Thanks to Jacob Huff for this information.
[Salt Lake City, UT (Larry H Miller Softball Complex) July 13, 2016]
The game was elevated! That’s what Salt Lake City got to see up close and personal last weekend as teams converged on the Larry H. Miller Softball Complex for the 2016 Pioneer Day’s Tournament.
Teams completed for the right to champion and a 2017 bid to the ISC world tournament. Eight teams total battled for fast-pitch supremacy. Three of the teams were nationally ranked ISC, One team a NAFA Champion year after year, three tough local Utah teams, and a second competitive young team from Colorado.
After the dust settled the BC A’s (ISC #5) ruled supreme in claiming the 2016 title by beating the C/R Brewers (Portland) 8-1 for the crown. Coaches Jason Porto, Greg Hicks, and Dave Weldon made sure the A’s were in every game, winning every game as the ISC #5 A’s went undefeated for the tournament.
Page Brake (ISC #31) gave them a little turbulence, but cruise mode was clearly engaged throughout the weekend and when power was needed, Josh Johnson (USA), Derek Mayson (CAN), and Ramone Jones (VEN) the #2 pitcher in the world, came through with resounding force along with a murders row lineup from top to bottom in every game the A’s played. Yes, the A’s are ranked ISC #5 and showed every bit of it. Congratulations and good luck to the BC A’s!!
This trio also won the tournament MVP awards. Ramone Jones (VEN) gave up 1 earned run, 2 walks, while facing 19 batters and striking out 7 before the mercy rule came into play in the Championship game. Jones had 2 wind and 21 K’s in two games. Jones won the Outstanding Pitcher award.
Derek Mayson (CAN) was a can do all horse, hitting 3 homeruns, and also winning 3 pitched games and collected the tournament MVP.
Josh Johnson (USA) batted a stunning .657 for the tournament batting cleanup for BC and won the Outstanding Hitter award. Congratulations to this trio!!
Runner up C/R Portland a NAFA powerhouse played exceptional with great hitting and led by the arms of Shawn Koster (CAN) and Tyson Barkman (Can).
These two pitchers were doing what they do best in keeping their teams ahead in the count and winning games.
C/R Portland will once again be the team to beat this year at NAFA and can compete with any ISC ranked team on any given night. Congratulations to C/R Portland for their performance and 2nd place finish!!
Pueblo Bandits (ISC #26) and Page Brake (ISC #31) both showed strong lineups and showcased fantastic new talent ensuring these two ISC teams will always be competing. Jerry Santos of Pueblo and Steve Black of Page Brake are the glue of their respected teams. Both coaches own an uncanny ability to recruit young exceptional talent and develop them to play at the highest level.
Both ISC ranked teams held their own in the tournament combining pitching, speed, and timely hitting for satisfying finishes. Pueblo showcased young pitching from New Zealand and Argentina. Page Brake was led by Pitchers Garrett Hone and Rick Manzanarez.
Congratulations and good luck to both Page Brake and the Pueblo Bandits as they continue dominance in their regions and states of origin. These two teams can surprise anyone and cannot be overlooked by any means as their coaches are fierce competitors.
Both teams will once again battle in the Monticello Utah Tournament on July 22nd- 24th.
Special thanks to the Larry H. Miller Group, Tommy Gray (Director) and Todd Thompson for donating money, time, and running fantastic tournament branding the Larry H. Miller Pioneer Day’s Tournament one of the best tournaments in the West. Salt Lake City could see an even stronger field next year as top level ISC teams are showing earlier than usual interest in attending. With steady crowds, fantastic fields, incredible back drop settings, and top notch competition, Pioneer Day’s is truly the game elevated.
Pictures and video of the tournament can be seen on Facebook: (Utah Men’s Fast-Pitch Softball)
Teams Participated:
BC A’s (Van), C/R Portland (Ore), Pueblo Bandits (CO), Page Brake (UT), Wasatch Properties (UT), Browning (UT), First Mile (UT), Colorado Knights (CO).