{"id":1348,"date":"2006-10-15T14:49:46","date_gmt":"2006-10-15T22:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/?p=1348"},"modified":"2006-10-17T08:54:09","modified_gmt":"2006-10-17T16:54:09","slug":"california-challenge-full-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/?p=1348","title":{"rendered":"California Challenge – Full Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nCatcher Jeff Twist delivered in the clutch once again, driving in the game winner for the South. (click photo to enlarge)<\/em><\/p>\n

South Tops North in “California Challenge”, Best-of-Three All Star Series <\/strong><\/p>\n

First Ever California Challenge All Star Series Does Indeed End with a Twist*<\/p>\n

*As part of the “Pick-the-Winner Poll” at Fastpitch, voters could also post comments. One proved to be Nostradamus-like with this one, posted 5 days before the event:<\/p>\n

can bakersfield end with a Twist? 10\/09\/06 10:17:17 AM MST<\/em><\/p>\n

[BAKERSFIELD, CA<\/a>] The California Lumberkings hosted the first ever
\n“California Challenge”, a best-of-three All Star Series boasting most
\nof the best players in California. (rosters below). The event was
\nheaded up by Lumberkings manager David Weldin, assisted by players
\nBrian Teeters, Greg Hicks and other members of the team. Nate Devine
\nhelped assemble the roster for the North. Half of the players on
\neach squad were from ISC World team rosters, while the other half were ISC II level players.<\/p>\n

ISC Top 10 team, the So Cal Bombers saw their pitching staff split up,
\nwith Tony Peeples going to the North, and Travis Price to the South.
\nThe North added A-1 Tank’s Ed Gaspar, while the South added Portland’s Mark Bennett (who resides in Santa Barbara, Southern California).<\/p>\n

The All Star series was held at Dave Frye Field in Bakersfield, CA,
\nwith longtime ISC booster Dave Frye throwing out the first pitch to
\nformer Dave Frye catcher, and present day ISC broadcaster, Ron
\nChambers. Bakersfield, CA was a hotbed of fastpitch during the 1970’s
\nand 1980’s, with Dave Frye and Ed Smith Welding among their top teams.
\n The area is undergoing a fastpitch revival with the California Lumberkings bringing the sport back front and center.<\/p>\n

The California Challenge All Star event included special All-Star
\njerseys provided by the Lumberkings’ Brian Teeters, navy blue for the
\nNorth and red for the south, with a Bar-B-Q and ticket and T-shirt
\nsales providing a fund raiser for the California Lumberkings, who hope
\nto return to the ISC II Tournament of Champions in Kitchener, Ontario,
\nCanada, where they advanced to the second round of the playoffs in
\n2006.<\/p>\n

*A “Pick-the-Winner” poll was held at Fastpitchwest.com in the days
\nleading up to the event, with the voting neck-and-neck until the final
\ntally of 113 to 103 favoring the North.<\/p>\n

The best-of-three series was scheduled as a Saturday night
\ndoubleheader, with a single game Sunday, “if necessary”. As it
\nturned out, Game 3 was necessary.<\/p>\n

The two teams proved to be very evenly matched, trading 6-5 wins in
\nGames 1 and 2 Saturday, with Sunday’s rubber match to decide the
\nwinner. Through 7 innings, it was tied 1-1, sending the game into the
\ninternational tie breaker. The North loaded the bases with nobody
\nout, but the South dodged the bullet and escaped. In the home half of
\nthe 8th inning, the Lumberkings’ Shawn Mandolesi took his place at
\nsecond base, and came home to score the game — and series — winner, on an RBI single by South catcher Jeff Twist.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

After trading 6-5 wins, the North and South All Stars squared off in a
\ndeciding game 3 on Sunday morning at 10am. At the end of regulation,
\nthe two teams were tied, 1-1. With the international tie breaker in
\neffect, the North failed to score in the top of the 8th. In the bottom
\nof the 7th, Shawn Mandolesi took a spot at second base. With a flair
\nfor the dramatic, South Catcher Jeff Twist (California Lumberkings)
\nstroked an RBI single for the game winner. Key to the South’s win was
\ngetting out of two bases-loaded-nobody out jams. In the 4th it was
\nMark Bennett, while in the top of the 8th, it was eventual winning
\npitcher, Travis Price. The South came back to win the nightcap 6-5
\n(the same score as the North won Game 1 by), so there will be a rubber
\nmatch to decide the 2006 California (All Star) Challenge at 10am
\nSunday morning, at Dave Frye Field in Bakersfield.<\/p>\n

GAME 1 – Oct 14, 2006 – 4:30pm
\nNorth 6, South 5<\/strong>
\nSummary: North scores 4 in the bottom of the 7th to win. All 5 runs
\nscored by the South driven in by Lumberkings Brian Teeters (3-run HR)
\nand Shawn Mandolesi (2 run HR)<\/p>\n

Starting pitchers: Tony Peeples (Bombers) for the North;
\nMark Bennett (Portland) for the South<\/p>\n

Scoring:<\/p>\n

North, B3: Todd Garcia (Rainey) RBI single; North leads 1-0<\/p>\n

South, T4: Paul Rosebush, (The Farm) bunt single; Todd Budke (The
\nFarm) HBP; Brian Teeters, (Cal Lumberkings) opposite-field 3-Run
\nHomer. South leads 3-1.<\/p>\n

South, T7: Shawn Mandolesi (Cal Lumberkings\/Taylor Farms), 2 run HR,
\nSouth leads 5-2.<\/p>\n

North, B7: South pitching change, Travis Price (Bombers) replaces Mark
\nBennett (Portland)
\nZack Abernathy and another both reach base; Jeff Reich (Portland)
\n2-run triple, South lead cut to 5-4; Jeff Reich (Portland) scored on
\nWP, score tied, 5-5. Steve Pinnochio (Bombers) walked, stole second,
\nreached third on wild pitch, scored on passed ball. Game over, North
\nwins 6-5.<\/p>\n

WP- Tony Peeples, (Bombers) went the distance;
\nLP – Travis Price, (Bombers) in relief of Mark Bennett (Portland)
\nHR – Brian Teeters (Cal Lumberkings), South; Shawn Mandolesi (Cal
\nLumberkings\/Taylor Farms), South.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

GAME 2 – Oct 14, 2006 – 7:30pm
\nSouth 6, North 5<\/strong>
\nWP-Travis Price (Bombers) South
\nLP-Ed Gaspar (A-1 Tank) North
\nHR-Todd Garcia (Rainey), North<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

GAME 3 – Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 – 10am
\nSouth 2, North 1, 8 innings<\/strong>
\nWP-Travis Price (Bombers) (4) in relief of Mark Bennett (Portland)
\nLP-Tony Peeples (Bombers)
\nHR-Paul Rosebush (The Farm), South.
\nGame winning run scored in the bottom of the 8th on RBI single by Jeff
\nTwist (Lumberkings\/Taylor Farms)<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

2006 “CALIFORNIA CHALLENGE” ALL STAR ROSTERS
\n(with their 2006 team shown)<\/p>\n

NORTH ROSTER:<\/p>\n

1. Zack Abernathy INF A-1 Tank\/River City Rocker
\n2. Dave Bostick INF River City Rockers
\n3. Eddie Brooks 1B IAC
\n4. Mike Butler INF SoCal Bombers
\n5. NateDevine OF SoCal Bombers
\n6. Todd Garcia C Team Rainey
\n7. Ed Gaspar P A-1 Tank\/River City Rockers
\n8. Korey Krueg INF A-1 Tank
\n9. Joel Manfredi C IAC
\n10. Tony Peeples P SoCal Bombers
\n11. Steve Pinocchio INF SoCal Bombers
\n12. Jason Porto OF SoCal Bombers
\n13. Jeff Reich OF Portland DeMarini
\n14. Mark Santillano INF Portland DeMarini
\n15. Mark Sommers DH River City Rockers
\n16. Bobby Smith OF Romie’s Angels
\n17. Dan Winnick OF SoCal Bombers<\/p>\n

SOUTH ROSTER:<\/p>\n

1. Travis Price-SoCal Bombers
\n2. Mark Bennett-Portland DeMarini
\n3. Todd Budke-The Farm
\n4. Paul Rosebush-The Farm
\n5. Chris Hunt-Team Rainey
\n6. Stan Grebeck-Team Rainey
\n7. Rod Rainey-Team Rainey
\n8. Jesse Duncan-Team Rainey
\n9. Brian Teeters-LumberKings
\n10. Carlos Flores-LumberKings
\n11. Troy Parker-LumberKings
\n12. Shawn Mandolesi-LumberKings\/Taylor Farms
\n13. Jeff Twist-Taylor Farms\/Lumberkings
\n14. Kevin Castillo-Young Bucks
\n15. Jose Sandoval-Rude Pac
\n16. Chris Minogue-Black Sox<\/p>\n

A big thank you to the California Lumberking’s David Weldin for
\nproviding timely reporting during and after each game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Catcher Jeff Twist delivered in the clutch once again, driving in the game winner for the South. (click photo to enlarge) South Tops North in “California Challenge”, Best-of-Three All Star Series First Ever California Challenge All Star Series Does Indeed End with a Twist* *As part of the “Pick-the-Winner Poll” at Fastpitch, voters could also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,4,15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1348"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1348\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/morningbrief\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}