To borrow a phrase from Mark Twain “the reports of the demise of Team Rainey have been greatly exaggerated.” Make no mistake, it was big news to hear that longtime Team Rainey ace Travis Price was moving over to cross-town rivals, the Bombers. Along with their other ace, Tony Peeples. And starters Jason Porto, Mike Butler and Nate Devine. Not surprising then, that rumors would start to circulate that Team Rainey was folding. But the rumors were just that — Team Rainey is alive and well, having reloaded their roster for the upcoming 2005 campaign.
For their pitching staff, they’ve signed British Columbian, Bricklen Anderson, Tony Hunoff and Sonny Perkins. Anderson, who hails from Duncan, British Columbia actually pitched in a tournament with Team Rainey last year, no doubt getting notice from sponsor Rod Rainey for the way he pitched in last year’s Portland Rose Cup tournament, a 1-0 shutout of Team Rainey, and the 3-hit performance against two-time world champion ISC World Champions Broken Bow, in a 3-1 loss. We first saw “Brick” in Salem, Oregon, in 2002, when he tossed a perfect game in the NAFA World Series. He can pitch with the best of them, and will provide Team Rainey with a front line ace. Hunoff is no stranger to ISC caliber competition, having pitched for such teams as the Long Beach Painters in the 90’s. And Sonny Perkins is as dangerous at the plate as he is on the mound. Perkins notched a win over Team Rainey in last year’s ISC qualifying tournament, nearly costing them a trip to the ISC World. Perkins is one of the more talented players out west, and will get an opportunity to display his talents on a larger stage.
Team Rainey will also add a trio of players from longtime local rival, Captain Dan’s, which shuttered its operation after many years of play, adding Dwayne Fowler, Chad Hardesty and Neil Sauerheber. Hardesty is more than capable as a pitcher, should the need arise, but was signed as an outfielder. It was Hardesty that had fans talking at last year’s Red Rock tournament in St. George Utah with a monstrous home run against eventual champion (and ISC World Champion) Broken Bow. Don Didion, Captain Dan’s player/manager will get the reigns from Rod Rainey to manage the club in 2005.
Returning players will include unofficial captain Tony Acedo behind the plate, Jesse Duncan, Roy Guinaldo, Chris Hunt, Dee Nieblas, Ralph Salcido, and of course, the team’s namesake, Rod Rainey. Stan Grebeck will re-join the club after a one-year hiatus. A talented fastpitch veteran, Stan was named to the “All Decade” team for NAFA for his accomplishments from 1993-2003.
Youth will be served as well, with young Josh Hunoff joining his dad on the team, as well as Jason Obregon (“J-Rod” to his former teammates on Raymar Fastpitch). Obregon is an outstanding infielder, with great hands, good speed and a quick bat at the plate. Though only 22, Jason is almost a veteran in local fastpitch circles. More talented than his years, he will enjoy a chance to take his game to the next level. Josh Hunoff is 26, making the transition from college and semi-pro baseball where he was quite a pitcher.
There have been plenty of roster changes on both Team Rainey and the So Cal Bombers to be sure, which should make for a budding local rivalry the likes of which we have not seen since the days of the Nitehawks and the Jets, starting in just two weeks, at So Cal’s first Tournament, the Panteras Valentine’s tournament, in Norwalk, California. Wouldn’t that be a great Friday night matchup ?