Portland DeMarini Rose Cup Wrap-up!

 Tournament Director Tom Ree's Wrap Up Report

[Portland, OR - 7/2/03] -  It was one "HOT" tournament in Portland over the weekend in more ways than one.  On Saturday the temperature soared to 98 degrees (78 is average) and was 93 on Sunday.   The heat didn't slow down the  "Froniter Casino Players" as they won the tournament going 5-0, but not before getting a few stiff challenges from Portland DeMarini (twice), Team Rainey in the finals and the Vancouver Grey Sox on Saturday. These guys are "champions" on and off the field.  Denny Bruckert, Rodney Gray, Michael White and Company are class acts.  Their squad, prior to the semi-final game, realizing the tournament was running late and they would miss their flights, Gray gets on the phone and at their expense changes their flights to the next day.  Okay, we did pick up the rooms, but they stayed and played.   St Joe - we tip our hats to you.  What a delightful bunch of men and a pleasure to have at our tourney.  So enjoyable talking to them.  Oh, and can they play the game!

Team Rainey with Dale ("we don't have the most talented team") Lopes at the helm finished in second place riding the strong right arm of Travis Price in the circle.  Rod Rainey had nine stitches in his arm breaking up a double play only to return to drive in the winning run in the semi's.  Speaking of a class act, Rainey fits the bill.  Like Frontier, they play the game hard, smart and together. 

Host Portland DeMarini had an outstanding tournament as well, finishing tied for 3rd place, losing only two games both to The "Players" by a total of 3 runs.  Portland had 4 wins including a quarter final win over Team Lyons.   Kevin Careless and Roberto Bahler threw well for Portland and Rob Gehrke hit a ton.  The squad is looking forward to their first ISC appearance in August.

The Vancouver BC Grey Sox were the other 3rd place team enjoying a dramatic 2 out rally in the 7th to beat BC rival Victoria to advance to the semi's.   Nick Underhill hit 85 mph on the Jugs radar gun during that game, tops in the tournament. 

You can get all of the highlights and stats soon from our good friends at Fastpitch West - Jim and Maddy Flanagan.  What a treat to have them at the tournament with their new camera and great conversation.  See: http://www.fastpitchwest.com/rosecup.htm  Also, check out the "A" Division which was won by The Metros out of Portland, Oregon.  Second place went to JRW & Asscociates out of Yakima, Washington.

Steve Thompson (P) for Hobnobbers out of Seattle had a couple of huge wins with a shutout against Team Lyons and a 6-4 win over Victoria on Saturday.  Greg Barker and the SunDevils knocked off a tough Grey Sox squad during pool play.  Collin McKenzie and the Victoria Travellers Inn shut down Rainey and Team Lyons on Saturday. 

There were so many other highlights that it would be hard to get them all in here, but I have to mention Mike Trotter age ?? (Someone said he was born before WWII), still throwing around 70mph and hitting his spots.  The guy is a physical marvel.  Some say this is big Mike's last year.  CR Adidas has a gem in this guy.

A special thanks to Jim Johnson from Vancouver, BC who did a whale of a job announcing the last 3 games on the championship field.  Thanks Jimmy!!  Our guy had a torn ACL - no wonder he went home early.

Thanks to Charlie Bendock our Seattle advisor who did a good job with the Jugs gun going around to all the fields.  Charlie probably knew what they were throwing without looking at the gun - been around the horn a few times.

Jack Andreas, the best statistitian around, we thank you for your long hours and hard work.  The guy is a wizard.

Ron Boley had Delta Park looking fantastic - look at the photos - what a beautiful yard!

Thanks to Jerry Garnett and DeMarini Sports for being the major sponsor of this event, furnishing the jugs gun and  supplying bats for the booth set up by Oregon City Sporting Goods. 

Dan Duffy, thanks for doing a great job picking up 11 additional umpires from Seattle and British Columbia.  Hey Bull, was it warm enough for you?

I don't have time or space to thank everyone by name, but what a great bunch of teams and people.  Good competition, good sportsmanship, a pretty decent crowd both days and a whole lot of fun.  The players really put on a show......I hope ya all meant it when you said you wanted to come back again!  We appreciated you coming and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Last buy not least thanks to DeMarini Sports (Jerry Garnett)  and all of our sponsors including the Holiday Inn, Winks Sports Bar, A & L Pub, McTarnahans, Oregon City Sporting Goods, Thrifty Auto Rental, Bob Lanphere Honda, Clackamas Blue Print and everyone else.

 

Thank you all,

 

Tom Ree

Portland DeMarini

Tournament Director