Archive for March, 2007

Memorial Day Prize Money Tournament in Tulare, CA

Wednesday, March 28th, 2007

2007 MEN’S FAST-PITCH MEMORIAL WEEKEND CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT

On behalf of the Central California Softball Association we would like to officially extend an invitation to you to participate in our 1st Annual Men’s Fast-Pitch Western Memorial Weekend Challenge. This event is offering prize-money to the top three placing, Championship T-shirt 1st place, sponsor awards 1-2 place and Player’s bat drawing + HR prize for every HR hit in or out of the park……..

TOURNAMENT WILL BE HELD MAY 26-27-28, 2007 at Prosperity Park in Tulare CA

Lodging Click:http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=City+of+Tulare+VB+-+lodging&FORM=MSNH

Host Hotel: Microtel Inn & Suites, 559-685-8900, ask for the MFP ASA rate of $75 + tax, one or two beds.

http://www.cvbvisalia.com/lodging1.htm

This event will provide teams an excellent tune up prior to the ASA Nationals events.

Classification: Men’s Fast Pitch Class B & C

Rules: ASA

Entry Fee: $350

Number of games: 3-4 game guarantee.

Prize Money $1900 *based upon 8 or more teams in each classification.

1st Place $1000

2nd Place $500

3rd Place $400

* Note prize money will be adjusted accordingly if fewer then 8 teams participate.

The size of ‘the pot’ will be limited by the number of entries that we receive. The more confirmed entries, the bigger the pot!

The closing date for the tournament is May 20, 2007.

Make check payable to CCASA and mail to Ike Pursell, 5562 E. Kings Canyon Road, Fresno, Ca 93727. Team entry cut-off will stop when we have a total of 32 teams.

Please contact individuals listed below at the e-mail address’s below for further information including entry form(s) & roster requirements. Interested teams are invited to make contact with our organization at: ccmsa@sbcglobal.net or directly with the tournament directors:

Ike Pursell – brikman@aol.com Mobile# 559-999-5144 or B- 550-251-3704

Jeff Coleman – Jcol674496@aol.com Cell# 559-903-8068 or Office: 559-435-3331

2007 Red Rock Invitational Schedule

Monday, March 26th, 2007

St. George, UT

May 5 & 6, 2007

Pool A:

1. River City Rockers – No Cal
2. So Cal Tribes
3. Team Minnesota
4. Innovative Communications – UT

Saturday – Diamond – 4

9 AM – Rockers vs Tribes

11 AM – Minnesota vs Innovative

1 PM – Tribes vs Innovative

3 PM – Tribes vs Minnesota

5 PM – Rockers vs Minnesota

7 PM – Rockers vs Innovative

Pool B:

1. A-1 Taylor – No Cal
2. Panteras – So Cal
3. Portland/DeMarini – OR
4. Cruces Titans – NM

Saturday – Diamond – 1

9 AM – A-1 vs Panteras

11 AM – Portland vs Titans

1 PM – Panteras vs Titans

3 PM – Panteras vs Portland

5 PM – A-1 vs Portland

7 PM – A-1 vs Titans

Pool C:

1. Lumberkings – So Cal
2. Mexicali Soles – MX
3. Houston Aces – TX
4. Castlewood 2- UT

Saturday – Diamond – 2

9 AM – Lumberkings vs Soles

11 AM – Houston vs Castlewood 2

1 PM – Soles vs Castlewood 2

3 PM – Soles vs Houston

5 PM – Houston vs Lumberkings

7 PM – Lumberkings vs Castlewood 2

Pool D:

1. Italian Athletic Club – No Cal
2. So Cal Bombers
3. Native Austin – SD & NM
4. Larry Miller Hogs – UT

Saturday – Diamond – 5

9AM – IAC vs So Cal Bombers

11 AM – Native Austin vs Hogs

1 PM – So Cal Bombers vs Hogs

3 PM – So Cal Bombers vs Native Austin

5 PM – IAC vs Native Austin

7 PM – IAC vs Hogs
Bracket Play – Sunday – May 6

9 AM – A3 vs B4 – Diamond 1

D4 vs C3 – Diamond 2

D3 vs A4 – Diamond 4

C4 vs B3 – Diamond 5

11 AM – A1 vs B2 – Diamond 1

D2 vs C1 – Diamond 2

D1 vs A2 – Diamond 4

C2 vs B1 – Diamond 5

1 PM – A3-B4 winner vsD4-C3 winner – Diamond 1

D3-A4 winner vs C4-B3 winner – Diamond 2

A1-B2 winner vs D2-C1 winner – Diamond 4

D1-A2 winner vs C2-B1 winner – Diamond 5

3 PM – Consolation Championship – Diamond 1

Championship – Diamond 5

SCIFL in Palm Springs, CA This Weekend

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Click here for a “Bird’s Eye View” of the fields in Palm Springs. Zoom in and you can almost see Vicki Oltean.

Click here for the new SCIFL website.

Saturday’s Pool Play Schedule (to be followed by Single Elim Bracket play on Sunday) (more…)

Fastpitch Meets YouTube

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

Some great old footage in a YouTube video. Click that little arrow on the “screen” above to view the video. Recognize any of those faces? 😉 Didn’t get a chance to see Darren Zack pitch a few years back? Say “Hello Mr. Riseball”. “Good morning, good afternoon and Good Night!” Anyone know what year those games were played? Email us at jim (at) fastpitchwest.com

Cap tip to Cary Weiler for the link!

Sonny Perkins tells us the video was from the “Fastpitch” DVD, filmed in 1995, except that news footage from New York.

More: We heard from the producer of this footage, Jeremy Spear, producer of the feature length film, “Fastpitch”. He tells us this YouTube video is a promotional video he did for the ISC in 2002, along with Steve Schucker and Michael Groves, to help promote the Men’s game. (The original is in color) Most of the footage came from his film, “Fastpitch”.

Revised Schedule for Palm Springs

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

The revised schedule for the SCIFL is up:
http://www.scifastpitch.com

Pitchers’ Paradise – Red Rock

Wednesday, March 21st, 2007

Following up on my note yesterday, the list of pitchers looking to throw in the Red Rock Tournament in St. George, Utah, May 5-6, 2007 is up to four, two ISC World and two ISC II caliber, good ones all. If your team is headed for Red Rock and can use an extra arm to help, email me at jim (at) fastpitchwest.com and I’ll put you in touch.

Update: The “available pitchers” list is up to 5. Two ISC and three ISC II. Have arm, will travel.

SCIFL Unveils New League Website

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The So Cal Independent Fastpitch League (“SCIFL”) is proud to announce its new league website. The site will keep you updated on all the league news, schedules, standings, stats and more. We are currently in the beginning stages of posting new items and catching up on the first weeks’ action in Norwalk. If you have any comments or ideas which will help make the site better feel free to contact me.

http://www.scifastpitch.com

Fred Hanker
SCIFL Commissioner
www.scifastpitch.com

Update: Just added:

Standings, after one league weekend
Stats, after one league weekend
Schedule of Games for This Weekend in Palm Springs, CA

Red Rock Field of Teams Set at 16

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The field of teams for the Red Rock Tournament in St. George, Utah is set (full) at 16 teams:

1. Team Minnesota
2. River City Rockers
3. Houston Ace
4. SoCal Tribes
5. Portland
6. LumberKings
7. Larry Miller Hogs
8. Panteras
9. Cruces Titans
10. SoCal Bombers
11. Native Austin SD
12. A-1-Taylor
13. Mexicali (Soles)
14. Castlewood
15. Ceative Innovations
16. Italian Athletic Club

There are (at least) a couple of pitchers looking to throw in this one, one ISC level, the other ISCII. If your team needs pitching help, email me at jim (at) fastpitchwest.com.

2007 St. Thomas Evergreen Centennials

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

From Al’s Fastball:

ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO-We’re pleased to announce our 2007 Tournament & ISC Roster:

Pitchers:
Trevor Wardell
Dan Beecroft
Tane Richardson
Ryan Cummings (select tournaments)

Position Players:
Tex Lessard
Jason Daer
Troy Rick
Chris Payne
Mark Coleman
Kevin Lynch
Ted Koscieza
Chris Wismer
Chad Fowler

Athletic Trainer:
Andrew Groombridge

Coaching Staff:

Bill Horne
Dan Denniss
Tom Edie

Sincerely,

Dan Denniss
d_d66 (at) msn.com

Ray Guanella Dies at Age 77

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

The following appeared in today’s edition of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat:

A memorial service will be held Friday in Santa Rosa for Ray Guanella, who along with his brother sponsored the two-time Amateur Softball Association champion Guanella Bros. fastpitch softball team.

Guanella, who suffered from lung cancer, died Friday at his Santa Rosa home. He was 77.

For 24 years, Guanella and his brother, Walt, who died in 2000, oversaw one of the most successful amateur sports dynasties in the United States, a team so intimidating that others feared to play them.

Guanella Bros., named after the two brothers’ flooring company, won Amateur Softball Association national championships in 1974 and 1991. The team also won a gold medal in the World Games in 1981 and the Gold Medal in the 1993 Sports Festival in San Antonio, TX

Walt Guanella, who is credited with starting the team, received more attention than his brother, who preferred a more low-key role. The arrangement seemed to suit them.

“They had totally different personalities, but they got along beautifully,” said Beverly Guanella, Ray’s wife.

She described her husband as an accomplished businessman who liked to tell stories, play golf and card games, and spend time with his children – five from a previous marriage and three stepchildren.

Sponsoring the softball team was another passion.

In the 24 years of Guanella Bros., the team posted a record of 1,563 wins and just 401 losses, for a .796 winning percentage. The team, which played most of its home games at Santa Rosa’s Howarth Park, became such a juggernaut that other managers were reluctant to schedule against them for fear of hurting their own chances at post-season play.

Both brothers were selected to the Hall of Honor at the softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City as sponsors in 1998.

“He was very proud,” Beverly Guanella said.

Ray was born in Somers, Mont., in 1927 to Louie and Lucy Guanella, who immigrated to the United States from Italy. When he was 3, the family moved to Santa Rosa, where they bought a ranch and raised chickens.

Guanella graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1949. He worked for PG&E for a time before learning the flooring business and opening the Roberts Avenue store with his brother.

They managed the business successfully before retiring in 1997.

Guanella is survived by his wife, Beverly Guanella of Santa Rosa, and sisters Erma Bridget of San Anselmo and Rena Sieboldt of San Rafael.

He also is survived by five children: Gary Guanella of Santa Rosa, Debbie Elzey of Sebastopol, Rick Guanella of Santa Rosa, Diane Sealey of Santa Rosa and Sharon Farnsworth of Trail, Ore.

Friday’s memorial service is at 1 p.m. at St. Eugene’s Church. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Santa Rosa High School.

– Derek Moore