13, River City Rockers 0
Game 19
Vancouver 8, Castlewood 0
Game 20
Portland 3, Larry Miller Hogs 2
Game 21
Meralomas 4, CR Adidas 2

Games 13-16 - Scores

Game 13
Bodle Chiropractic 4, Portland DeMarini 1
Game 14
Broken Bow Spirit NY 3, Olympia 1
Game 15
Linus Software Stealers 8, Fullerton Leafs 0
Game 16
Vancouver Grey Sox 8, CR Adidas 1

Games #9-12 - Scores

Game 9
Victoria Travellers Inn 13, Larry Miller 2
Game 10
Olympia 1, Team Rainey 0
Game 11
River City Rockers 10, Bodle Chiropractic 4
Game 12
Castlewood 9, Linus Software Stealers 2

Game #17 Box Score and Play-by-Play - Broken Bow 4, Team Rainey 1

Click title/link above for box score and play-by-play of Game #17.

Game #17 - Broken Bow 4, Team Rainey 1

Frank Cox picked up the win in this one, for Broken Bow's third win of the day. The Spirit jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the first when Ryan Wolfe reached on a three base throwing error and came home to score on an out.

Mike Butler hit a solo homer, which easily cleared the fence in left field for the lone Rainey run. Cox was particularly effective down the stretch, striking out four Rainey hitters in a row at one point.

Broken Bow will join Victoria as the top seeds of the tournament, with perfect 3-0 records, fittingly so, as Broken Bow and Victoria are the highest ranked teams in the ISC rankings, at 1 and 6, respectively.

For box score and play by play from this game, click here. (provided courtesy of www.bowspirit.com website)

Game #14 - Broken Bow 3, Morgan Transfer/Olympia 1 (with Box Score and play-by-play - click this link)

WP-Gerald Muizelaar; LP-Bricklen Anderson
Player of the Game: Gerald Muizelaar

Click title/link above for box score and play-by-play, courtesy of Broken Bow.

Olympia's last game on Saturday was a big one against ISC # 1 Broken Bow, another great pitchers duel. Again it was Bricklen Anderson was on the hill again for Olympia against eventual Rose Cup most valuable pitcher, Gerald Muzielaar, got the nod for Broken Bow. After Broken Bow scored once in the second, third and fifth, Olympia got on the board in the sixth when Shaye Anderson, who swung a hot bat all weekend, drove in Scott Meyer for Olympia's only run. Despite out hitting Broken Bow (5 to 4), Olympia couldn't get the key two out hits when it needed them. Still, Bricklen Anderson finished the game giving up only four hits against one of the top lineups around. He finished with six strikeouts and gave up only one extra base hit (a double by eventual tourney MVP, Ryan Wolfe).

(thanks to Scott Meyer of Olympia for the recap)

Game #10: Morgan Transfer, Olympia WA 1, Team Rainey 0

Tony Peoples took the mound for Rainey and Bricklen Anderson for Olympia in what was a great pitchers duel. Peoples scattered six hits, struck out 11, and gave up only one run. Bricklen Anderson though, was up to the task, pitching a complete game 2-hit shutout, striking out 13 Rainey batters, including the side in the 7th, enroute to Olympia's 1-0 win. Kasey Knight was 2 for 3 and scored
the only run for Olympia.

Team Rainey will face Broken Bow at 5pm in the final broadcast of the day.

Game # 9: Victoria 13, Larry Miller Hogs 2

Thanks to Allen Duddridge for this recap.

Victoria Traveller's Inn Fastpitch team have won their second game of the day at the Rose Cup Tournament in Portland, Oregon, defeating Salt Lake City Larry Miller Chevrolet "Hogs" 13-2 in six innings. Traveller's Inn and Salt Lake City were tied 2-2 after four full innings, then Traveller's Inn put the game away, scoring four times in the bottom of the 5th inning, then finishing the game early with a seven run outburst in the bottom of the 6th inning. Glenn Ormsby keyed the 5th inning rally with a two-run triple. Kevin Bobroske ended the game in the 6th inning with a grand slam home run. Marty Steen finished 3-3 with 2 RBI's, while Zenon Winters went 2-3 with 3 RBI's. Korrey Gareau was the starting and winning pitcher for Traveller's Inn, finishing with 11 strikeouts. Next game for Traveller's Inn, their third and final game in the round-robin portion of the tournament, is this afternoon at 5:00 P.M. against
Sacramento, Calif., River City Rockers.

Al Duddridge (by way of Suki Johal)
mailto:dudds@shaw.ca

Games #1-8 - including Audio Upate at 1pm Saturday - Rose Cup Games 1-8 (9am and 11am games) DeMarini Games 1-4 -

(We will be posting scores and more to the "regular webpages" of Fastpitchwest, but using "audio updates" to get the information up on the web quicker.

1 Team Rainey, CA over Meraloma Club, BC 6-0
LP-Fabian McCarty WP-Travis Price

2 Bodle Chiro, WA Larry Miller Hogs
Larry Miller Hogs, UT

3 CR Adidas, OR over
Olympia, WA 7-6

4 Victoria Travellers Inn over Leafs, BC 6-0

A perfect game for Collin McKenzie, 19Ks

5 Broken Bow Spirit, NY over Vancouver Grey Sox, BC 8-0

6 Linus Software Stealers,BC over Portland DeMarini 10-2

7 Leafs, CA over River City Rockers, CA 7-4
8 Castlewood, UT over
Meraloma Club, BC 11-1

Game #5 - Broken Bow 8, Vancouver Grey Sox 0

In the second live broadcast of the tournament, defending ISC world champion and #1 ranked Broken Bow Spirit cruised to a 8-0 victory over #9 Vancouver Grey Sox. Rose Cup fans looked to this match-up to be one of the best of the tournament, though the Sox couldn't generate any offense against Gerald Muizelaar, and their defense was less than stellar. Muizelaar's Team Canada teammmate Nick Underhill, still on the road back from a collarbone injury to his pitching shoulder was touched up for 4 runs, and the Sox defense added two unearned runs. Another of Underhill's Team Canada teammates, Jody Eidt led the way for Broken Bow with three hits and 3 RBI. Joe Morales, Jarrad Martin and Ryan Wolfe each had two hits, while Rhys Casley drove in two.

Game #5 - Box score and Play-by-Play - Broken Bow 8, Vancouver Grey Sox 0

Click the title/link above, for the box score and play by play, courtesy of Broken Bow.

Game #4: Victoria 6, Leafs 0 - Perfect game for Collin McKenzie

Victoria Traveller's Inn Fastpitch team is playing in the Rose Cup
tournament in Portland, Oregon this weekend.

Traveller's Inn opened round-robin play this morning by defeating
Fullerton, Calif., Leafs by a 6-0 score. Collin McKenzie threw a perfect
game with 19 strikeouts for Traveller's Inn. 1B Kevin Bobroske led the
offence, going 4-4, including a 3-run home run. Tyler Werbowski also
homered, while Zenon Winters went 2-2 and scored two runs. Traveller's Inn
had 6 runs on 12 hits with no errors, while the Leafs had 0 runs on 0 hits,
with 0 errors.

Next game for Traveller's Inn is at 1:00 P.M. against Salt Lake City Larry
Miller Chevrolet "Hogs."

Al Duddridge (by way of Suki Johal)
dudds@shaw.ca

Game # 3 - CR Adidas OR 7, Morgan Transfer/Olympia 6

Having Team Rainey and Broken Bow on tap for their two Saturday afternoon games, Morgan Transfer/United Van Lines may have been looking past their early morning game with CR/Addidas
(ISC II # 7) out of Portland, Oregon.

The locals opened up with three runs in the first to get things started and then the two teams exchanged leads througout the contest before CR/Addidas came away with a 7-6 win. Shaye Anderson went 3 x 3 for Olympia with a home run and a double. Johnnie Davis also added a solo shot in a losing effort. Sisko Sabate suffered the loss and Steve Thompson got the win.

Game #1: Team Rainey 6, Meraloma Club, BC 0

WP-Travis Price; LP-Fabian McCarty
Player of the Game: Jason Porto (Team Rainey) 4 for 4 with two singles, a double and a home run and 3 RBI

Travis Price tossed a shutout in the first game of the tournament, which was broadcast live on the internet as Team Rainey topped Meraloma Club of BC. Team Rainey's Jason Porto was the player of the game, going 4 for 4, with two singles, a double and a solo home run and 3 RBI's on the day. Rainey scored one in the 2nd on a sac fly to deep centerfield by Nate Devine, then added two more on four singles in the third, by Jesse Duncan, Rod Rainey, Paul Reyes and Nate Devine. Porto's solo home extended the lead to 4-0, then Porto drove home two more with a 2 run double.

Rainey will be back on the air at 5pm PST tonight vs. Broken Bow.