Archive for March, 2006

ASA “B”/”C” Tournament in Hayward, CA

Friday, March 31st, 2006

2006 A.S.A. Men’s “B/C” Fastpitch Tournament Series event to be held in Hayward, CA on May 6th & 7th. I have been notified that we will have only 4 or 5 fields available for this tournament on this date so unfortunately the tournament NUMBER OF ENTRIES WILL BE LIMITED. Please get your entry fees in as early as possible. See attached flyer for entry specifics.

If you have any questions or need more information please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail SCSAHAYCA@aol.com or by phone at (510) 881-8465, leave a message and I will return your call ASAP.

Thanks
Vanessa Woodmansee
Tournament Director

Brian McNaughton Hospitalized

Friday, March 31st, 2006

Our friend Brian McNaughton has been hospitalized in his battle with cancer. For more information, click this link. If you have a moment, perhaps you can post a note to him. We’ll forward a printed copy to him.

For a bit more about Brian, click here, then follow the links on the subsequent page.

It was just three years ago, that Bob Otto was writing about Brian’s work organizing the Ron Ortega Memorial tournament with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society:

Otto Article

Dynamic duo keeps men’s fastpitch alive in Oceanside

By Bob Otto / Yucaipa, CA

Brian McNaughton and his sidekick, Mel Johnson, surely could find other things to do than hang around fastpitch softball. But since the sport has consumed much of their lives for over 100 years, why find a new passion now?

McNaughton began pitching softball in Canada at 15. That was back in 1947. Still youthful at 71, he pitches in the San Diego Men’s Fastpitch League and plays tournament ball with the Corona Rebels. (more…)

Rain Outs for Northern and Southern California ASA

Friday, March 31st, 2006

The Pacific Coast Tournament Series league weekend slated for April 1-2, 2006 in Stockton has been cancelled due to soggy field conditions. (This information is official, from the league office).

Update: 2pm Friday: So Cal ASA has cancelled its league weekend as well.

The official word at the So Cal ASA website:

CANCELLED – AMIGOS SPRING CLASSIC – SANTA FE SPRINGS

FRIDAY, MARCH 31ST at 1:30pm: Due to the poor field conditions caused by the recent rain, as well as the rain forecasted for late Friday and early Saturday, this weekend’s tournament has been cancelled. Managers will be notified.

Santa Fe Springs Still On, Final Word by Noon Friday

Friday, March 31st, 2006

From the SoCal ASA website: So Cal ASA

THURSDAY 03/30/06 @ 6pm, LATEST UPDATE: As of 6pm on Thursday the tournament is still on for this weekend. The final decision will be made at 12pm on Friday, depending on the field conditions.

Here is the latest forecast from the weatherman.

Casino Rama field announced

Thursday, March 30th, 2006

Guest MB correspondent Blair Setford reporting from Ontario …

Ten teams who will surely all be ranked in the ISC top 20 form the field for the 9th Annual Casino Rama World Series in Orillia, Ontario, July 14-16, 2006.

2006 Participating Teams:

County Materials from Marathon, Wisconsin – reigning ISC World Champions

The Farm Tavern from Madison, Wisconsin – one of the Orillia fan favorites

Hallman Twins from Kitchener, Ontario – a very strong Ontario based team and the host team for the 2006 ISC World Tournament

Patsy’s from New York – A new team with some very familiar dominating players

Kegel Black Knights from Fargo, North Dakota – another new team in Orillia and one we are looking forward to see in action

Midland Explorers from Midland, Michigan – another one of the Orillia fan favorites

Heflin Gremlins from Ballston Lake, New York – making a return to Orillia after a short absence

Evergreen Centennials
from St. Thomas, Ontario, the defending Canadian Champions

Bright Cheese Eagles from Innerkip, Ontario – making their first ever visit to the annual tournament

For the first time in the 8 year history of the tournament, the Casino Rama World Series of Fastball will showcase a host team. The Orillia River Sharks will try and make history in becoming the first Canadian team to win the annual tournament.

Click here for the rest of story on Al’s Fastball.

Northern California’s Pacific Coast Tournament Series – April 1-2, 2006

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

From Fastpitchwest’s “Leagues” Section, filed under “Northern Cal”

We are pleased to post the schedule for this weekend’s Pacific Coast Tournament Series in Northern California. The league’s first scheduled weekend March 18-19, 2006 was rained out. Rain is a possibility for this one as well, so be sure to check with your managers, and here for updates. We will post updates as they become available.

Click here for schedule for the Pacific Coast Tournament Series – April 1-2, 2006

Three of Sledgehammer’s California Top 10 teams will be in action at Stockton:

# 3 – A-1 Tank
# 4 – Taylor Farms
# 5 – River City Rockers

None of these three are slated to play each other in Saturday’s round robin games, so any possible match-ups would come on Sunday in the single elimination portion of the tournament.

With teams ranked # 6 through 10 playing down south in the SoCal ASA league weekend at Santa Fe Springs, CA, that leaves only the big boys, ISC World Tournament teams So Cal Bombers and Team Rainey idle this weekend.

(The # 1 ranked Bombers will be in Palm Springs for the ASA A/B league on Saturday, April 22, then head home to Yucaipa to play # 2 ranked Team Rainey in exhibition games on Sunday. The Bombers will have their full squad for the weekend of April 22 and 23.)

Five of Top Ten Teams to be in Santa Fe Springs this Weekend

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

The # 6 ranked Lumberkings are headed south from Bakersfield, to compete in this weekend’s So Cal ASA A/B league, meaning that half of Sledgehammer’s California Top 10 Teams will be in action in the same tournament:

# 6 – Bakersfield Lumberkings
# 7 – Rude Pac
# 8 – Long Beach Snakes
# 9 – Savala Rounders
#10 – Panteras

Here are the match-ups of ranked teams to watch for during Saturday’s round robin games:

8:00 a.m. – #7 Rude-Pac vs. #9 Savala Rounders
9:45 a.m. – #7 Rude-Pac vs. #10 Panteras (rematch of last week’s championship game)
3:00 p.m – #8 Long Beach Snakes (first action of the year) vs. #9 Savala Rounders
6:30 p.m. – #6 Bakersfield Lumberkings vs. #10 Panteras

Up, down and holding: The # 10 Panteras made their way into the Top 10 following their victory in the first league weekend tournament of the year, at Palm Springs, CA. #7 Rude Pac rose two spots from #9 on the strength of their runner-up finish to the Panteras; the Savala Rounders, minus a few key parts of their new roster, struggled at 1-4 to tumble three spots from #6 to #9, while the #6 Lumberkings and #8 Long Beach Snakes did not play and held their respective spots.

Outside Looking In: Three other teams notched wins over Top 10 ranked opponents but are as yet unranked:

Amigos (over #9 Savala Rounders)
San Diego Primetime (over #9 Savala Rounders)
Long Beach Black Sox (over #9 Savala Rounders, and #10 Panteras)

From our “Maps & Fields” section: Thinking about coming out to the ballpark to take in some of the action? Click here for map and driving directions, and a bit more about the park.

Black Sox News from Team Website

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

Details from the Black Sox weekend at Palm Springs, courtesy of player/manager/GM/webmaster Fred Hanker:

LONG BEACH BLACK SOX News

SoCal ASA Goes Back to Back (Santa Fe Springs )

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006

With a big caveat of “weather permitting”, the SoCal ASA will hold its second league tournament in as many weeks. Be sure to check the official SoCal ASA website (link below), on Thursday/Friday for an update as to the weather.

From the official SoCal ASA website:
SOCAL ASA : Softball

NEXT UP – AMIGOS SPRING CLASSIC – SANTA FE SPRINGS

The Amigos Spring Classic will be played this weekend with nine A/B teams and seven C teams competing. The Long Beach Snakes will make their debut and the Lumberkings will be traveling from Central California to play in the A/B tournament with an evening game against last week’s champions Panteras. Palm Springs will be leading the way for the “C” tournament after their tournament victory last week. The Amigos will have snack bar duties with Josie’s green chili burritos headlining the menu.

NOTE: Due to the rain being forecasted through Wednesday evening and possibly more rain over the weekend, this web site will be updated on Thursday and Friday evenings with the tournament and field status. Managers will be contacted directly with status.

Click to view the SCHEDULE

SoCal ASA Recap of Palm Springs

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

From the official SoCal ASA website: SOCAL ASA : Softball

Click link to visit the official SoCal ASA website.

A/B Alliance

The Panteras went undefeated on Sunday to take the first tournament of the year in the newly revamped A/B league with strong pitching from Bobby Lara, Jesse Duncan and Ron Rupp. The Panteras were with all their starters on Sunday making it tough for manager Fernie Ramirez to make the line-up’s with the squad that showed up. Big wins in tough played single elimination games over San Diego Primetime and the Black Sox got them in the Championship game. In the Championship game they defeated the new Rude-Pac squad of players from last year’s number 1 & 2 finishers in the Association Championship. Unfortunately, work commitments and injuries left Rude-Pac with only nine players for the game, but they held tough through four innings. More details to follow…

C Alliance (more…)