Team Rainey, one of California’s premier franchises, will not be taking the field in 2007, shuttering their operations after an eight year run, including the last five at the game’s highest level, ISC World Tournament competition. The reason, as is the case so often at the upper levels, is the inability to secure sufficient financial backing. The announcement is official, coming from the team office. Watch the Morning Brief for more information and background.
Some reader reactions, posted at the California section of the Fastpitchwest Forum:
Sledgehammer22:
Reading the news of Team Rainey’s fold has come as a huge surprise to the California fastpitch scene. It is a sad day for the fastpitch world to lose such a hard working, class act of a team. Team Rainey has not only helped revitalize the California fastpitch scene, they have secured a place in history with their ability to put a lower budget team together that makes waves in the ISC World Tournament. I would personally like to thank Team Rainey executives for giving me the opportunity to play with them as well as the opportunity to learn from what they have done…..which is play as a TEAM and win as a TEAM. They will be missed as a team that brings both fans and a competitive spirit every weekend.
(click link above to read the entire post and more)
Fireman00:
I just wanted to put in my two cents about the recent news concerning Team Rainey. The core of this team is what this game is all about. Friends who play a game and have a great time doing it, not to mention that they are pretty damn good at it!!!! All players and teams should be so lucky. They took over at the ISC were the Bucks left off and had a great run. Like Sledge was saying, a budget team who ran with the big dogs and played well. Rod, Roy, Tony, and all the others, thank you for a couple of great seasons. The tournaments we went to were awesome, especially the ISC. It doesn’t get any better than that! I know you guys will still be playing somewhere, so good luck in 2007.