(Granite Mt. at Prescott, AZ – click photo to enlarge)
Editor’s notes on the upcoming ASA “C” Nationals this weekend in Prescott, AZ
Santa Rosa finished fourth in last year’s ASA “C” National, going 6-2 in the process. They recently knocked off NAFA “A” runner-up, Fat City, and have battled Fat City and Da Bruddah’s for Northern California dominance. Santa Rosa and Da Bruddahs figure to go deep into the bracket. Santa Rosa has relied on great pitching, while Da Bruddahs rack up the runs. Will Marcus Tan be with Da Bruddah’s? Can any team compete with Da Bruddah’s post game spread of food?
Piper Lake, Kansas is a perennial contender in the ASA “C” division, finishing 3rd at Killeen, TX in last year’s national, with an 8-2 record, improving on their 5th place finish in 2005 with a 5-2 record.
Brotherton, Oregon, should be among the favorites. In 2006, the team (Brotherton/Global Pac) finished 9th in the ASA “B” Nationals with a 4-2 record. Global Pac nearly won it all in the 2005 ASA “C” Nationals, finishing second to PA Power in Stockton, in a tournament loaded with upper division players, including ISC World Tournament player Darren Zechman, who won the MVP on the championship team, PA Power, of Pennsylvania that year. They are back in the ASA “C” division, after a 4-2 record at the 2006 ASA “B”. The rumored pitching staff on this year’s Brotherton team will be Kelly Richardson, and Morgan Mapes, both NAFA “AA” pitchers in 2007, re-classified to A-Major for this year, as well as the ageless wonder, Mike Trotter.
Last year’s ASA “C” champion, Tatis, hailed from El Paso, Texas. They don’t show up on the list this year, though there is one team coming from Texas, the Manor Dirt Bags. Manor is about 8 hours east of El Paso, outside of Austin and Round Rock (home to Dell Computers). The Dirt Bags were bidding to get into the ISC II Tournament of Champions this year, though did not qualify when they played at the Best of the West. (The two bids went to the River City Rockers and Innovative Communications). Manor is rumored to be bringing Rick Barker, a NAFA “AA” pitcher this year. Manor finished 17th in last year’s ASA “C” National, going 1-2.
Among the So Cal teams, San Diego Primetime figures to be among the strongest, having played in the upper division of the SCIFL during the past season. Dan Zupp is into his 50’s but still throwing well. Dan and Mitch Mendenhall give them a good one-two punch. Both pitchers were bumped up to the California “B” pitching list, during the wholesale So Cal changes following the 2005 season, but dropped back down to “C” this season.
The Panteras II also figure to be in the hunt. They won the lower division of the SCIFL this year, edging out the So Cal Hustlers, and just finished a good run at the NAFA “A”, winning their first two games, and finishing 3-2.
The Colorado Rage was an ISC II team through 2006, so plenty of upper level experience if they bring that roster or a portion of that roster.
Not sure if Lonnie Brooks will be with Badger Roofing, AZ, but he is always tough, pitching his team to a Master’s title at Prescott a couple of years ago. The Arizona boys seem to thrive on the Arizona heat.
New Mexico is coming 7 strong to Prescott, with a number of teams and players having competed in the ASA “B” division in recent years. The Alburquerque Bulls and Las Cruces Wolf Pack have competed well in ASA “B” level tournaments out west. Not clear if any of the Las Cruces Titans will be with the Wolf Pack or Shockers, but the Titans finished 9th in last year’s ASA “B” National and third the year before. The Wolf Pack finished 7th in last year’s ASA “C” National.
Rarely will you find an ASA “C” National without a Pennsylvania team playing on the final day or two. Landis Supermarkets played in the ASA “B” National last year (though struggling to an 0-3 record), but finished 13th in 2006 with a 3-2 record. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen them play in the “C” division. Eagle AA finished 7th in the 2006 ASA “C” National.
Twin Pine, PA finished 9th in the ASA “C” Nationals, the last three years, (2005-2007), going 6-2 at Stockton in 2005.
Salt Lake City UT has generated loads of talent. Haven’t seen the rosters for the three coming to Prescott, but have to figure one of them loaded for bear.
South Carolina Tornados Spartanburg SCis another team that dropped down to the “C” division after playing in last year’s ASA “B” National (going 1-3).
How about Katman Sports East Wareham MA coming 2,679 miles across the continent to play in this one? Somebody take those guys to the Palace Saloon and buy them a cold one 🙂
No slights intended by omitting any teams here — this report just based on information available on past Nationals, what I’ve see, or heard. If you have some info on a team, send me an email, jim (at) fastpitchwest.com .
Who will be the Cinderella team(s)?
Which roster will court controversy?
Who will be around come the final day?
Who will spend the final days at the Palace Saloon?