{"id":5450,"date":"2010-12-02T11:06:02","date_gmt":"2010-12-02T19:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fastpitchwest.com\/?p=5450"},"modified":"2010-12-06T22:59:31","modified_gmt":"2010-12-07T06:59:31","slug":"end-of-the-line-for-rivershark-twins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/?p=5450","title":{"rendered":"Featured Post – End of the line for Rivershark Twins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While still awaiting an official announcement (which has now come, see below), we’ve been told that the Kitchener Rivershark Twins have ceased operations effective immediately.<\/p>\n

A couple of players have already signed with the Jarvis\/Broken Bow team, strengthening last year’s ISC World Champion, while others are said to be weighing their options.<\/p>\n

Despite their all too brief history, the Rivershark Twins will go down as among the best teams in the modern day history of the game. At one point in 2010, they held the Ontario, Canadian, American and World titles before coming up one game short in their quest to be the first team in 50 years to win three consecutive ISC World titles.<\/p>\n

It is a shame that the game is losing another top team, and that the gap between the top two teams and the rest of the field will widen even further as a result.<\/p>\n

Video from 2010, their final season. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Kitchener Rivershark Twins<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/param><\/param><\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n

Letter from co-sponsor Jim & Sue Hallman<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nDecember 2010<\/p>\n

Gentlemen; It is with great sadness that I inform you that the Rivershark Twins Fastball Team will not be fielding a team in 2011.\u00a0 The management team has been working hard at trying to find additional sponsorship after I informed them that I would not continue to sponsor at a major level.<\/p>\n

It was my decision to not carry on as a major sponsor.\u00a0 When I informed Bob about my decision earlier this past summer, we agreed that an announcement would come after the season and only after other potential sources had been exhausted.<\/p>\n

While there has been some interest, no deal has been reached.\u00a0 So in order to let the players from the best team further their options, we have decided on this announcement today.<\/p>\n

I have been a major sponsor of men\u2019s fastball for many years.\u00a0 Our family involvement goes back 25 years.\u00a0 We have been blessed with many fond memories and many friends.<\/p>\n

As tough as this decision has been to make on an intellectual basis, on an emotional basis, it was even tougher.\u00a0 Sue and I greatly enjoy being in the ball yard watching the team play, and this will be a tough void to fill in our lives.<\/p>\n

To all the players, current and past, I pass along my praise for wearing the uniform with honour and class.\u00a0 For the coaches, I extend my thanks for the amount of time and effort that it takes to run a first class team.\u00a0 I loved the compassion and commitment that went into the game.\u00a0 The jubilation after a win, the tears after a tough loss.\u00a0 The realizations of a true team win.\u00a0 The satisfaction of a game well played.<\/p>\n

I especially want to acknowledge Larry and Dave and Bob.<\/p>\n

Larry for your tireless work over the years to keep the team going.\u00a0 Your elegance and passion for the game is awesome!\u00a0 I will forever be in your debt for what you did for the Peter Hallman Ballyard, and how your personal touches made it one of the best in all the fastball community, and how it will forever be a family tie to a great sport.<\/p>\n

Dave, I still remember vividly, the phone call that started this great run.\u00a0 I was shopping for appliances in Toronto, well Sue was, I was thinking of ball, when we struck an agreement to use the Sting as the basis for a reworked team.<\/p>\n

Dave, I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams, how well things would work out.\u00a0 I know you have spent countless hours and your own dollars to make it all work.\u00a0 I do not know how you do it, with your business, family and other sports involvement, but you do.\u00a0 There is no way that any of this would have happened without you.\u00a0 So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.<\/p>\n

Bob, a simple thanks.\u00a0 I know that when we first met to discuss a merger, our feelings for the game and how an organization should be run, we were on the same page.\u00a0 The formula was simple, two good teams could make one great team.\u00a0 What I could not envision at the time, was how well everyone embraced the merger and simply made it work.\u00a0 I had always hoped that teams I would be involved with would be respectable.\u00a0 We had that and more, respect and winners.<\/p>\n

After the win in PEI this past August, as I sat in the bleachers watching the celebration on the field, I at first did not want to go down and join in.\u00a0 To do so, would have signaled the end of my involvement.\u00a0 It was with Sue telling me to go, that I reluctantly went.\u00a0 It was not that I was not happy, it was great to win the Canadians again.\u00a0 But it did mean that my current career was over and done.\u00a0 I actually had tears in my eyes, as I do now writhing this.<\/p>\n

I do not know what will be in store for me.\u00a0 I do not plan on leaving the softball world behind.\u00a0 The game is too great.\u00a0 If I am fortunate enough to be able to be involved again, I would like to try to have a bigger impact on local ball.\u00a0 The intent years ago, was to ensure that men\u2019s fastball did not disappear, but grew, and this is where I can direct my energy in the future.<\/p>\n

The good memories will be with Sue and I forever.\u00a0 Not the wins and losses, or the championships, these are fleeting.\u00a0 What we will remember forever, is the people, the players, coaches, wives, girlfriends, kids and the fans.\u00a0 This is truly what it is all about.\u00a0 Enjoying the company of others while watching ball.\u00a0 The gentle rivalries in the stands.\u00a0 Barbques and golf games.\u00a0 The emotion and compassion for the game.\u00a0 The jokes and laughter.<\/p>\n

We will be at the parks again next season, but only as a spectator.\u00a0 We will cheer for each of the players on their respective teams as hard as we did when you wore the Twins across your chest.\u00a0 For those who are going on, I offer the very best of luck.\u00a0 For those who are contemplating retirement, I am happy you chose the Twins to end your career with.<\/p>\n

I hope our paths cross often and that you too, will remember fondly our time together.<\/p>\n

Jim and Sue Hallman<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While still awaiting an official announcement (which has now come, see below), we’ve been told that the Kitchener Rivershark Twins have ceased operations effective immediately. A couple of players have already signed with the Jarvis\/Broken Bow team, strengthening last year’s ISC World Champion, while others are said to be weighing their options. Despite their all […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,10,21],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5450","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-canada","8":"category-isc","9":"category-teams","10":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5450"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5901,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5450\/revisions\/5901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fastpitchwest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}