[PALM SPRINGS, CA 3/17/04] - Fifteen teams will be on hand in Palm Springs March 19-20, 2005 to open the So Cal ASA Alliance season.   The season was originally slated to begin on March 5-6 in Santa Fe Springs, but cancelled due to rain.  The league will have a "new look" for 2005, with two of its top team bumped up (and out) after finishing in the top 5 in last summer's ASA "C" National tournament in Hastings, Nebraska, last year's Alliance champion, the Edge, which finished fifth in the nation, and Raymar, which finished third, amongst 70 teams. 

Raymar loses a couple of players but will move up and compete in the So Cal ASA "A/B" league, while the Edge has elected to disband, with a nucleus of four players joining San Diego Fastpitch to form "Prime Time Fastpitch", and figure to be among the top teams in the Alliance in 2005.  The top returning team will be Ron Kirby's Rounders, which finished second to the Edge by single point in 2004. (don't think those Saturday wins don't make a difference!).  The Rounders will return almost everyone from last year's team, excepting retiring shortstop Danny Roberts, who will be replaced by Mike "Spanky" Thomas, who comes over from the now defunct Fresno River Rats.  Also on hand to open the 2005 season will be "host" Palm Springs Express, which earned itself a spot in last year's National Tournament, and figures to be in the hunt again in 2005.  Fred Hanker's Long Beach Black Sox did well as a first year team in 2004, despite a spate of injuries, and has improved for 2005, looking to challenge for the top spot in league.  Father and son duo Bennie and Damian Guerrero will reunite on the Sox, adding two more big bats to an already potent Sox offense. Fernie Ramirez's Panteras have added pitcher Tommy Obregon from Raymar, and look to be improved as well.  Longtime team Santana Concrete will be back in the mix, with the Edge's Billy Montana rejoining the club, giving them arguably the best left-handed rotation in the league.  The Amigos will be back as well, with young pitcher Anthony Martinez leading the way.  Martinez, at the age of 21 proved himself to be among the best pitchers in the Alliance, and earned a spot on the Edge's National tournament roster.  Among the newcomers will be Bobby Cole's Hustler team, made up of a number of young baseballers, and helping to bring the average player age down a bit.  

Games get underway Saturday March 19, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. with four games slated continuously throughout the day, until three 5:15pm games conclude the round robin portion of the tournament.  Single elimination play will begin Sunday morning and continue into the afternoon until a champion emerges.

SCHEDULE OF GAMES - MARCH 19, 2005

 Rules

Resources

To visit the official So Cal ASA

website, click logo at left