Predictions for Friday August 21 (Projected winner Bold UC Underlined)
(Record to date 47-7)
12:00 noon – MIDWEST STAMPEDE vs Saskatoon
2:00 pm – Kitchener Rivershark Twins vs BROKEN BOW PATSY’S
4:00 pm – Midwest Stampede/Saskatoon vs KITCHENER/BROKEN BOW
7:00 pm – Kitchener Rivershark Twins vs BROKEN BOW PATSY’S
By John Thompson
The ISC Hall of Fame held its 2009 induction breakfast for a half dozen of fastball’s finest and within days announced the stellar Class of 2010.
Royce Heath, chair of the ISC Hall of Fame Selection committee, announced that the ISC Board of Directors approved a stellar slate of softball luminaries for induction in Midland, MI in August 2010.
Six inductees will be recognized for their collective accomplishments and achievements as players, management and sponsors.
Darren Zack, Garden River, ON
Heading the list is legendary Canadian pitcher Darren Zack who toed the rubber for 18 seasons in the ISC World tournaments between 1987 and 2008. His pitching achievement includes 54 career wins (3rd All-time), including 29 shutouts. His career was punctuated by a 15-game consecutive winning streak (1994-96), the second best all-time in ISC. Zack’s life-time ERA is a miniscule 1.57. The “First Nations†native was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher four times between 1992-2000, and was ISC All-World nine times between 1992-2004. His personal success carried his club teams to ten “top four†finishes, with a quartet of ISC World Championships – Toronto Gators 1993 and 1995; Tampa Smokers 1998 and Decatur Pride 2000.
Darren is active in this year’s ISC II Tournament of Champions in Rock Island, IL with the Ohsweken, ON Redmen.
John Becker. Holmen, WI
Success as a player came to John Becker as a catcher with the Madison Farm Tavern (1987-91) and was highlighted by his final season with Green Bay All Car as 1994 ISC World Champions and a personal 1st Team All-World selection. In 1995, John doffed the catcher’s tools and instantly established himself as a bona-fide and successful team leader. His ten seasons as a field manager span 1995-2006 and include seven “Top-3†finishes, all with Wisconsin based squads. The pinnacle of success was the four-year string of ISC championship game appearances from 2003-06. Following two “runners-up†finishes, John’s County Materials squads won back-to-back ISC crowns in 2005-06. In a true season of competition dominance, the 2006 County Materials won every tournament in which it played – Eau Claire, Orillia, Boys of Summer, Monkton, Allentown, Madison and finally the ISC in Kitchener.
Alan Rohrback, Lakeside, CA
In 1981, Alan Rohrback was named as “rookie of the year†in the Western Softball Congress with the San Diego Vista Bombers. His youthful skills resulted in his being added to the Camarillo Kings roster for his debut ISC World tournament in Saginaw, MI. The Kings won that memorable tournament, and Alan was selected ISC 1st Team All-World player, with team-mates Larry Nolan (ISC HoF 2002) and Floyd “Blue†LaVergne (ISC HoF 2008). In 1983, Alan joined the Lancaster, CA Chameleons, where he won the WSC batting championship (.411) and MVP honours. The Chameleons won the ISC tourney and the following year placed third, when Alan was named to his second ISC All-World team. Two years later, with the new-look Lakewood, CA Chameleons, he acquired his third ISC All-World Selection. Alan continued to play with various competitive teams in California, highlighted by an ASA championship ring in 1991 with Santa Rosa CA Guennella Brothers.
Joe Avila, Hanford, CA
From his debut in 1964 with the Armona CA Merchants, Joe Avila was a skilled player and great ambassador for softball. As a shortstop possessing lightning speed, great hitting and fielding and an intensive competitive desire, Joe was among the best in the business. In ten ISC State tournaments, he was selected to the All-Tournament team each year. At the ISC tournaments in Kimberly, WI (1972) and Sun City, AZ (1974) Joe was named to the ISC All-World team as a member of the Clovis, CA Cowboys.
The Sonnentag Family (Tim, Billy and John) – Marathon, WI
Since 1986 when the Sonnentag family’s County Materials formed its first open level fastpitch team, with sponsorship based on the principle of “Chemistry and Culture†and doing things right both on and off the field, the game of softball has benefitted. In addition to a commitment to excellence, the family has been true promoters and ambassadors of the game, locally, state-wide and internationally. While winning is important, winning with class is the true measure – a trait synonymous with the Sonnentag family.
Dennis Johnson, St. James, MN
The love affair with softball for Dennis Johnson began June 4, 1959 when he got three hits in his first game of local rounders in the Augustana Lutheran Church League in his hometown. A half century later, he is being recognized for his decades of service to the sport including his stint as the ISC Commissioner of the Gopher State Softball League in 1981, a position he held until 2004 when he was appointed as an ISC Commissioner Emeritus. In recognition of his tireless efforts to have two new fastpitch diamonds built at the Watonwan County Fairgrounds, the city named the facility the “Dennis Johnson Field.†An example of his longevity and dependability is his record of having attended every game, home and away, since 1961 of his local high school basketball team, for whom he serves as scorekeeper – 1,060 consecutive games. WOW!
Mario Peirera had three hits to lead the offense, while pitcher Craig Pidcock tossed a shutout as the Portland River Rockers won their opener in the ISC II Tournament of Champions at Rock Island, Illinois.
Rudy Montanez Jr’s RUDE PAC won their ISC II opener Tuesday, in convincing fashion, 10-2. The offense was powered by the heart of the batting order, # 5 hitter, John Pruneda banging out 3 hits, while # 3-4 hitters, Dean Waltier and Bryan Wells had two hits each accounting for 7 of the team’s 8 hits.
Doug Sleep tossed a 3 hitter with 5 strikeouts in his four innings of work, while closer Gerald Pyle struck out all three hitters that he faced in the 5th inning, in the run-rule shorted game.
Predictions for Thursday August 20 (Projected winner Bold Underlined)
(Record to date 40-6)
11:00 am – Jarvis Merchants vs Pueblo Bandits
11:00 am – Elkhart Albaugh vs Midland Explorers
1:00 pm – Vancouver Grey Sox vs Madison Farm Tavern
1:00 pm – Jarvis/Pueblo vs Albaugh/Midland
3:00 pm – Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins vs Midwest Stampede
5:00 pm – Saskatoon Aspen vs Broken Bow Patsy’s
7:00 pm – Kitchener/Midwest vs Vancouver/Madison
9:00 pm – Broken Bow/Aspen vs Jarvis/Pueblo/Albaugh/Midland
PREVIOUS RESULTS
(more…)
By John Thompson
ISC 2009 Hall of Famer Mike Piechnik acknowledged Canadian pitching great Rob Guenther as his mentor- “Rob prepared me for my success – he taught me to have a good work effort and dedication.â€
“The way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until it stops rolling, and then pick it up.†– Bob Uecker , MLB player and humorist
Yogism – “Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical.â€
Saskatoon Aspen pitcher Lucas Mata, core member of the Argentina National Softball Team, struck out 14 batters from Madison Farm Tavern. That in itself, is an accomplishment, but not that unusual. However, half of those Ks were batters “caught looking†as Mata was at his best in baffling Farm batters in moving his Aspen squad to the final four.
Yogism – “He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious.â€
Observation – Bruce Bierman’s “Blue Crewâ€, hand-picked for the 2009 Championships, has NOT been the topic of most conversations. That’s good news – the arbiters of balls/strikes and outs are competently doing their job – very professionally – through 40 games of play. Way to go umps!
“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.†– Jacques Barzun, French diplomat.
“My song should be ‘I’ve been everywhere’ by Johnny Cash†– ISC 2009 HoF member Mike Piechnik when describing his career of journeys among softball clubs. (Note – Mike – this song was also recorded by Hank Snow.)
“I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball†– Pete Rose
A tip of the ball cap to the BallPark Radio/TV crew who are sharing ISC excitement
throughout the world – kudos to Jim Flanagan, Kyle Smith, producer Dave Blackburn and others, plus the camera crew. The product has come a long way over the past few years, and with so many international players, family members from ‘round the globe are tuning in.
Yogism – “How can you hit and think at the same time?â€
Are any teams more prepared than the hard-working and ever-ready grounds crews at Green Valley (Moline) and Campbell Complex (Rock Island). The inclement weather – a mixture of humidity giving way to intermittent showers – at times heavy – has played havoc with the scheduling. Two thumbs up – make that four thumbs for the two ground crews – who are providing the best of service to the ISC tournaments to ensure appropriate (and safe) playing conditions for the 64 teams.
In the modern age of fastball (fast-pitch softball), pitchers going the distance are the exception, rather than the rule. The axiom of “five and two†describing the number of innings for a starter (5 innings) and the closer (2 innings – following twice through the batting order), has become a field management standard. Brings to mind the quote from New York Mets’ closer John Franco – “Closing games is a lot like landing airplanes. A successful effort rarely warrants notice, and a failure is considered a full-scale disaster.â€
Our thoughts are with Kitchener Hallman Rivershark Twins field manager, Denny Bruckert (ISC HoF 2008), who was rushed to the hospital from the Isle of Capri Casino on Wednesday afternoon.
By John Thompson
Hosting an ISC Tournament has always included an inherent obligation to build on the successes of the past.
With the Winter Olympics scant months away, (Vancouver, BC Canada in February 2010), it brings to mind the Olympic Creed.
Baron de Coubertin borrowed a motto from Father Henri Martin Dideon, the headmaster of Arcueil College in Paris. Father Dideon used the motto to describe the great achievements of the athletes at his school.
Citius… Altius… Fortius
Swifter… Higher… Stronger
Coubertin felt it could be used to describe the goals of great athletes all over the World.
Perhaps the same could apply to the ISC and host communities as they ponder their collaborative future.
For the ISC, the days of expansion and growth (swifter and higher) and stability (stronger) may not be easily attained for the revered World Softball Tournament.
In the softball hey-days of the 1970s and 80s, ISC “world†teams competed in a double-knockout competition with as many as 48 teams participating from 1987 to 2000. In the last decade, the number of teams has eroded to 40, then 32 and this year 24 squads.
The ISC “world†teams have decreased by 50%.
Is there a solution?
In 2002, a concurrent event – the ISC II Tournament of Champions – was born. In its 8th year, this year the II championship features 40 teams.
Both events are marketed under the banner of the ISC, and together provide economic impact to local host communities.
For host committees, the marketing ploy is to come and see “the bestâ€.
For host committee budgets to succeed, and the event to be a major attraction, quality is anticipated. Bring us the “bestâ€. But, the “best†is simply not enough. Host communities anticipate economic impact. That is not driven simply by the “bestâ€. It is driven by numbers.
Numbers such as hotel rooms occupied…. restaurant meals devoured… automobiles rented… attractions visited…..
At the parks, it’s about more numbers – paid admissions… programs sold… 50/50 pots…. hot dogs consumed… souvenirs sold…..
To be blunt – it’s about the cash!
Success as a host…
For any ISC event to be successful, there are certain mandatory obligations by the local, host city community.
An infra-structure ranging from first-class facilities for the games, to appropriate accommodations for teams and fans, must be available.
Mandatory is an effective, enthusiastic and competent host committee.
Quad Cities receives high marks in these key areas.
The four-plex parks at Green Valley and Campbell Complexes are more than adequate – perhaps even “first-class†for the games. The “between-the-lines†playing conditions for the players is of paramount importance. This week, the grounds crews of both multi-diamond facilities have been pressed into extra duty to combat the weather elements. The crews responded with daily mini-miracles to have the diamonds fit for play within hours of the clouds opening.
The Quad Cities greater community has hotel accommodations galore, at all price points to meet all ranges of budgets for teams and fans.
Lynn Hunt and the committed volunteers of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau are serving as welcoming hosts. Smiles and mid-west hospitality greetings are the norm as the legion of yellow-shirted local ambassadors welcome the throngs to the parks.
Quite frankly, the 2009 ISC tournament is an engaging event. As visitors, sharing our love of fastball – as players, stakeholders and fans – we’re certainly glad that we’re here.
Co-dependency
There is a direct dependency between the ISC and the host communities. Both entities require each other to be successful.
The future of the ISC rests in the hands of the well-intentioned volunteers who serve as ISC decision-making personnel. Strategy will be debated and approved for the future.
The future host communities will determine when, and whether, it’s time to continue providing the infra-structure for the championships.
Many communities have hosted very successful ISC world, and more recently ISC II, tournaments over the years. It’s great to have this event return to Quad Cities following a 36 year hiatus. However, will the great hosts of the past continue to serve up hospitality and a willingness to respond to this ISC “opportunity†in the future.
Will Kimberly, WI return for a record 12th hosting? Now that Quad Cities has dipped its toe back into the ISC pool, will there be motivation (and economic impact) to do it all over again?
What of Eau Claire WI, Fargo ND, St. Joseph MO, Sioux City, IA, and north of the border Summerside PEI and Victoria BC?
Kitchener ON is committed for 2010, but what of beyond?
Economics
Nowadays, it’s not Reagonomics… and its not Obamanomics. It’s the new reality.
It’s ISCanomics!
Host community expectations
The Host Community opens its doors to embrace an event. The ISC brings “the show†to town.
In North American history, in the old days, it was a big event when the circus came to town. Similarily, it was a big event when the ISC was staged in communities from coast to coast.
What do host communities expect when hosting “the show� And what have host committees provided in the past?
The future is difficult to predict at the best of times.
Tomorrow, a visit to the host communities of the past fifteen years. Comparisons will be made on such key topics as facilities, organization, food services, amenities, pricing and unique aspects that set each community apart.
This trip down ISC memory lane may serve to recall wonderful experiences from the past. It could also serve as a check – list for the future.
The Special Olympics game planned for Wednesday at 5pm has been rescheduled for Thursday at 5pm. The Special Olympics game is in its second year, spearheaded by Midland Explorer Kyle Beane. Beane is also the driving force behind the host committee bid that will bring the ISC World Tournament to Midland, Michigan in 2010.
The change was a result of heavy rains at Moline, Illinois on Wednesday, which also forced rescheduling of games at the ISC World Tournament and ISC II Tournament of Champions.
Play at the ISC World tournament resumed late Wednesday, while the ISC II Tournament of Champions at nearby Rock Island, Illinois was washed out for the day, with play resuming on revised schedule Thursday morning.
The Vancouver Grey Sox pushed a run across in the 9th inning of a pitchers duel against the New York Gremlins late Wednesday night, to advance in the loser’s bracket at the ISC World Tournament at Moline, Illinois.
Vancouver Grey Sox 9th – Mayson D singled. Ormsby G singled; Mayson D advanced to second. Ormsby G advanced to second on a wild pitch; Mayson D advanced to third on a wild pitch. Giesbrecht R reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second, RBI; Ormsby G advanced to third; Mayson D scored. Ree B flied out to lf. Rasmussen K struck out. Abrey B grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Former California River City Rocker pitcher Bryan Newton tossed 8 shutout innings before surrendering a run, while former So Cal pitcher Travis Price combined with New Zealand pitching legend Marty Grant for 9 shutout innings, with Grant picking up the win..
Click here for box score and play-by-play.
The Grey Sox will return to action Thursday morning at 11am CDT, to face Albaugh, Inc, of Iowa, in a loser’s bracket game. Albaugh fell to #the 1 ranked, defending champions, the Kitchener Rivershark Twins, on Monday, while Vancouver was dispatched to the loser’s bracket late Tuesday night by # 2 ranked Broken Bow Patsy’s. Some have tabbed Broken Bow Patsy’s as the tournament favorite, despite the rankings released in July, pointing to a hamstring injury to Kitchener pitcher Todd Martin, and the outstanding pitching performances of Australians Andrew Kirkpatrict and Adam Folkard at the ISF World Championships in late July, where Australia won its first ever gold medal.
Play resumes Thursday morning, after a day delayed by rains and sloppy field conditions resulting from the heavy rains.
The California A’s eliminated the host Quad City Sox of Davenport, Iowa on Monday, picking up their first win against two tough losses.
The A’s came into the tournament ranked #20, and dropped their first two games, 5-4 in 9 innings to #10 ranked Midland Explorers of Michigan and 4-2 to # 11 ranked Dominican Republic.
The Quad City Sox came into the tournament ranked #17, but fell to the #20 squad from California. Sebastian Gervesutti picked up the win on Monday, in his third starts in as many games, tossing a 4 hitter, and striking out 10.
For the A’s a three run 5th inning proved to be the difference in the game, with a 2 run triple by Jason Porto the big blow:
California Athletics 5th – Mandolesi S singled. Tan M flied out to 1b. Pinocchio S struck out. Budke T walked; Mandolesi S advanced to second. Porto J tripled, 2 RBI; Budke T scored; Mandolesi S scored. Porto J scored on a wild pitch. Castillo K flied out to 2b. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
The California A’s will play again Tuesday at 5pm central (3pm California time), against the loser of the #12 Pueblo CO Bandits vs. # 14 Dolan & Murphy, IL.
If Pueblo were to win, the A’s next game would pit two teams that were enroute to a Best of the West tournament championship game matchup back in June, at Santa Barbara, but did not take place as Pueblo had to catch a plane and missed the championship game. The A’s were the 2009 Best of the West champions.
Jeremy Manley is the ace of the Pueblo staff, struck out 20 in his last outing. The hard throwing right hander pitched in the ISF World Championships a month ago for his home New Zealand Black Sox. Manley was injured on Sunday, when hit by a line drive in the leg off the bat of The Farm Tavern’s Donny Hale. If there were questions about his condition, he seems to have answered them with the 20 K performance in his next game.
Box score and play-by-play