Team Rainey 9, Raymar 2
So Cal Bombers 6, San Diego Primetime 5, 8 inn.
Portland 9, Rounders 2
Hi Desert Dawgs over Young Bucks;
Semi-finals
Team Rainey vs. Hi Desert Dawgs
So Cal Bombers vs. Portland CR/DeMarini
Semi-final winners play for the Championship
The High Desert Dawgs and El Segundo Rounders were the top seeds from their respective brackets Saturday at Winchester, CA in the 15th Annual Best of the West Tournament. None of the eight teams made it through Saturday unbeaten. In Pool A, the Dawgs, Team Rainey and So Cal Bombers were all 2-1 with the Dawgs nailing down the top seed. In Pool B, the Rounders, San Diego Prime Time and Raymar were all 2-1 with the Rounders earning the top seed.
Tournament director is David Blackburn, the ISC streaming media maven, who just returned from the Maccabiah Games in Israel. Casa Trejo restaurant, the sponsor for the So Cal Bombers, provided a first rate concession stand.
Team Rainey has won the last three Best of the West tournaments. For those not familiar with Winchester, it is about an hour west of Palm Springs, near the I-15 corridor. Temperatures Saturday started in the 80’s in the morning, and topped 100 degrees before the day was out. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, July 31, 2005 in a Single Elimination Championship Bracket.
Saturday Round Robin Scores
Team Rainey 4, Portland CR/DeMarini 0
San Diego Primetime 11, Raymar 7
So Cal Bombers 2, High Desert Dawgs 0
Rounders 8, Young Bucks 2
Team Rainey 10, So Cal Bombers 2
San Diego Primetime 9, Young Bucks 1
High Desert Dawgs 9, Portland CR/DeMarini 0
Raymar 6, Rounders 3
High Desert Dawgs 3, Team Rainey 1
Rounders 5, San Diego Primetime 2
So Cal Bombers 5, Portland CR/DeMarini 1
Raymar 3, Young Bucks 1
Pool A
The Dawgs (2-1) beat Team Rainey and Portland, losing to the Bombers;
The Bombers (2-1) beat the Dawgs and Portland, losing to Team Rainey;
Team Rainey (2-1) beat the Bombers and Portland, losing to the Dawgs.
Portland CR/DeMarini was 0-3;
Pool B
The Rounders (2-1) beat the Young Bucks and San Diego Primetime, losing to Raymar;
Primetime (2-1) beat Raymar and the Young Bucks, losing to the Rounders;
Raymar (2-1) beat the Young Bucks and Rounders, losing to San Diego Primetime.
The Young Bucks were 0-3;
We’ll post a final recap with winning and losing pitchers at the end of the tournament.
Team Rainey 10, So Cal Bombers 2; WP-Sonny Perkins; LP-Travis Price; Neil Sauerheber (TR) 2 run HR; Single elim bracket today. More details tonight.
Vancouver, BC The 4th Annual Vancouver Challenge Mens FP tournament continued on Saturday with beautiful west coast weather, under sunny skies and warm temperatures at South Memorial Park in Vancouver. Easily the largest crowd in recent history for Mens Faspitch in the Lower Mainland were treated to a full day of 9 games that wrapped up shortly after midnight local time. Pool play results from Saturday were as follow:
Saskatoon Black Sox 6 – Calgary Smokers 5
WP – Trevor Ethier (6) in relief of Sean Whitten
LP – Grant Patterson
A good ball game between these fine teams, with a back and forth affair that
finally ended using the international tiebreaker rule. HR – Trent Rubley,
Calgary.
Broken Bow Spirit 8 – New West Van City 6
WP – Mike Piechnik (7) in relief of Gerald Muizelaar
LP – Dan Valachy
This game proved to be one of the most exciting contests of the day, with
several lead changes. Van City tied the game in the bottom of 7 with 2 outs
only to have Bow rebound in extra innings to score 2 and take the victory.
HR – Brian Abrey, Van City – a 2 out grand slam shot that gave his team a
short lived 5 – 4 lead in the 5th inning.
Prince George Black Bears 3 – Saskatoon 0
WP – Collin McKenzie
LP – Trevor Ethier
Pitcher Collin McKenzie paved the way for the Prince George victory giving
up 1 hit and racking up 12 strikeouts. Harv Wiens lead the offensive attack
with a 2 run home run. HR- Harv Wiens, Prince George.
Broken Bow 3 – Vancouver 0
WP – Mike Piechnik with relief from Gerald Muizelaar (7)
LP – Nick Underhill
Vancouver committed 3 errors in the contest which directly resulted in all
of Bow’s runs for the victory.
Calgary 1 – Saskatoon 0
WP – Frank Cox
LP – Collin McKenzie
A good dual between both of these fine pitchers.
Final Standings after completion of pool play
Red Pool
1. Broken Bow 2 – 0
2. Vancouver 1 – 1
3. New Westminster 0 – 2
Blue Pool
1. Prince George 1 – 1 / +2
2. Calgary 1 – 1 / Even
3. Saskatoon 1 – 1 / – 2
* A 3 way tie in the Blue Pool was broken using runs for and against
criteria.
The top 2 teams in each pool received a double life in the playoffs and the
3rd seed received a single life.
Playoffs
Saskatoon 8 – New Westminster 0
WP – Sean Whitten
LP – Joe Robbins
Saskatoon’s bats came alive early and often in this game. With the loss New
Westminster Van City was eliminated from the event.
Broken Bow 5 – Calgary 2
WP – Gerald Muizelaar with relief from Mike Piechnik (5)
LP – Grant Patterson
Another good game between these top ranked ISC teams. Bow advances to play
Sunday morning vs. the Vancouver / Prince George winner. With the loss
Calgary drops down to play Saskatoon in the final game of the day on
Saturday evening, with the loser of that game being eliminated. HRS – Steve
Schott, Broken Bow (inside the park) & Sean O’Brien, Calgary.
Vancouver Grey Sox 7 – Prince George 0
WP – Rick Smith
LP – Collin McKenzie with relief from Jeff Hill (2)
Vancouver got off to quick lead courtesy of a 3 run home run from catcher
Kirk Waverick. Grey Sox advance to play Broken Bow on Sunday morning.
Prince George next plays on Sunday morning as well vs. the winner of
Saskatoon / Calgary late game. HRS – K. Waverick, Vancouver & Brad Avery,
Vancouver
Saskatoon 9 – Calgary 2
WP – Trevor Ethier with relief from Sean Whitten (6)
LP – Grant Patterson
Saskatoon blew open a tight affair in the later innings and cruised to
victory. Full marks to the Calgary Smokers who played 4 games on Saturday,
with a depleted line up and competed hard in each contest. Saskatoon’s bats
have come alive during their back to back victories in the playoffs, now
advance to play Prince George on Sunday morning. With the loss the Calgary
Smokers were eliminated.
Playoff games will continue on Sunday commencing at 9:00 am with the
Championship Final game scheduled for 3:00 pm.
The matchups are as follow;
9:00 am – Broken Bow vs. Vancouver Grey Sox winner advances to the final,
loser to the semi – final
11:00 am – Prince George vs. Saskatoon, loser is eliminated – winner plays
the loser of the 9:00 am game
1:00 pm – Loser of 9:00 am game vs. winner of 11:00 am game
3:00 pm – Winner of 9:00 am game vs. winner of 1:00 pm game
Results from Sunday will be posted after the conclusion of the event.
Larry Kancs
President
Vancouver Grey Sox
The 4th Annual Vancouver Challenge Mens FP tournament commenced this evening under sunny skies and warm temperatures at South Memorial Park in Vancouver. The result from tonight’s opening game in the Red Pool was as follows:
Vancouver Grey Sox 7 – New Westminster Van City 0
WP – Rick Smith LP – Dean Webster
* Scott Newitt started the Grey Sox offense with a 2 run homerun in the top of the first, and Grey Sox pitcher Rick Smith only gave up 2 hits and recorded 8 strikeouts in notching the win. A good opening night crowd turned out for the start of what has the makings of a very competitive weekend of top quality Senior Mens FP. Many of the fans are looking forward to Saturday morning when top ranked ISC teams; Broken Bow Spirit, Calgary Smokers and the Saskatoon Black Sox take the field along with the hosts of the 2006 Canadian Mens FP Nationals, the Prince George Black Bears.
To recap the red pool consists of the host Vancouver Grey Sox, New Westminster and Broken Bow.
The blue pool teams are Calgary, Saskatoon and Prince George
Saturday’s pool play games are as follows: 9:00 am – Calgary vs. Saskatoon 11:00 am – Broken Bow vs. New Westminster 11:00 am – Saskatoon vs Prince George (Diamond 2) 1:00 pm – Vancouver vs Broken Bow 1:00 pm – Prince George vs Calgary (Diamond 2) After completion of the round robin in each respective pool the teams will be seeded, with the top 2 teams receiving a double life in the playoffs and the 3rd seed receiving a single life. Updates of the pool play games will be provided, along with the playoff matchups that commence at 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon with the final game of the day slated for a 9:00 pm start on Saturday evening. Playoff games will continue on Sunday commencing at 9:00 am with the Championship Final game scheduled for 3:00 pm. The weather forecast remains positive for Saturday with sunny skies and highs of 23 c (which is approx. 75 F) and thus bodes well for the teams and the many fastpitch enthusiasts.
Larry Kancs
President Vancouver Grey Sox
The Savala Painters are hosting a National Preparation Tournament on Aug 13th, one day tourney in Taft 30 min west of Bakersfield off the I-5 $120.00 a team… 3 games guaranteed. call Ron Mizener cell# 661-303-1080.. hm# 661-763-3 444 or Simon Brewer cell# 661-703-1403.
Pub Parties Planned ’round the country for ISC II Broadcasts
The ISC II broadcast crew has established a “Pub Party” program to encourage local pubs to set up a computer and speakers for patrons to listen to the ISC II live audio broadcasts from Chippewa Falls, WI, August 14-19, 2005.
The program will provide participating pubs with free publicity, both on-the-air and online at an “ISC II Pub Party” webpage which will list the name and address of their pub, and logo or photo. The broadcast crew will also circulate a list of participating pubs, to let local fans know that they can enjoy the broadcasts in the company of good friends while enjoying a cold beverage of their choice.
Participating pubs can also send us a digital photo of the local fans that attend the pub party for posting online.
It’s a great way to generate support for your team from the folks back home that couldn’t make the trip to Chippewa Falls.
All that’s required is a willingness to set up a computer and speakers for the broadcast.
Send us the name of your favorite local pub or one that you think would be interested in hosting an “ISC II Pub Party”, or write to us for more information.
mailto:live@ballparkradio.com
Reminder from NAFA:
[Salem, Oregon]-
From NAFA Executive Director Benjie HedgecockWorld Series has to be mailed by August 1st, to NAFA, PO Box 566, Dayton, OR 97114
As of July 27th, we have the following numbers committed in each class, A-54, A-Major-34, AA-32, AAA-9, Open-5.
It is of the utmost importance that all teams are paid so that Executive Director, Benjie Hedgecock can post start times on or before August 12th on Nafafastpitch.com. The color brochure with all world series details and motels is posted on the website and we can email or mail you one directly as well.
Brett Bresnahan
www.nafafastpitch.com
mnfastpitch@hotmail.com
ISC #18 ranked So Cal Bombers, fresh from a couple of upset wins against the #5 and #7 teams in the world, and ISC ranked #20 and three-time defending champion, Team Rainey will be among the favorites this weekend at the 15th Annual Best of the West Tournament.
The two teams are in the same pool on Saturday and will square off at 12:30pm in what figures to be one of the feature games in the event. Team Rainey has won the tournament the last three years in a row. CR/DeMarini from Portland will be in town, as will the High Desert Dawgs (formerly FSR from Utah). Portland knocked off Team Rainey in June, while the Dawgs beat the Bomber at Red Rock back in May. The tournament is the longest running tournament in California, headed up by ISC Streaming Media maven David Blackburn, who just returned from competing in the Maccabiah games in Israel. July and August figure to be busy for David, who’ll trade his Maccabiah USA cap for a “BoW” tournament director’s cap, and then moving on in August to head up the streaming audio broadcasts of the 2005 ISC World Tournament. David pioneered the use of streaming audio for men’s fastball back in 2001, and inspired the creation of our own ballparkradio.com here at Fastpitchwest.
MEDIA RELEASE The list of pitchers for the upcoming Vancouver Challenge tournament is the best in this area since the 1997 International Softball Congress (“(ISC”) World Championship Tournament for club teams was held across the water in Victoria, BC. Among those expected to take the mound at South Memorial Park in Vancouver are: Gerald Muizelaar, Mike Piechnik, Steve Price (Broken Bow Spirit of Amsterdam, New York), Frank Cox, Grant Patterson (Calgary Smokers), Trevor Ethier, Sean Whitten (Saskatoon Black Sox), Collin McKenzie (Prince George Black Bears), and local favourites Nick Underhill and Rick Smith. All of these hurlers have pitched for the Canadian National Team. Muizelaar and Underhill held down the top two spots in the rotation when Canada finished 2nd at the World Championships in New Zealand in 2004.
These great throwers will be challenged by approximately half of the positional players who are on Team Canada’s 33 man roster, as well as many other elite players from the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and the Dominican Republic. With all players primed to hit their peak heading into next month’s ISC World Championship and the Canadian National Championship, the competition should be intense. As an added incentive, Broken Bow will be looking to avenge a 5-3 loss to the Grey Sox in the semi-final of the Portland Rose Cup in June, 2005, a game in which the Sox rebounded from an early 3 run deficit. Vancouver (31-4-1 for 2005) then captured the title in that event with a convincing 9-0 win over Portland.
The opening game in the Vancouver Chhallenge is Friday night at 7:00 p.m. when the Grey Sox square off against Vancity from New Westminster. Action continues all day Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. The Grey Sox play two-time defending ISC champions Broken Bow Spirit at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday. Playoffs start at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and continue the next day, with the Championship Final slated to start at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a beverage garden in the stands behind home plate and the admission price is right: only $10 for a Tournament Pass; $3 for Friday night and $5 for Sat and Sunday day passes. Children under 12 are admitted free.
Conrad Margolis, Vancouver Grey Sox/Tournament Committee 604-802-8921 (cell)