The 4th Annual Vancouver Challenge Mens FP tournament commenced this evening under sunny skies and warm temperatures at South Memorial Park in Vancouver. The result from tonight’s opening game in the Red Pool was as follows:
Vancouver Grey Sox 7 – New Westminster Van City 0
WP – Rick Smith LP – Dean Webster
* Scott Newitt started the Grey Sox offense with a 2 run homerun in the top of the first, and Grey Sox pitcher Rick Smith only gave up 2 hits and recorded 8 strikeouts in notching the win. A good opening night crowd turned out for the start of what has the makings of a very competitive weekend of top quality Senior Mens FP. Many of the fans are looking forward to Saturday morning when top ranked ISC teams; Broken Bow Spirit, Calgary Smokers and the Saskatoon Black Sox take the field along with the hosts of the 2006 Canadian Mens FP Nationals, the Prince George Black Bears.
To recap the red pool consists of the host Vancouver Grey Sox, New Westminster and Broken Bow.
The blue pool teams are Calgary, Saskatoon and Prince George
Saturday’s pool play games are as follows: 9:00 am – Calgary vs. Saskatoon 11:00 am – Broken Bow vs. New Westminster 11:00 am – Saskatoon vs Prince George (Diamond 2) 1:00 pm – Vancouver vs Broken Bow 1:00 pm – Prince George vs Calgary (Diamond 2) After completion of the round robin in each respective pool the teams will be seeded, with the top 2 teams receiving a double life in the playoffs and the 3rd seed receiving a single life. Updates of the pool play games will be provided, along with the playoff matchups that commence at 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon with the final game of the day slated for a 9:00 pm start on Saturday evening. Playoff games will continue on Sunday commencing at 9:00 am with the Championship Final game scheduled for 3:00 pm. The weather forecast remains positive for Saturday with sunny skies and highs of 23 c (which is approx. 75 F) and thus bodes well for the teams and the many fastpitch enthusiasts.
Larry Kancs
President Vancouver Grey Sox