Veteran squad earns berth in 2011 ISC world tournament
By Andy Bader
For the first time ever, the Mitchell Mets – the longest-serving intermediate men’s fastball team in the South Perth Men’s Fastball League – have qualified for a berth in the International Softball Congress (ISC) world championships.
The squad, which has participated and won various provincial, Eastern Canadian, North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) and ISC II tournaments, earned the right to participate in the elite world championships in Quad Cities, Iowa next August 12-20 thanks to their perfect 5-0 mark in the 12-team ISC Challenge Cup this past weekend on their home field.
The Mets were never really threatened in the process, using a powerful offensive display, fine pitching and airtight defence to win two games Sunday via the mercy rule after a 3-0 start Saturday, including the final, a 9-2 thrashing of the Ingersoll Crush in five-innings. Earlier, in the semi-final, the Mets exploded for six runs in the sixth to rip Ingersoll 12-4 and earn a berth in the final of the double-knockout tournament.
A five-run first inning in the final, keyed by a two-run home run by pickup Dale Levy of the Sebringville Sting and a two-run triple by Kevin Gettler, set the tone as the Mets crushed the Crush. Fred Follings, a pickup from Shakespeare Falcons, did the rest, earning his third win of the tournament.
Kevin Pomfret pitched a two-hit shutout to lead a 3-0 win over the Kitchener Selects Saturday morning, while A.J. Moses singled twice, walked and scored two runs. Matt McGill had a pair of RBI. Follings threw a no-hitter in the Mets’ 6-1 win over Mississauga immediately thereafter, allowing only an unearned run in the fourth while striking out 10. McGill’s two-run home run keyed a four-run top of the inning. Gettler singled, walked and scored twice while Darryl Eidt had a pair of RBI’s.
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Members of the Mitchell ON Mets Championship team were:
A.J. Moses, Dennis Pauli, Steve Cook, Kevin Pomfret, Dale Levy, Kevin Quipp, Dave Falhaufer, Kevin Gettler, Bob Ward (manager). Front row (left): Kory Dietz, Jeff Pauli, Darryl Eidt, Joe Harris, Scott Lealess, Jamie Everett, Fred Follings, Bill Davidson. Absent was Matt McGill.