Archive for August, 2010

Fawcetts split first two games at national fast pitch championship

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010


(click logo for original news story)

The Gahan House Bud Lights Fawcetts are 1-1 after the opening day of the 10-team Canadian senior men’s fast pitch championship at the Central fields in Charlottetown.

The Fawcetts rode some timely hitting to a 5-1 decision over the Glace Bay Mets of Nova Scotia in the opener, but were beaten 10-3 in five innings by the defending champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins of Ontario in the marquee game of the evening in front of an estimated 1,800 fans.

Fawcetts coach Doug Hines had already forgotten about the setback to Kitchener while his troops were packing up after the loss.

“It’s a long week and you have to have a short memory,’’ Hines said. “We’ve got to come back (today) and get two wins.

“It’s a nine-game round-robin and not too many teams are going to come in and dominate from Game 1 to Game 9.’’

The hosts take on the Owen Sound Selects of Ontario today at 1 p.m., then square off with the Fredericton Coors Light Twins at 6:30 p.m.

(click logo above for rest of original news story)

Elks split games with Ontario teams at Canadian nationals

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010


(click logo for original news story)

CHARLOTTETOWN – The Brookfield Elks split their pair of games Tuesday at the 2010 Canadian Senior Men’s Fastpitch Championship in Charlottetown.

The Elks dropped a 5-4 decision in eight innings to the defending champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins after laying a 7-0 beating on Owen Sound.

The results move the Elks to 2-3 at the event with games today against NL2 at 1 p.m. and the hosts at 6:30 p.m.

Cory Avery suffered the loss to Kitchener, allowing nine hits and striking out five in five innings. Scott Wagar came on in relief.


(click logo above for thge rest of the original news story)

Stronzos takes 10th Fastpitch championship

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

From Pioneer Local/Glencoe

MEN’S SOFTBALL — Celebrating its 35th year in the Winnetka Men’s Fastpitch Softball League, Stronzos won its 10th championship in exciting fashion over defending champion Kahunas at the Skokie Playfields. Stronzos won the championship game in the extra innings with Brett Synek crossing the plate on an errant throw by the Kahunas’ second basemen.

Stronzos have a number of father-son combinations in the lineup, including Rich Synek and sons Brett and Mike Synek, Bruce and Walter Lyon, and John McGuiness and Conor.

Team members also include Lou Harrison, Scott Mohr, Charlie Ieuter, Doug Shabelman, Chris Malec, Marc Goldenberg, Rashad Kurtz, Joe Perona, Kevin Koeneman, Ryan Graham, Bruce Lyon, Fred Cohen and Howard Buckner.

AAU 2011 – 40 teams and counting

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Click here to view list of teams, at Al’s Fastball.

Note from Alex:

We have reached # 40 …. every team from here on goes on a waiting list… It is so early yet that chances are that more than one team will drop out. For teams wanting to come, please send me the intent form so you’ll be top on the list.

Current list, by country:

USA (17)
Venezuela (12)
Canada (9)
Spain (1)
Mexico (1)

Fourteen of the 40 are Spanish speaking countries (Venezuela, Spain and Mexico). I can hear Cristian Lacout and Softball Radio coming ’round the bend.

AAU International 2011

AAU International Men’s Fastpitch
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
January 20 – 23, 2011

Send your Intent to participate form if you’d like to reserve a spot.
Alex Linares: 407- 828-5602              407- 828-5602      
alex@aausports.org

2010 European Men’s Cup Photos

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010


Some great photos of the 2010 European Men’s Cup, shot by Franco Bagattini of Italy, pictured above.

They’re posted on Facebook, so you have to be logged in to see them, and a friend or fan of Franco.

No. 27 Retires

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Give you three guesses:


(click to enlarge)

Story after the jump.

(more…)

2010 Sr. Canadians – Day 3 – Tues. Aug 31

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Follow the tournament on Twitter.


(click logo for official website)

Standings after 2 days.

Team Name Games Played Wins Losses

DC 4 4 0
NL1 5 4 1
NL2 4 3 1
ON 4 2 2
HOST 4 2 2
NS2 3 1 2
NS1 3 1 2
QC 4 1 3
NS3 4 1 3
NB 5 1 4

TODAY’S GAMES
8/31/2010 10:00:00 19 2 ON 0 NL1
8/31/2010 11:00:00 20 1 DC 0 NB
8/31/2010 12:00:00 21 2 NL2 0 QC
8/31/2010 13:00:00 22 1 NS3 0 HOST
8/31/2010 14:00:00 23 2 ON 0 NS1
8/31/2010 15:00:00 24 1 NL1 0 NS2
8/31/2010 17:00:00 25 2 DC 0 NS1
8/31/2010 18:30:00 26 1 NL2 0 HOST
8/31/2010 20:30:00 27 1 NS2 0 NS3

ASA “C” East

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

In the green green hills of Kentucky

From the PA Fastpitch blog:

“C” Nationals Team List
2010 ASA Men’s Class “C” East Fastpitch National Championship Team List •
——————————————————————————–

Team Name Location

Anderson Lawmen Anderson, IN
Ashland ASW Ashland, OH
Atlanta Blast Milton, GA
BBK Fastpitch Wyomissing, PA
Bedford Rays Fast Reading, PA
Buster’s Clearfield, PA
Capitals Westerville, OH
Cobras Millington, TN
CPI Classics Oswego, NY
Elite Coach Hoffman’s Reading, PA
Elkins Brothers Tree Service Terre Haute, IN
GEO Per Houston, TX
Jack Daniels Fastpitch Columbus, OH
Jefferson City Fast Pitch Jefferson, MO
Log Cabin Villa Grove, IL
Marysville VFW Fast Maysville, PA
Memphis Dawgs Nesbit, MS
Oetman Excavating Wayland, MI
Piper Lake Club Shawnee, KS
Rare Breed Dryrdge, KY
Richpond Hardware Bowling Green, KY
SC Tornados Spartanburg, SC
Sedutto’s Swashbucklers Staton Island, NY
Shorty’s Reading, PA
Smalltown Fastpitch Benton Harbor, MI
Villa Grove Hurricanes Villa Grove, IL
Wabash Crush Wabash, IN
Wabash Valley Restoration Wabash, IN
Willow Street Tire & Auto Quarryville, PA
Wizards of OZ Kansas Brookfield, MO
Jack Slotta Memorial Dublin, OH

Editor’s note: Thirty-one (31) teams, if you’re counting.

By State:

PA (7)
BBK Fastpitch Wyomissing, PA
Bedford Rays Fast Reading, PA
Buster’s Clearfield, PA
Marysville VFW Fast Maysville, PA
Elite Coach Hoffman’s Reading, PA
Willow Street Tire & Auto Quarryville, PA
Shorty’s Reading, PA

OH (4)
Ashland ASW Ashland, OH
Capitals Westerville, OH
Jack Daniels Fastpitch Columbus, OH
Jack Slotta Memorial Dublin, OH

IN (4)
Anderson Lawmen Anderson, IN
Wabash Crush Wabash, IN
Wabash Valley Restoration Wabash, IN
Elkins Brothers Tree Service Terre Haute, IN

NY (2)
CPI Classics Oswego, NY
Sedutto’s Swashbucklers Staton Island, NY

MO (2)
Jefferson City Fast Pitch Jefferson, MO
Wizards of OZ Kansas Brookfield, MO

MI (2)
Smalltown Fastpitch Benton Harbor, MI
Oetman Excavating Wayland, MI

IL (2)
Log Cabin Villa Grove, IL
Villa Grove Hurricanes Villa Grove, IL

KY (2)
Rare Breed Dryrdge, KY
Richpond Hardware Bowling Green, KY

GA (1)
Atlanta Blast Milton, GA

TN (1)
Cobras Millington, TN

TX (1)
GEO Per Houston, TX

MS (1)
Memphis Dawgs Nesbit, MS

KS (1)
Piper Lake Club Shawnee, KS

SC (1)
SC Tornados Spartanburg, SC

US Midwest Fastball All-Star Event

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

ATTENTION ALL ILLINOIS COACHES AND PLAYERS:

We will be hosting an Illinois vs. Wisconsin All-Star Event (4-game series) in Decatur, IL the weekend of September 25-26, 2010. The purpose of this event this year is to run a relatively informal event from which to grow and build on for years to come.

The original idea stemmed from some road time and late night discussions with my Aurora teammates Jim Pecoraro and Mark Kleffner. I took the idea to some fastpitch leaders from across the state of Illinois to get their feedback on the potential value of such an event. The real goal is to have a 7-12 team tournament following next year’s ISC World Tournament… tentatively scheduled for mid-late September 2011.

This would include an All-Star team from the Midwest states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, and Indiana as well as North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Ohio if possible. The key for each roster is that each player literally lives, works, or goes to school in the state they represent. The Illinois selection committee has discussed reserving 2-3 slots for players age 23 and under.

However, the intention is not to make this a developmental or legends tournament—we will certainly discuss adding a 23U & Masters Divisions if the basic format is a success and can handle growth. For now however, we want each team to consist of the best players from each state at the time of the tournament.

Disclaimer: Before anyone gets too carried away playing devil’s advocate or raising obvious concerns about this event be-it politics in the selection process, financial requirements, or residency restrictions; I would like to stress that we will have the entire year following this year’s event to formalize this event to ensure it is a success. The focus right now is to make sure the two-state (IL vs. WI) event takes place in 2010 so we can build on it next year.
The Illinois selection committee for 2010 has already compiled a list of about 40 potential all-star players using the ISC All-World, ASA Major All-American, NAFA Open All-Tournament, and Illinois All-State selections. The thought right now is to automatically invite anyone who made all-tournament at the ISC World Tournament, ASA Major, or NAFA Open to play on this year’s IL All-Star Team. Further, All-State selections will be automatically added to the list of potential invites.

AND NOW IS WHERE YOU CAN HELP! First, please e-mail me at Dave.M.Perkins(at) wellsfargo.com if you were an all-tournament selection at the ISC WT, ASA Major, NAFA Open, or Illinois A/Open State Tournament. I want to make sure we don’t miss anyone. Second, any coaches from ANY LEVEL TEAM in the state please send us the names of any players that you believe right now are one of the top 20 players in the state. We will not be selecting more than 2-3 players from a single team in the state. It would be helpful to include a brief bio about any player you send in case members of the selection committee have not had the privilege of seeing him play. Also, please include both your contact information and the contact information of the players you are recommending for consideration.

We will cut off all entries by midnight next Monday, September 6, 2010—Labor Day. This will give the selection committee enough time to rank all the players, make the initial 20 selections (4 pitchers, 16 position players of which 2-3 will be 23U), and contact the players as to their availability leading up to the event. I would like to note that this is simply the way the Illinois committee has decided to approach things for 2010. Wisconsin will be handling their selection however they see fit.

Lastly, I would like to stress that this tournament will be both a great honor and a solid vehicle for promotion of the game. This event currently has no affiliation with any governing fastpitch body and has not ulterior motive but to run an entertaining, successful event in 2010! Although I play for Aurora, I live in Missouri. I myself am not eligible to play in this year’s event and am therefore an unbiased party. I am very excited about the potential for fastpitch leaders from all of the Midwest states to open the lines of communication beyond scheduling tournaments or picking up players. Hopefully this event will get us talking about such topics as: domestic player/pitcher development, promotion of the game, what has worked for different states/teams/organizations… what hasn’t? Currently, it seems the pros outweigh the cons for such an event. It is a unique way to promote and hopefully grow the game of fastpitch in the U.S. We’ll start with Illinois versus Wisconsin this year, make the appropriate adjustments, and hopefully run a great event in September 2011.

Thank you in advance for your recommendations for the 2010 Illinois All-Star Team!

Dave “Hooda” Perkins
Dave.M.Perkins(at)wellsfargo.com

Venue inspection for 2011 Junior Women’s World Softball Championships

Monday, August 30th, 2010

[Cape Town South Africa] – Delegates of the International Softball Federation, the Executive Committee of Softball South Africa, members of the Western Province Softball Federation and City of Cape Town officials, will conduct a venue inspection for the Junior Women’s World Softball Championships to be held in Athlone in December 2011

A delegation dinner will follow the inspection where Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Councillor Brett Herron, will officiate.

The event is run by the International Softball Federation and is hosted by Softball South Africa and the Western Province Softball Federation in Cape Town.

The Secretary-General of the International Softball Federation, Ms. Low Beng Choo and the Competition Director, Ms. Laurie Gouthro, are amongst those who will attend the venue inspection.

Turfhall site inspection
Date: Sunday 29 August
Time: 16:00
Venue: Turfhall Sports Complex, Belthorne Estate, Athlone

Delegation Dinner
Date: Sunday 29 August
Time: 19:00
Venue: Mayoral Suite, Athlone Stadium, Cross Boulevard, off Klipfontein Road, Athlone

All media are welcome to attend.

In 2007, the Western Province Softball Federation won the bid to host the 2011 Junior Women’s World Softball Championships (Under-19). The City of Cape Town played a major role in the bid and pledged its support to assist with the competition.

Major upgrades are currently underway at the Turfhall Sports Complex in Athlone, which houses the softball stadium.

The event will see 16 countries participating, including South Africa and current champions, the USA. It is expected to generate an unprecedented level of interest and exposure within the sporting industry.

Hosting this competition could be a forerunner to hosting the senior championships in the future. South Africa has a proven track record for hosting major international sporting events. Besides successfully welcoming the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cupâ„¢, South Africa has hosted a number of other high-profile international sporting events, including the Cricket and Rugby World Cups, the UCBI Cycling World events, the FIVB Beach Volleyball, and the 20-20 Cricket World Cup, amongst others. This tournament seeks to build on that success, ensuring that Cape Town remains a sporting destination of choice in the world.

Think maybe Shakira will reprise her “Waka Waka” video for fastpitch?

(click to enjoy)