Archive for the ‘NAFA’ Category

NAFA to Bring Tourism Revenue to Rockford IL

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010


(click logo to see video)

Reported by: Joelle Parks

More than half a million dollars will be coming into the Stateline next summer, as the North American Fastpitch Association brings it’s world series tournament to town.

The Rockford Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has thrown the ball right into the strike zone and the North American Fastpitch Association is taking the hit.

“We’re excited to come to Rockford Illinois, it is in the exact heart of all of men’s fastpitch in the United States,” says NAFA Executive Director Benjie Hedgecock.

The NAFA 2011 World Series will take place at Sportscore One next August. 176 teams with 56 hundred players, coaches and fans are coming to town,

And they’re expected to spend more than $675,000 making this weekend about much more than softball.

“Tourism is a very clean and efficient for of economic development. People come here, spend their money, they leave and take their memories with them. We don’t have to educate their children, provide social services or run sewer or other utilities to their houses,” says RAEDC Executive Director John Groh.

Those tourists will stay in local hotels, eat at local restaurants and spend money that goes right back into our community.

“Visitors spend about $300 million in Winnebago County and support about 3,000 jobs. This is just one example of how 1 tournament adds to and becomes part of the bigger number,” says Groh.

While bagging this gig is considered a home run, bringing in more tournaments and tourism would be a grand slam

NAFA Open & 23U World Series returns to Madison, Wisconsin

Friday, October 29th, 2010



(click logo for official NAFA website)

On July 22-24, 2011 16 Team (10 have confirmed already) NAFA Men’s Open World Series will be held at the four field complex near Madison, Wisconsin at the Bowling Green Sports Complex. To showcase our youth program and development of the sport we will also hold our 23-Under Elite Division at the same time side by side. The Men’s Open event will feature the NAFA 3GG Bracket. The 16 Team(9 have confirmed already) 23-Under Division will feature a 4 game guarantee with teams playing 3 round robin games that seed them into an upper and lower playoff bracket so that any level of pitching can participate in the 23U and be able to compete in the playoff bracket. Both events will be seeded with all teams playing Friday with the 23-Under first game at 2pm and the Open Men’s First game at 6pm, 8pm, 10pm and the championship games will be at 1:15 for the Open and 3pm and 4:45 for the 23-Under. To register email Executive Director, Benjie Hedgecock, at Nafafastpitch@gmail.com or by phone at 503-559-5398. More details including motel info and entry fee deadlines can be found at Nafafastpitch.com.

Rockford Illinois Selected to Host 2011 NAFA World Series

Friday, October 29th, 2010



(click logo for official NAFA website)

Rockford, Illinois selected to host 2011 NAFA “A”, A-Major”, “AA”, “AA-Major”, 23-Under World Series featuring new 4 Game Guarantee

The beautiful 8 field Sportscore Softball Complex in Rockford, Illinois has been selected to host the 2011 NAFA World Series August 11-21, 2011.

The 48 Team A-Major and 32 Team AA Divisions and the Youth Boys 18,16,14,12,10 Divisions will be held August 11-14.

The 64 Team “A” and 24 Team AA-Major and 8 team 23-Under Comp Division will be held August 18-21.

The event will feature a new 4 game guarantee with the standard NAFA 3GG Bracket but the teams that only get 3 games in that bracket will be placed into a Single Elimination Bracket thereby creating a full 4 day event for almost every team so that they can plan for vacation time and know that NAFA is doing everything possible to give teams the best event possible while also creating a great experience for every player with more value for their money.
First games for each week will be Thursday at 10am with the championship games Sunday at 2pm with the if necessary games to follow. More information including motel info and entry deadline info can be found at Nafafastpitch.com.

NAFA would like to express our appreciation to Sportsevents.com for assisting us in the bid process and the cities that participated in the process including Appleton-Kimberly, WI., Indianapolis, IN., Waterloo, IA, Ann Arbor, MI., Milwaukie, WI, Decatur, IL., Beaumont, TX., Columbus, GA, St. George, UT, Brookfield, IL., and Butler, PA.

NAFA Masters East vs West Battle in Vegas – October 23-24

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Hotel update at bottom of post.



(click logo for official NAFA website)

Las Vegas Oct 23-24(no friday games) NAFA Masters East vs West Battle in Vegas(ok Henderson 20 min from the Las Vegas Airport)

Coaches, please read the details of the 1st Las Vegas October NAFA Masters Tournament and then confirm that you are coming or if you need a few more players to make it.

If any of you have players that are interested have them email me and I will get them on a team.

If you are coming or thinking about coming and we have left your team name off the list, email me asap.

The following teams have verbally entered but we need each of you to confirm again and any other team that wishes to play please confirm also asap so we can send the schedule out next week.

Dates
Saturday and Sunday October 23-24(no friday games)

airline deals
Southwest.com has a special to Las Vegas right now and there are similar specials on other airlines including Allegantair.com, Delta.com and Alaskaair.com

Motel(this is a great rate so please support the host motel) it is 7 minutes from the ball park
Host Motel is

first game

50-over first game at 8:30am
40 and 45-over first game times are at 10:15am

last game
championship game for each division
40 and 45 championship games scheduled at 2pm
50-over championship game scheduled at 4pm

rules for players
teams and individuals that participated in the east or west nafa masters in 2010 and anyone listed on the roster for the east or west nafa masters may participate.

playing facility address

Arroyo Grande Sports Complex
Henderson, Nevada(just 8 miles from the Las Vegas Airport)
Arroyo Grande Sports Complex
298 Arroyo Grande Blvd.
Henderson, Nevada 89014

From the Las Vegas Airport(just 8 miles from the las vegas airport):

1. Head southeast on Airport Sht Term Park 443 ft
2. Continue onto E Landing Strip Ave 0.1 mi
3. Turn left to merge onto N Airport Con 0.3 mi
4. Turn right at E Russell Rd 4.1 mi
5. Turn right at Mountain Vista St 1.0 mi
6. Continue straight onto W Sunset Rd 0.9 mi
7. Turn right at N Arroyo Grande Blvd 1.2 mi

Hello Benjie,

It was a pleasure speaking with you yesterday regarding the North American Fastpitch Association – October Tournament taking place in Henderson, Nevada. Thank you for your consideration of Fiesta Henderson Hotel & Casino! Regarding rates for your requested dates in October 2010, I was able to get approval on lowering the $52.00 weekend rate as follows:

$28.99 – Midweek (Sunday-Thursday)
This rate inclusive of hotel fee and tax is $44.05 per night (midweek)

$49.99 – Weekend (Friday)
This rate inclusive of hotel fee and tax is $67.78 per night (Friday)

$47.99 – Weekend (Saturday)
This rate inclusive of hotel fee and tax is $65.52 per night (Saturday)

Warm Regards,
Janice Raresheid | Sales Manager
Fiesta Henderson Casino ● Hotel
777 West Lake Mead Parkway | Henderson, Nevada 89015
Tel 702.558.7000 Direct 702.567.7244 Fax 702.567.7409

Three JRW Fastpitch Players Make All-World at NAFA 45+

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010

Information courtesy of Jim Williamson

Carson City, NV …. Three players from the JRW Fastpitch Team were named First team All-World at the North American Fastpitch Assn Masters World Series in the 45-OVER division (Sept 17-19). Catcher Troy Grow, Second Baseman Jake Andreas and Pitcher Sam Aldridge were playing on the Ladner, BC team that lost 9-8 in the Championship game Sunday night.

Grow batted .500 and had 7 RBIs with one HR, Andreas batted .533 and had 6 RBIs and Aldridge was 2-2 with 24 K’s and an ERA of .251.

BC players on the All-World Team were SS Brian Manderville and Left Fielder Steve Pidwerbeski. Manderville batted .476 and had 8 RBI’s and Pidwerbeski batted .467, had 4 RBI’s and slugged a 3-Run Homer in the Championship game.

JRW & Associates Sponsor/Manager Jim Williamson coached the team.

Santa Rosa at the NAFA 45+

Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

Information courtesy of Herb Dower

It was one loss and out for Santa Rosa Fastpitch in the NAFA West Masters 45-and-over tournament held in Carson City, NV, but that was good enough for a third place finish.

Santa Rosa won its first three games to land the No.1 seed in Sunday’s single elimination finals, but then lost 14-3 to Ladner Masters of Canada to be eliminated.

Landner was scheduled to play either the Tulsa Gray Sox (The No.2 Seed) or the Oregon Masters for the championship. Tulsa also posted a 3-0 record going into Sunday’s championships.

Santa Rosa opened play with a 13-2 win over the Oregon Masters Friday night, edged Landner’s 2-1 Saturday afternoon, and followed that with a 16-6 win over Grants Pass, OR, Blue Hares to earn the No. 1 seed.

First baseman Rick Kane and centerfielder Dana Faccini of Santa Rosa were named to the All-World team. Kane his a lofty .667 (8-for-12) with three RBI and four runs scored while Faccini went 4-for-11 (.364). Other top hitters were Tim Grund (7-for-13, .538) with 7 runs scored, six RBI and two home runs; Tony Lopez (5-for-9, .556), Tom Dower (5-for-13, .385 with five RBI and four runs); Galen George (4-for-10, .400); and Gary Dower (3-for-7, .429).

Pitcher Matt Smith had a 2-0 record to Santa Rosa and Jim Fleck was 2-1.

In Sunday’s loss to Ladner, catcher Troy Grow led a 14-hit attack for the winners by going 4-for-4 and Brian Mandeville and Don Cawthron hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning to quickly erase a 3-1 deficit. Sam Aldridge, who earlier lost a 2-1 decision to Santa Rosa, was the winning pitcher.

Friday Schedule(All games at Centennial Park 4,5,6,7 and lower field 3)

6:30 F4 Tulsa Gray Sox def. Ladner Masters

8:15 F6 Oregon Masters def. Strathmore Bulls 4-3

9:45 F6 Santa Rosa FP def. Oregon Masters 13-2

Saturday Schedule(All games at Centennial Park 4,5,6,7 and lower field 3)

1:45 F4 Tulsa Gray Sox def. Strathmore Bulls

1:45 F5 Oregon Masters def. Grants Pass Blue Hares

1:45 F6 Santa Rosa FP def. Ladner Masters 2-1

3:30 F5 Tulsa Gray Sox def. Grants Pass Blue Hares

3:30 F4 Ladner Masters def. Strathmore

5:15 F5 Santa Rosa FP def. Grants Pass Blue Hares 16-6.

Records

Santa Rosa FP, California 3-0

Tulsa Gray Sox, Tulsa, OK 3-0

Oregon Masters, Dayton, OR 2-1

Ladner Masters, Delta, British Columbia, Canada 1-2

Grants Pass Blue Hares, Oregon 0-3

Strathmore Bulls, Alberta, Canada 0-3

NAFA Masters West – Carson City, NV – Sept 18-19

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Click here for schedule of games and further information.


(click logo for official NAFA website)

Brackets below:

40+

45+

50+

NAFA Masters – East, West and Vegas

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Coaches,

We have posted the East Masters Wrap Up on www.Nafafastpitch.com and on Fastpitchwest.com and Alsfastball.com.

It was a great time and I really enjoyed hanging out with each of you.

Please review everything for accuracy and get back to me if there is a typo.

Robert Hernandez and I and the rest of the NAFA Staff are looking forward to seeing the West Masters coaches and players in Carson City this weekend.

Everyone who is coming to Las Vegas, we need your commitment asap. for Oct. 23-24.

Benjie Hedgecock
NAFA Executive Director

NAFA Masters East World Series Wrap Up

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

September 10-12 Rockford, Illinois

The 8 field Sportscore Park was beautiful and the recent flood that closed the park was barely noticeable. 5 divisions (55,50,45,40,35) were held and 3 new Champions were crowned. One guy Mike White from Madison Wisconsin played in all 5 divisions. The field prep crew was awesome. Sportscore Manager, Marianne Larson and her staff were great to work with again providing gate keepers, scorekeepers, , hosting the umpires and staff and especially her hospitality ambassadors. The event went smoothly for the most part with cool playing weather.
Special thanks to tournament directors Loren Lathrop and Mike Watson and UIC Carley Parish and Kris Russom on souvenirs. The umpires also did a fine job with only a few complaints. Umpires were from Oregon, Canada, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. Player ages ranged from 32 to 71. Players asked if we could add a 60+ Division next year and that may very well happen. People were excited to hear that we are adding Niagra Falls July 1-3 next year and we had 11 teams verbally commit to attend(ok their wives committed for them). The fields really took a rain blast very well Saturday morning and all games still started on time at 8 am and the rain really helped to make it a pleasant day as there was no dust and injuries were low as the cool temperature aided players, many who were playing in multiple divisions. As usual players had many suggestions through the weekend to help make the event better each year such as using a yellow ball, getting the curfew waived, using wood bats, adding a 60+ Division, staggering the championship game times and having teams play their way into upper and lower divisions on Sunday. Any and all suggestions are appreciated by the NAFA Directors. Without the curfew being waived we can’t really stagger the championship games but that would be nice except for teams with long drives or plane flights. We may add the 60 as we had 4 teams commit to bring 60’s next year. As far as the yellow ball and wood bats go those are reasonable suggestions but would have to be asked for by a super majority of the teams on the survey forms before those changes could be made as the players drive our changes not the Directors. The surveys will be posted on the website Thursday. A breakdown by class is provided below and this information is also on the website at www.Nafafastpitch.com

2011 Sites and Dates

The Rockford event will be more appropriately renamed the Midwest Masters World Series(Sept. 9-11) and may come back to Rockford although there were requests to check into new locations. The Carson City event will remain the West Masters(Sept. 16-18) and the new Niagra Falls Canada event( July 1-3) will be titled the East Masters(U.S. East/Canada East). The Las Vegas (October 22-23) event will give Masters teams 4 quality events they can attend annually in each part of the United States.

55-Over Division(Complete Bracket with scores are on www.Nafafastpitch.com)
A new champion was crowned with Nohren Farms from Illinois taking a well fought championship game 6-4 over the 2008 Champion Cardinal Home Improvement from Minnesota. 61 year old Pitcher Barry Dalmasso earned the Most Valuable Pitcher Award and won the championship game over Lou Heller of Cardinal Home.

55 Final Standings
Nohren Farms, Illinois, 5-0
Cardinal Home Improvement, Minn, 3-2
3rd Bowar Electric, Wi, 3-2
3rd Insurance Center, Wi, 2-3
5th News & Lou’s Thunder, Mich, 0-4
5th Gushow Excavating, Mich, 0-4
55-Over All World Team
MVP, Mike Drew, Nohren
MVPitcher, Barry Dalmasso, Nohren
Steve Hall, Nohren
Ron Windsor, Nohren
Jim Bone, Nohren
Lee Patton, Cardinal
Al Killian, Cardinal
Lou Heller, Cardinal
Steve Fedie, Cardinal
Chris Gentilly, Bowar
Al Wong, Bowar
Joe Wrresdorf, Bowar
Chris Tanner, Thunder

50-Over(Complete Bracket with scores are on www.Nafafastpitch.com)

The big upset of the tournament was the gutsy gutsy performance by insurance Center who knocked off the favorite Ohio Battery in 11 innings 6-5 and then almost did the same thing to Harold’s in the final losing 5-4 in a late rally. Defending Champion Berkanpas Development was knocked out it a great battle against Harold’s 4-1. Harold’s Supermarket went 6-0 to take the championship. Clayton Fleeman, Ray Foster and Allan Speckels were a great pitching combination for Harold’s.

50-Over Finals Standings

Harold’s Supermarket, Missouri, 6-0
Insurance Center, Wi, 4-2
3-Ohio Battery, Ohio, 3-2
3-Nohren Farms, IL, 3-2
5-Berkenpas Development, Mi, 2-2
5-Des Moines Metros, IA, 2-2
5-Bowar Electric, Wi, 1-4
5-Gushow Excavating, Mi, 0-4
9-Sand Prairie Const., Wi, 0-3(could not play fri night)

50-Over All World Team
MVP
MVPitcher Ray Foster, Harold’s
Larry Cushman, IC
Jeff Zeller, IC
Kent Stelter, IC
Mark Palsrud, IC
Rich Roy, Nohren
Brian Marty, Nohren
Bruce Pirkel, Ohio
Jim Huerta, Ohio
Jeff Bohne, Ohio
Butch Smoot, DesM
Gary Franzen, Berkenpas
Jim Keller, Gushow

45-Over(Complete Bracket with scores are on www.Nafafastpitch.com)

Top to bottom the toughest division as only 2 runs separated the top team and the bottom team. Great Parity and tough pitching, fielding and hitting by all teams. The parity was displayed in the final as It was a 0-0 draw as darkness fell in Rockford and as lightning and rain approached the game was called in the top of the 9th as the lights curfew took effect at the park and the only choice was to move to another park and hope to beat the lightning and rain but the coaches opted to hit the road and both went home winners. Brent Stevenson and Kevin Kammueller put on beautiful pitching performances in the final and had the other teams batters in check in a game that may have gone on forever. Kurt Decker of Eagle Pack was MVP, while Kevin Kammueller was the Most Valuable Pitcher although he thought Stevenson, Bobby Ginger, Shawn Sampson, Greg Wright were all deserving of the award. Every Game on Sunday in elimination play was very competitive with 8-6, 5-4,4-1,7-6 and 0-0 scores. The two semifinal battles between Eagle Pack who fought back a late comeback from CPI Classics and held on to win 7-6 and the 4-1 Jordan Realty win over first time attendee Fox Negaunee were great spectator games.

45-Over Final Standings
Co Champs- Jordan Realty, Minnesota, 4-0-1 and Eagle Pack, Indiana, 4-0-1
3rd CPI Classics, New York, 3-2
3rd Fox Negaunee, Michigan, 2-3
5th Insurance Center, Wi, 0-4
5th The Stock, Wi, 0-4
MVP Kurt Decker, Eagle
MVPitcher Kevin Kammueller, Jordan
45-Over All World
Scott Nielson, Jordan
Gerry Gubash, Jordan
Bill Hafner, Jordan
Chris Hammock, Eagle
John Sudges, Eagle
Bob Ginger, Eagle
Shawn Sampson, CPI
Kevin Anderson, Stock
Davy Tomlinson, Insur
Gary Karpe, Fox
Greg Wright, Fox
Bob Rabitalle, fox
Mike Vanderlip, CPI
Mark Lazarro, CPI

40-Over(Complete Bracket with scores are on www.Nafafastpitch.com)

Cary Trucking and Jordan Realty have a great friendly rivalry from when they battled in the final in 2008 so it was no surprise when the Cary players waited patiently for an hour for Jordan’s players to get through most of their 45-over semifinal game as the Jordan team had to split into two to play in the 40 and 45 final game being held at the same time. In a well fought game Cary’s came out on top behind tourney most valuable pitcher Jeff Graf who outlasted Jordan’s Kent Casperson who threw a gem himself in the final losing 6-4 after Jordan led 2-1 early. First year attendee KC Indios did well taking third along with Point Blank Tattoo/Gardner Company.
40-Over Final Standings
Cary’s Trucking, Michigan, 6-0
Jordan Realty, Minnesota, 5-1
3rd KC Indios, Kansas, 3-2
3rd Point Bl Tattoo/Gardner Co, Il, 3-2
5th Marion Bombers, Indiana, 1-3
5th Montana Iron Works, Wi, 1-3
5th Central Illinois Bud, IL, 0-4
5th-Midwest Free Agents, 0-4
40-Over All World
MVP Chris Rivard
MVPitcher Jeff Graf
All World
Mike Koenig, Cary
Shannon Damron, Cary
Steve Meyers, Cary
Jeff Kochanczyk, Cary
Kent Casperson, Jordan
Bill Lesher, Jordan
Paul Arntsen, Jordan
Shawn McCarthy, Jordan
Dave Meyer, Gardner,PB
Mike Davenport, Gardner, PB
Jerry Showers, Gardner, PB
Kevin Shaw, Indios
Lou Ramirez, Indios
Louis Orpeza, Indios
Jan Caban, Cent Ill
Gill Rowley, Montana

35-Over(Complete Bracket with scores are on www.Nafafastpitch.com)
In what was a replay of the Saturday night all important final seeding game which went 15 innings and 3.5 hours (where the Bar’s Bryan Lathrop had New Image batters befuddled, New Image won 3-2), New Image and MVPitcher Jeremy Holman beat the Bar Of Appleton 5-4 in the final in just 7 innings. New Image knocked a tiring Lathrop out of the game early but Dave Meyers came in and held his own against the tough New Image hitting lineup. An interesting thing happened in the final though as Jeremy Holman kept batters off balance with three different pitching styles which included his normal 7 foot leap, then he went to a modified Fp slingshot style and the finished with what surprised spectators , directors and even his own players, which was a push and drag traditional style(which of course no one knew he was even capable of). He mixed in his world renowned changeup and sent batter after batter to the chiropractor. Using a bowlers finish bracket, the semifinal game was one of the most exciting of the tournament as the Bar of Appleton came from behind in the late innings to best the host team BAC Pride 3-2 and a great pitching performance by Ray Reynolds for BAC.

35-Over Final Standings
New Image, Wisconsin, 4-0
Bar of Appleton, Wisconsin, 3-2
Blackhawks Athletic Pride, Il, 2-3
Central Illinois Budweiser, IL, 0-4
35-Over All World Team
MVP Tom Crouch, New Image
MVPitcher, Jeremy Holman ,NI
Jeff Jahn, NI
Les Wood, NI
Harvey Knutson , NI
Tim Ganzer, Bar
Bryan Lathrop, Bar
Matt Horton, Bar
Rob Miscovich, Bar
Kent Evans, Cent Ill
Matt Smith, BAC
Ray Reynolds, BAC
Chad Cruscher, BAC

NEXT UP….Carson City and the West Masters….Brackets are on www.Nafafastpitch.com

Bob Otto’s Photo Galleries from NAFA World Series

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010


(click banner for original news story at OttoinFocus)


Written by Bob Otto on August 6th, 2010

I’ve posted the final photo gallery of the 2010 NAFA World Series. That brings the total to 12 galleries of about 50 to 60 photos each.

I’ll keep the galleries posted until Nov. 1st. After that date all the galleries will be deleted. So if you want to look at them, or buy a photo or two, do it before Nov. 1st. After that date, they’re gone for good.

NAFA World Series photos, gallery 12

Bob Otto
www.ottoinfocus.com