Archive for September, 2005

Broken Bow Spirit Ceases Operations; Doc to Join Forces with Patsy’s NY

Thursday, September 29th, 2005

Big news in the world of men’s fastball: Broken Bow is no more. Doc Simmons and Steve Kooser are joining up with the Patsy’s team, out of NY. We wish Doc, Koos, and the Bow nothing but the best. They have been one of fastball’s legendary franchises, winning the ISC World Tournament 3 of the last 5 years !

[Alsfastball] Broken Bow Spirit

So Cal Players Among 2006 USA Team Selections

Wednesday, September 28th, 2005

Sonny Perkins Arrives on National Stage as First Time Selection

Following last weekend’s training camp at Chula Vista, CA, head coach Pete Turner announced the 2006 USA Softball teams, with a number of So Cal players among them, including Travis Price (So Cal Bombers), , and Sonny Perkins (Team Rainey and Team Iowa).

Pitcher Tony Peeples (So Cal Bombers) and catcher Todd Garcia (So Cal Bombers) were chosen as a members of the National Training Team.

Pitcher/DH Gerald Pyle, the big man on the El Segundo Rounders, was chosen as an alternate, and member of the National Training Team.

Fellow Californian, Craig Daniels, the explosive leadoff hitter for A-1 Tank of Northern California was also named as an alternate and member of the National Training Team.

Cody Thomson, from Utah was selected as a member of the National Team, as was longtime veteran USA team member, pitcher Michael White, who resides in Oregon, rounding out the list of players from west of the Rockies.

Our heartiest congratulations to these players, and to all those selected to represent the USA.

(Cap tip for the info to Angel “Scoop” Saucedo)

2006 USA Men’s Team Announced

Wednesday, September 28th, 2005

(Cap tip for the info to Angel “Scoop” Saucedo)
From the ASA Website:

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and USA Softball announced today the 17-member 2006 Men’s National Team as well as the 2006 National Training team. Selected by the Men’s National Team Selection Committee, players participated in a three day camp September 23-25 at the U.S. Olympic training center in Chula Vista, Calif.

The Men’s National team will compete in January at the AAU Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The 2006 National Training team will train together during selected weeks from January- May of 2006.

Pete Turner (Stockton, Calif.) will lead the Red, White and Blue in Orlando assisted by Mitch Munthe (Modesto, Calif.) and Rich Clements (Stockton, Calif.)

The following is a complete breakdown of both teams with their hometowns (* are players with international experience):

2006 Men’s National Team

*Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.)
*Matt Darling (Winterset, Iowa.)
Frank DeGroat, Jr. (Ringwood, N.J.)
*Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wis.)
Jose Garcia (Derry, N.H.)
*Don Garvey (Appleton, Wis.)
*Adam LaLonde (Kentwood, Mich.)
*Terry Luster (Bunceton, Mo.)
*Kyle Magnusson (Salt Lake City, Utah)
*Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.)
*Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.)
*Tom Owen (Elkhart, Iowa)
Philip Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.)
*Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Orlando Rodriguez (Haverstraw, N.Y.)
*Cody Thomson (Salt Lake City, Utah)
*Michael White (Eugene, Ore.)

Alternates

Craig Daniels (Stockton, Calif.)
Ben Fjelland (Slater, Iowa)
Gerald Pyle (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Chad Seeman (Chenoa, Ill.)
Brad Webb (Anderson, Ind.)

2006 NATIONAL TRAINING TEAM

Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.)
Craig Daniels (Stockton, Calif.)
Matt Darling (Winterset, Iowa)
Frank DeGroat, Jr. (Ringwood, N.J.)
Chris DeLarwelle (Appleton, Wis.)
Mike Dryer (Excelsior Springs, Mo.)
Ben Fjelland (Slater, Iowa)
Jose Garcia (Derry, N.H.)
Todd Garcia (Woodbridge, Calif.)
Don Garvey (Appleton, Wis.)
Adam LaLonde (Kentwood, Mich.)
Terry Luster (Bunceton, Mo.)
Kyle Magnusson (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Chris Milijavic (St. Joseph, Mo.)
Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.)
Tom Owen (Elkhart, Iowa)
Tony Peeples (San Miguel, Calif.)
Philip Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.)
Travis Price (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Gerald Pyle (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Orlando Rodriguez (Haverstraw, N.Y.)
Ryan Rutt (Bernville, Pa.)
Todd Schultz (Williamston, Mich.)
Chad Seeman (Chenoa, Ill.)
Cody Thomson (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Brad Webb (Anderson, Ind.)
Michael White (Eugene, Ore.)

Some Comments about Comments

Wednesday, September 28th, 2005

As you may have noticed, this blog, Morning Brief, and our ISC II blog, The Deuce, permit readers to post their own comments on any story posted, by clicking that little comments link below this post (the one that says “No Comments” at the moment 😉

A simple, one-time registration is required, much like that used at the Fastpitchwest Forum, where you pick a login handle and enter your email. You can remain anonymous by choosing a generic login, e.g. “fastballfan” etc. You then receive a password via email to login (which you can change to something simple the first time you log in)

If you’re like me, you probably find the login/password to be a bit of a nuisance. Why hassle with it? Well, unfortunately, there are little spam ‘bots that crawl the internet, posting advertisements and worse, so the login prevents that.

We love to hear what you think on any of the stories posted at Morning Brief, so we invite and encourage you to post your comments.

p.s. And if you’re one of those people that loses passwords easily, feel free to forward it to us, at savemypassword@fastpitchwest.com
where we’ll save it til you need it. Just be sure to add your name so we can locate it later, or send an update if you change the original password assigned.

Primos (So Cal) Roll Out New Website

Tuesday, September 27th, 2005

The Primos team, which competed in the So Cal ASA Alliance “C” league, have rolled out their new team website. Click here to visit the site.

The Primos are holding a public tryout for the team, so all of you folks who ask “how do I get on a team?” — here is your chance !

Tryouts:
October 22, 2005, 10am – 1pm, at Pico Park. Click here for a map.

Todd Budke’s Comments on PRAWN

Monday, September 26th, 2005

[Alsfastball] PRAWN – Todd Budke (Click this link to read it all)

His closing comment:

In summary: If the majority of the players think that by spreading out the talent and breaking up certain teams is the way to keep this game alive then lets all get together and make it work…lets leave the prawn for what it truly is a very tasty crustacean.

all comments are welcome

Hi my name is Todd Budke and I am a PRAWN….”Hi Todd”


(You may comment by clicking the “Comment” link below)

AAU International Tournament, Jan 19-22, 2006

Sunday, September 25th, 2005

AAU International Men’s Fastpitch 2006 Tournament
January 19-22, 2006
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex Orlando,Florida

Four Games Guaranteed

If you’d like to get a flyer or get more information e-mail or call:
Alex Linares
407-828-5602
mailto:alex [at] aausports.org

Ken Hackmeister
801- 447-8807
mailto:iscken [at] comcast.net

Young Bucks Hosting Tournament in Santa Barbara, CA, Oct 15-16, 2005

Sunday, September 25th, 2005

Clyde Bennett’s Young Bucks 23 and under team is hosting an 8 team tournament in Santa Barbara, Sat-Sun Oct 15-16 2005:

4 game guarantee(everybody plays Sunday)
$275 first 8 teams to pay are in.
Clyde Bennett
6600 Stagecoach Rd.
Santa Barbara Ca, 93105
805-964-2114 805-895-9007

Clyde’s Young Bucks 23 and under team finished second in the nation this year, forcing an “if” game, before having to concede the game and title, due to flight schedules home.
Anthony Martinez, Jason Obregon, Kevin Castillo and Issac Hernandez all earned First Team All American Honors at that event. The team also played in this year’s Best of the West tournament, featuring young pitchers Anthony Martinez and Beau (son of Lonnie) Brooks.

Clyde (father of Mark) Bennett is a longtime player/organizer/supporter of the game. Many often lament the lack of young players in the game, but Clyde is someone who is doing something about it.

Speaking of Mark, he was named Most Valuable Pitcher as his team, Portland DeMarini captured this year’s ASA “A” National Championship.

ASA “C” National Champ Penn Power Garners Some Ink

Sunday, September 25th, 2005

Penn Power, PA, which won this year’s ASA “C” Nationals in Stockton, CA got some newspaper ink back home. Click here to read the story.

Also a second news story on the retirement of one of their players, Pat Stock.

Stories linked, courtesy of The Tribune-Democrat Newspaper, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with a cap tip to “Lefty” at the PA Forum

The Pro’s and Con’s of the PRAWN rule

Sunday, September 25th, 2005


Some more good discussion at the Fastpitchwest Forum about the pro’s and con’s of the ISC’s new “PRAWN” rule, limiting the number of All World players a team can have, starting in 2006.

New player rep Rick Smith posts at the Fastpitchwest Forum and invites players and fans to post their comments on the new rule.

Please comment on the idea of the prawn ruling. Sign your name to it if you have any comment for or against it.

Thanks
Rick Smith
Player Rep for the West

Player rep Tom Crouch says:

I never said the big teams were killing the game. We need them. However, you are way off base if you feel that sponsors do not drop out because they cannot compete with the best teams. Many teams have folded becuase they cannot keep up with the pitching market.

Farm27 points out that the rule could force all-world players to travel outside their area, even if they wanted to play for the local team.

“8 new guys make all world next year but their team’s fold….now they have to find a place to play or not play at all. Just what we need lets drive more people out of the game. Guys want to play in there own area but can’t because of this rule. “

The posters make good points, pro and con, so no matter what side of the issue you are on, it makes for thought provoking reading.

Lots more discussion on PRAWN’s at Al’s Fastball Mailing List Archive.

The GHFL.ca Forum, hosted by my friend Blair Setford in Ontario Canada has more discussion, as well, including some great analysis on the possible unintended consequences of the rule, as argued by Scott Wagar:

For example if Kris Kiefel decides to not come back to the US in 2006 and County needs to find a SS. Due to Prawn, they are limited in their search. So where do they turn? Do they grab Kevin Schellenberg, Ian Fehrman or Evan Boyd. All of which would hurt the local teams that developed them.

The Prawn rule in effect promotes the raiding of the young teams that are building and may kill them off before they even get a chance to taste any success. It does not promote local development and it does not level the playing field (if that is what they are after?)

.