Archive for the ‘General’ Category

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Olympian Tweets

Friday, February 19th, 2010

(Spoiler alert – for those of you who are taping to watch, you will run across some results here, so if you don’t want to know the results, don’t click links)


With the eyes of the world focused on the 2010 Winter Olympics, we thought you might enjoy this link to all of the twitter feeds of the Olympians.

Want to watch the Winter Olympics online? Try these links:

(Spoiler alert – for those of you who are taping to watch, you will run across some results here, so if you don’t want to know the results, don’t click links)

NBC

CTV (for our Canadian friends)

Watching Vancouver Olympics

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Texas fastballer in ICU

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

A note from John Limon, in Texas:

I received a phone call last night to inform me that Reynosa 100% Neccio Second baseman/ shortstop Manuel “Meme” Vela had been shot in Reynosa and was in the ICU. I don’t know the particulars but I do Meme and I’m asking you to keep him in your prayers. Meme was last years Memorial Tournament MVP , he played for me with Castro a few years ago and was wonderful with the young players we had. My heart is very Heavy right now for Meme and his Family , again Please keep him in your prayers .. I’ll let you know more when I know more.

—
“Your Friend In Softball”
John Limon
Texas ISC Commissioner
2005-2007
texasisc (at) gmail.com

Posted in General, Players | No Comments »

Maddy’s Photos on Facebook

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Maddysphotos can now be found on Facebook. Click logo below to “Become a Fan”.

To visit the fastpitch galleries at her main photo website, click the banner below:


Posted in General, Photos | No Comments »

Jennie Finch, Matt Palazzo are USA Softball Athletes of the Year for 2009

Friday, February 12th, 2010

USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athletes of the Year


(Photo: Jennie Finch, courtesy of Softballnewsla.com)


(Photo: Matt Palazzo, courtesy of USA Softball)


(photo by Maddy Flanagan); Tip ‘o the cap to Matt Christiansen for submitting the link

Editor’s note: We invite our readers to find a better photo of Matt for posting here, at the galleries at Maddy’s photos. Email us the link, by sending to: jim (at) fastpitchwest.com. Oh, and if you find any better ones of Jennie Finch, you can send those too 🙂

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball are pleased to announce that Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) and Matt Palazzo (Des Moines, Iowa) were named the USA Softball Female and Male Athlete of the year, respectively, for their accomplishments during the 2009 season.

Finch saw time as both a pitcher and at first base on defense and made an impact at the plate on offense. Finch’s hits in the Championship Game of both the Japan Cup and Canada Cup secured the USA victory. She was voted the Japan Cup MVP after she not only threw a one-hitter to defending Olympic Gold Medalist Japan but also drove in the only two runs scored, with a double, to help lead the team to a 2-0 victory. In the Championship game of the Canada Cup with two outs left in the seventh, Finch hit a walk-off single that would push a run across the plate and give the United States a 3-2 victory.

Offensively, Finch was in the Top five in all three events in batting average with a summer average of .447. Her best event was at the World Cup of Softball where Finch hit .500 with a home run and three runs scored. During the summer of 2009, she made an appearance in all 18 games with 17 starts with three home runs and 17 hits. As a pitcher, she was 5-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Finch allowed only two earned runs in 26.0 innings pitched.

“I am completely honored all the way around to not only play for our great country but also to be recognized out of a group of extremely talented athletes. I am surrounded by amazing women and feel blessed to be a part of USA Softball,” said Finch. “I feel privileged to still have the opportunity to play the game I love at this stage in my life. Just to wear USA across my chest is a great honor and I am grateful for the opportunities I continue to have.”

Palazzo helped lead the USA Softball Men’s National team to a fourth-place finish at the ISF Men’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, with a 7-3 record. He led the team with a .444 average (12-for-27) and was the only player to record more than one home run with four homers. At the plate, he contributed 11 RBI, scoring nine runs. He was near perfect on defense, making only one error.

“This summer was amazing to be able to compete among great International opponents at the World Championships. Seeing the different cultures, styles of play and at such a high level is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. To wear red, white and blue and represent your country is such an amazing thing and I can’t wait to get out there and compete again,” said Palazzo who admitted he was smiling away after he heard the news. “I am very shocked and pleased to earn this honor. I worked extremely hard last year and thought I had a great year but didn’t expect this. Just to be in the same category as an athlete like Jennie Finch is an honor in itself.”

Editor’s note: Our Spanish-speaking readers can find the Spanish version of the above article at www.softballnewsla.com, by clicking here. . Great excuse to post her photo, eh? …as if one was necessary.

Read more about Matt Palazzo after the jump. (more…)

Posted in ASA, General, Players | No Comments »

Top 10 Cities

Friday, February 12th, 2010

The following is a list of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world as ranked by The Economist. I couldn’t help noticing how many of them produce some of our finest fastball talent. I’m just saying….

1. Vancouver, Canada
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Toronto, Canada
5. Calgary, Canada
6. Helsinki, Finland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Perth, Australia
9. Adelaide, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand

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The fastpitch diehards of Omaha

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

From Otto in Focus
Written by By BOB OTTO
botto3 (at) verizon.net

OMAHA, NE – The game has shrunk. The numbers of teams have dwindled. But yet in Omaha the fastpitch diehards carry on – especially the likes of Matt Christensen, Darren Dubsky, and Rick Nice.

Abandon their summer passion? No way.

Put men’s fastpitch softball in a coffin, lower it into the grave, shovel dirt over it, and just walk away?

Not on their lives.

Yes, the numbers are down, says Christensen, from about 60 teams in the Omaha City League 20 years ago to just six now.

The solution to reverse the dwindling numbers? A youth movement, say the three diehards.

Christensen is no Pollyanna. He realizes that 21st century youngsters have a glut of recreational options. Thus some must be coaxed into the sport. Sort of like dangling a carrot in front of a horse’s nose. It takes work, but it can be done. And he’s proven it.

He took an age 23-under team comprised of local Nebraska kids and a pitcher from Mexico to the ISC World Tournament in 2005. And from that experience he’s come away optimistic.

(more…)

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Utah Fastpitch 2010

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Click here for the 2010 Schedule of Utah fastpitch tournaments.

Click here to visit their Facebook page.

Editor’s note: Short version, but be sure to click the link above for complete schedule and information.

Dixie Classic (St. George, Utah) (Canyons Complex)
April 17th – 18th

Strawberry Days (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
June 4th – 5th

Canyon Lands (Moab, Utah)
June 19th – 20th

Carl Hansen / Page Brake (Salt Lake City, Utah)*
July 9th – 10th

Blue Mountain (Monticello, Utah)
July 23rd – 24th

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2010 ISC WT Qualifiers

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

We have added a link over on the right side of this page for “ISC World Tournament Qualifiers”. (Upper right hand corner, under “Pages”)

When a new list of qualifiers is released, we update the version at this page, so that you will always know that you are looking at the latest and greatest version of the ISC world tournament qualifiers, by clicking this link.

Posted in General, ISC | No Comments »

Men’s Fastball is Coming Back to North Gower

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

NEWS RELEASE
February 7, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORTH GOWER, OTTAWA—Competitive men’s fastball is coming back to North Gower. The fastball club formerly known as the Greely Eagles will be known as the North Gower Marlboroughs in 2010.

In addition to the move, the club is announcing the new sponsorship of the Marlborough Pub in North Gower. Captain Anil Hayne said the club was excited about moving to North Gower, and that it made sense for a lot of reasons.

“Some of our players live in North Gower, so it’s our hometown and we love it,” said Hayne. “Plus, we have a great local sponsor backing us.”

Marlborough Pub co-owner Jason Moore said he looking forward to the partnership. He said he was impressed by the club’s sense of community, such as conducting free fastball clinics for children.

“Community involvement is important to our business,” said Moore. “We like the way these guys promote fastball and give back to kids, and we want to support that.”

The North Gower Marlboroughs Men’s Fastball Club will compete in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League (GOFL).The GOFL is a nine-team premier men’s fastball league in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. The Marlboroughs’ home games will be played at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Facility on Community Way in North Gower. The schedule is yet to be determined.

For more information about the Marlborough Pub, please visit their website: www.marlboroughpub.com.

For more information about the North Gower Marlboroughs Men’s Fastball Club, please contact Anil Hayne at 613-489-1730 or gowerfastball (at) gmail.com.

Contacts:
Captain Anil Hayne (613-489-1730 or gowerfastball (at) gmail.com))

Greater Ottawa Fastball League (www.gofl.ca)


Marlbourough Pub (www.marlboroughpub.com)

Editor’s note: Be sure to take a look at the websites linked above. The GOFL.ca site is nicely done, complete with player stats.

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Softball Canada announces 40-man pool for National Team

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

(Ottawa, ON) Softball Canada is pleased to release the list of players who have been selected to the Senior Men’s National Team Athlete Pool for the 2010 season. At this time, the Senior Men’s team is scheduled to participate at the VII Pan American Championship which will be held in Guatemala City from November 19-27, 2010.

The athletes selected to the Senior Men’s National Team pool are:

1. Bryan Abrey (Richmond, BC)
2. Derek Arsenie (Saskatoon, SK)
3. Cory Avery (Halifax, NS)
4. Tyson Barkman (Abbotsford, BC)
5. Sean Cleary (Harbour Main, NL)
6. Nick Dambrosio (Gormley, ON)
7. Justin Dauvin (Saskatoon, SK)
8. Jody Eidt (Mitchell, ON)
9. Jeff Ellsworth (St. Lawrence, PEI)
10. Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, SK)
11. Blair Ezekiel (Harbour Main, NL)
12. Brad Ezekiel (Harbour Main, NL)
13. Ian Fehrman (Townsend, ON)
14. Calem Gardner (Squamish, BC)
15. Pat Graham (Paris, ON)
16. Mike Grant (Antigonish, NS)
17. Jason Hill (St. John’s, NL)
18. Brandon Horn (Waterloo, ON)
19. Mark Johnson (Glencoe, ON)
20. Cory Jones (Leduc, AB)
21. Darrell Joy (Calgary, AB)
22. Dustin Keshane (Norquay, SK)
23. Paul Koert (Brooklyn, ON)
24. Rowan Lam (Glencoe, ON)
25. Derek Mayson (North Vancouver, BC)
26. Devon McCullough (Saskatoon, SK)
27. Steve Mullaley (Freshwater, NL)
28. Mike Noftall (St. John’s, NL)
29. Grant Patterson (Penetanguishene, ON)
30. Allan Phibbs (Hagersville, ON)
31. Andrew Phibbs (Hagersville, ON)
32. Andrew Putnam (Cambridge, ON)
33. Jason Sanford (Durham, NS)
34. Kevin Schellenberg (Squamish, BC)
35. Andy Skelton (Scarborough, ON)
36. Darrell Tilley (Camrose, AB)
37. Terrell Walker (Balcarres, SK)
38. Sean Whitten (Calgary, AB)
39. Ryan Wolfe (Melbourne, ON)
40. Brady Woods (Stonewall, MB)

The pool includes nine members of the 2009 Senior Men’s National team that won a Bronze medal at the 2009 ISF XII Men’s World Championship held in Saskatoon, SK, as well as six members of the Silver medal winning team from the 2008 VIII ISF Junior Men’s World Championship held in Whitehorse Yukon.

“We are pleased to announce our initial Canadian Senior Men’s National Team player pool” stated Don Bates, Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach. “We will continue to add and delete players from the pool over the next three years as we prepare for the 2013 ISF World Championship in New Zealand. The player pool features a solid nucleus of returning players from the 2009 ISF team, supported by a strong group of talented young athletes.”

The Senior Men’s National Team coaching staff reserves the right to add or remove players from the Athlete Pool at any time. Inclusion on this list does not guarantee that an athlete will be selected to attend a National Team Tryout Camp.

-SC-

For more information, please contact:

Harvey Stevenson
Operations Manager – National Teams
Softball Canada
hstevenson@softball.ca

Posted in Canada, General, ISF | No Comments »

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