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Todd Budke Caught in the Hot Seat

Saturday, November 19th, 2005

Catch Fred Hanker’s latest “Hot Seat” interview, with the Black Sox’ newest addition, Todd Budke. Budke will play for the Sox, when available, from his regular team, last year’s ISC World Tournament runner-up, The Farm Tavern. Budke is generally regarded as one of the finest hitters in the game, with a Ted Williams-esque swing.

(click photo to enlarge)

Here is an excerpt from the Budke “Hot Seat” interview with Black Sox player-manager-GM Fred Hanker:

Q: If you were commissioner for the day, what would you change about the game of fastball?
A: Not sure there is enough room….I would change how the players rep committee works. Right now there are people on this that are not even players. Also certain individuals that have there own agendas have the power to put rules in place that they see fit. Players are not represented! Case in point the PRAWN rule. So many holes have been punched in this by numerous players and coaches.

Click the link below to read the entire interview:
Long Beach Black Sox News
For more info on the Black Sox signing of Budke for 2006, click this link: (more…)

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Trevor Wardell to Head Up Union Storm Pitching Staff at 2006 AAU

Friday, November 18th, 2005

The Union Storm from Ontario, Canada have announced their roster for the AAU International Tournament for January 21-23, 2006 in Orlando, Florida. Jason Iuli will join ace Trevor Wardell in the pitcher’s circle. (click logo for their website)

Dusty Brown – 2B
Tom Edie – 1B/Mgr
Dave Ferguson – OF
Jim Flanagan – P
Jeff Franklin – C
Aaron Gould – 3B
Jason Iuli – P
Tex Lessard – SS/2B
Peter Mersereau – P/OF/DH
Chris Payne – Util
Troy Rick – SS/2B
Trevor Wardell – P
Greg Wardell – Util

Trevor Wardell, Tex Lessard, Chris Payne, Troy Rick and Tom Edie were members of the Sr. Canadians Championship team from 2005.

Editors note: Reminder to teams – Dec 9 is the entry deadline. Click here for more details. The list of interested teams is getting longer by the day — Jamaica is the latest to throw their name in the hat.

The following is one in a series of team profiles for the AAU Tournament, January 19-22, 2006:

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Yogie’s Cal Cup Poll

Thursday, November 3rd, 2005

Have you voted in BigYogie18‘s Pick-the-Winner Cal Cup poll? If not, click here.. Defending Cal Cup champs, the Black Sox won’t be there, so there will be a new Cal Cup champion crowned.

The “B” and “C”/Cal Cup tournaments are set for this weekend in Palm Springs, November 5-6, 2005. Once again, Vicki Oltean and her crew in Palm Springs come through for men’s fastball, offering a well run tournament, good competition, at good fields in a great town. This one figures to be the final hurrah for most teams for 2005. Eighteen teams in all, with games starting early Saturday morning. No plans for the weekend? Come down and watch some ball, root for your favorite team, relax by the pool, play some golf, take your wife out to dinner, (earn some points for next season). See the links in the Morning Brief post below for map, directions, and help with your travel planning. Temperatures expected in the low 80’s during the day, high 50’s at night.

Have you posted your flag at the Frappr Fastball Map? Click here for details

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The Wide Wide World of Fastball, on Frappr

Saturday, October 29th, 2005

The Frappr map of fastball teams, players and fans continues to grow, hitting 70 members in only its third day. One of the first to “stake a flag” was Andy McColl way down under in Australia. GHFL’s Blair Setford and a whole block of members from that hotbed of fastball, Ontario, Canada, dropped in. Al Doran, who heads up fastball’s “Holy Grail“, and mailing list, planted his flag and photo. Tom Taylor and the guys up north in BC helped “paint” the rest of the west coast, adding to those up and down the US west coast, including California, home to Fastpitchwest.com. The Fighting Illini came out in force yesterday to stake their claim. Today’s newest member is Norman Ames over in the Netherlands. Simply amazing to see how wide is this world of men’s fastball. (To “see” flags outside of North America, click their link on the list. Note also that you can click a “photos” link at the top of the page and view the photos, 9 to a page.)

Thanks to all who have taken the time to “stake a flag” showing us where you are, and especially to those who have fished out a photo or logo to go along with it. If you haven’t posted a flag, it takes just a moment — your zip code and name (or nickname if you prefer) is all that is required. Two-thirds of the postings have included photos, which we strongly encourage. There’s even a place for comments or as the young players call them, a “shout-out” (for your favorite team, for example) Remember that you may post your website address or email address if you wish, so others can reach you.

And if you need a “do-over”, just send me an email and I’ll delete your first attempt and let you start over.

Welcome aboard — to all of you.

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So Cal Bombers Add Second Norwalk Title to 2005 Resume

Wednesday, October 26th, 2005

The So Cal Bombers started the 2005 season in February with a tournament title at Norwalk at the Panteras Valentines tournament. Last weekend, October 22-23, 2005, they closed out their season with another, winning Fernie Ramirez’s October tournament at Norwalk, CA, with a 2-0 win over rival Team Rainey in the championship game. Travis Price and Raymundo Parro pitched for the Bombers, with Travis Price picking up two wins over his former team, Team Rainey. Panfilo Valdez and Sonny Perkins threw for Team Rainey, with Perkins pitching well in the championship game.

In between, the Bombers garnered additional tournament titles at the Las Vegas Spring Swing, Best of the West and Mexicali, a second at Red Rock, and 10th at the premier event in all of men’s fastball, the (40 team) ISC World Tournament, held this year at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It marked the first time in more than a decade that a So Cal team finished in the top 10 at the ISC World. The team is already looking ahead to 2006. Ralph Trejo, owner and sponsor of the team said:

“We had a good season in 2005, we have made some changes and will continue to improve the team for the 2006 season. Check the Bombers website in early 2006 for new signings of players and for the 2006 Bombers Rosters .”

Posted in So Cal, Teams, Tournaments | No Comments »

C-Mac to Circle Tap in 2006

Wednesday, October 26th, 2005

Some departures, some additions to the Tap squad for 2006. Read more at Al’s Fastball: Circle Tap 2006

Posted in ISC, Teams | No Comments »

Andy Martinez of the LB Black Sox “on the Hot Seat”

Thursday, October 20th, 2005

Don’t miss the latest “Hot Seat” interview at the Long Beach Black Sox website. This month’s “victim” is shortstop Andy Martinez, (at right in photo below) one of the bright young stars in Southern California. The “Hot Seat” feature is a favorite at Fred Hanker’s Long Beach Black Sox team website, and always makes for good reading. Incidentally, Andy Martinez, 27, was named the Sox co-MVP for the 2005 season, as well as garnering “Gold Glove” honors for the team.

Andy (at right in photo) is currently playing shortstop for the Mustangs in the City of Artesia fall league, alongside his younger brother Christian, (at left in photo) who is five years his junior. The two will team up full time next season. And just for good measure, there is a third brother, five years younger than Christian, the third of the Martinez brothers to play baseball at Tustin High School. As a pitcher who’s had the privilege to play in front of these two, I can tell you they throw the leather. Shades of the fellow who helped introduce Andy to fastball, a Mustang teammate, Terry Canale, former Long Beach Nitehawk great who recently earned All World honors himself at the ASA 45+ Nationals last month.

(Photo courtesy of Fred Hanker)

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So Cal ASA Division Realignment

Friday, October 14th, 2005

For those without a list handy, here is how the realignment of the So Cal ASA divisions look:

Class “B” Teams
(shown in order, according to last year’s standings)

1. Prime Time
2. Amigos
3. Black Sox
4. Rounders
5. RAW
6. Rude Pac
—
7. Raymar (B last year)
8. Romie’s (B last year)
9. Snakes (new team)

Class “C” Teams:
(shown in order, according to last year’s standings)

1. Palm Springs Express
2. Panteras
3. Santana Concrete
4. Hustlers
5. Latin Heat
6. Primos
7. So Cal Rebels
8. Re-Max
9. Beaumont Coyotes
10. So Cal Masters
11. So Cal Gloves
12. QuickSilver

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So Cal ASA Announces Pitchers Bumped from Class “C” to Class “B”

Thursday, October 13th, 2005

From the So Cal ASA website:

The six teams and the pitchers that are being moved up are:

* Amigos â€“ Anthony Martinez
* Black Sox â€“ Randy Clay
* Primetime Fast Pitch â€“ Danny Zupp, Billy Montana
* RAW â€“ Jerome Clark
* Rounders â€“ Mitch Mendenhall, Gerald Pyle
* Rude-Pac â€“ Tommy Obergon

Do click the link above and take the time to read the entire explanation for these and the team bump-up changes noted in separate Morning Brief posts below.

Feel free to post your comments below.

Posted in ASA, Leagues, Players, So Cal, Teams | No Comments »

New Website – Prince George Wolfpak, Junior “A”

Thursday, October 13th, 2005

As the website says, the Prince George Wolfpak is “On the Howl”, with a brand new website. Be sure and stop by for a look — but if you’re at work, be sure to turn the volume on your speakers down.

Prince George, for the geographically challenged, is about 600 miles north of Vancouver, B.C. and will play host next year to the Senior Canadian Tournament, August 28-September 2, 2006.

Their top open level team is the Prince George Black Bears, whose pitching staff in 2005 included Colin McKenzie and Kevin Careless, a duo which combined for 26 strikeouts in one (extra inning) game at the Portland Rose Cup tournament.

Look for big things coming from the Great Northwest in 2006 !

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