The Decatur Pride return for 2010 with a revamped pitching staff and other new additions, adding both youth and depth to the roster.

With the retirement of David Scott and Bobby Ginger, and a season ending knee injury last month to T.J. Dobson, only Brent Stevenson remains from last years 4 man staff. Stevenson, who was 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA at last years ToC, will provide leadership and a big game mentality to the younger players on this year’s squad.

New additions to the Pride pitching staff include 2007 ISC MVP Karl Gollan. Although still one of the younger pitchers in the ISC, Gollan is a proven veteran who has excelled at the top level of the sport for more than 10 years and brings a double bonus with his arm and potent bat to the Pride line-up. The Pride is also pleased to announce that 2008 USA Jr. Men’s National Team pitcher Jim Hartman will be joining the team. The 19 year-old Hartman posted a 2-1 record at last years ToC with the Sioux Falls Sox and is considered one of the top young pitching prospects in the United States.

Outside the circle, the Pride will again be a mix of veterans and talented young players.

Behind the plate for the Pride will be one of the top young American catchers, Camden Decker, who comes to the Pride after spending the last few seasons with Aurora. Decker will also see time in the outfield when the pitching staff is being handled by one of the Pride’s other two veteran catchers, Mike Hopkins and Greg Morganthaler.

Future Hall of Famer David Boys led the Pride in nearly every offensive category last summer with a .427 batting average, including 25 home runs and 61 RBI’s in 58 games and will return for another season as the Pride shortstop.

The 2009 ISC II All World Father/Son tandem of Rick Minton and 19 year old Drew Minton will also both be back. Drew will cover the area his Dad did for so many years with the great Pride teams of the past and Rick will move over to 1st base where he will share duties with the Pride’s 2nd leading hitter last year, Doug Williams.

Blake Martin and Larry Moffett will be at 3rd base and utility man Paul Carlton will also see time in the infield during the year. New Pride player JD Arnold will split time between shortstop and 2nd base. Arnold, a Decatur native, was the shortstop for two-time Class A National Champion Vandalia Guaranteed Air Freight prior to that team’s folding at the end of last season.

Robbie Tirpak, Ty Morganthaler, Dean Lambert and the final new addition in the team, Casey Spears, will patrol the outfield. Spears, a recently graduated Division I center fielder, was the 2009 MVP of the Kelso Klassic when he strung together 15 consecutive hits and set a tournament record for the most hits ever in the event.

The Pride is supported this year by a Board of Directors that will oversee the fundraising and development of the team, along with setting the vision for the future. Those members consist of:

Steve Martin – Business Manager
Phil Jones – Fundraising Director
Wayne Carter – Publicity/Advertising Director
Donna White – Volunteers Director
Mike Martin – Statistics
Pat Dawson – Board Member (President of Miles Chevrolet and Crown Toyota)
Roger Oliver – Board Member (Owner of Van Horn Hybrids)

The Pride home schedule will be highlighted by the return of the Decatur Shootout, which has been announced as an ISC Qualifier. In addition to the Pride, teams entered in this year’s event include Aurora Dolan & Murphy, The Bar of Appleton, Marshall, MI Lightning, Belleville Stallions, Pete’s Blues of Mascoutah, IL, Kelso, MO Fastpich, and Villa Grove Log Cabin. We hope to be announcing a title sponsor at some point in the very near future.

One of the most attended events of 2009 will also return to Borg Warner Field this summer. Van Horn Hybrids will again sponsor a Hall of Fame/Old Timers Night at the ballpark on July 10th. Last season more than 30 Illinois ASA Hall of Fame Members and former players from the 1940’s to the 1990’s were introduced and honored prior to the game in front of nearly 1,000 fans. We expect an even larger contingent this year based on the popularity of last year’s event. Following the ceremony, the Pride will play a doubleheader with Jefferson City, Missouri.

In addition to the above, the Pride will look to compete in both the ASA Men’s Major Nationals in South Bend and the ISC in Midland along with other tournaments throughout Illinois and the Kelso Klassic in Missouri in 2010.

Scott Standerfer
standerfer(at)mchsi.com

From: Al’s Fastball:


(click logo for original news story at Al’s Fastball)

(click banner for official Rivershark Twins website)

With the Winter Olympics now sliding off into Vancouver’s western sunset thoughts of many sports enthusiast now turns to summer sports. With that in mind the Kitchener Rivershark Twins, reigning ISC World Champions and Canadian National Champions are pleased to announce their revamped lineup and summer schedule.

The Sharks have consistently worked to improve and evolve their club over the past 2 seasons. When a number of players departed following the 2008 ISC Championship season many critics suggested there was no way they could repeat with such a staff turnover. The club responded to critics by doing even more in 2009 when they added a Canadian National Championship to the repeat World title . No easy feat for any team coming out of Canada.

Over the winter months several veterans have opted to retire or pursue opportunities with other teams, or with more suitable situations. Gone then are Derek Shackleton, Dean Holoein and Craig Crawford who advised the team of their intentions to likely retire, early last Fall. Denny Bruckert, the field manager and architect of the clubs success the past two years in Kitchener, and the 2 years before that in Orillia also made the decision to leave the game and the Sharks shortly before Christmas. Denny is planning to rejuvenate over this year and may return to the game he loves in 2011.

Outfielders Dan Loney and Steve Mullaley took the opportunity to pursue a new direction with US based teams that afforded them the opportunity to start on clubs with both great character and some long-time friends.

Nothing can replace the camaraderie and friendships developed while sharing a World and National Championship. The entire Rivershark Twins organization wishes Denny and all of the players from 2009 the best of luck in their future fastball pursuits.

So how to you respond to the loss of some great teammates, some world class performers and an ISC Hall of Fame Manager ? How do you replace a PRAWN with new rules restricting numbers? How do you field a team that can win it all a 3rd straight year? The answer is simple, put a world class sponsorship team together , assess the holes and target the type of player that will keep the chemistry, the skill sets and the winning tradition alive.

The sponsorship team of Jim Hallman and Bob Nydick made a commitment to the players and coaching staff before the end of the 2009 World Tournament, saying “We’ll be back.” With that knowledge and financial commitment the first order of business was to replace Bruckert as field manager. The club is pleased to announce that Kelly McGiffen has joined Hall of Famer Larry Lynch, Dave Bailey and Bob Nydick on the coaching staff and he will serve as the new field manager. Kelly, who resides in Ancaster, Ontario by way of British Columbia, is a former Canadian National Team coach and has worked with both SoCal Bombers and Aspen Interiors in previous ISC competition.

The nucleolus of the team remains intact. Captains Ryan Wolfe, Jody Eidt and Patrick Shannon will bring leadership along with unlimited talent back to the lineup. The pitching staff will feature 8 time All-World right hander Todd Martin, while joining him on the mound will be power pitching Don Scott and the big man, Grant Patterson. The brothers Ezekiel, Blair and Brad will bring their powerful bats along, no doubt boned over the winter on “the Rock”. The rest of the World Champion returnees include Darrell Joy, Dave Bailey, Evan Boyd and Blake Miller .

So what about the new guys ? The first order of business was to secure a world class power hitter to join the middle of the batting order. The club is ecstatic to be able to announce Jeff Goolagong as the newest Shark. “Goolie” was a key member of the legendary Farm Tavern and the County Classic juggernaut before that, winning ISC World Tournaments in 3 straight years between 2005 and 2007. He is also a proud member of the 2009 ISF World Champion Australian National Team.

The loss of two outfielders has been offset by the addition of Mark Johnson formerly of the St.Thomas Evergreen Centennials, and Scott Newitt previously a member of the now defunct Vancouver Grey Sox. Mark is a power hitting speedster who is rapidly becoming one of the best young stars in the game. Scott is a much sought after left handed hitting outfielder who has served with Canada’s National team and is a former ISC PRAWN. These two will share the outfield chores with its anchor Ryan Wolfe and left fielder Brad Ezekiel.

The final puzzle piece was to replace the legendary Twin backstop, Craig Crawford. The Sharks looked no further than another one of their own alumni and are pleased to welcome Chris Shewfelt back to the game after work and family commitments trumped his fastball endeavours the past two summers. “Shewy” brings Canadian National Team experience and an intense drive for excellence back behind the dish where he will share catching chores with Kiwi Patrick Shannon.

The additions of Goolagong, Johnson, Newitt and Shewfelt provide the team with solid depth at every position, both offensively and defensively. With pitching, defense, offense, speed, power, depth and great big game experience this team is well positioned for the challenges of 2010 campaign.

2010 KITCHENER RIVERSHARK TWINS ROSTER ( alphabetical)

1.Dave Bailey
2.Evan Boyd
3.Jody Eidt
4.Brad Ezekiel
5.Blair Ezekiel
6.Jeff Goolagong
7.Mark Johnson
8.Darrell Joy
9.Todd Martin
10.Blake Miller
11.Scott Newitt
12.Grant Patterson
13.Don Scott
14.Patrick Shannon
15.Chris Shewfelt
16.Ryan Wolfe

Coach – Larry Lynch
Field Manager – Kelly McGiffen
General Manager and Sponsor – Bob Nydick
Training Staff – Meg Smith and Cyril Moss
Scorekeeper – Greg Nydick
Webmaster – Todd Evans
Sponsors – Jim and Sue Hallman

(Carroll Forbes Memorial ISC World Championship Trophy, 2008 – one of two consecutive world titles won by the Rivershark Twins)