We are pleased to share a link to the more extensive galleries for “Day 4” of the ISC II Tournament of Champions, August 16, 2006.
Click “Maddy’s Photos” logo above, then the menu buttons for Galleries 6, 7, and 8.
Maddy is continuing to work on photos from the tournament, and we will be posting additional galleries very soon. Which ones are your favorites? Email maddy (at) maddyphotos.com
Click here to view the information available on the ASA 40+ Nationals on the official ASAS Website.
The tournament got underway on Wednesday, August 23, and is now in its fourth day, heading towards the title game tomorrow. Scores and other information should be pouring in any day now. (crickets chirping)
The NAFA “A” World Series heads down the stretch to crowning its “A” division champ on Sunday. Click here for the latest scores and boxes.
From the Appleton Post-Crescent: Your Fox Cities News Source
Small town softball team hits it big
By Chris Lindeke
For The Post-CrescentAPPLETON — Jeramie Holman and his New Image teammates found out on Monday that commitment and dedication pay dividends.
The team from Monfort, a small town in Southwestern Wisconsin, showed the value of staying together by winning the North American Fastpitch Association’s AA World Series Championship with a 9-4 victory over the Larry Miller Hogs of Salt Lake City at Memorial Park.
The core players of New Image started the team 11 years ago. At first, the team struggled but it now boasts 80 wins and several tournament victories during this summer’s tournament play. The team averages around 100 home runs per summer.
“When we first started as a group, we were getting beat by anybody and everybody,” said Holman, voted the tournament’s most valuable player. “But we stuck together through a lot of years and it’s paying off now.”
Larry Miller took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but its lead was short-lived, as New Image exploded for six unanswered runs, highlighted by Steve Krupke’s two-run homer to left-center field in the top of the fourth.
“(The approach) was nothing special,” Krupke said. “We had taken a 3-2 lead, and we had a runner on base so I wanted to hit it hard. The guy threw me a change-up, and I got it. Really, that’s the way the game is.”
Larry Miller’s Jesse Bullock hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth to bring the Hogs within two, but New Image added three insurance runs to protect its lead.
The So Cal Hustlers and Latin Heat from the So Cal ASA are among the teams headed to Marrieta, Georgia for the ASA “C” Nationals over the Labor Day Weekend. Also coming out of the Western region will be Castlewood, Utah, the Oroville CA Braves, Bay Area Reach, CA, and the Bakersfield Silverhawks.
Kudos to the folks in Cobb County for setting up a website to help fastpitch fans follow along. Here’s the list of teams for the tournament:
Click here to view the information available on the ASA “B” Nationals on the official ASA Website.
Keep moving along….nothing new here.
Speaking of the great state of Illinois, a belated welcome from Fastpitchwest to the members of the Illinois section of the Fastpitchwest Forum. . We are honored to host the board members from the former www.ilfastpitch.com board, here at Fastpitchwest, and say “welcome”.
www.ilfastpitch.com was developed and hosted by Brian Tobin, who did an outstanding job of providing a place on the internet for this region of the country. With Brian’s assistance, we are happy to welcome Illinois to the FPW Forum. As you can see from the postings there, fastpitch is alive and well in the Illinois region, and on their forum board. Its members are among the most frequent posters to the entire Forum, so it’s a great place to catch up on all the action in that part of the country.
Just Five of 50 States Represented in National Tournament
From the Illinois section of the Fastpitchwest Forum: A Nationals with a special thanks to forum member Epley21 for tracking down this information:
Sixteen teams at this year’s ASA “A” Nationals. A better turnout than in recent years. Unfortunately, just four from out of state. But for the great state of Illinois, they could hold this tournament in one afternoon. In 1991, there were 67 teams at the ASA “A”. What has befallen this once great tournament?
From Illinois
Cerro Gordo Broncos
Springfield Brandts
Mt. Zion Merchants
Nokomis Bud Light, Nokomis
Vandalia Freight, Vandalia
Lee’s Sports Falcons, Radom
Rudd’s Trophy, Peoria
The Heat, Villa Grove
Pete’s Blues, Mascutah
Wessel’s Coors Light, T-Town
West Central Bud, Jacksonville
Chicago Fastpitch, ChicagoFrom out of State:
Ashland, OH
New Image, WI
RPM Reasnor, IA
Rice Creek Homer, MI
As aptly put by Illinois Forum member Jeff Proffit:
“I really like the odds of an Illinois team bringing home a trophy or two. “
Or the more sobering note by Epley21:
“Nice ASA National tourney with 4 out of state teams.”
Here is the wealth of information on the ASA “A” National tournament available at the official ASA website.
Prince George Citizen
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Hosts have winning on their minds
by JASON PETERS, Citizen staff
They have the pitching.
The question the Prince George Black Bears will have to answer during the Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship is this — can they hit?
If they can, they expect to be in contention for the national title.
“If we hit the ball, I think we have a chance of winning it,†said shortstop Evan Potskin, who owns one of the most potent swings in the Black Bears’ batting order. “We’ve got to hit, plain and simple.â€
The eight-team, eight-day tournament starts Sunday at Spruce City Stadium. Other clubs vying for the title include the defending champion St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials and the 2004 champions from Saskatoon, the Aspen Interior Black Sox. The powerful Vancouver Grey Sox also have their eyes on the crown, as do the Jarvis Merchants, Charlottetown Razzy’s Roadhouse Fawcetts, Newfoundland Impact Signs and Stony Plain Twiliters.
The Prince George pitching staff starts with Korrey Gareau, a Team Canada member who is among the best throwers in the world. The intimidating Collin McKenzie will also toe the rubber for the Black Bears. At the American Softball Association world championship tournament earlier this month in South Bend, Ind., McKenzie was named top pitcher after his Circle Tap team defeated Jacksonville, Fla., 4-1 in the championship game. McKenzie ended the tournament with a 4-0 record.
“He’s pitching well right now,†said Bears infielder Randy Potskin. “I think he’s pitching the best right now, actually. He’s healthy and he’s throwing the ball hard.â€
The third pitcher in the Black Bears’ rotation is Ryan Brand. The Calgary-based Brand also won a top pitcher award this season after helping California’s SoCal Bombers to a tournament title in St. George, Utah.
On offence, Evan Potskin is one of the hitters who will need to be hot for the Bears to sink their teeth into success at nationals. Others who will be counted on for production at the plate are Randy Potskin, Chad Ghostkeeper, Glenn Ormsby and Darrell Sandback.
Ormsby is a power guy, and Sandback has earned a reputation as a deadly hitter in all situations.
“He’s one of the best hitters in the world,†said Evan Potskin, who used his own bat to help Team Canada win a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. “He’s not a power hitter, but he’s a real good contact hitter and he doesn’t strike out very often. He’s a tough out.â€
Several members of the Black Bears are coming off appearances at the 32-team International Softball Congress (ISC) world championship tournament, which concluded last weekend in Kitchener, Ont. Evan Potskin, Randy Potskin and Norm Linton played for Portland CR Adidas, Gareau was named a second-team all-star for his work with The Farm Tavern, McKenzie was on the rubber for Circle Tap, and Brand and Ghostkeeper suited up for SoCal. Black Bears manager Nino Fabbro anticipates positive ISC ripple effects on his team’s hitters.
“They’ve faced some excellent pitching, so it’s definitely going to help here (at nationals),†he said. “Even seeing the pitching, it should really help.â€
Fabbro, in particular, is looking for big things from Evan Potskin, whose home-run power is well-known in national fastball circles.
“I hope Evan comes ready to play,†Fabbro said. “If he’s ready to play, he can be the difference in the whole tournament. He’s a hell of a hitter. If he has a good tournament, we’ll be in the top four for sure.â€
The Black Bears made their first-ever appearance at nationals last summer in St. Thomas, Ont. In a 13-team field, they finished in seventh place. This year, the Bears would love to follow the example of last year’s St. Thomas team by winning the tournament on home turf.
“We’re looking forward to playing in front of big crowds — hopefully everyone comes out,†said outfielder Brian Bailey.
“Everyone (in the draw) is solid, but we’ll be right there, I think. I don’t see why we shouldn’t be. No one’s going to fool us, we’ve seen pretty much (all the pitchers). A couple guys we haven’t, but for the most part we’ve seen everyone that’s coming here.â€
The first game for the Black Bears is Sunday at 2 p.m. against Charlottetown. At 7 p.m. Sunday, right after the official opening ceremonies, the Bears will face Saskatoon. Round robin games will run through Thursday.
All eight teams will advance to the playoff round. For the top four teams, playoffs will follow a double-knockout format. The bottom four teams will be eliminated with a single loss. Playoffs are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 1. The championship final is planned for Sun., Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
From the Prince George Citizen
Friday, August 25, 2006
Saskatoon Black Sox arrive armed and dangerous
by TED CLARKE, Citizen staff
Saskatchewan has some of the richest blacktop soil in the country.
It grows wheat as tall as beanstalks, potatoes big as footballs, and enough championship-calibre ball players to fill any fastball field of dreams.
The Saskatoon Aspen Interior Black Sox have taken full advantage, and have stocked their roster for next week’s Canadian Senior Men’s Fastpitch Championship at Spruce City Stadium with an impressive lineup of flatland homebrews.