The California A’s and Cal State Builders will be traveling north to Salt Lake City, Utah this weekend, to compete in the Pioneer Days Tournament, which returns to the fastpitch stage after an 11 year hiatus. The tournament is headed up by its original director, and former ISC Executive Director, Ken Hackmeister.
The California A’s are currently ranked # 6 in the world, in the July 11, 2013 ISC World Tournament rankings, after suffering a championship game loss to the (now) # 7 ranked Sooke Loggers from British Columbia at the California Classic tournament in San Diego two weeks ago. The A’s turned in an otherwise dominant performance at the Cal Classic, with strong hitting, great defense and pitching. Key additions for the squad in 2013 are world caliber Argentina pitcher Lucas Mata (returning to the team after one year away), pitcher/outfielder and Team USA member Josh Johnson, outfielder/first baseman and former Team USA member Nate Devine, and 2013 New Zealand Black Sox gold medalist, Nate Nukunuku.
The Cal State Builders held on to their #20 ranking in the recent mid-July rankings by the ISC. At the Cal Classic in San Diego two weeks ago, the Builders finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, including a 2-0 win over a tough hitting Santa Cecelia Mexico team, falling in Sunday’s quarterfinals, 7-4 to Team Marquez, also of Mexico.
The California teams will join a field of teams hailing from Washington (Lacey A’s), Idaho (Boise River Dogs), Colorado (Si Senor Pueblo Bandits), and Utah (Granite Bakery, Wasatch Properties and Page Brake).
Four of the games will be broadcast live on Ballpark Radio. Visit the Ballpark Radio website for more details.