Archive for the ‘So Cal’ Category

Black Sox Balance Their Books and Then Some

Sunday, February 26th, 2006

Fred Hanker’s Long Beach Black Sox started their 2006 last weekend in inauspicious fashion, going 0-3 in the first day of the Panteras Valentine Tournament at Norwalk, losing the three games by a total of 4 runs. In a sense, the rain out for Sunday’s elimination round came as a relief for the team.

It was a different story when play resumed on Saturday February 25, with the Sox turning in a perfect 4-0 day, and coming away with the Championship Trophy, with wins over the LA Heat, the Animals, Raymar and RAW. Check the Black Sox team website for Fred’s recap and here for the championship team photo.

So. Cal Bombers Sign Coach

Sunday, February 26th, 2006

From Al’s Fastball: So. Cal Bombers Sign Coach

The So. Cal. Bombers would like to welcome new team coach Kelly Mcgiffin of Penticton,British Columbia,Canada. Kelly is one of the top softball coaches in the country (CANADA). Kelly has been a coach in the national program since 2001. He was named B.C. Coach of the Year in 1993.Kelly served as the British Columbia Boys Canada Games program head coach from 1990 – 1997 and served as an assistant coach with the 2000 Junior Men’s National Team program that won Bronze in Blacktown, Australia before being named to the Senior Men’s team staff in September of 2001

Panteras Valentine Tournament, Part 2

Friday, February 24th, 2006

The Panteras Valentine Tournament will resume on Saturday, February 25, 2006. One full day was played last weekend, but the scheduled single elim championship round was rained out on Sunday.

Because of the number of teams that were unable to return for the second weekend, the bracket was redrawn as a double elimination tournament, with games starting at 8am and running to the 6:30pm championship game (or 8pm “if” game). More games, more fun.

Click links below for brackets:

Bracket in PDF format
(requires Adobe Reader)

Browser viewable bracket

For map to field, visit our “Maps & Fields” section and click “Norwalk” Aerial View of the fields, via Google Maps.

Norwalk Rained Out Sunday, To Resume Next Saturday

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

The Panteras Valentine Tournament in Norwalk, CA was rained out Sunday. The single elimination championship round will resume next Saturday, February 25, 2005. Watch here at Fastpitchwest for the bracket, and any schedule changes (in the event that any teams are unable to return next week)

Sonny Perkins Pitches Soboba to # 1 Seed at Norwalk

Sunday, February 19th, 2006

A month ago, Sonny Perkins helped pitch Team USA to the AAU Championship in Orlando, Florida. Saturday in Norwalk, CA he spun a couple of gems, surrendering but one run in each of two games, and pitched Soboba to the #1 seed for Sunday’s single elimination bracket.

Rain started to fall again late Saturday night, so Fernie Ramirez and his crew will have their hands full getting the fields ready for Sunday’s 8:30 a.m. games. The final seeding for Sunday’s bracket was still being determined at press time. We’ll try to post a schedule on Sunday morning.

Weather Cooperates, Panteras Valentine Tournament Underway

Saturday, February 18th, 2006

Despite some Friday night rain and a brief downpour on Saturday morning, tournament directors Fernie Ramirez and Henry Rodriguez and their crew managed to get the fields ready for play Saturday in Norwalk, as games for 17 teams got underway. The Saturday morning rain washed out one field for a few hours, but with a crew of 3-4 men on each of the 4 fields, the schedule adjustments were minimal.

The favorites, the So Cal Bombers won both of their games, 2-1 over the new Lumberking team and 8-5 over the host Panteras. New Bombers Darren Box drilled two home runs to get things rolling for Ralph Trejo’s squad. The Rounders split their two games, defeating the host Panteras in an 8am game, before falling to Soboba, 2-1 in a great pitching duel between Soboba’s Sonny Perkins and the Rounders new lefty, Russ Snow. Games continue Saturday night with single elimination bracket play starting Sunday at 8:30am and running all day, through the 4:30pm championship game.

We’ll have scores posted later this evening, so check back about 10pm PST.

14th Annual Panteras Valentine Tournament 2006

Wednesday, February 15th, 2006

Here’s the complete Round Robin schedule for this Saturday:

Panteras Valentine 2006 Round Robin Schedule

Cap tip: Fernie Ramirez, Cesar Rodriguez

For map to field, visit our “Maps & Fields” section and click “Norwalk” Aerial View of the fields, via Google Maps.

New Team! California Lumberkings Unveil Roster, Schedule for 2006

Saturday, February 11th, 2006

Press Release from David Weldin of the California Lumberkings
Bakersfield, CA

I would like to introduce to the Fastball world, a new men’s fastball team based out of Bakersfield, CA, (California LumberKings). Our organization is committed to bringing competitive teams to the open level for years to come. It is our goal for the 2006 season, to play in a few open tournaments this year, and to attend the ISC ll. We look forward to playing against some of the best teams in the game today, and wish everyone a successful season.

The California LumberKings roster and schedule is as follows:

Gino Murrietta
Russ Gozzola
Carlos Flores
Jared Vassuer
Troy Parker

Brian Teeters
Shawn Mandolesi
Mike Quinn
Javier Fierro
Dave Carlton
Anthony Martinez
Sean Barker

Coach-Jeff Graham
Manager-David Weldin

We are still looking to add another player or 2. The California LumberKings have also obtained the services of Sonny Perkins and Grant Patterson.

We are happy to announce that the California LumberKings will be competing in the following tournaments:

Panteras Tournament
Red Rock, St. Georges, UT
So. Cal Bombers Tournament, Palm Springs, CA
ISC Qualifer, So. Cal
Portland Rose Cup, Portland Ore
AFSA Classic, Aurora, IL
ISC II Tournament of Champions, Kitchner, Ontario, Canada

Savala Rounders Announce 2006 Roster

Friday, February 10th, 2006

Fastpitchwest Forum – Savala Rounders

2006 Savala Rounders Roster

Brett Baker,Matt Barnes, Ken Crawford, Lanell Culver, Lou Enriquez, Erik Geierman, Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Hemperly, Donald Jewett, Scott Leckers, Mitch Mendenhall, Tom Morton, John Simmers, Russ Snow, Mike Thomas, Marc Villalobos, Cary Weiler, and Don Younger.

Editor’s notes: Longtime Rounder manager Ron Kirby has retired, but Mitch Mendenhall will help continue the Rounder tradition. Mitch is the lone member of last year’s pitching staff to return, but will be joined by a trio of talented arms. Al Savala, one of the game’s generous benefactors, has come aboard as the team’s sponsor.

Big-time pitching additions of Cary Weiler, Russ Snow and Matt Barnes will enable the new-look Rounders to compete at the next level, as one of six teams to be bumped up in classification by the ASA. All three have thrown open ball, and know how to win. Veteran catchers Don Younger and Mike Hemperly will provide the team with a solid battery and leadership, while Michael “Spanky” Thomas will anchor the infield defense as the team’s onfield general, along with Mark Villalobos, giving the squad a Rodriguez-Jeter-type combo on the left side of the infield. All Americans Eric Geierman and Tom Morton return, as does impact player Linnell Culver and solid stick John Simers. Gerald Pyle has moved over to A-1 Tank, but the team (still) has tremendous power with Morton and Culver in the middle of the order. The longest running member of the team, Donald Jewett, whose versatile talents have been a key to the team’s success, is healthy again and back with the team. Leckers, Baker, Barnes, Crawford, Enriquez, Gonzales add some new faces and talent to the team, which will compete in the So Cal ASA A/B league, as well as a number of tournaments, including Pantera’s Valentine’s, Red Rock, Best of the West, and the ASA “B” Nationals in September.

Damo’s in the “Hot Seat”

Tuesday, February 7th, 2006

What do you get when you mix Hulk Hogan, Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Joey Porter, Jorge St. Pierre, and Jenna Jameson? Inside the mind of Damian Guerrero 🙂 Click here for this month’s installment of Fred Hanker’s popular “Hot Seat” Interview, with Damo Guerrero.