(click logo to visit the official ISF XII World Championships website)

The following is the second in a series of team previews for the 2009 ISF World Championships that begins later this week. The USA squad opens the tournament Friday night, July 17 against the reigning world champions, the New Zealand Black Sox.

From the USA Softball website:

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Although the USA Softball Men’s National Fast Pitch Team is one of the most decorated in the world, it has been 21 years since the Americans stood atop the World Championship podium. Team USA aims to change that July 17-27 when they compete at the 2009 International Softball Federation Men’s World Softball Championship in Saskatoon, Canada.

“I think we’ve got a good mix of guys that will make us competitive with the best teams in the world,” coach Pete Turner (Stockton, Calif.) said. “We have some great hitters but if our bats are struggling, it’s not game over for us. We have a strong pitching staff that I think can carry us through.”

The squad will be led by pitchers Terry Luster (Bunceton, Mo.), Travis Price (Corona, Calif.) and Paul Koert (Brooklin, Ontario). Also competing are Frank DeGroat Jr. (Ringwood, N.J); Chris Delarwelle (Forestville, Wis.); Nate Devine (Sonora, Calif.); Don Garvey (Appleton, Wis.); Paul Koert (Brooklin, Ontario); Adam LaLonde (Ashland, Ky.); Kyle Magnusson (Minot, N.D.); Tyron McKinney (Asland, Ohio); Blake Miller (Kingsville, Texas); Daryn Miller (Creve Coeur, Ill.); Matt Palazzo (Des Moines, Iowa); Stephen Pinocchio (Jamestown, Calif.); Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, N.Y.); Marcus Tan (Union City, Calif.) and Chase Turner (Stockton, Calif.).

The 17 men are part of a program that has won five gold medals (1966, 1968, 1976, 1980 and 1988), one silver (1972) and three bronze (1984, 1992 and 2000). In 2004, the last time the World Championships were contested, Team USA finished a disappointing fourth.

“Not winning a medal was a little shocking to us to be quite honest,” Turner said. “We were cruising through the pool play but when we got to the playoffs, I think we kind of got ahead of ourselves and lost control of the situation. Before we knew it, we were out of contention and asking what just happened. I don’t think any of us want to feel that way again.”

Team USA starts the 2009 World Championships by going against the one of the best teams, five-time World Champion New Zealand, which has won the last three World titles (1996, 2000 and 2004), when pool play kicks off July 17. Also competing in Saskatoon are 2004 World silver medalists Canada and bronze medalists Australia, although the United States will not face those teams in pool play.

“There is going to be a lot of competition in Saskatoon. There are a lot of countries with a lot of talent,” Turner said. “But what happened in 2004 doesn’t determine what is going to happen here in 2009 so it’s a clean slate for everyone. We’re going to go out there and play our hardest every day like we would have if we were the defending World Champions.”

The other pool play matches for Team USA are with Denmark on July 18; Japan on July 19; Philippines on July 20; Botswana on July 21; Great Britain on July 22; and Mexico on July 23. The World playoffs are July 24-25 with the medal rounds on July 26. Following the bronze medal game at noon, two teams will play for the 2009 International Softball Federation World Men’s Softball Championship title at 3 p.m. in the Bob Van Impe Stadium.

As a tune-up for the 2009 World Men’s Championship, the men competed in four exhibition games in Salem, Va., going undefeated against the Virginians (Salem, Va.) and Keatings (Pa.) Fitness Center.

“I am happy with the results. The guys played real well (against the Virginians and Keatins) so it was a great tune-up for the World Championships,” Turner said. “I am happy with the way that they were hitting the ball out there. And our pitching staff did exactly what we wanted, putting up zeros on the board. I really think this is one of the strongest men’s teams that we’ve had in a while.”

The team will hold exhibitions July 15-16 against the Philippines, Saskatoon Diamondbacks and Bruno Merchants in Saskatoon. “These games are just tune-ups to get everyone playing together as a team, to get everyone understanding their roles and responsibilities before we get into Worlds,” Turner said.

For more information about Worlds, visit:
www.2009worldsmensfastpitch.com.

2009 Men’s Fast Pitch National Team Schedule
World Men’s Fast Pitch Championships

July 15
Philippines (Ex.)
Saskatoon, Canada

July 15
Saskatoon Diamondbacks (Ex.)
Saskatoon, Canada

July 16
Bruno Merchants (Ex.)
Saskatoon, Canada

July 17 – OPENING NIGHT
New Zealand
Saskatoon, Canada

July 18
Denmark
Saskatoon, Canada

July 19
Japan
Saskatoon, Canada

July 20
Philippines
Saskatoon, Canada

July 21
Botswana
Saskatoon, Canada

July 22
Great Britain
Saskatoon, Canada

July 23
Mexico
Saskatoon, Canada

July 24-27
Pending (Playoffs)
Saskatoon, Canada

USA ROSTER
Click here for individual player profiles.

Adam LaLonde
Blake Miller
Chase Turner
Chris DeLarwelle
Daryn Miller
Don Garvey
Frank DeGroat, Jr.
Kyle Magnusson
Landy Rodriguez
Marcus Tan
Matt Palazzo
Nate Devine
Paul Koert
Stephen Pinocchio
Terry Luster
Travis Price
Tyron McKinney
Head Coach Peter Turner
Asst Coach Thad Brown
Asst. Coach Avon Meacham

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am and is filed under ASA, ISF, Teams. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.