Archive for May, 2008

Fastpitch in Rome, Italy

Friday, May 30th, 2008

We are pleased to share a link to “Romasoftball.it” — Rome Fastpitch, in Italy, and to send along our congratulations to Federico Luna on his team’s first ever Italian National Championship since 1957! Click the logo above to visit and view their site. Buon Giorno !

Translation of the above for our friends in Rome:
Traduzione per i nostri amici a Roma

Siamo lieti di condividere un link “Romasoftball.it” – Fastpitch Roma, in Italia, e di inviare lungo le nostre congratulazioni a Federico Luna per la sua squadra il primo mai Campionato Nazionale Italiana dal 1957! Fare clic sul logo in alto per visualizzare e visitare il loro sito. Buon giorno!

Thanks to Federico Luna for sharing this information.
Grazie a Federico Luna per la condivisione di tali informazioni.

Best of the West Tournament – June 7-8

Friday, May 30th, 2008

2007 ISC World Tournament Runner-up Casa Trejo Bombers to Headline Field of Teams

For immediate release: (Santa Barbara, California) May 30, 2008 – The 18th Annual Best of the West Men’s fastball Tournament will be held June 7 – 8 in Santa Barbara, CA. The Tournament is the longest running open tournament, held annually in California. Ten teams will vie for the 2008 Championship, with a berth in the 2008 ISC World Tournament, and a berth in the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions will be awarded, to the highest finishing teams in each category.

Heading the field will be the 2007 ISC World Tournament Runner Up, the Casa Trejo Bombers of Palm Springs. The Bombers pitching staff includes two of the best pitchers in the world, Lucas Mata of Argentina, and New Zealander Marty Grant. On Offense, the Bombers are lead by the 2001 ISC World Tournament Most Valuable Player, Darren Box of Canada. This will be the Bombers debut for the 2008 season.

Team Rainey / IAC boasts a pitching staff featuring a pair of hard throwing foreigners in Canadian Bricklen Anderson, and the very crafty, young rising star Sebastian Gervasutti of Argentina. Offensively The Team Rainey / IAC ball club is lead by veteran players like Rod Rainey, Tony Acedo, Tim & Chris Hunt. Pete Turner, the head coach of the US National Team, brings his leadership, and versatility, to the ball club.

The DeMarini ball club from Portland, Oregon is the third team attempting to grab the berth and qualify for the 2008 ISC World Tournament. Veteran hurler Matt Barnes, is joined on the Portland staff by a pair of young throwers from Argentina. The run scoring punch for Portland is lead by former US National team catcher Todd Garcia, and a 2003 ISC All-world selection, Rob Gehrke.

Among the teams leading the charge to win the berth in the ISC II Tournament of Champions are the River City Rockers ball club, based in the Sacramento area. The Rockers are fresh off a championship win at the Grants Pass, Oregon Boatnik Tournament that was held on Memorial Day weekend. Rockers Pitcher Ed Gasper shared the Co-Outstanding Pitcher honors at Grants Pass with Portland’s Matt Barnes. Also named to the All Tournament team were Rockers Rob Penticoff, David Bostick, and Mark Summers.

Innovative Communications of Lehi, Utah has won the last two Best of The West Tournament Championships. Catcher / GM Brandon Bingham leads a potent offensive attack for the Utah club. Steve Black, who was named Outstanding Pitcher at the 2007 Best of The West, is a very effective veteran right hander, The Rude Pac ball club of Sun Valley, CA has a pitching staff featuring Greg “Spud” Barker, Mark Bennett, and Gerald Pyle. In August of 2007, Rude Pac captured the NAFA A-Major World Series Championship.

The Young Bucks under 23 team ran by Santa Barbara’s Clyde Bennett will be preparing for their run at the 2008 under 23 National Championship. The 2007 SCIFL Champions Long Beach Black Sox will be competing in their first Best of The West Tournament this year. The team is lead by GM / OF / C Fred Hanker and change-up
specialist pitcher Ronny Rupp.

The Manor Dirtbags of Texas will be coming in for the Tournament and feature veteran Texas pitching Ace Johnny Mize. The always tough Grillos Team from Mexico is lead by the 2005 Best of the West MVP Arturo Solano.

Group A
Casa Trejo – A1 Bombers (Palm Springs, CA)
River City Rockers (Citrus Heights, CA)
Team Rainey / IAC (Whittier / Stockton, CA)
DeMarini (Portland, OR)
Innovative Communications (Lehi, UT)

Group B
Rude Pac (Sun Valley, CA)
Manor Dirtbags (Manor, TX)
Black Sox (Long Beach, CA)
Grillo’s (Santa Cecelia, MX)
Young Bucks (Santa Barbara, CA)

Saturday June 7 Round Robin Schedule

Game #1 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs River City Rockers
9:00 AM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #2 Rude Pac Vs Manor Dirtbags
9:00 AM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #3 Team Rainey / IAC Vs Innovative Communications
9:00 AM Cabrillo Park

Game #4 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs Portland DeMarini
10:45 AM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #5 Manor Dirtbags Vs Santa Cecelia Grillos
10:45 AM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #6 Long Beach Black Sox Vs Young Bucks
10:45 AM at Cabrillo Park

Game #7 Team Rainey / IAC Vs Portland DeMarini
12:30 PM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #8 Rude Pac V Santa Cecelia Grillos
12:30 PM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #9 Innovative Communications Vs Young Bucks
12:30 PM (Cross/Over Game) Cabrillo Park

Game #10 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs Team Rainey / IAC
2:15 PM Pershing Park – Field #1

GAME #11 Long Beach Black Sox Vs Santa Cecelia Grillos
2:15 PM Pershing Park – Field #2

Corrected infofor Game #12:
Game #12 River City Rockers Vs Portland DeMarini
4:00 PM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #13 Rude Pac Vs Long Beach Black Sox
4:00 PM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #14 River City Rockers Vs Innovative Communications
5:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #15 Manor Dirtbags Vs Young Bucks
5:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #2

Sunday June 8 Elimination Schedule

Game #16 A5 Vs B4
8:30 AM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #17 A4 Vs B5
8:30 AM Cabrillo Park

Game #18 A3 Vs B2
8:30 AM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #19 A1 Vs Winner of Game #16
10:15 AM Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #20 A2 Vs B3
10:15 AM Cabrillo Park

Game #21 B1 Vs Winner of Game #17
10:15 AM Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #22 – Winner of Game #18 Vs Winner of Game #19
12:00 Noon Pershing Park – Field #1

Game #23 – Winner of Game #20 Vs Winner of Game #21
12:00 Noon Pershing Park – Field #2

Game #24 – Championship – Winner of Game #22 Vs Winner of Game #23
1:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #1

Maps and Directions to the two Ball Park facilities can be found through any
standard Internet map program. Use the following addresses:

Pershing Park

100 Castillo St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101


View Larger Map

Cabrillo Ball Park
800 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93103


View Larger Map

Please contact me if anyone has any questions.

See you all in Sunny Santa Barbara!

Dave Blackburn
Tournament Director
2008 Best of The West Tournament
310-266-7803
daveb (at) virtvent.com

2008 ISC Qualifiers – Update # 8

Friday, May 30th, 2008

2008 ISC Qualifiers
5-30-08
Update # 8

The change is the addition of the July 6-8 Boys of Summer tournament in Denmark, WI as a 2009 WT Qualifier.

US East Region – Bill Howell, Vice President bhowell5@yahoo.com
April 19 – 20
War Eagle Tournament – Auburn, AL
Format: Round robin
Entry Fee: $225
Berths: 1 ISC II ToC berth to highest finishing ISC II team
Contact: Robby Carter 334-501-2976 rcarter@auburnalabama.org
UIC: Sam Kelly 334-416-6459 alaump@aol.com
ISC Rep: Robert Gray – 334-567-9797 rgray77271@aol.com

(more…)

Midland Explorers Open Season Friday

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Reprinted with permission from:

(click logo to visit official website of midland.com)

Explorers have new faces as season opens Friday
By Cash Kruth

Published: Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:48 AM EDT

As the Midland Explorers prepare to open their season this weekend in Kitchener, Ont., manager Clint Beane is excited for the season to get under way — and for good reason.

With a mix of returning veterans and key newcomers, Beane thinks his squad has a good chance to improve on last season’s 30-13 record. Beane also believes the Explorers can better their fifth- and 14th-place finishes, respectively, at the ASA Major National Tournament and the International Softball Congress World Tournament.

“We have a lot of new players and I’m pretty excited about (the season),” Beane said. “We’ve had a couple guys retire from playing and one move on, but I picked up another pitcher and a couple outfielders.”

The newcomers include utilitymen Chad Ferguson and Calvin Miller, outfielders Dan Skillings and Brad Ezekiel and pitcher Brian Urquhart.

*
Urquhart will join veteran Grant Patterson, who earned ASA First team All-American honors in 2007, in the circle for the Explorers.

Urquhart, Patterson and second-year Explorer Mike Joseph will look to work together to fill the void left by Doug Gillis, who will suit up for Aurora (Ill.) in 2008.

Gillis, who was both an ASA All-American and an ISC All-World performer during his time with the Explorers, had been an Explorer since 1998.

“It’ll be a big loss for us,” Beane said of Gillis’ departure. “Doug was a good pitcher for a lot of years and he decided some different scenery might be better for him.

“We’re going to miss him, but we wish him the best of luck and we really appreciate everything he did for us throughout the years.”

Another key loss for the Explorers was the retirement of centerfielder Dave Frick, whom Beane called “one of the best I’ve ever seen in the game.”

Despite the departure of Frick, Beane thinks the addition of Skillings will make the outfield more potent on offense.

While the Explorers lost Gillis’ arm and Frick in the outfield, one area that doesn’t concern Beane is the infield, which returns all its starters from a year ago.

Second Team All-American catcher Craig Crawford returns behind the plate, while Kyle Beane, who earned Second Team All-World honors at the ISC World Tournament, returns at first.

Third baseman Eddy Ketelhut returns to the hot corner, while the double-play combination of second baseman Steve Horning and shortstop Todd Schultz is also back.

Clint Beane is also excited about the three home weekends the Explorers have at Currie Stadium in Emerson Park.

The Explorers’ first home tournament will be June 13-15 at the seventh annual Boulevard Lounge Tournament. The team also will host doubleheaders against the Ashland Mets from June 27-29, as well as two doubleheaders against the Argentina National Team on July 19-20.

“I’m always happy when we can play in Midland, because we have some very good fields and we all like to get the opportunity to play in Midland,” Beane said.

Regardless of whether they play in Midland or elsewhere, Beane said all the games the Explorers compete in are in preparation for the ASA and ISC tournaments.

“Last year we really had good tournaments and some tough games, and we played a lot of games but didn’t finish like we would’ve liked to,” Beane said. “But, that’s why we play all these games and do all of this traveling during the year — to get ready for those two tournaments.”

The Explorers’ first game at the Legends of Fastball Tournament in Kitchener, Ont., is at 9 p.m. Friday against CPI (N.Y.).

Austin Blue Jays Tournament – June 21-22

Friday, May 30th, 2008

2008 AUSTIN BLUE JAYS MEN’S FAST PITCH TOURNAMENT
June 21-22, 2008

Austin, Texas

Date: June 21-22, 2008
Site: Bob Havin’s Softball Complex
12138 N. Lamar Blvd.
Format: Double Elimination 3 games guaranteed bracket
Entry Fee: $250.00 per team (includes all admission fees)
Money Orders, Checks, Payable & Mailed to:
Pedro Tovar
601 Reliance rd
Buda, TX. 78610

Deadline: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Draw: Thursday, June 19, 2008
Rules: As per 2008 ASA Official Rules of Softball and Texas ASA supplement.
Balls: Furnished by the Tournament Sponsor.
Time Limit: 1 Hour 15 minute for all games
Run Rule: 15 Runs after 3 Innings 8 Runs after 5 Innings
Tie Breaker: International tie-breaker will be used as per 2008 ASA Code.
Awards: 1st – 4th Place Team Trophy
1st – 2nd 15 t-shirts
12 All Tournament Awards
M. V. P.
M. O. P.

For further information contact: Pete Tovar Jr 512-743-4883 or austinbluejays68@yahoo.com

Tuesday Nite Action from Fraser Valley

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

From the Fraser Valley Fastpitch League Blog

That’s Going to Leave a Mark

Eric Riesinger’s lips after getting drilled with a come backer in the mouth (15 zips).

Agassiz got a big 4-2 win over Flite. Fabian threw 5 strong for Agassiz as he left the game with a 2-0 lead. Rob Woodrow came in in relief and Flite managed to square it up at 2-2. Agassiz got 2 runs back in the bottom of the sixth and held on to win. Harv Wiens threw the complete game loss.

The Dogs edged Mission 8-7 at Centennial on Tues nite in a 7 inning affair. Mission got strong pitching but the Dogs got a timely HR from catcher Terry Folster. Josh Wiens threw a complete game in the victory.

In other action, Sumas Country Insurance edged the Chilliwack Slammers 5-4 and Ferndale beat Lynden Exxel 12-5.

Who’s In the Fraser Valley League, you ask? (more…)

Memorial Fastpitch Tournament in Prescott, AZ This Weekend

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

From the Daily Courier, Prescott AZ

Photo by The Daily Courier: Albert Mendibles Jr. (top) leads Cool Arrows into this weekend’s Memorial Fast-Pitch Tournament (click photo to enlarge).

Memorial Fast-Pitch arrives this weekend

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

After losing its spot in the rotation to Team USA, the annual Men’s Memorial Fast-Pitch Softball Classic throws its belated first pitch this weekend.

The Memorial gave its diamond time to the USA Women’s National Team for this past weekend’s exhibition appearance at Ken Lindley Field. It returns with a bracket of 12 teams this Saturday and Sunday.

Games get under way Saturday morning at Ken Lindley Field, Bill Vallely Field and Heritage Park. The bracket’s A division championship follows on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Lindley. The B division title game is Sunday at Vallely, also at 4.

The 12 teams will play three games each in pool play on Saturday. Seeding will then determine which clubs advance to the single-elimination playoffs starting Sunday morning.

Representing Prescott are men’s fast-pitch mainstays Badger Roofing and Barros Roofing, as well as Cool Arrows, Brennan Aire and Pinion Pines.

Games are scheduled every two hours at Lindley, Vallely and Heritage all day Saturday starting at 10 a.m.

All games are open to the public with no admission charge.

Rockers Make Grants Pass Newspaper

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

The local Grants Pass newspaper, the “Daily Courrier” has a nice story on the River City Rocker’s win at the Boatnik Tournament in Grants Pass, Oregon. Click here to view a PDF copy of the story, complete with color photo.

Thanks to Rob Penticoff for passing it along to us.

2008 NAFA Boatnik Memorial Day Qualifier Tournament Results

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

River City Rockers Ride Right Arm of Ed Gasper to Title

[Grants Pass, Oregon ] – Over 30,000 people attended the Boatnik Festival this weekend and most of them got to see some great fastpitch softball being played at Riverside Park and Gilbert Park. The Paul Carleton coached, River City Rockers from Sacramento successfully defended their title behind the strong arm of Ed Gasper as they defeated Terry Smiths’s, Portland Fastpitch Club and Matt Barnes on the hill. The Budweiser Clydesdales were the featured attraction and wowed the audiences. The Fly Over during the championship game at the end of the national anthem was incredible.

3 Pitchers threw no hitters, Ed Gasper, Matt Barnes and Spud Barker. One pitcher, Mark Connolly, set a Boatnik feat of pitching from both right and left handed. We successfully held our first masters division in the event. The final Standings are below with records and the All Tournament Team. There was some great pitching with Oregon greats: 69 year old Mike Trotter, Mike Warren, Morgan Mapes, Greg Soule, Dean Wescott, Kelly Richardson, Wynn Malinowski, Mark Connelly, and newcomers Marcus Darby and Brady Howe who were very impressive. Out of State Throwers were Spud Barker, Matt Barnes, Ed Gasper, Bert Ford, Russ Wedmore, Jim Carpenter, .

The field conditions were possibly the best ever with just enough rain to keep the fields soft the whole weekend. Thanks to Josh Ogle and the Grants Pass Softball Association for maintaining the fields and getting them in first class shape for us. Thanks to Announcer Paul and scorekeeper Mrs. Stout. The officiating was very good with Bruce Toney, UIC, Dayton, Greg Fowler, Bend, Dave Oliver, Coos Bay, Bob Garibaldi, Eugene, and Ed Earle, Klamath Falls. Taylor Sausages provided excellent concessions. Ken Hicks and Dwayne of InkCredible Art did a great job on the program. Thanks to the City of Grants Pass and the Grants Pass Active Club for allowing us to be part of this great festival each year. There were some great younger players there this year and one new team that should make some noise with a lot of younger guys if they stay together over the next couple years, the Southern Oregon Bandits. At one game that had 151 fans just watching their team alone. The total fan attendance was estimated at over 4,600 throughout the event with close to 600 watching Saturday night.

Champion River City Rockers, Sacramento, California, 6-0
Runner Up Portland FP Club, Portland, Oregon, 5-1
3rd Place Team Jones, Portland, Oregon, 3-2
3rd Place Brotherton Pipe, Rogue River, Oregon, 3-2
5th Place Southern Oregon Bandits, Grants Pass, Oregon, 2-3
5th Place Aces, Tule Lake, California, 1-4
7th Place Mock Ford, Grants Pass, Oregon, 1-4
8th Place Northwest Old Growth, Portland, Oregon, 2-2
9th Place Oregon Masters, Dayton, Oregon, 1-3
10th Place Mock Mazda, Grants Pass, Oregon, 0-4
11th Place NorCal Masters, Beaver, California, 1-3

Masters Division

Champion Northwest Old Growth, Portland, Oregon, 2-1
Runner Up Oregon Masters, Dayton, Oregon, 1-2
3rd Place Norcal Masters, Beaver, California, 0-3
Masters Division Most Valuable Player Gary Lyons, NW Old Growth
Men’s Division All Tournament Team
Most Valuable Pitcher, Ed Gasper, River City Rockers
Most Valuable Pitcher, Matt Barnes, Portland FP
Most Valuable Player, Mario Pararro, River City Rockers
Most Valuable Player, Rob Gehrke, Portland FP

All Tournament Team

Dave Bostic, River City Rockers
Rob Penticoff, River City Rockers
Mark Summers, River City Rockers
Jeff Farrell, Portland FP
Ryan Daley, Portland FP
Josh Agnew, Team Jones
Scott Nokes, Team Jones
Ryan Wilson, Brotherton Pipe
Kevin Ray, Brotherton Pipe
Jeff Weiss, Southern Oregon Bandits
Morgan Mapes, Southern Oregon Bandits
Pat Sorenson, Mock Ford

Central California Memorial Day Challenge

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL DAY CHALLENGE

Maui “Da Bruddah’s” Lose 1, Then Win 7 in a Row, and $1,000

Results:

Maui “Da Bruddah’s” Hayward 7-1
Mixed Company Fresno 3-2
KHT Pumpers Visalia 2-2
Santa Rosa Fastpitch Santa Rosa 2-2
Rez Dawgs Hanford 2-2
Silverhawks Bakersfield 1-2
Deadbolts Clovis 1-3
North Coast Bears Willets, CA 1-3
Big Three Painters Fresno 1-3

The Maui “Da Bruddah’s” lost their first game 9-5 to the Silverhawks and then went on to win 7 games (5 in a row on the final day) to win the $1,000 first place prize. Mixed Company moved into the championship game with an 8-4 victory over the KHT Pumpers.

The final day started with Maui getting revenge on the Silverhawks by the score of 15-4. Maui was led by the hard hitting of Shawn Ching who went 4/4 while Bryan Villanueva added a two run home run. Joe Given got the win allowing 4 runs (3 earned) nine hits and struck out 4.

Santa Rosa won their game against the Rez Dawgs in 5 innings by the score of 8-0 as Tony Lopez threw a two hitter. The hitting star was Dustin Green who was 2/3 with a 3 run homer.

Maui & Santa Rosa then played to see who would move on in the tournament. Maui jumped out to an early 7-0 led on the hitting of Scott Tomasello who had a 2 run home run with Jason Porto add a two run double in the 3rd. In the bottom of the 7th Santa Rosa started to get to Rich Rivera who had allowed only two hits going into the 7th. Santa Rosa got 5 hits in the 7th with the big one being a two out bases loaded triple by Preston Boswell and the final score was 7-4 Maui.

In the game of undefeated the Mixed Company broke open a 4-4 tie by scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th taking advantage of two key errors by the Pumpers. Final score here was Mixed Company 8, KHT Pumpers 4.

The KHT Pumpers then took on the hot Maui boys and took a 4-2 led into the 4th were Maui was able to tie the score 4-4 on a 300+ foot home run off the bat of Shawn Ching. In the Maui 5th Scott Tomasello singled, Jabari Wimbs tripled and Bryan Villanueva homered and that was the game as the Pumpers were able to only get two hits the rest of the way of Joe Given.

In the must win game for Maui, they found the going tough and a feisty Mixed Company. Maui score 6 in the bottom of the 1st by getting 6 hits off Mixed Company’s pitcher Forrest Dean as they took advantage of a key error with one out that should have been an inning ending double play and no runs in. In the top of the 2nd Mixed Company came out strong as Leland Grigsby homer to lift the emotions of Mixed Company who then took advantage of a hits batman, three errors to plate 7 runs and take a 7-6 led into the bottom of the 2nd. Maui then got the first two batters on and used a wild pitch, sacrifice fly and a single to take the led once again at 8-7. Mixed Company then tied the game once again by scoring a run in the 5th. Maui leadoff batter Jabari Wimbs was hit by the pitch, stole second moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on a ground out to shortstop which gave Maui the lead at 9-8 and the game stayed there until the bottom of the 6th. In the 6th for Maui it was a walk, single, fielder choice a sacrifice and then 4 straight hits with the key being a 2 run triple by Scott Tomasello invoked the 8 run rule and sent the tournament to the if game.

The hot hitting continued in the if game as Maui scored 2 in the first and added 6 in the second on home runs by Scott Tomasello and Joshua Woodmansee. Maui went on to invoke the run rule and win the game 10-1 and take the $1,000 first prize money while Mixed Company finished 2nd and received $400 with KHT Pumpers getting a check for $150.

Tournament MVP player went to Jabari Wimbs with a .522 batting average, scored 16 runs and had 7 RBI’s. The MVP pitcher went to Joe Given who won all 4 starts struck out 18, walked 4 and had an ERA of 2.80 in 20 innings of pitching.