2003

Neil Leard Memorial Tournament Victoria, B.C.

Information Courtesy of Al Duddridge, Scorekeeper

Team Australia - "Aussie Steelers" - have captured the title at the 2003 Neil Leard Memorial Tournament with a convincing 9-2 win in the final over Calgary Diamonds.

The Steelers finished in first place in the round-robin portion of the tourney, which earned them a spot in Sunday morning's first semi-final against second-place finisher Fresno, Ca., Team Lyons. In that game they defeated Team Lyons by an 11-2 score to advance straight to the tourney final later in the day.

At the same time, fourth-place Calgary Diamonds were edging third-place finisher Portland DeMarini Merchants 7-6. This result eliminated Portland and advanced Calgary to the second semi-final against Team Lyons. Calgary defeated Team Lyons 10-2 to earn the right to face the Steelers in the final.

FINAL PLAYOFF STANDINGS

1. Team Australia: Aussie Steelers

2. Calgary Diamonds

3. Fresno, Ca., Team Lyons

4. Portland DeMarini Merchants

AWARDS

*MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Kris Kiefel, Aussie Steelers

Kiefel played 6 games at 3B and pitched one game. For the tourney he batted .500 (10-20), scored 6 runs, hit 1 HR, stole a base, and had 7 RBI's. In the final game he went 3-4 with a run and 2 RBI's, and turned in the defensive play of the weekend with a spectacular double-play. As well, he pitched one game in the round-robin, defeating the hometown Victoria Traveller's Inn in Saturday's feature game with a complete-game 4-hitter.

*MOST VALUABLE PITCHER

Travis Price, Team Lyons

Price pitched his team into a second-place finish in the round-robin, and the playoffs, with 3 complete-game wins on Saturday; this came after Team Lyons had dropped their two Friday contests without him. He finished the tourney with 4 complete games and a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. He pitched 24 innings and struck out 25 batters, and compiled a fine 1.70 ERA. Price saved his best effort for Team Lyons' round-robin match-up with eventual champion Team Australia on Saturday; he shut out the Steelers 3-0, firing a tidy 5-hitter with 6 K's.

*TOP BATTER

Evan Potskin, Calgary Diamonds

After going 0-3 on Friday, Potskin went on a torrid hot streak on Saturday and Sunday, going 13-17 to finish the tourney with an outstanding .650 average. Potskin belted 1 double, 3 triples and 4 home runs to post a gaudy 1.600 slugging percentage. He also scored 7 runs, stole 5 bases, and collected 9 RBI's.

SUNDAY RESULTS

Playoff Game 1

R H E

Aussie Steelers - 073 01 - 11 9 2

Team Lyons - 100 01 - 2 4 6

Deon Trail, Adam Humble(W)(2) & Mike Harrow, Michael Gibson(4).

Tony Hunhoff & Tony Acedo.

Home Runs: Steelers: Zenon Winters, Michael Tanner.

Lyons: Troy Morrison, Rod Rainey.

Umpires: P: Rico Powers, 1B: Aaron Poulin, 3B: Gary Schmidt.

Time: 1:44 (10:00-11:44 A.M.).

*Team Lyons' 6 errors led to 8 unearned runs for the Steelers; all 7 runs in 2nd inning were unearned due to 4 errors.

*Winters hit 2-run HR in 3rd and scored 3 runs.

*Tanner hit solo HR in 3rd; finished 2-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI's.

Playoff Game 2

R H E

Calgary - 200 32 - 7 6 3

Portland - 000 51 - 6 7 1

Ryan Brand(W), Sean Whitten(5) & Pete MacLeod.

Kevin Careless, Trevor Kern(L)(5) & Ken Kvarnstrom.

Home Runs: Calgary: Evan Potskin.

Portland: Brian Ree.

Umpires: P: Damien McCauley (Aus.), 1B: Jim Hubbard, 3B: Howard Stashewsky.

Time: 1:51 (9:58-11:49 A.M.).

*Calgary built and lost a 5-0 lead, then held on to win in 5 innings.

*Potskin hit 2-run HR in 1st.

*Devitt Neelands hit 2-RBI single to cap 4th inning for Calgary.

*Ree hit 3-run HR in 4th.

*RBI double by Andres Gamarci tied game at 5-5 in 4th.

*Whitten, who was DP, delivered 2-run single to put Calgary ahead 7-5 in 5th.

*Rob Broberg hit 1-out RBI single to pull Portland within 7-6 in 5th; Broberg ended up on third base on the play when the ball got by the left fielder.

*Whitten, who relieved Brand to start 5th, stranded Broberg at third by inducing a pop-out and a ground-out to end the game.

Playoff Game 3

R H E

Team Lyons - 000 101 - 2 4 3

Calgary - 031 105 - 10 12 0

Travis Price & Tony Acedo.

Sean Whitten & Kelly Wenstrom.

Home Runs: Lyons: Dean Waltier.

Calgary: Jason Hanson, Garnet Kazuik, Evan Potskin, Kelly Wenstrom.

Umpires: P: Jim Hubbard, 1B: Howard Stashewsky, 3B: Rico Powers.

Time: 1:38 (12:15-1:53 P.M.).

*Hanson led off 2nd with solo HR; Kazuik followed with 2-run HR.

*Potskin hit solo HR in 3rd.

*Pete MacLeod hit 2-run single in 6th; he finished 3-4.

*Wenstrom's long 2-run HR just fair down the left-field line ended the game.

*Waltier hit solo HR in 4th.

*Whitten threw a 4-hitter with no walks, 6 K's.

Playoff Game 4 - Final

R H E

Aussie Steelers - 103 210 2 - 9 13 1

Calgary - 100 100 0 - 2 8 4

Andrew Kirkpatrick, Adam Humble(W)(4) & Mike Harrow.

Sean Whitten(L), Ryan Brand(6) & Kelly Wenstrom.

Home Runs: Calgary: Greg Crawford, Evan Potskin.

Umpires: P: Aaron Poulin, 1B: Gary Schmidt, 3B: Damien McCauley (Aus.)

Time: 1:56 (2:17-4:13 P.M.).

*Tourney MVP Kris Kiefel hit RBI single in 1st.

*Crawford hit leadoff HR to tie game in bottom of 1st.

*Kiefel hit RBI single to put Steelers ahead again in 3rd.

*Michael Tanner hit 2-run single in 4th.

*Potskin homered in bottom of 4th.

*Kiefel finished 3-4 with one run and 2 RBI's.

*Joel Southam also went 3-4 for Steelers.

*Tanner, Zenon Winters, & Justin Golds each had 2 hits for Steelers.

*Potskin finished 3-3 with 2 triples and his HR.

Final Round-Robin Standings:

W L Diff.

Team Australia: Aussie Steelers - 3 2 +8

Fresno, Ca., Team Lyons - 3 2 +4

Portland DeMarini Merchants - 3 2 +2

Calgary Diamonds - 2 3 -5

Victoria Traveller's Inn - 2 3 -6

Vancouver Grey Sox - 2 3 -3

*Calgary awarded 4th place as they beat both Vancouver & Victoria in the round-robin.

Saturday Results:

Game 7

R H E

Vancouver Grey Sox - 010 00 - 1 2 0

Fresno, Ca., Team Lyons - 401 03 - 8 7 0

Rich Haldane(L), Jon Nimmo(3) & Todd Morrison.

Travis Price & Tony Acedo.

Home Runs: Team Lyons: Charlie Pena, Eddie Brooks, Jason Porto.

Umpires: P: Jim Hubbard, B: Bud Livingstone.

Time: 1:15 (10:00-11:15 A.M.).

*With 2 out in bottom of 1st inning Marc Santillano lined a 2-run double, then Pena followed with a 2-run HR.

*Brooks hit solo HR in 3rd.

*Porto hit 3-run HR with none out to end game in 5th.

*Price threw a 2-hitter with 5 K's.

Game 8

R H E

Portland DeMarini Merchants - 400 300 - 7 10 0

Victoria Traveller's Inn - 100 002 - 3 8 1

Trevor Kern & Ken Kvarnstrom.

John Bishop(L), Bricklen Anderson(4) & Tyler Werbowski, Steve Lingren(5).

Home Run: T.I.: Gerry Kennedy.

Umpires: P: Aaron Poulin, B: Gary Schmidt.

Time: 1:46 (9:59-11:45 A.M.).

*Kvarnstrom capped 1st-inning rally with 2-out, 2-run single.

*Andres Gamarci had 2-run single in 4th.

*Rob Gehrke went 3-3 with 2 RBI's and a run scored.

Game 9

R H E

Calgary - 003 002 - 5 6 1

Victoria - 200 001 - 3 10 1

Sean Whitten & Pete MacLeod.

Bricklen Anderson(L), Collin McKenzie(5) & Harvey Stevenson.

Home Run: Calgary: David Boys.

Umpires: P: Jim Hubbard, B: Bud Livingstone.

Time: 1:48 (12:09-1:57 P.M.).

*Boys erased 2-0 deficit with 2-out, 3-run HR to left-centre field in 3rd; all 3 runs were unearned as an error had allowed the previous batter to reach base and prolonged the inning.

*Garnet Kazuik had 2-run double in 6th.

*Whitten earned the complete-game win by scattering 10 hits effectively.

Game 10

R H E

Team Australia: Aussie Steelers - 000 000 0 - 0 5 2

Team Lyons - 100 020 x - 3 4 0

Adam Humble & Mike Harrow.

Travis Price & Tony Acedo.

Home Run: Team Lyons: Charlie Pena.

Umpires: P: Gary Schmidt, B: Aaron Poulin.

Time: 1:29 (12:08-1:37 P.M.).

*Jason Porto had 2-out RBI single in 1st.

*Pena hit solo HR leading off 5th.

*Troy Morrison added 2-out RBI single in 5th.

*Price earned his second win of the day; 5-hitter, 6 K's.

*Humble only gave up 4 hits and K'ed 7.

Game 11

R H E

Vancouver - 050 001 0 - 6 7 0

Portland - 020 000 1 - 3 7 0

Nick Underhill & Craig Horswell.

Sam Aldridge & Santiago Lataire.

Home Run: Vancouver: Steve Venus.

Umpires: P: Rico Powers, B: Howard Stashewsky.

Time: 1:55 ( 2:19-4:14 P.M.).

*Vancouver scored all 5 runs in 2nd after 2 were out; Noel Sharman had 2-run double, Venus followed with 2-run HR, Scott Newitt & Doug Cain hit back-to-back doubles to cap the rally.

*Venus added RBI single in 6th.

*Underhill spaced 7 hits and K'ed 13.

Game 12

R H E

Portland - 000 001 0 - 1 1 1

Aussie Steelers - 010 210 x - 4 6 1

Kevin Careless & Ken Kvarnstrom.

Andrew Kirkpatrick & Michael Gibson.

Umpires: P: Rico Powers, B: Howard Stashewsky.

Time: 1:38 (4:39-6:17 P.M.).

*Kirkpatrick fired a 1-hitter with 10 K's.

*Kris Kiefel went 1-1 with 2 runs scored.

*David Newsome went 2-3 with a run, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases.

Game 13

R H E

Vancouver - 000 100 0 - 1 7 1

Calgary - 003 010 x - 4 7 0

Nick Underhill & Craig Horswell.

Brian Newton & Pete MacLeod.

Home Runs: Vancouver: Jeff Galley.

Calgary: Evan Potskin.

Umpires: P: Gary Schmidt, B: Damien McCauley.

Time: 1:47 (4:37-6:24 P.M.).

*Potskin hit 1-out, 3-run HR in 3rd, then added an RBI single in 5th.

*Potskin finished 3-3; he doubled in 2nd.

*Newton went the distance; allowed 7 hits but struck out 11.

Game 14

R H E

Aussie Steelers - 102 221 - 8 15 2

Victoria - 010 010 - 2 4 3

Kris Kiefel & Mike Harrow.

Collin McKenzie(L), Bricklen Anderson(6) & Harvey Stevenson, Steve Lingren(6).

Umpires: P: Damien McCauley, B: Gary Schmidt.

Time: 1:52 (6:45-8:37 P.M.).

*Leadoff hitter Michael Tanner led Aussies by going 3-4 with 2 triples, 2 RBI's, and 3 runs scored.

*Paul Maisey went 3-3 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

*Mike Harrow also had 3 hits, while Kiefel had 2.

Game 15

R H E

Calgary - 100 000 0 - 1 4 2

Team Lyons - 011 000 x - 2 6 2

Ryan Brand(L), Brian Newton(5) & Pete MacLeod.

Travis Price & Tony Acedo.

Home Run: Team Lyons: Troy Morrison.

Umpires: P: Howard Stashewsky, B: Jim Hubbard.

Time: 1:44 (8:55-10:39 P.M.).

*Team Lyons had to win to make playoffs.

*Price earned his third win of the day; threw his third complete game giving up just 4 hits while walking none and striking out 11.

*Each team scored an unearned run in the first two innings.

*Morrison belted a solo HR leading off the 3rd.

Friday Results

Game 1

R H E

Calgary Diamonds - 000 000 0 - 0 1 2

Portland DeMarini Merchants - 000 020 x - 2 5 0

Sean Whitten & Kelly Wenstrom.

Kevin Careless & Ken Kvarnstrom.

Umpires: P: Jim Hubbard, B: Bud Livingstone.

Time: 1:48 (10:59 A.M.-12:47 P.M.).

*Careless threw a 1-hitter with 10 K's. Only hit was a bunt single by David Boys in to of 6th.

*Paul Reyes lined a 2-out 2-run triple to right-centre field in bottom of 5th.

Game 2 (Happy 4th of July to our American friends!!!)

R H E

Fresno Team Lyons - 002 001 - 3 5 3

Portland - 120 02x - 5 4 0

Tony Hunhoff & Tony Acedo.

Roberto Bahler, Kevin Careless(W)(3) & Ken Kvarnstrom.

Home Runs: Lyons: Marc Santillano, Charlie Pena.

Portland: Santiago Lataire.

Umpires: P: Gary Schmidt, B: Jim Hubbard.

Time: 1:45 (1:09-2:54 P.M.).

*Careless earned his second win in relief of the injured Bahler.

*Hunhoff only gave up 4 hits, but walked 5.

*3 errors led to 2 unearned runs.

*Lataire hit solo HR in 5th.

*Santillano hit 2-run HR in 3rd.

*Pena hit solo HR in 6th.

Game 3

R H E

Team Australia: Aussie Steelers - 001 615 - 13 13 3

Calgary - 012 030 - 6 6 5

Andrew Kirkpatrick & Mike Harrow.

Ryan Brand(L), Brian Newton(4) & Kelly Wenstrom.

Home Runs: Aussie: Kris Kiefel.

Calgary: David Boys, Greg Crawford.

Umpires: P: Howard Stashewsky, B: Gary Schmidt.

Time: 1:53 (3:17-5:10 P.M.)

*Aussie's first 7 runs were all unearned, scoring on 4 errors and 6 hits.

*Kiefel hit 2-run HR in 6th.

*Boys hit solo HR in 2nd.

*Crawford hit 2-run HR in 5th.

*Kirkpatrick went the distance and struck out 11 for the win.

Game 4

R H E

Victoria Traveller's Inn - 100 120 1 - 5 9 0

Team Lyons - 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

Collin McKenzie & Harvey Stevenson.

Tony Hunhoff & Tony Acedo.

Home Run: T.I.: Gerry Kennedy.

Umpires: P: Damien McCauley (Aus.), B: Howard Stashewsky.

Time: 1:40 (5:32-7:12 P.M.).

*McKenzie kept Lyons in check with a 3-hitter and 10 K's.

*Kennedy hit a solo HR in 4th; he went 2-3 with 3 RBI's and 1 run scored.

*Bob Court also went 2-3, with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Game 5

R H E

Aussie Steelers - 000 020 - 2 6 2

Vancouver Grey Sox - 030 13x - 7 8 0

Deon Trail(L), Adam Sobol(4) & Michael Gibson.

Nick Underhill & Craig Horswell.

Home Run: Grey Sox: Scott Newitt.

Umpires: P: Rico Powers, B: Aaron Poulin.

Time: 1:53 (7:34-9:24 P.M.)

*Newitt hit 3-run HR in 2nd; he went 2-3 with the HR and 4 RBI's.

*Horswell also went 2-3 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored.

*Clayton Beck had a pinch-hit 2-run triple in 5th.

*Underhill went the distance, scattering 6 hits and striking out 6.

Game 6

R H E

Grey Sox - 001 000 2 - 3 7 3

Traveller's Inn - 102 010 x - 4 8 2

Jon Nimmo(L), Dan Valachi(4) & Todd Morrison.

Collin McKenzie & Harvey Stevenson.

Umpires: P: Aaron Poulin, B: Rico Powers.

Time: 1:52 (9:43-11:35 P.M.)

*McKenzie earned his second win.

*Grey Sox rallied for 2 runs in the 7th to close to 4-3, and had runners on first & third with 2 out; rally and game ended when Jeff Galley was called out at the plate (very close play - could have gone either way) trying to score on a wild pitch.

Al Duddridge

Scorekeeper