Archive for October, 2008

Canada East Travel League meeting Nov 2

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Please be advised that the ISC Canada East Travel League is holding its annual State of the League meeting on Sunday November 2 at 9:00 am at the Grand Valley Golf Club in Cambridge.

See this link for directions. Any team with an interest in playing in the league in 2009 is encouraged to attend.

Available through the league in 2009 will be:
1 berth to the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions to highest placing ISC II team as of June 30, 2009.
1 berth to the 2010 ISC World Tournament to the winner of the League Playoff tournament.
1 berth to the 2010 ISC II Tournament of Champions to the highest finishing ISC II team at the League Playoff tournament.

For more information, please contact one of:

David Bakker
bakkers@teksavvy.com

Blair Setford
blairjs@rogers.com

Joe Todd
ftode739@rogers.com

Softball News Latin America

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Thanks to our friend Matt Christensen, in Omaha Nebraska for a link to this fastpitch blog in Argentina.

The introduction of the site translates roughly as follows:

Welcome to Softball News Latin America, the Spanish-language news page dedicated to the softball more important on the Web. With the firm belief that softball is growing, and that growth must be accompanied on all areas, we intend to work with this sustained growth from the communications field. Hence, our mission is to contribute to the growth of softball, reporting in our language, seriously and with transparency about what is most important is happening in the world of softball.

Nicely done.

At the blog, you’ll probably recognize Maddy’s photo of Matias Tessore, (above), pitching with Portland at this year’s Best of the West tournament. Tessore was one of the pitchers featured in our “Argentine Pitching Pipeline” story posted earlier this year.

For help translating the Spanish, try Google Translator. It’s not perfect, but a big help.

Premier Men’s Club to Host Tournament – New Zealand

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

October 25,26, 27th 2008

Greetings,

Attached are details of the Premier Men’s Club tournament that I am hosting on Labour Weekend. At present we have 8 teams attending. It is the 2nd annual running of the event and was established to introduce top level club softball back to the region. 1990 was the last time Nelson Softball hosted an invitational event of the this calibre. It is also an opportunity to host a regular event at the Saxton Field Softball Complex that is also the host to the National Under 19’s Boys tournament on January the 9th-12th 2009.

There will be 12 past or present Black Sox National Team members participating including Gareth Cook, Daniel Milne, Stephen Ratu, Paul De Latour, Darren Davies, Blair Murphy and Mike Gaiger ( Parklands Christchurch United) Clayton Ellis (Richmond Keas-CHCH) Stacy McLean, Craig Wallace( Poneke Kilbirnie- Wellington) Travis Wilson (Papanui-CHCH) and host Marty Grant (Stoke Eagles)

In 2007 PCU had a relatively easy run through the tournament and Mike Gaiger picked up the Most Valuable Player and Pitcher Awards. This year they will be tested by new entrants Poneke Kilbirnie, Richmond Keas. Papanui return as the runners up and Stoke Eagles will be looking to make their second final of the brief 2008 season to back up and improve on the 5-0 loss to Richmond Keas in the Spring Shootout in Christchurch in late September.

The tournament is the host of the only Home Run Derby Contest in the New Zealand season and will see the returning champion, and ex Waimea College student, Casey Eden return to defend his title and also play the tournament for the Stoke Eagles, as a loan player.

On Saturday night the teams will be hosted by Marty Grant and the Shooters Bar, for a private function, tickets are available at the tournament.

Games begin on Saturday morning at 9-00am and the final is scheduled for Monday at 3-00pm.

Teams.

Parklands Christchurch United (defending champions)
Stoke Eagles ( Host team)
Waimea Eagles (Nelson)
United Titans (Nelson)
Papanui (CHCH)
Richmond Keas (CHCH)
Wairau (Blenheim)
Poneke Kilbirnie (Wellington)

Any Enquiries

Marty Grant
021 490 738

Down by 7……

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Watching the Red Sox rally from down 7-0 against Tampa Bay on Thursday night, I couldn’t help think back to another team that overcame a 7 run deficit in the playoffs this year.

Push to Reinstate Men’s Fastpitch at Pan-Am Games

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

BackSoftball Campaign Enters Crucial Year
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:18am EDT GB Staff

International Softball Federation (ISF) President Don Porter said in a press release he believes the next 12 months are the most important in the history of softball as the BackSoftball campaign counts down to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Copenhagen.

Porter led a presentation at the Pan American Sports Organization General Assembly last weekend in Acapulco to re-introduce men’s softball onto the Pan American Games program after its elimination last year in Rio de Janeiro following seven consecutive prior appearances.

Porter also pledged to continue sending equipment and coaches to various countries in the Americas, as is done in other regions of the world.

The ISF last week announced the launch of the Easton Foundation Youth Softball World Cup in the Czech Republic next August, continuing the campaign’s commitment to promoting the sport to new audiences with special attention to young people and women.

Porter called the next year the “most important in our sport’s history. Hopefully we have shown the IOC how popular and successful softball can be at the Olympic Games and how much progress we have made since being taken off the Olympic program.

“Participation in the sport continues to grow at an astounding rate, with large numbers of women taking up softball, particularly in areas where sport is not so prevalent, such as the Middle East,” he said.

Also, there were international sell out crowds during the women’s fastpitch competition at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games and tickets for the competition sold out months ahead of the event. Huge television audiences tuned in to see Japan beat the defending world champion USA in the gold medal games.

There are softball events at the World Games in Taiwan, the ISF XII Men’s World Championship in Canada, the Central American Games in Honduras and the youth cup event in Prague.

The BackSoftball campaign is planning to be a major presence at several events to communicate to key stakeholders the progress it has made over the past few months.

Vancouver Signs Travis Price for 2009

Monday, October 13th, 2008



(click logo to visit official Vancouver Grey Sox website)

[Vancouver, B.C.] – The Vancouver Grey Sox are pleased to announce that pitcher Travis Price has joined the team. Price is from British Columbia but now resides in California and was recently selected for the second consecutive time to play for Team USA in the ISF World Championship. Travis pitched the last two seasons with Minndak Millers and in previous years was with SoCal Bombers and Team Rainey.

Field Manager John Stuart comments on the signing: “Travis Price is an accomplished pitcher who will be a great addition to the Grey Sox staff. And he has BC roots, which is a big plus for us”.

Conrad Margolis
Vancouver Grey Sox

Derek Mayson Returns to Vancouver for 2009

Monday, October 13th, 2008



(click logo to visit official Vancouver Grey Sox website)

Derek Mayson Returning Full-time in 2009
September 27, 2008

The Grey Sox are pleased to announce that Derek Mayson of North Vancouver is returning to the program on a full-time basis next season. Derek is expected to pitch regularly as well as play in the I/F and bat in the middle of the order.

Derek was the starter at 1B for Broken Bow in 2008, after spending the previous two seasons with the Grey Sox. In 2007 Derek was an ISC 2nd Team All-World selection and the MVP of the Canadian Nationals with the Grey Sox. Derek is also a member of Team Canada and a leader in the BC fastpitch community.

Mace Gives Oldies a Spray

Monday, October 13th, 2008


Mace Price junior is a confident young man who loves nothing more than ruffling the feathers of the old fellas to play harder.

Mace gives oldies a spray

13.10.2008

ANGELA MENTZER
It takes a brave person to play the position of catcher in softball.

The ideal player needs to be able to reach for that air ball, psych out the opposing batsman or to know what finger to pull out for that crucial team play-out in the bases.

But, more importantly, is that the catcher cannot be terrified of getting their nose broken by a speeding ball flying straight for them.

Mace Price is not scared. As catcher for Hastings softball club, the Saints B grade men’s team, Price is no ordinary catcher either because at just 13 years old, he gets to boss around every player on his team – including his captain Ken, otherwise known as Dad.

Price, a Year 9 pupil at Hastings Boys’ High School, has played the family game for as long he can remember. Despite being the shortest, smallest, youngest and most inexperienced in the Saints lineup, Price junior is a confident young man who loves nothing more than ruffling the feathers of the old fellas to play harder during a game.

Being stuck at the base of the diamond has no drawbacks for Price, who says that if anything he enjoys getting involved directly in the pressure spot of the game.

“It’s easy,’ Price said with a cheeky grin. “I control everything _ the plays, the first base and home base. There’s a lot you need to know like tactics and stuff like that but I really love it. It’s cool.’

Price also plays for his junior school softball team during the week. For the past two years he has represented Hawke’s Bay in the under-13 and under-15 grades, including time as captain during the North Island softball under-13 championships, which Hawke’s Bay won in 2007.

Maraenui Pumas premier pitcher Honemark Sinnott has recently taken Price under his wing and has been taking training sessions with him.

Playing against Flaxmere in the second round of the new season at the weekend, the team camaraderie is plain to see. It is a little strange to hear a young kid give the older guys lip where sport hierarchy is an important component.

What is also plain to see is the strong bond Price has with his Dad. After taking his kids along to softball for so many years, Price senior says he is proud to play alongside his son.

“It’s good for everyone if you play with your boy,’ Ken Price said.

After fielding first and taking Flaxmere’s three batsmen out without scoring, Dad got one up on his son and sent him out to bat up first.

“Tuck that shirt in mate you look sloppy and I’m not letting you out there looking sloppy,’ Dad quipped to son.

Price junior managed to get on base after securing a walk. On the sidelines, Captain Price cheered his son home when the next two plays took place.

“Go slick, go slick, go home,’ he said.

But it was not to be the Saints day. Price managed to score as well as get on base in three out of his four attempts – the best of the entire team. Unfortunately they lost 10-2.

ISF Junior Men’s World Championships Featured in Latest Issue of Softball Magazine

Monday, October 13th, 2008

The latest issue of Softball Magazine (“The Sports Illustrated of Softball”) is out on newstands and includes Fastpitchwest’s feature story on the 2008 ISF Junior Men’s World Championships, held in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada earlier this year, “G’day for Gold”.

The magazine has a new printer doing their work, and the results are dramatic. Maddy’s full color photos that accompany the story “pop” off the pages. If you don’t subscribe, but want to, click here for more information. Since 2004, the magazine has included regular features on men’s fastpitch, including the AAU, Red Rock, Rose Cup, ISC and ISC II tournaments, and special features like the current one on the ISF Jr. Worlds and the Texaco Pirates tournament in the Bahamas.

If you want to get your hands on a copy of the latest issue, you can send a self-addressed stamped envelope (about $3.00 worth of U.S. postage), to Fastpitchwest, PO Box 961, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.

Past features from Fastpitchwest published in the magazine can be viewed by clicking the “Softball Magazine” menu button on our website, or directly, here. (Give the pages a little time to load, as the full color PDF’s are large files)

Information on where to find “Softball Magazine” below the jump.

(more…)

‘Big Chap’ Still the Man

Monday, October 13th, 2008


(click logo for original story)

[HAWKES BAY, NEW ZEALAND] –

Story by Shane Hurnell

Sport Today would understand if Rayner Te Wake would take things a little easier on the Hawke’s Bay premier men’s softball scene.

But it’s not the Fast Pitch premier men’s player-coach’s style. After 24 years of play at this level the “Big Chap’ (Te Wake’s nickname) is still the man.

Te Wake, 41, batted .1000 with an automatic home run as his troops beat the other previously unbeaten side, Saints, 7-2 at Akina Park, Hastings on Saturday. During his time on the mound he struck out seven of the 18 batters he faced while conceding five hits and one walk.

But don’t be fooled into believing Fast Pitch is a one-man band. It’s obvious Te Wake’s enthusiasm is fueled by the progress being made by the youngsters under his command. Youngsters such as national under-19 champion Cameron Willis. The short stop picked three walks with the bat and on defence took one out.

Former Junior Black Sox utility Te Rangi Chadwick took an out in the centre outfield and collected two hits and a walk with the bat. Te Wake would have been impressed with the rundowns his young infielders produced.

They had to as Saints out hit Fast Pitch 5-3. Saints used two pitchers in the game.

Kevin Papuni struck out two of the 16 batters he faced while conceding five earned runs.

Junior Black Sox utility Jovaan Hanley struck out two of the nine batters he faced while conceding three walks.

Dodgers beat Maraenui Pumas 4-0 in the other premier men’s battle played at Taradale. Short stop Josh Gettins collected two hits from three turns for Dodgers including a three bagger.

Junior Black Sox catcher Campbell Makea and first baseman Joachim Paul also collected two hits from three turns. Napier Boys’ High School’s Dillon Kiwara, in his first premier match since switching from cricket, collected Dodgers other hit.

Former Junior Black Sox pitcher Tamihana Hokianga struck out 11 of the 24 Pumas batters he faced while conceding two walks and two hits.

Pumas pitcher Hau Hunga Hunga did well to restrict Dodgers to eight hits in his second full game of the day on the mound. He has earlier played for the Pumas B side in a 5-2 loss to Taradale.

Considering he is a “master’ this is a mighty feat so early in the season.

The promoted Dodgers Red side beat Taradale 13-3 in the only premier women’s match played.