By the Midland Daily
After placing third at the recently-completed Amateur Softball Association Majors, the Midland Explorers feel they have the potential to take home the championship trophy at the upcoming International Softball Congress World Championships.
“That was a big confidence booster for our guys,” said Explorers’ manager Gregg Sauve. “They never quit. We’ve had a lot of success as we won the Midland Explorers’ Tournament, and took third at Kitchener, Tavistock and Erie (Pa.) which had all the top notch teams. The guys realize that they can compete with anyone.”The ISC, at Quad Cities, Iowa, begins Sunday. The Explorers open up with a 4 p.m., Sunday game against the winner of Sunday’s noon game between Sweaburg (Ont.) Crush and the Topeka (Ks.) Toros.
The two favorites will be No. 1-ranked Jarvis Travelers and No. 3-ranked Chicago/NY, who were named CO-champions at the ASA Majors.“Everyone in our line-up, one through nine, brings something to the table,” said Sauve. “We have to play an almost perfect game, can’t make any errors and keep their guys off the base. Both teams have guys that can reach the porch. But, we have to remember that we must take care of business with the other guys. We can’t just wait and play those two.”
The No. 5-ranked Explorers have defeated Chicago/NY once this season (a 2-1 victory at Kitchener) against two losses, but are winless in three games against Jarvis.
Also in the hunt for the ISC title will be No. 2-ranked California As and Albaugh (Elkhart, Ind.), which comes in ranked fourth. The Explorers defeated the As 5-2 earlier this season at Erie, but lost to Albaugh 13-6 at the ASA Majors.At the ASA, the Explorers had three guys earn All-Tournament first team honors, second baseman Steve Horning, catcher Mark Arsenault and pitcher Grant Patterson. Rowan Lam, Dale Levy, Dan Loney and Mike Joseph were selected to the second team. Click here to read the complete story.