ISC II VP Jim Williamson talks about the ISC World Tournament coming to Quad Cities in this news report. Click the photo below to activate the video.
Archive for the ‘General’ Category
World Fastpitch Softball Coming to QCA
Friday, September 19th, 2008Fastpitch softball tourneys coming to Q-Cs
Friday, September 19th, 2008
The International Softball Conference announced that the ISC Tournament of Champions will be held this Aug. in Moline. The tournament will be held in the Quad Cities for the first time since the 1970s. In the photo from left are: Ken Hackmeister, President, International Softball Congress (ISC), Steve Kaiser, Sean Marten, Bill Kranz and Jim Williamson. Photo: John Greenwood
Daniel Makarewicz, danmak@qconline.com
A discussion lasting nearly three years finally ended with good news on Wednesday.
Quad Cities will once again host a high-profile softball tournament.
The International Softball Congress announced during a press conference at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Bettendorf that the Quad Cities will host the Men’s World Fastball Tournament and the ISC II Tournament of Champions in August.
The World Tournament will be held at the Greenvalley Complex in Moline, while the ISC Tournament will compete at the Campbell Complex in Rock Island.
“We know that there’s a history, a tradition, a following that our sport has known here and we’re hoping to capitalize on that history,†said ISC Executive Director Ken Hackmeister.
Rock Island hosted the ISC World Tournament a record 10 times in a 13-year span between 1961 and 1973.
“We knew we had the fan base and people interested in it,†QCCVB Vice President Lynn Hunt said. “We saw it as an opportunity to bring an adult sporting event that would cause a fabulous economic impact. We really thought the community support it with there connection. We thought it was a natural fit.â€
The contract, which was signed last October, stipulates that the Quad Cities will host the 2009 tournament and will have an option to host again in 2011. The option must be exercised before Jan. 1, 2009, Hackmeister said.
“If they’re not going to hold in 2011, we’ve got to use the 2009 tournament to solicit other bidders,†he said. “In a way it puts them in a disadvantage. But on the other hand, we don’t want to put ourselves in a disadvantage.â€
Hunt said the QCCVB started the bidding process in 2005 “just to find out exactly what it would take to bring the event here.†The committee toured the 2007 and 2008 tournaments – which were held in Kitchener, Ontario, and Kimberly, Wisc., respectively — to “get a good idea of what was expected,†she said.
Hackmeister said the Quad Cities’ bid was appealing because “they were a CVB-operating committee†and had “a history†of hosting this event.
“We know the fans support it,†he said. “We’ve got a lot of ex-players living in this area and we just felt like it was an ideal location.â€
Hackmeister said the World Tournament would use two fields of the four fields at Greenvalley and the ISC World Tournament will utilize all four fields at Campbell.
The two tournaments were originally going to be played simultaneously at Greenvalley, but the ISC recommended that the two be separated for fan and player safety, according to Hackmeister.
Hackmeister said Midland, Mich., Eau Claire, Wisc., Allentown, Pa., and Mankato, Minn., all placed bids to host the 2009 tournament.
The tournament will mark the second straight summer the Quad Cities have hosted a national tournament. In August, the USA/ASA Girls’ Class A 18-Under Fast Pitch Tournament was held at Greenvalley.
Hunt said the QCCVB made that a huge selling point.
“I think it gave confidence to the ISC that we’ve hosted the ASA and other large events,†she said. “They know that we have the people, the infrastructure to support it and the volunteers. I think it gave them the confidence to say, ‘Yeah, the Quad Cities can host it.’â€
Centennial Park Map – NAFA Masters West
Friday, September 19th, 2008Long Beach Deadwood to NAFA Masters West 50+
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
The Editor’s team, Long Beach Deadwood heads to Carson City, it’s third 50+ tournament. The squad finished 2-2 in 2005 in the ASA 50+ in Prescott, Arizona in 2005, and looks to improve on its third place finish at last year’s NAFA Masters West 50+, where they lost only to the eventual champions, Seattle, Washington. Player/manager Steve Miner will return for his third year with the club.
Ace Dan Zupp will be back on the hill, with Billy Montana returning to the squad after pitching with them in 2005.
First game for the ‘Wood:
50+
9:45 am Saturday, September 20, 2008 – Centennial
Long Beach Deadwood, Southern California vs Hellman Motors, Colorado
2008 Long Beach Deadwood Roster:
Dan Zupp
Billy Montana
Jim Flanagan
Barry Woolery
Larry Giese
Jim Brundage
Steve Boyle
Bernie Lopez
Joe Crawford
Steve Miner
Dean Bettencourt
Doug Shaw
Mike Stalnecker
Mitch Mendenhall
Paul Castillo
Mike Encinas
Dan Plesentz
Info for Teams Headed to NAFA Masters West in Carson City, Nevada
Thursday, September 18th, 2008From NAFA Executive Director Benjie Hedgecock:
Just a reminder about a few things before you head out this weekend.
1) email Robert Hernandez roster to rmh323@roadrunner.com so that we can get all the names loaded into the palm pilots for stats. If you do have the numbers, please send the names. We are planning to add this for the East Masters in 2009 if it works out well at the West Masters this weekend.
2) We WILL have the Homerun Contest Friday Night from 6:30-8pm at the Centennial Park Complex. The Beer garden will be open and we will have souvenirs out that night as well.
3) We have several players that I am still matching to teams that need players. If you need a player let me know asap and if you are a player and want to play in an extra class let me know that asap as well.
4) We have sent directions to the park out to everyone. The City Center is the host motel and has a few rooms left.
5) We will see you all at the coaches meeting at 7pm Friday night at the Complex. Bring the whole team with you if you want.
6) Remember to tell spectators there is a gate admission of $5 a day so they are not surprised when they get there.
We just finished up the East Masters World Series and the Final Standings are now posted. We will have the All World Teams posted on Thursday. We had severe rain and really want to thank all the park workers at Bowling Green Complex who made it happen and to all the umpires, staff and teams that were so patient. We didn’t throw the first pitch until 4pm Saturday night but got all the games in still. One of the main reasons everything went so smoothly was the NAFA Rain Info Line 888-852-1115. Everyone can call it at the same time and did. We updated it every 30 minutes or so until we had a solid start time and then posted the Sunday pairings on it as well. We will probably post the Sunday Pairings on it again in case teams don’t want to stick around the park until their pool is finished.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Carson City, Nevada
Yours in Better Men’s Fastpitch,
Benjie Hedgecock
NAFA Executive Director
503-559-5398 Cell
Drotzmann aims for National Team
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Drotzmann aims for National Team
By DANIEL WATTENBURGER
The East Oregonian
HERMISTON – In the world of men’s fastpitch softball, few have had the kind of year Dr. Dave Drotzmann can boast.
Not only did the Hermiston optometrist and school board chairman help his Bakersfield, Calif. club team – the Lumber Kings – win the International Softball Congress championship over the summer, he won the Most Valuable Pitcher award at the tournament and was invited to compete for a spot on the U.S. National team.
It was the fifth time Drotzmann had pitched at the international tournament, and though he has a lifetime ERA of under 1.00 at the event he had never reached the gold medal.
“It’s an absolute team game and the team that makes the least mistakes almost always wins,” he said. “That’s the reason I play – the challenge of trying to be the best.”
At the 32-team tournament, 32 games were decided by fewer than two runs and 17 were decided by one.
The 38-year-old and the Lumber Kings finished third in the 2007 tournament, losing in the semifinals by a run.
“The reason we didn’t win last year was the pressure,” he said. “You have to minimize your mistakes.”
Drotzmann carries a mid- to upper-70s fastball, which translates to about 110 miles per hour at the major league level.
In the off-season he works out four times a week and throws two or three times to keep his pitching sharp. The U.S. National team tryout is later this month in Chula Vista, Calif., near San Diego, where he will join teammate and tournament MVP Marcus Tan.
The National team will play in two international events, the AAU Tournament in Orlando, Fla. in January and the ISF World Softball Tournament in Saskatchewan in July.
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Drotzmann said. “It will be fun to be a part of if nothing else. Just to be invited and train at the facilities will be a lot of fun.”
Many players in men’s fastpitch are former major league players, and a total of 34 were invited to tryout for 17 spots on the National team. Drotzmann is one of eight pitchers trying out for four spots.
Airline Baggage Charges Chart
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008Airline tickets are one of the largest expenses for any team; we thought this chart of baggage charges might be of some help:
Click here.
The best ? Easy. Southwest Airlines.
No first checked bag fee.
No second checked bag fee.
No change ticket fee.
No window or aisle seat fee.
No curbside check-in fee.
No phone reservation fee.
No snack fee.
No fuel surcharge.
If we sound like an advertisement for Southwest, then so be it. But that is quite a difference, the “no change ticket” charges especially, with most other airlines charging $150 for the privilege of changing your ticket PLUS the cost of a ticket if purchased that day. More often than not, if you need a change, you can toss the old ticket in the trash and start over. If you’re a team eliminated from a tournament, and flying home early, that’s a huge difference (including hotel rooms) if you booked on Southwest.
Airlines that charge even for your first bag:
American
Contintental
Northwest
Spirit
United
US Air
The worst? United Airlines, which just upped the charge for a second bag from $25 to $50. Add that to the $15 charge for your first bag, and it’s $65 for two bags – each way, or $130 on top of each plane ticket. How many ways can you spell outrageous? They’ve come up with another one too — they are now selling “Economy Plus” seats at the front of the coach section with extra leg room. Sounds good, huh? Give you three guesses where they got that legroom? You guessed it – they crammed the rest of the coach seats closer together. Find another place for your knees.
Drotzmann, Tan, McKinney & Kelly get invites to USA camp
Thursday, September 11th, 2008Story at our ISC II blog, “The Deuce”, click logo below.
Scoreboard – ASA “C” Nationals – Prescott, AZ
Thursday, September 11th, 2008Courtesy of Herb Dower, of “The Dower Report”:
Class C Scoreboard
ASA C National Tournament in Prescott, AZ
First Round
Tucson Rattlers 6, Vergedaal Shellers 2
Landis Markets 16, Wolfpack 0
Montgomery 12, Badger Roofing 11
Manor Dirtbags 9, Amigos 1
G2 2, Atlanta Vipers 1
Colorado Rage 10, Nor-Cal 9
Boise River Dogs 9, Albuquerque Risers 2
A Perfect Game 14, Vandehey Builders 0
Salt Lake Magic 8, Blue Lake 3
AZ Brewers 7, Caribbean 0
NM Sundevils 5, Panteras II 3
Eagle AA 14, Brennan Aire 6.
KHT Pumpers 4, Progresssive Roofing 2
Savala Silverhawks 15, Twin Pine 14
Katman Sports 14, Barros Roofing 11
Albuquerque Hitmen 17, Flor De Cana 1
South Carolina Tornadoes 7, Shockers 6
Tucson Hurricans 7, Bloodline 0 (forfeit)
Second Round
Tucson Rattlers 4, Southern California Hustlers 2
Landis Markets 9, Lumpy’s (SLC) 7
Montgomery 11, Tucson Hawks 3
Manor TX Dirtbags 13, Albuquerque Bulls 7
G2 5, San Diego Primetime 4
Colorado Rage 10, Boise River Dogs 6
Santa Rosa Fastpitch 5, A Perfect Game 1
Salt Lake City Magic 14, Peoria Guns 1
Piper Lake 9, AZ Brewers 1
Brotherton Pipe 4, NM Sundevils 1
Da Bruddahs 15, Eagle AA 6
KHT Pumpers 11, Techna Glass 4
Cedar Ridge 12, Savala Silvehawks 7
Katman Sports 12, Albuquerque Hitmen 10
Prescott Cool Arrow 10, S.C. Tornadoes 9
Tucson Hurricanes 9, Funky Monkey 1
AAU Tournament going to 36 teams for 2009!
Thursday, September 11th, 2008
The annual AAU Tournament at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida is expanding the field to 36 teams for the 2009 edition. The tournament will be played January 22 – 25, 2009. The tournament began in 2000 with 8 teams. 8 grew to 16, then 24, 28, and 32 for the past several years.
Here is the list of the first 32 teams….
1) Los Socios ( Venezuela )
2) Combatientes ( Venezuela )
3) Guayana ( Venezuela )
4) Guatemala Natl. ( Guatemala )
5) Jamaica Natl. Team ( Jamaica )
6) Puerto Rico Natl. Team ( Puerto Rico )
7) Puerto Rico Jr. Natl. ( Puerto Rico )
8) Cobourg Force ( Ontario,Canada )
9) New Breed ( Bahamas )
10) Texaco Pirates ( Bahamas )
11) Virgin Island Eagles ( St. John, VI )
12) Elmira Advance Millwrights ( Ontario, Canada )
13) Radio 560 ( Mexico )
14) Niagara Storms Fury ( Ontario,Canada )
15) ADCO ( New York )
16) Maccabi Blue ( U.S. )
17) Maccabi Red ( U.S. )
18) Dominicana ( Dominican Republic )
19) Chicago / NY ( New York Dominicans )
20) Minnesota Angels ( Minnesota )
21) Florida Fastpitch ( Florida )
22) CPI ( NY )
23) Manor Dirtbag ( Texas )
24) Team Minnesota ( Minnesota )
25 Gremlins Knights ( New York )
26) Ohio Battery Stock Pack ( Ohio )
27) Millwood Logistics ( Ontario Canada )
28) Earls Club ( Wisconsin )
29) Midwest Stampede ( Bondurant, IA ) revised
30) Brewers ( Venezuela )
31) Miami Venezuela ( Miami,Fla )
32) DC Arrows ( BC Canada )
We are going to 36 Teams!
33) Defending Champions, Mac’s Sprayers
34) Sioux Falls Sox ( Omaha, NE )
35) P.K. Broward ( Chicago, IL )
36) Hill United ( Ontario,Canada )
For more information contact:
Alex Linares
407- 828-5602
alex@aausports.org