NOTE TO FASTPITCHWEST READERS (Monday morning, March 17, 2003)

Stay tuned for our wrap up report and more, which we expect to post before the day is over.

In short, CAPTAIN DAN'S of Lakewood, California captured the NAFA "AA" crown with a win over Las Cruces, New Mexico.  The two teams entered Sunday's round robin match up with 3-0 records, so the final round robin game crowned the winner in the "AA" division.

In the NAFA "A" division, it was DC CURRENT of Elkhart Indiana taking home the first place hardware.  The Indiana team was undefeated in the tournament, with wins over Cedar Ridge Utah, Santana Concrete, CA, Arizona Naturals and finally, two-time defending champion El Segundo Rounders in the finals.  The Rounders extended their Spring Swing consecutive game win streak to 10 games over three years (2001-2003), before falling to the Arizona Naturals, 2-0 Saturday night.  The Rounders battled back through the loser's bracket with three consecutive wins on Sunday, over the Phoenix Scorpions, 2-0, Santana Concrete, CA, 2-1, and the Arizona Naturals 4-3, before falling to the new champion, DC Current of Indiana.  The Arizona Naturals grabbed third place, while Santana Concrete was fourth.

More to follow........so be sure to check back later.

While you're waiting, perhaps you'll want to peruse the photos at Maddy's Photo Gallery, or try this short video clip.   We are still expermenting with the use of videos, so we invite your feedback at  feedback@fastpitchwest.com as to whether you were able to view the video, any problems you encountered, and what you think about the addition of video clips at fastpitchwest.com.

VIDEO CLIP OF ACTION AT SPRING SWING

This is about a 1 min. clip of the leadoff hitter from the Arizona Naturals hitting a triple
sliding into third in the winner's bracket final against DC Current, complete with sound, so if you are at work TURN DOWN THE VOLUME FIRST! ;-)

It requires "quicktime" video player for this type.  Trying clicking the link below. If your computer has quicktime, it should start loading automatically.

Be patient, as it takes a while to load.  Works best with hi speed internet connection.

If it doesn't play completely the first time, click refresh and try again.  Quick play starts to play the movie before it's completely loaded the first time, so sometimes it works best to click "refresh".

2003 SPRING SWING VIDEO CLIP:
http://www.fastpitchwest.com/031603/az_161.mov

If you get any kind of error message, that probably means that you don't have "quick time player" installed on your computer.  to get it, go to  http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download  where you can download it for free.  Just follow the instructions to install.  Please tell us what you think! feedback@fastpitchwest.com
 

Maddy's Photo Gallery

To view Photo Gallery, Click Camera, then click "next" at the bottom of each page of thumbnails.
Click photos to enlarge

or view these invidual photos:
•  Team Photo of 2003 Spring Swing Champions DC Current
•  Runner-ups El Segundo Rounders
•  NAFA AA Scoreboard
•  NAFA A Bracket Board
• Captain Dan's Bruce Wilber scores run for champions
• Captain Dan's ace, Ryan Webb lets one fly
• Captain Dan's Chris Minogue scores another against Las Cruces in finals
•  One Way to Stay Out of the Rain\
• Editor's Choice for Best Cold Weather Headgear (Paul Castillo of Rounders)
• Wet weather doesn't stop the fun  (Paul Schepperly and John Simers)
• Dedicated Fans!
• "I wonder if they'll let me pitch from under here"
• Fly Air Canada (Cameron Baier)
• Arizona Naturals Billy Montana in one of many pitches thrown on the weekend
• Santana's big guy Gerald Pyle on in relief, chats with catcher Donnie Schuler in 7th inning of game vs. Rounders
• Santana pitcher Gerald Pyle works in 7th while Rounders Eric Geierman looks on from second
• Rounders Mark Villalobos slides home with winning run against Arizona Sunday
• "We're just happy to be here"

Gentlemen:

It is 1:20 am Sunday, as I have just returned from the fields, showered,
and knocking down a cold one while I bring you a Saturday update from Las
Vegas.

" AA " Round Robin

1. Cap't Dan's - So Cal ----- 5
    Colorado Rage ------------ 3

2. Colorado Rage -----------------4
    Thompson Valley, Texas --2

3. Las Cruces Titans ------------ 1
    Castlewood, Utah Jesters -- 0

4. Cap't Dan's ----------- 8
    Thompson Valley -- 0

5. Cap't Dan's -------------- 3
    Castlewood Jesters -- 1

6. Las Cruces --------- 17
    Thompson Valley -- 6

" A " First Round

1.  Santana Concrete, So Cal ----- 4
     Belleville, Ill. Stallions ----------- 2

2.  Cedar Ridge, Utah ----- 4
     Phoenix Scorpions ---- 3

3.  Fresno Shockers ---------- 6
     Fremont Motors, Wyo. -- 2

4.  Tucson A's ----------- 4
     KHT Pumpers, Cent. Cal --- 0

" A " Second Round

5.  Santana Concrete ----- 13
     Des Moines Bombers -- 5

6.  DC Current, Indiana ---6
     Cedar Ridge -------------4

7.  Arizona Naturals ----- 6
     Fresno Shockers ---- 3

8.  El Segundo, Cal. Rounders --- 6
     Tucson A's -------------------------- 2

" A " Loser's Bracket

9.  Belleville Stallions ----- 9
     Cedar Ridge ------------- 5

10. Phoenix Scorpions ----- 2
      Des Moines Bombers - 1

11. Tucson A's ------------7
      Fremont Motors --- 6

12. Fresno Shockers ----- 3
     KHT Pumpers ---------- 2

" A " Winner's Bracket

13. DC Current -------------- 9
      Santana Concrete ---- 0

14. Arizona Naturals ----------- 2
     El Segundo Rounders ----- 0

" A " Loser's Bracket

15.  Phoenix Scorpions ----- 7
      Belleville Stallions ------- 5

16. Tucson A's ------------- 9
      Fresno Shockers ---- 1

" A " Consolation Bracket

AAA.  Cedar Ridge ----------- 6
          Fremont Motors ------ 4

BBB.  KHT Pumpers -------------- 5
         Des Moines Bombers ---- 2

That brings you up to date as play resumes 6 and a half hours from now.
24 games played to day, and up to another 15 more due for Sunday.
 

David Bell
NAFA Director for Nevada
mail to: LVHitmen22@cs.com
www.eteamz.com/lasvegashitmen

Teams from all over the United States will be in Las Vegas March 14-16, 2003.  What started as a small "Spring Training" weekened with 6 teams in 2000, has grown to three times that for 2003.  This years' dates are Friday, March 14 - Sunday, March 16.  Games will be played on Friday night starting at 7pm.  There will be two divisions in the 24 teams, NAFA "AA" and NAFA "A".

2002 SSFW "AA" Champions, the Phoenix Scorpions, and two time defending "A" Champion, El Segundo Rounders will look to repeat against the Belleville, Ill. Stallions, Des Moines Bombers, Quest Fastpitch, KHT Pumpers, and a host of others.

Look forward to seeing you at the 2003 Spring Swing Fastpitch Weekend.

David Bell
KHT Pumpers / LV Hitmen
NAFA Director for Nevada
mail to: LVHitmen22@cs.com
website at: www.eteamz.com/lasvegashitmen

•  Click Here for the Archive Page of Our Newsletter "TheFastpitch" Where We Will Post Updates During the Weekend
•  David Bell's website: www.eteamz.com/lasvegashitmen

Roster of Teams:

1. Fresno Shockers ----- " A "
2. Cedar Ridge, Utah ----- " A "
3. Belleville Stallions, Illinois ----- " A "
4. Santana Concrete, So Cal ----- " A "
5. Tucson, Az. A's ----- " A "
6. Arizona Naturals, Phoenix ----- " A "
7. Fremont Motors, Wyoming ----- " A "
8. DC Current, Indiana ----- " A "
9. KHT Pumpers, Central Cal ----- " A "
10. El Segundo Rounders, So Cal ----- " A "
11. Des Moines, Iowa Bombers ----- " A "
12. Phoenix Scorpions ----- " A "
13. Colorado Rage ----- " AA "
14. Las Cruces Titans, New Mex. ----- " AA "
15. Captain Dan's, So Cal ----- " AA "
16. Thompson Valley, Texas ----- " AA "
17. Castlewood Jesters, Utah ----- " AA "

Saturday, March 15 (Complete Schedule of First Round Games)

8:am F-2 Stallions vs. Santana
8:am F-3 Dan's vs. Rage
8:am F-4 Scorpions vs. Cedar
9:50 F-2 Shockers vs. Fremont
9:50 F-3 Rage vs. Thompson
9:50 F-4 Pumpers vs. A's
11:40 F-2 Bombers vs. Stallions/Santana winner
11:40 F-3 Titans vs. Jesters
11:40 F-4 DC Current vs. Scorpions/Cedar winner
1:30 F-2 Naturals vs. Shockers/Fremont winner
1:30 F-3 Thompson vs. Dan's
1:30 F-4 Rounders vs. Pumpers/A's winner
3:20 F-3 Dan's vs. Jesters
5:10 F-3 Thompson vs. Titans
 

"A" Division  (Complete Schedule of "A" Games for Saturday)

G 1 / 8 am / F 2 /  Belleville, Illinois Stallions  vs.  Santana Concrete
G 2 / 8 am / F 4 /  Phoenix Scorpions  vs.  Cedar Ridge, Utah
G 3 / 9:50 /  F 2 /  Fresno Shockers  vs.  Fremont Motors, Wyoming
G 4 / 9:50 /  F 4 /  KHT Pumpers  vs.  Tucson A's
G 5 /11:40 / F 2 /  Des Moines Bombers  vs. Stallions / Santana winner
G 6 /11:40 / F 4 /  DC Current, Indiana  vs.  Scorpions / Cedar winner
G 7 / 1:30 / F 2 /  Arizona Naturals  vs.  Shockers / Fremont winner
G 8 /  1:30 / F 4 /  El Segundo Rounders vs. Pumpers / A's winner
G 9 /  3:20 / F 2 /  Loser Game 1  vs.  Loser Game 6
G10 / 3:20 / F 4 /  Loser Game 2  vs.  Loser Game 5
G11 / 5:10 / F 2 /  Loser Game 3  vs.  Loser Game 8
G12 / 5:10 / F 4 /  Loser Game 4  vs.  Loser Game 7
G13 / 7 pm / F 2 / Winner Game 5  vs.  Winner Game 6
G A / 7 pm / F 3 / Loser Game 9  vs.  Loser Game 11
G14 / 7 pm / F 4 / Winner Game 7  vs. Winner Game 8
G15 / 8:50 / F 2 /  Winner Game 9  vs.  Winner Game 10
G B / 8:50 / F 3 /  Loser Game 10  vs.  Loser Game 12
G16 / 8:50 / F 4 /  Winner Game 11 vs.  Winner Game 12

Sunday
G 17 / 8am / F 2 / Loser Game 14  vs.  Winner Game 15
G 18 / 8am / F 4 / Loser Game 13  vs.  Winner Game 16
G 19 / 9:50 / F 2 / Winner Game 17  vs.  Winner Game 18
G 20 / 9:50 / F 4 / Winner Game 13  vs.  Winner Game 14
G D / 11:40 / F 2 /  Loser Game 15  vs.  Loser Game 16
G C / 11:40 / F 3 /  Winner Game A  vs.  Winner Game B
G21 / 11:40 / F 4 /  Loser Game 20  vs.  Winner Game 19
G22 / 1:30 / F 4 / Championship  Winner Game 21 vs. Winner Game 20
G23 / 3:30 / F 4 / If game.

A, B, C, and D games are consolation bracket games.

• Click Here for Class AA Winner's Bracket
• Click Here for Class AA Loser's Bracket
• Click Here for Class AA Consolation Bracket

• Click Here for Class A Winner's Bracket
• Click Here for Class A Loser's Bracket
• Click Here for Class A Consolation Bracket

 
[Las Vegas, Nevada/March 19, 2002]- Ron Kirby and his  El Segundo, California Rounders have found a new home in the Vegas lights. For the second consecutive year the Rounders are the Spring Swing Fastpitch Weekend Class "A" tournament champions.

        This years' event boasted 21 teams from 11 states in two divisions. There were nine teams in the "AA" bracket, and 12 others in the "A" class.  Over the two day event teams played against other teams, that they may never see again unless they meet in a national or championship tournament.

NAFA "A" DIVISION

        El Segundo posted four consecutive wins after a first round bye, behind the pitching of  Mitch Mendenhall , Don Jewett and Jim Flanagan.    MVP Erik Geierman  ran down plays from his centerfield position and led his team in every major offensive catagory. The Rounders posted wins over the Las Cruces Titans (6-4), Phoenix Naturals (11-10), DC Current of Bremen, Indiana (10-8), and in the final over the El Paso Steel (5-2).

       In two years of play at the Spring Swing, the Rounders are a perfect 9-0. El Paso Texas Steel sprinted into the tourney final with five consecutive wins after their first round defeat to the Soboba Big Boys Club (San Jacinto, Cal).  In their path and being eliminated in the process were the Titans, Soboba in a rematch, the host Las Vegas Hitmen, Naturals, and DC Current.

       DC Current (2-2) took home the 3rd place trophy, while the Phoenix Naturals (2-2) went back to Arizona in fourth.

NAFA "AA" DIVISION

        This years' event saw the Weekend add a "AA" division. Stan Fezniakdecided to take his third place showing in the 2001 tourney, and make a run for the upper division title by taking on some of the bigger fish in the pond. His Phoenix Scorpions  definitely made a name for themselves behind the MVP pitching/hitting display of Steve Morgan. The right hander had a hand in all four Scorpion wins with two victories and two saves as the Phoenix upstarts posted victories over the Des Moines Bombers (11-2), Yucaipa, Cal. Bombers (4-3), and twice over the   Taylorville Illinois Reds, (12-6 and 6-4).

       The Reds bounced back from the winners bracet final loss to defeat Team Rainey of Anaheim, Cal. to take home the runner-up trophy. The Illinois team has been to all three Spring Swing Weekend. In 2000 with only 9 players, the team started off 3-0 before having to bow out of championship play on Sunday due to injuries sustained in their victories.   Last year, the then Blues simply came in for a couple of exhibition games against the Hitmen, and Henderson Gamblers. The third year of the Spring  Swing saw the team run by Rich Younker gut it out and take home second place with a 3-2 record. The teams' other wins came against Quest Fastpitch
of Lakewood, Cal. (5-4) in the first round, and the Pleasant Grove, Utah Mudslingers in the next round.

       Based on last years' 4th place finish at the NAFA "AA" World Series, Team Rainey was bestowed as the pre-tourney favorite and given a first round bye. The Mudslingers sent them packing to the loser's bracket with a 5-4 victory behind the pitching of Ryan Brooksby and a five run first inning that held up throughout the game. Team Rainey battled back to take
third place by stretching together three wins over rivals Quest and Yucaipa, and a forfeit victory over the Mudslingers before falling to Taylorville in the loser's bracket final.

       The class of the entire tournament was the  Hilo Hawaii Athletics .  For each of their games, they provided their opponent with a "Friendship Package" of island favorites. In addition, they were hooting and hollering until the wee hours of the night Saturday as their consolation semi-final stretched into the early morning hours of Sunday.

       Next up, is the LAS VEGAS SHOOTOUT / NAFA "AA/A" World Series Qualifier. Send in your tournament entry request to the email address below. The Shootout will be held, May 10-12 at the Cheyenne Sports Complex.

       If a tournament is not of your liking, check into our April 26-28 round robin as the Poco Angels of British Columbia, Canada travel to the Sin City to take on the Hitmen, Team Rainey, and hopefully three other teams to make it a 6 team event.

David Bell
Las Vegas Hitmen
NAFA Director for Nevada
Email: LVHitmen22@cs.com
Team Website: http://www.eteamz.com/lasvegashitmen

   Twenty-one teams from eleven different states competed in the 2002 Spring Swing tournament, in what was the first tournament of the year for many teams, especially those hailing from cold weather states.    The double-elimination tournament was hosted by
 David Bell , and his Las Vegas Hitmen.   In only its third year of existence, the tournament field of teams tripled from 7 to 21, with more already knocking on the door for next year.

           The tournament had the feel of a national tournament, with teams from as far east as Indiana, Iowa and Illinois, and as far west as Hawaii (the Hilo Athletics).  The eleven states represented were: Hawaii, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa.    The "draw" for the tournament includes the obvious attractions of the city of Las Vegas, the opportunity to start the season a bit early, and perhaps best of all, a chance to see teams from other states that one would not usually get to face until Nationals.  Both tournament champions, Phoenix and El Segundo played teams from different states in every game.

            Kudos to David Bell for his hard work and organization, which has put Las Vegas firmly on the fastpitch map, and given all fastpitch players and teams a great way to kick off their season.   David Bell somehow balanced the difficult task of running the tournament, running his own Las Vegas Hitmen team, and playing his position on that team, no easy feat.

            The weather cooperated, with the teams surviving some chilly Saturday morning and night games, turning into a picture postcard Sunday for the final day of play.   A brief cold front dropped a bit of rain Saturday morning, but not enough to interrupt play, and moved out in time for a sunny Sunday.

             Teams are lining up already for next year's tourney, as well as the one in November.  Email David Bell at  LVHitmen@fastpitchwest.com .

            -Jim Flanagan

NAFA "A" DIVISION
(Random Order)

1. Las Vegas Hitmen -- Tournament Host (A)
2. Cedar Ridge, Utah (A)
3. El Paso Steel, Texas (A)
4. Hilo Athletics, Hawaii (A)
5. Fremont Motor Co., Wyoming (A)
6. Santana Concrete, So California (A)
7. El Segundo Rounders, So California (***A***)
    (***) Defending Champions
8. Maricopa Silverhawks, Cent California (A)
9. Las Cruces Titans, New Mexico (A)
10. Phoenix Naturals, Arizona (A)
11  DC Current, Indiana (A)
12. Soboba Big Boys Club, So California (A)

NAFA "AA" DIVISION
(Random Order)

1. Yucaipa Bombers, So California (AA)
2. Taylorville Reds, Illinois (AA)
3. Castlewood Jesters, Utah (AA)
4. Quest Fastpitch, So California (AA)
5. Phoenix Scorpions, Arizona (AA)
6. Team Rainey, So California (AA)
7. Des Moines Bombers, Iowa (AA)
8. Thompson Valley, Texas (AA)
9. Pleasant Grove Mudslingers, Utah (AA)