FRESNO RIVER RATS GRAB RUNNER-UP SPOT,
WITH WINS OVER EVERYONE THEY FACE

The Fresno River Rats made a big splash over the weekend at the Panteras Valentines Tournament, finishing the tourney with 4 wins and 1 loss, including a winner's bracket final win over the eventual champion Genesis, which required Genesis to rally for 3 runs in the 7th to beat them, in what may have been the only 7 inning game of the weekend, due to the time limit.

John Forstiere's team got started Saturday morning with a 3-1 win over So Cal's top team from 2002, the Kanakas, then defeated a strong San Diego Fastpitch team, setting up a winner's bracket semi-final with the 2002 So Cal State Champs, the El Segundo Rounder.  The Rats easily dispatched the Rounders, 8-0, on a one-hitter by pitcher Greg Gainer.

The River Rats were the last of the unbeatens, after defeating Genesis in the winner's bracket final, in a tie breaker game, with ace Harlen Chapman on the Mound.  Chapman was the 2002 "Pitcher of the Year" in the CCMSA league, topping the charts with the most wins, strikeouts, and a 1.73 ERA.

Todd Fragiacomo was among the offensive leaders for the River Rats with two home runs, including one in the 6th inning of the championship game that breathed life back into the River Rats and got them back the game, albeit for a short-lived lead.

Nonetheless, the River Rats made their mark in Southern California, and did a great job of representing the Central California league, both in the win column, and sportsmanship.
 

*Be sure to log in to the So Cal ASA website for additional details from the tournament.

Fernie, Henry & Co, including, of course, the better halves of the Panteras that manned the snack stand all weekend, thank you for your hard work, especially in overcoming the rain and problems that came with it.  Another great tournament.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 9pm update:

And the winner is.............GENESIS!

Genesis rallied for three runs in the top of the 7th inning to defeat the River Rats of Fresno (who had beaten them earlier in the day in the winner's bracket final), to clinch the 2003 Panteras Valentine's Weekend tournament at Santa Fe Springs, CA.   Genesis led most of the way, with Wayne Geisler in command with a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.  He gave way in the sixth to Joe Salcido, after surrendering 4 runs to the River Rats, who took a 5-4 lead.

The championship game was a winner take all (no "if" game), so Genesis was crowned the tournament champions.

The Amigos defeated Palm Springs, to capture third place, Palm Springs finishing fourth.

Sunday, February 16, 2003, 3pm update:

The Fresno River Rats and Genesis (aka The Ringers) are the final two unbeaten teams, and are playing the Winner's Bracket final as this update goes to press.  Wayne Geisler is on the mound for Genesis, while Harlan Chapman is on the mound for the River Rats.  Each pitcher surrendered a run in the first inning, so the score was 1-1 at press time.

The River Rats, 2-0 on Saturday with wins over the Kanakas and San Diego Fastpitch, smoked the Rounders 8-0 to earn a spot in the winner's final.  Meanwhile, Genesis rolled over Palm Springs in the other winner's bracket semi-final.

Palm Springs was still alive at 3pm, with a win over Raymar, while the Amigos rallied for two in the bottom of the 5th inning, for a 8-7 win over the Rounders.  The Rounders trailed 6-4, but took a lead in the top of the 5th inning, when Don Jewett delivered a two out, two run single to center to tie the game and catcher Donald Younger followed with an RBI single to put the Rounders ahead 7-6.  The Amigos loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 5th, then tied the game at 7.  With two on and two out, Rounder pitcher Billy Zylstra struck out the next Amigos hitter for what appeared to be the third out.  Time had been called by the runner at second base however, and the strikeout was nullified.  The Amigos then got the game winning hit, and advanced to play Palm Springs.

Saturday February 15, 2003

It's an annual event for Fernie Ramirez and his Panteras team, in preparing for their Valentine's Weekend Tournament: (1) check the weather reports and (2) pray it doesn't rain.   While Southern California is known for its sunshine and beautiful weather,  that doesn't necessarily mean in the middle of February.  Somehow, though, the Panteras almost always manage to pull it off, enabling local teams to get that first tournament of the season under their belt.

This year was no different.  During the week leading up to the tournament, Southern California got some of its heaviest rains in some time.  As late as Wednesday of this week, it was still pouring, and the tourney looked to be in jeopardy.  But the clouds broke Thursday and despite cool temperartures, it was enough for the fields to dry - well, at most of them.

Fifteen (15) ASA "C" teams entered the tournament, and showed up Saturday, expecting to play 3 games each in a preliminary round robin, as a prelude to Sunday's single elimination round.  But one of the four  fields was just too muddy to play, so Fernie Ramirez and his assistant Henry had to do some quick re-scheduling.  A short time later, the games were underway.    Oh, there was some grumbling amongst those teams that did not learn of the last minute changes until after they arrived, but by the end of the day, it was mostly forgotten, as teams got a chance to knock the rust off, and play ball several months before the rest of the country can even think about it.

SATURDAY SUMMARY, February 15, 2003

North v. South - Kanakas v. Fresno River Rats

Game number 1 of the tournament was played, appropriately, by the two of California top teams,  So Cal's Kanakas, and the Fresno River Rats, one of the top teams of the CCMSA, which plays in Northern and Central California.   This one went to the North, as the River Rats prevailed by a 3-1 score.

River Rats Roll

So Cal teams does not often get the opportunity to see or play the teams from the Central California league. It's a strong, well established league, which invites any other team to play as a "guest team".    The league's  director, Iren Hodge, more familiarly known as "The Hodgie", also runs one of fastpitch's best websites, www.thehodgie.com .  A quick peek at that website reveals that Fresno River Rat pitcher Harlan Chapman was the "Pitcher of the Year" in the "C" division, leading the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA, with a microscopic 1.73 earned runs per 7 innings.

The River Rats also won their second game of the day over a solid San Diego Fastpitch team, which had advanced with a win over the Amigos.  The River Rats will face the El Segundo Rounders in one of two winner's bracket semi-final games Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Last note on the River Rats: Check out John Forestiere's website for the Rats at: http://www.eteamz.com/fresnoriverrats/  It's the "Featured Site" on the main menu of Fastpitchwest.com.  (Hey John, I'm facing you guys tomorrow, but I can't find the scouting report ;-))

One Game Day for Rounders

The Rounders reached the semi-finals with a first round bye and a 1-0 win over Santana Concrete, a pitcher's duel between the Rounder's Mitch Mendenhall and Santana's Dave Meltz.  The game was tied at nil until the 6th when the Rounders scored one run on a two out line drive single to center by second baseman John Wilson.  Meltz was his usual masterful self, mixing in the change up to keep hitters off balance, but Mitch Mendenhall was also in good form, with a good drop working.  The ace of the Rounder's staff, Mitch picked up where he left off last year, having led the Rounders to the So Cal ASA Championship at Big Bear with a shutout in his first outing of 2003.   The most exciting play of the game might have been when Rounder's newly acquired right fielder Mike Hemperly had a line drive get past him, but chased the ball down and relayed the ball to the plate where catcher Don Younger applied to tag to deny Santana the run.

Palm Springs, Genesis Reach Winner's Bracket Semi-Finals

Slick and his Palm Springs teammates notched wins over the Gamecocks and the host Panteras to reach the winner's bracket semi-final, where they will face a newly named "Genesis" team that looks a lot like former Pantera-tournament-champions, the Ringers.  Speaking of Ringers, yes, that was Todd Budtke at third base for Genesis.  One of the leading hitters in the world, and TEAM USA member, Budtke appeared to be in mid-season form already.  I didn't see it, but everyone was talking about the rocket he launched from diamond #4 all the way to the little hill by the picnic area.  Can you say "Barry Bonds" ? ;-)

Genesis reached the winner's bracket semi-final with wins over the Las Vegas Gamblers, and Raymar.

Genesis over Raymar

Game of the day?  My personal choice was the Genesis win over Raymar.  Wayne Geisler pitched for Genesis, while Tommy Obregon toed the rubber for Raymar.  Tommy, as many of you may know, has been on the DL for some time, due to injuries suffered.   Tommy pitched and played for now defunct Bullet Fastpitch, which finished 3rd in the nation in the 1998 NAFA World Series.   It was good to see him back playing again.

Raymar held a 4-2 lead, late in the game, but a grand-slam home run for Genesis proved to be the difference in the game.

Genesis will face Palm Springs in one of two winner's bracket semi-finals at 10:30 a.m. Sunday

Raymar defeated the Rebels behind Bobby Lara (who took a vicious line drivei to the shoulder off the bat of Ernie Marez' brother of the So Cal Rebels.)

Loser's Bracket Games for Sunday

The loser's bracket will be no picnic on Sunday, with a number of the top teams from 2002 battling to be playing by day's end.

Last year's champion Kanakas will face National tournament qualifier Raymar, while last year's runner up Gamecocks (with two hard luck losses on the day) will face the Rebels.

The Amigos will square off with the LA Heat, while San Diego Fastpitch will face the winner of the Panteras/Gambler's game.

Check back tomorrow for a recap on Sunday, and hopefully, some photos.

PHOTOS

Hey, no photos?   Well, not today, anyway.  Maddy has been sick this week, so she was recuperating today. Sunday? Perhaps.

In the meantime, if you want some photos to peruse, here are some taken at LAST YEAR's Panteras tournament:

 http://www.fastpitchwest.com/norwalk/page_01.htm

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Player movement in fastpitch seems as common place as it is in major league baseball.   Familiar faces in unfamiliar uniforms.  It's funny, though, how you get used to seeing a player in a particular uniform or color uniform.   Off season rumors show up in the spring as concrete roster moves, which always makes things interesting, as manager's get to see how that new player will fit into his team's plans, how that young, untested player will fare, and of course,  whether that veteran has another good year left in him.  Sure, it will take a few more weeks for things to shake out, but a few that had people talking today were:

FASTPITCH "ON THE CLOCK" [Commentary]

While schedule adjustments amidst rainy weather are expected, the 1 hour 20 minute "drop dead" time limit seemed to cause more consternation among players and teams.   Consider the plight of the Gamecocks, who came from behind to take a lead - not once, but twice, only to have TIME called, and have the score revert to the prior inning.  They were not the only ones to suffer this fate.  Color me old fashioned, but I think playing fastpitch with a stopwatch in the dugout detracts from the game.