Archive for the ‘ASA’ Category
Oroville Tops NorCal Travel League Weekend
Wednesday, June 15th, 2005SoCal ASA Alliance Schedule for June 18-29, 2005
Tuesday, June 14th, 2005So Cal ASA website (for So Cal ASA Alliance tournament weekend at Ramona, San Diego County, CA.)
Round Robin Schedule for Saturday.
Single Elimination Bracket for Sunday.
Map of Fields and Driving Directions.
Satellite photo of fields at Ramona, CA
Team Canada looking for ‘balance’ at Jr. Men’s World Championship
Thursday, June 9th, 2005By Pat Healey Marketing and Media Consultant
ISF 2005 JR. MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP http://www.2005worldsoftball.com
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. The Canadian Junior Men’s softball team is looking for ‘balance’ when it selects the 17 players to represent Canada at the ISF 2005 Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship June 24 to July 3 in Summerside. Coach Kelly McGiffin of Port Alberni, British Columbia, said the 30 players selected to the team’s five day tryout camp in Kitchener, Ontario starting June 10 was based on evaluations from each province’s Canada Games coaches. “We’ll select the 17 that we’re going to take to the Worlds then fly to CFB Greenwood, N.S. and train there,†McGiffin said. “We’ll be playing a number of exhibition games in St. Croix.†The father of three boys, Aaron, Morgan and Rob, said the team has 10 pitchers trying out, and hopes to take four or five top performers from camp with the team to the Worlds. “We’re trying to get the best balance possible with strong defense and pitching,†he added during a phone interview recently. “The team will really have a balanced approach.â€
The team will be holding a selection camp June 10-15 in Kitchener, Ont., and then the trimmed roster of 17 will head to Greenwood, N.S. for a five-day training camp from June 16-21 before driving over to P.E.I. He noted the team would be playing an exhibition doubleheader against the Charlottetown Razzy’s Roadhouse Fawcetts June 21 at Central Field in Charlottetown at 7 and 9 p.m. They will then watch the Fawcetts play a doubleheader June 22 against New Zealand in Charlottetown. “We’ll see how one of our competitors play and take the day off,†McGiffin added.
When asked why Team Canada is late picking their team, considering teams such as Denmark, Australia and U.S.A have been together for the past year, McGiffin said it was hard with 2005 being a Canada Games year as well. “It’s a tough question, but mainly because of timing,†McGiffin explained. “The players play with their club teams and tryout for their respective Canada Games squads so it’s difficult to put together a schedule where you’re not doing a pick and play.†McGiffin said the Canadian coaching staff was poised at having a team last year, but the Canada Games factor played into their plans. “We had a choice to pick the team last year and have them playing in the spring, but they (the players) grow,†he added. “It was really hard to choose, so we decided to compact it all into one camp.
There’s pros and cons to doing the selection last year and now.†He said the 30 players trying out go in knowing nobody is a lock to make the team, meaning each and every player will have to work hard just to make the team. A factor adding to the decision-making is the early date for a softball championship on the East Coast. “It’s different to with the early date as the season is just getting going in late June,†McGiffin said. “I think you will see a really competitive camp as all players will have to make the team and there’s no givens.†He said Canadian management scouted players and went on recommendations from the players’ Canada Games coaches. They then compared the players to fellow competitors at the 2004 Canadian Midget Boys Fast Pitch Nationals co-hosted by the City of Summerside and Town of Alberton. “When it comes down to it, it will be a tough decision for us the coaching staff, which is good,†said McGiffin. “I believe all the players have a real legitimate chance to make the team. “The first day or two they’ll be nervous, but then they should settle down and get mentally focused and by the end of the week should have had a good camp.â€
P.E.I.’s Jeremy MacKinnon is the lone Islander trying out for the team. —–
Pat Healey MARKETING AND MEDIA CONSULTANT
ISF 2005 JR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS mailto:phealey@2005worldsoftball.com
Maddy’s Monday Night Photos from Stockton, CA
Wednesday, June 1st, 2005
We are pleased to share Maddy’s “Monday Night Photos” from the ASA Class “C” National Qualifying Tournament at Louis Park, Stockton, CA, May 28-29, 2005. (OK, OK, it’s not Monday, but it was a holiday, right?)
World championship a true “family affair†for New Zealand’s Telfer
Wednesday, June 1st, 2005By Pat Healey Marketing and Media Consultant ISF 2005 JR. MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP http://www.2005worldsoftball.com
[INVERCARGILL, NEW ZEALAND] The ISF 2005 Jr. Men’s World Softball Championship will be a true family affair for New Zealand’s Mathew Telfer. Mathew will be following in the footsteps of brothers Michael (1997) and Chris (2001) when he suits up for New Zealand at the championship June 24 to July 3 in Summerside. “We are both really looking forward to it, especially since we have not been to PEI before,†said Karen Telfer, Mathew’s mom. “We’re also hoping to get time to have a look around if we can in between games.†This year’s World Championship will be Karen’s third and her husband Colin’s fourth. The Telfer’s have grown up in the sport of softball, continuing the family sport hood as Karen and Colin both played the sport. Now all six kids are involved in sports in one way or another. “We all love the game as Mum and Dad played and kept it going as a family sport,†Mathew said. “We’re also quite involved in coaching, grounds and other softball committees. A lot of hard work and training goes into it.†Mathew is thrilled to continue the past traditions set by his older brothers, which included Michael’s trip to Newfoundland and Labrador. “It has always been a goal since I was 10yrs old when Michael made the team for 1997 World Championship,†Mathew added. “We worked it out then that Chris and I would both be the right ages then to make the New Zealand Under-19 teams, so that has always been my goal. I’m thrilled that I have made it.â€
Mathew does have one advantage over his brothers though. He made the Under 16 boys team that traveled to Australia in 2002, where he took home MVP honors for New Zealand. “It has always been my goal to make a World Series and it has all fallen into place,†Mathew said. “It’s a bonus to keep up the tradition, and my brothers kept a bit of pressure on me.†The Verdon College student said that it would be a privilege to wear the New Zealand colours during the championship. “It’s awesome that the three of us have all made the WS for that age group,†said Mathew, 18. “It’s a real privilege to carry on the tradition. Mathew is keeping his work in family too as he is doing his drain-laying apprenticeship with the family-owned Telfer Drain-laying in his hometown, which has a population of about 50,000. “The history of our achieved sportsman is pretty blimin good actually, softball has done well in the past,†Karen added.
Karen and Colin both support their children’s endeavors in the sport, although to continue their sport they have to travel north many a times from their city of Invercargill, in the South Land region. They have three girls coming up through the sport of softball. Alice is 16 while twins Joanna and Katie are 12-years-old. “We’re extremely proud of the children’s achievements and have also been so lucky to be able to follow them around the world,†said Karen. “With having a large family I guess it’s pretty awesome to see that they have all done so well,†said Karen. “It makes it hard for the other three girls coming up behind though doesn’t it. Karen and Colin are both from sporting families, so that may have helped get the five kids into the sport. But with being so involved in sports, they have not much time for anything else. “You are right about the spare time and spare money!†Karen explained. “Other things just go on the back boiler and you do what you can for them. They are all involved in many other sports and they just love having a go at most things. But there is a limit!! ”
Pat Healey
MARKETING AND MEDIA CONSULTANT
ISF 2005 JR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
mailto:phealey@2005worldsoftball.com
Santa Rosa Storm just misses landing National Tourney berth
Wednesday, June 1st, 2005Storm loses two one-run games on final day to finish third at National Qualifier in Stockton, CA
A three-year development program aimed at landing a berth in the 2005 Class C National Tournament may finally be paying off for Gary Dower, major sponsor of the Santa Rosa, CA, Storm men’s fastpitch team. The Storm finished a surprising third in the National Qualifier in Stockton after defeating Country Club Villa of San Jose, 8-1; Pride of San Juan, 7-5; and Elk Grove Fastpitch, 5-4 in nine innings before losing 9-8 to eventual champion McLaughlin Air of Stockton and The Rounders of Southern California, 4-3. Dower, who plays third base and occasionally pitches for the Storm, sponsors two teams in Santa Rosa¹s Tuesday Night League, The Farm, whose lineup includes a number of up-and-coming young stars of the game, and the older and more established IDM (It Doesn’t Matter) team.
The top players off the two teams play in the tougher Wednesday Night League as The Storm, and that team competes in the Pacific Coast Travel League along with McLaughlin Air, A-1 Tank, West Coast Financial, Bonanza Air, Native Americans, Neilson Realty Gamblers, Italian Athletic Club, Pride of San Juan, Oroville Braves, Romie¹s Angels, King Real Estate, Elk Grove, South Stockton Outlaws, Mission II, Country Club Villa, Rez Sox (out of Gardnerville, NV), Dry Creek Chiefs of Santa Rosa, Gaines Liquors, Al’s Roofing, Bay Area Hi Reach, Mel’s Plumbing, and two more Santa Rosa League teams, Quality Fence and Wally’s Bail Bonds.
The Storm currently rests in a tie for ninth place in the point standings with Elk Grove. A-1 Tank, McLaughlin Air, IAC, King Real Estate and West Coast Financial are the top five teams. At Stockton, the Storm got quality pitching from lefthander Jim Vargas, who pitched the Storm¹s first 27 innings before finally tiring against McLaughlin Air. He was 3-0 with a 3.37 ERA. As a team, the Storm hit .359, led by Giuliano (Jewells) Valesi (.600), Rick Kane (.500), Mike Mathewson (.429), Jim¹s son, Mike Vargas (.412), Brian Osborn (.389), Rick Faccini (.375), Gary Dower (.333), Jim Vargas (.300) and Tony Lopez (.278). Valesi, who played only on Sunday, was retired only one time in going 5-for-6 against McLaughlin Air and the Rounders. Kane, the season leader with 30 RBI and 17 runs scored, had nine hits and Osborn drove in six runs.
Game 1: Storm 8, Country Club Villa 1 (1-0)
Country Club Villa, always one of the top hitting teams in Northern California, was shut out until the sixth inning by Vargas, who scattered eight hits, walked one and struck out four. Faccini doubled across a run in the second inning, Kane hit a two-run homer in the third, and Lopez singled across one run and Jim Vargas doubled in two more in the fourth to make it 6-0. The Storm added two runs in the seventh on singles by Mike Vargas and Brian Osborn and an RBI double by Tom Dower. The Storm had 12 hits. (more…)
Rounders “Sleepless in Stockton”
Tuesday, May 31st, 2005Rounders Find Spark Enroute to Nationals Berth and Second Place Finish at National Qualifier at Stockton, CA
The Rounders finished their 2004 Alliance season by winning three of the last four Alliance tournaments played. They made it to the title game four times, winning all four.
In 2005, however, they have struggled to find their mark, failing to make it to the championship game in four Alliance tournaments thus far. Though holding down third place, something was missing. So the team hoped they could find the answer on their road trip to the National Qualifier in Stockton over the Memorial Day weekend.
A first game loss in which they could muster only three hits didn’t exactly inspire confidence, as they headed into the loser’s bracket, one game away from elimination, but a 17 run outburst in their second game set the stage for a long, productive weekend that resulted in a second place finish, with the Rounders claiming one of two National Tournament berths for the ASA “C†Nationals, back in Stockton over the Labor Day weekend. It didn’t come easily, especially against a strong field of teams that included the likes of Northern California’s McLaughlin Air, A-1 Tank, Santa Rosa Storm and the San Juan Pride, and Central California’s Mixed Company and the Painters. By the end of the day on Sunday, the Rounders had played 8 games, and seemingly spent every waking moment of their weekend at Louis Park in Stockton. The Rounders left town “Sleepless in Stocktonâ€, but having found their spark, and hopeful, when they return for the National tournament three months from now.
The team found success in a variety of places and players, with everyone contributing to the turnaround. Certainly among them were Gerald Pyle, the 27 year old pitcher-DH who clubbed five home runs and picked up 2 wins on the mound, and Linnell Culver, who had three home runs, and seemed to be on base all weekend long. Both Pyle and Culver had a two-home run game, producing runs that proved crucial to the Rounders’ survival in the loser’s bracket. Veteran pitcher Mitch Mendenhall found his mark, and pitched three outstanding games on Sunday, winning all three, including the loser’s bracket final that clinched a national tournmament berth for the Rounders. We provide the following recap of the Rounders’ eventful weekend.
(Editor’s note: If any other teams, including the champions, McLaughlin has info from your games, please send it to us for posting; email us at info@fastpitchwest.com. Click here to view photo galleries from the weekend. Credit David Echeveste of Santana Concrete for coming up with the “Sleepless” headline to this story.)
Game 1: A-1 Tank 5, Rounders 1 (0-1)
As the first place team in the Northern California travel league, A-1 Tank was one of the favorites for this tournament. A-1 lived up to the billing, shutting down the Rounders offense. A-1 Tank lefty Rich Rivera, and his unorthodox delivery stymied the Rounders, holding them to just one hit through the first six innings, a first inning double by Mark Villalobos. (Rivera keeps the ball hidden until late in his delivery, and comes off to the left side of the rubber as he releases the ball) A-1 Tank scored a run in the first on a solo home run by Ardu Panisotto, another in the second on a solo homer by Don Meyers, and two more in the third on singles by Craig Daruk, Shawn Ching and Erin Linnell.
Villalobos added another hit in the seventh, and Gerald Pyle singled him in for the only run for the Rounders in this one-sided affair. Mitch Mendenhall went the distance, holding a strong A-1 offense to five runs, while Rivera picked up the win in the 3 hit gem. To make matters worse, Rounder catcher Donald Younger suffered a dislocated thumb in the game. (more…)
McLaughlins Air Wins C National Qualifier
Monday, May 30th, 2005Al’s Fastball: McLaughlins Air Wins C National Qualifier
BY HERB DOWER
Stockton, CA
McLaughlin’s Air (Stockton, CA) finished undefeated to capture the Amateur Softball Association’s Men’s Class C Fastpitch National Qualifier held in Stockton, CA May 28-29.
McLaughlin’s reached the championship game with a come-from-behind 9-8 win over the Storm of Santa Rosa, CA, scoring three unearned runs on two dropped fly balls to the outfield in the sixth inning that erased an 8-6 deficit. Dropped into the loser’s Bracket, the Storm lost 4-3 to the Rounders. The win by the Rounders gave them a second place finish and enabled them to join McLaughlin’s in securing berths in the C Nationals to be held in Stockton. The Rounders forfeited the championship game, giving McLaughlin’s the championship.
The Storm finish third, defeating Country Club Villa 8-1, Pride of San Juan 7-5 and Elk Grove 5-4 in 9 innings to reach the winner’s bracket finals against McLaughlin’s Air. Jim Vargas pitched and won all three games for the Santa Rosa entry.
Unofficial results:
WINNER’S BRACKET
Stockton Outlaws d. Native Americans (Santa Rosa)
Elk Grove d. Mel’s Plumbing (Stockton)
Gaines Liquors (Stockton) d. Neilson Realty Gamblers (Sacramento)
Country Club Villa (San Jose) def. Mission II (Stockton)
Oroville Braves def. Savala Painters (Long Beach), 7-5
Italian Athletic Club (Stockton) def. Bad Dogs
West Coast Financial (Sacramento) def. Party TimeSECOND ROUND
KHT Pumpers def. Stockton Outlaws
Elk Grove def. Warriors
San Juan def. Gaines Liquors
Santa Rosa Storm def. Country Club Villa, 8-1
McLaughlin Air def. Oroville Braves
A-1 Tank def. Rounders
IAC def. Al’s Roofing
Mixed Company def. West Coast Financial
THIRD ROUND
Elk Grove def. KHT Pumpers
Santa Rosa Storm def. San Juan, 7-5
McLaughlin Air def. A-1 Tank
Mixed Company def. IAC
SEMIFINALS
Santa Rosa Storm def. Elk Grove, 5-4 (9 innings)
McLaughlin Air def. Mixed Company.
WINNER’S BRACKET FINALS
McLaughlin Air def. Santa Rosa Storm 9-8.LOSER’S BRACKET
Gaines Liquors def. Bad Dogs
Party Time def, Country Club Villa
Native Americans def. Oroville Braves
Rounders def. Mel’s Plumbing 17-3
Al’s Roofing def. Neilson Gamblers
West Coast Financial def, Mission II, 10-9
Second Round
Savala Painters def. Warriors
Party Time def. Gaines Liquors
Rounders def. Native Americans 19-15 in extra innings
West Coast Financial def. Al’s Roofing
Third Round
Savala Painters def. IAC 9-4
A-1 Tank def. Party Time 8-3
Rounders def. San Juan
West Coast Financial def, KHT Pumpers 13-7
Fourth Round
A-1 Tank def. Savala Painters 4-2
Rounders def. West Coast Financial 8-5
Fifth Round
A-1 Tank def. Elk Grove 8-0
Rounders def. Mixed Company
Elk Grove and Mixed Company tied for 5th place
Sixth Round
Rounders def, A-1 Tank 5-3
A-1 Tank finished in 4th place.
Loser’s Bracket finals
Rounders 4, Santa Rosa Storm 3
Santa Rosa Storm finished in 3rd place.Herb Dower
Mailto:dower@sonic.net
USA Jr. Men’s Roster, Bios and Schedule for Upcoming ISF Tournament
Wednesday, May 25th, 2005
The USA Jr. Mens’ team roster and schedule of games for the upcoming ISF International Tournament in Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 24, 2005-July 3, 2005 is posted at the ASA website.
The roster includes links to photo and bio of each player, including So Cal’s own, Kevin Castillo. Kevin grew up playing fastpitch in the city leagues with his dad Paul Castillo, including El Segundo and Artesia as a member of the Rounders (and sometimes playing against the Rounders). He is a standout player on the baseball team at Long Beach Poly, the same high school that the great Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres attended. The bios make for interesting reading.
Bonus points: Can you find another 2005 press release at the ASA site on men’s fastpitch? How many of the last 150 press releases posted are about men’s fastpitch?
Bracket Released for ASA “C” National Qualifier at Stockton, CA
Wednesday, May 25th, 2005Twenty-four teams will vie for two ASA “C” National Tournament berths in a double-elimination qualifier this weekend, May 28-29, 2005, at Louis Park in Stockton, CA. Stockton will also host the National Tournament over the Labor Day weekend in September.
Ron Kirby’s Rounders are the lone entrant from the Southern California region. The Rounders will face A-1 Tank of Hayward, California in their first round game at 2:00 p.m. at Louis Park in Stockton. (Their original first round opponent, Team Taylor has withdrawn from the tournament). A-1 Tank finished 7th in the ASA “B” Nationals in 2000, 13th in the ASA “B” Nationals in 2002, and were approved to return to the “C” division in January 2005. The Rounders finished 13th among 70 teams at last year’s ASA “C” National Tournament in Hastings, with a 4-2 record.
The highest finishing team playing in the qualifier at Stockton this weekend, are the Nielsen Realty Gamblers, who finished 9th in the ASA “C” Nationals at Hastings, NE last year, with a 3-2 record. Nielsen will take on Gaines Liquor at 8:30am Saturday morning.
The winner of the Rounders/A-1 Tank game will play the winner Oroville/Savala Painters vs. McLaughlin Air at 8:30 p.m. The Savala Painters are currently in first place in the Central California travel league, with a 9-1 record. With the addition of ISC stars, Dean Holoien, Todd Budke and Wayne Wells, the Painters recently won the Red Rock Tournament at St. George Utah.
Also in the Rounders/Painters end of the bracket is the always tough West Coast Financial, which finished 3rd in the ASA “C” Nationals in 2003 at College Station, TX.
Winner’s bracket games are scheduled for 8am, 10am, 12:00, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 8:30pm, and 10pm Saturday, and 10am, 2pm, with the championship game at 6pm Sunday. The “if” game is slated for 8pm Sunday.
Loser’s bracket games are scheduled for 4pm, 6pm, 6:30pm, 10pm and 10:30pm Saturday, and 8am, 8:30am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 4pm Sunday.
The bracket is posted online as a PDF file (Adobe Reader Required). Click the link or PDF icon.
http://www.fastpitchwest.com/stockton.pdf
For those readers without Adobe Reader or PDF capability, we have also posted the brackets as a .jpg (photo) file, viewable directly in your browser:
Winner’s Bracket
Loser’s Bracket
Satellite Photo/Map of Louis Park, Stockton, CA
Our readers are invited to post comments here to tell us more about other teams in the bracket. Click Comment link at lower right. It will take you to a second page with the story at the top and a box to post your comments below. A simple one-time registration required to post comments.