From “OttoinFocus”

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Written by Bob Otto on March 11th, 2010
“We are hoping to make the California Classic the premiere tournament in the Western U.S.” – Chris McGehee

BAKERSFIELD, CA – Once upon a time, Southern California was blessed with an abundance of open-level men’s fastpitch tournaments.

The Long Beach Nitehawks, The Lakewood Jets, the Vista Bombers, and the city of Oceanside hosted annual tournaments. These renowned tournaments drew world-class teams from throughout California and the southwest.

But those tournaments have long disappeared.

But three men have launched a Southern California revival of sorts. Dave Weldin, Chris McGehee, and Robert McCormick – all from Bakersfield – have banded together to create the “2010 California Classic.”

Their goal is to bring International Softball Congress (ISC) open-level men’s fastpitch back to the southland.

The California Classic will be held June 19-20 in Santee at Sportsplex USA – a professional softball park that opened early this year.

TOP-FLIGHT COMPETITION
12 teams have entered from California, Oregon, New Mexico, Nebraska, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament is shaping up to be a battle royal. For at stake is a coveted prize:

A berth into the 63rd Annual ISC World Tournament in Midland, Michigan, August 13-21.

Now why would three men from Bakersfield – located in central California – want to host a tournament in the San Diego area?

“We decided to host a tournament in San Diego mainly due to the location,” Said Weldin, who manages the California A’s out of Bakersfield.

“There are a lot of attractions in San Diego and Sportsplex USA and the hotel are approximately 15 minutes from the San Diego Airport. Therefore, our tourney should be completed with no one having to leave early to catch flights.”
Weldin and McGehee plan on the tournament becoming an annual event. A must-attend tournament in Southern California.

“We are hoping to make the California Classic the premiere tournament in the Western U.S.,” said McGehee, who plays for the Bakersfield Silverhawks.

“We want to grow this tournament to the point where we will be able to put together a field that would include the top teams in the world.”
McGehee added that future plans include a lower division of up to12 teams.

“That would allow some of the (lower division) teams the opportunity to play in a top quality tournament,” he said, “and hopefully, encourage those teams to move up and try to play at the next level.”

ISC II TofC CHAMPS
As the manager of the California A’s, Weldin realizes to compete at the ISC World Tournament and ISC II Tournament of Champions level, the A’s must tangle with top-flight competition.

But a look into the recent past reveals he’s already done pretty well.

Weldin managed the Bakersfield Taylor Farms Lumberkings to the championship of the ISC II Tournament of Champions in 2008. He’s had a taste of ISC competition. And he wants more.

Now the task is to get back to the 2010 ISC World Tournament.

A FANS DELIGHT
And with only one tournament berth allotted to the California Classic, the competition figures to be fierce. It also promises to be a delight for fastpitch fans.

“We want to put together an Open-level tournament that would be fun for the fans and the teams and their families,” Weldin said.

The response so far?

“The teams that have entered are all excited about the opportunity to play against other fastptich teams that are all trying to qualify for the World Tournament,” McGehee said.

TOURNAMENT SPECIFICS:
Name: 2010 California Classic
What: California Classic Men’s ISC Fastpitch Softball Tournament
Who: Hosted by the California A’s and Bakersfield Silverhawks
When: June 19-20, 2010
Where: Sportsplex USA, Santee, CA,
Format: Round Robin Single Elimination with a 4 Game Guarantee
Who To Contact: David Weldin: davidw@expressinsurance.com; Bobby McCormick: mccormickservices10@yahoo.com; Chris McGehee: garageworks@bak.rr.com.

To learn more about Sportsplex USA in Santee, visit their website. Sportsplex USA

Visit the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau for things to do in San Diego.
Click For Things To Do In San Diego

Visit these websites for more boy’s and men’s fastpitch news:

Al’s Fastball
Fastpitch West
International Softball Congress
North American Fastpitch Association
2010 ISC World Tournament, Midland, Mich.