(click logo for official website)
lick here for brochure to ASA “A” Nationals in Salem, Oregon. (home to the 2002 NAFA World Series, for those who remember)
Click here for the Championship Bracket.
Click here for the Consolation Bracket
Archive for the ‘Tournaments’ Category
ASA “A” Nationals – Salem, OR
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Aussie Steelers celebrate their anniversary as World Champions
Monday, July 26th, 2010Cap tip, Al Doran:
File this one under “How time flies”
27 July 2010
Today marks the anniversary of the Australian Open Men’s fastpitch Softball team – the Aussie Steelers – being crowned the World Champions at the XII ISF Men’s World Championships in Saskatoon, Canada. Sixteen countries took part in the Championship and the Steelers finished the round robin play with a 6-1 win-loss record, their only loss coming against host nation Canada in an extra-innings thriller. It was possibly this game which sparked something within as the team came into their own during the playoffs.
As we all reminisce and relive that momentous occasion, read the thoughts of those who were there in World Champions – one year on, watch the video highlights from the gold medal game and view the photo gallery.
Ballparkradio at Erie Tournament – July 31 – August 1
Monday, July 26th, 2010It has been a busy summer for Ballparkradio’s Kyle Smith. This coming weekend, July 31-August 1, he’ll take the show on the road once again, to Erie Pennsylvania, to broadcast the Erie Tournament on live streaming audio to a worldwide audience. It marks the third tournament in little more than a month, following trips to Kitchener for the Legends Fastball Classic, and Tavistock tournament a couple of weeks ago.
Kyle will be joined in the booth by Bill Hillhouse and Derek Pukash — at least when their team, the NY Gremlins, isn’t playing. Hillhouse will wear a third hat as well, serving as the tournament director.
Just for good measure, on his “off” weekend in July, Kyle helped spearhead a cancer-fighting fund raiser.
Ballparkradio’s lead play-by-play man, Kyle Smith, will be in Erie PA on July 31-August 1, 2010 to bring you live streaming broadcasts from the Erie Tournament.
The Erie Tournament will feature a veritable who’s who of top teams in the fastball world, as they head down the stretch to the ISC World Tournament in Midland Michigan August 13-21, including:
# 1 Jarvis Travelers
# 2 Kitchener Rivershark Twins
# 3 Chicago/NY
# 4 NY Gremlins
# 6 Midland Explorers
# 8 Albaugh IA
[Saving you a trip to find the rankings, only the # 5 California A’s and # 7 Bar of Appleton are missing from this group]
For more details, see our earlier post here and more information at Al’s Fastball.
Listeners can tune in to the broadcasts at the Ballparkradio website, free of charge. (click logo below)
Keep an eye out for the soon-to-be released schedule of broadcasts. The schedule of Games is as follows:
Saturday, 31 July
9am Blue Lake vs NY Gremlins Chicago NY vs. All stars
11am Midland vs NY Gremlins Chicaco NY vs. Albaugh
1pm Kitchener vs. All Stars Midland vs. Jarvis
4pm Kitchener vs. Albaugh Jarvis vs. Blue Lake
6pm Kichener vs. Chicago/NY Albaugh vs. All Stars
8pm NY Gremlins vs. Jarvis Midland vs. Blue Lake
Sunday, 1 August
Sunday 8:30am B3 vs. A2 A3 vs. B2
Sunday 10:30am A1 vs. B2/A3 winner
Sunday 10:30 am B2 vs. A2/B3 winner
Sunday 12:30pm Championship.
Ballparkradio is now in its eighth year of broadcasting men’s fastball. The Erie tournament is the sixth tournament of the 2010 season, and sixth of eight events overall:
January – AAU International Tournament (Jim Flanagan & Josh Johnson)
June – Best of the West (Jim Flanagan)
June – California Classic (Jim Flanagan, Greg Hicks & Steve Miner)
July – Legends Fastball Classic (Kyle Smith & Blair Setford)
July – Tavistock Tournament (Kyle Smith & Joe Todd)
July – Erie Tournament (Kyle Smith, Bill Hillhouse and Derek Pukash)
Still to come:
August – Canadian Midget Boys Tournament (Kyle Smith and friends)
August – ISC World Tournament (the whole BPR crew)
Did you miss some of the earlier broadcasts, but want to listen to the games? Check out the archives section of our newly designed broadcast website.
The broadcasts in Erie PA will be made possible by use of wireless card, provided courtesy of Rovair.com. The wireless card is a USB device (“rocket stick”) that provides a cell phone style connection to the internet. Ballparkradio first used the device in Santa Barbara earlier this year, to broadcast the Best of the West tournament. The lack of internet connection at many venues had been an impediment to broadcasting, but no more, thanks to Rovair.com.
(Rovair.com rents the devices on a per day basis, great for travelers who need a portable internet connection from time to time, but don’t wish to sign a two year contract and pay expensive monthly fees to boot. For more information, click the Rovair logo above. Be sure to tell them Ballparkradio sent you)
A special thanks to Erie Tournament director Bill Hillhouse, who made several trips out to the ballpark to test out our USB wireless card, to be sure of our internet connection in advance.
Team USA Clinches Berth in World Cup Title Game Despite Falling to Canada
Monday, July 26th, 2010OKLAHOMA CITY — The USA Softball Women’s National Team has secured a spot in the championship game of the 2010 KFC World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, despite a Sunday outing that saw the ISF 2010 Women’s World Champions fall to Canada. The Americans lost 5-2 at the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Hall of Fame Stadium but still clinched the No. 1 tournament seed when Japan topped Canada 4-0 in the night cap.
The Women’s National Team, now 4-1 in the tournament, will seek a fourth consecutive World Cup title Monday at 8 p.m. against either Japan or the Futures, a seeding to be determined following the one remaining pool play game, the Women’s National Team against the USA Softball Women’s Futures National Team at noon Monday. Futures has a record of 2-3 heading into the match-up. Japan finishes pool play at 3-3 with Canada at 2-4.
Vancouver South Hill Giants Win Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge
Monday, July 26th, 2010Travis Price Tosses 2-hitter in Championship Game Win over Vancouver Meralomas
Top hitter: Kris Walushka, Portland CR Rockers
Top pitcher: Travis Price, Vancouver South Hill Giants
MVP: Derek Mayson, Vancouver Meralomas
Sunday, July 25
Game 14 (Playoff 2)
Invermere Braves 8R 7H 1E
Vernon DC Arrows 5R 8H 3E
WP Rich Haldane
LP Ryan Campbell
Eli Jules (Braves) Walk off HR, 3RBIs
Game 15 (Playoff 3)
Vancouver Meralomas 5R 8H 1E
Victoria Neilson Digital 2R 8H 1E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Collin McKenzie
Game 16 (Playoff 4)
Vancouver Meralomas 4R 8H 0E
Invermere Braves 2R 3H 3E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Rich Haldane
Game 17 (Playoff 5)
Vancouver Meralomas 8R 11H 0E
Portland CR Rockers 1R 4H 3E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Mike Piechnik
Game 18 (Championship Game)
Vancouver Meralomas 1R 2H 2E
Vancouver South Hill Giants 6R 9H 1E
WP Travis Price
LP Derek Mayson
A fine job by our blue crew. Many thanks to:
UIC, John Rebalkin
Tim Lederman
Rick Leche
Dan Young
Scott McLaren
Barry Redacop
Bruce Patton
Al Strang
John Wright
Brandon Bluhm
Troy Fields
Mike Duddy
Jack Floyd
A formal announcement was made by the Directors of South Hill Sports Association that the Vancouver Challenge tournament from this day forward will be referred to as the “Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge.”
Submitted by Jim Johnson
For complete recap of the Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge, click here.
Bar of Appleton tops New Image in NAFA Open World Series
Monday, July 26th, 2010
Bar of Appleton (last years AAA Champions) claimed the NAFA Open World Series with a 3-0 shutout over New Image(last years AA-Major Champion). Andrew Blackshaw was the winning pitcher and Kevin Kammueller took the loss. Josh Johnson, Bar of Appleton, was the MVP and Jeremy Holman,New Image, was the MVPitcher with a zero era, 3-0 and a perfect game. Other all world selections not already listed were Dan Wall of Wilber Lime, Jim Pecoraro and David Schuett of Dolan & Murphy, Joe Benash, Todd Burlage, Harvey Knuteson, Adam Bussan of New Image and Pat Humphries, Chris Delorit, Andrew Blackshaw,Jess Delorit and Tom Crouch of the Bar.
Final Order of Finish
1-Bar of Appleton, 4-0
2-New Image, 5-2
3-Rocky Mountain Rebels, 3-2
4-Pete’s Blues, 2-2
5-Dolan & Murphy, 3-2
6-Wilber Lime, 2-3
7-Gehrig Falcons, 2-3
8-Willkom Mobil, 2-3
9-Kegel Knights,0-3
9-BAC Pride, 0-3
Dolan & Murphy won the Sunday Single Elimination Bracket 4-1 over Wilber Lime with Ales Jetmer taking the win and Dan Wall taking the loss.
Editor’s note: Click here for the complete recap of the NAFA Open World Series.
#29 Quyon Combat Flyers win Gil Read
Monday, July 26th, 2010From the Eastern Ontario Fastball Blog run by our friend Adam Brown
Note that the Gil Read tourney was played in Carp, Ontario, just outside Ottawa.
Quyon wins Gil Read Memorial Tournament
The final of the third annual Gil Read Memorial Fastball Tournament was a rematch of the 2009 championship game – with a different result this year, as the Quyon COMBAT Flyers defeated the Kars Aces to win the title.
Joran Graham was named tournament MVP.
Round Robin Standings
Pool A
1 Kars Aces 4-0
2 Carp I4C Victory 2-1-1
3 Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric 2-2
4 Quebec Juniors 1-3
5 Roebuck Rampage 0-3-1Pool B
1 Quyon COMBAT Flyers 4-0
2 Donnacona Blue Sox 2-1-1
3 Barrhaven Broadway Blues 2-2
4 Ottawa Blitz 1-2-1
5 Trend Arlington Shamrocks 0-4Semi Finals
Kars 8 Donnacona 4
WP Brad Porter
LP Francis LeclairQuyon 4 Carp 1
WP Joran Graham
LP Neil CookeFinals
Quyon 8 Kars 1 (5 innings)
WP Joran Graham
LP Jeff Murphy
Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge 2010 Results
Sunday, July 25th, 2010From our friend in Vancouver B.C., Jimmy Johnson:
Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge 2010Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge 2010
Friday, July 23rd
Game 1
South Hill Giants 12R 13H 0E
Burnaby Dukes 0R 0H 3E
WP Kawagughi
LP Lum
Game 2
Vancouver Meralomas 6R 10H 3E
Abbotsford Farm 3R 5H 3E
WP Strang
LP Wiens
Saturday, July 24th
Game 3
Portland CR Rockers 4R 8H 1E
Vernon DC Arrows 2R 3H 2E
WP Anderson
LP Swart
Game 4
Invermere Braves 7R 10H 1E
Victoria Neilson Digital 1R 6H 1E
WP Rich Haldane
LP Kevin Careless
HR Braves Jessen Potskin, Rich Haldane
Digital Nick Medwedrich
Game 5
Portland CR Rockers 7R 12H 3E
Abbotsford Farm 2R 2H 0E
WP Terry Luster
LP Rick Unrah
Game 6
Invermere Braves 8R 10H 0E
Burnaby Dukes 1R 5H 1E
WP Matt Underwood
LP Todd Webb
Game 7
Vancouver Meralomas 5R 14H 0E
Vernon DC Arrows 2R 6H 0E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Ryan Campbell
Game 8
Vancouver South Hill Giants 8R 10H 0E
Victoria Neilson Digital 0R 3H 0E
WP Travis Price
LP Colin McKenzie
Game 9
Portland CR Rockers 8R 9H 0E
Vancouver Meralomas 1R 3H 0E
WP Terry Luster
LP Darren Strang
HR Rockers Brian Ree, Rob Gehrke
Game 10
Invermere Braves 5R 6H 1E
Vancouver South Hill Giants 6R 6H 3E
WP Jeff Kawaguchi
LP Rich Huldane
HR Braves Jessen Potskin
Game 11
Vernon DC Arrows 3R 4H 1E
Abbotsford Farm 2R 8H 0E
WP Ryan Campbell
LP Harv Wiens
Game 12
Victoria Neilson Digital 4R 8H 1E
Burnaby Dukes 2R 4H 4E
WP Kevin Careless
LP Phil Lum
Game 13
Vancouver South Hill Giants 4R 8H 2E
Portland CR Rockers 3R 6H 0E
WP Travis Price
LP Bricklen Anderson
HR Rockers Brian Ree
Sunday, July 25
Game 14 (Playoff 2)
Invermere Braves 8R 7H 1E
Vernon DC Arrows 5R 8H 3E
WP Rich Haldane
LP Ryan Campbell
Eli Jules (Braves) Walk off HR, 3RBIs
Game 15 (Playoff 3)
Vancouver Meralomas 5R 8H 1E
Victoria Neilson Digital 2R 8H 1E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Collin McKenzie
Game 16 (Playoff 4)
Vancouver Meralomas 4R 8H 0E
Invermere Braves 2R 3H 3E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Rich Haldane
Game 17 (Playoff 5)
Vancouver Meralomas 8R 11H 0E
Portland CR Rockers 1R 4H 3E
WP Derek Mayson
LP Mike Piechnik
Game 18 (Championship Game)
Vancouver Meralomas 1R 2H 2E
Vancouver South Hill Giants 6R 9H 1E
WP Travis Price
LP Derek Mayson
A fine job by our blue crew. Many thanks to:
Tim Lederman
Rick Leche
Dan Young
Scott McLaren
Barry Redacop
Bruce Patton
Al Strang
John Wright
Brandon Bluhm
Troy Fields
Mike Duddy
Jack Floyd
A formal announcement was made by the Directors of South Hill Sports Association that the Vancouver Challenge tournament from this day forward will be referred to as the “Bob Law Memorial Vancouver Challenge.”
Submitted by Jim Johnson
Live Streaming Broadcasts from 2010 ISC WT
Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Watch Live Streaming Video Broadcasts from the 2010 ISC World Tournament
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – The International Softball Congress (ISC) announced today that they will feature live broadcasts of selected games from the 2010 ISC World Tournament at Midland, Michigan.
The live video broadcast schedule kicks off with the two-time defending ISC World Champions, the Kitchener Rivershark Twins, on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 4:00 PM eastern, a game offered free of charge to all viewers.
The ISC will offer an “All Access†pass, which will provide fans with online access to at least twenty-four (24) live video broadcasts, as well as access to archived broadcasts during the week for any games they might miss. The cost of the “ISC All Access†pass is $49.95, if purchased on or before August 9, 2010, or $59.95 if purchased thereafter. The “early-bird†purchase translates to just over $2 per game.
Fans will also be able to access individual games on a pay-per-view basis. Each game will be available live and on-demand at a rate of $6.95 per game to non-All-Access subscribers.
Additional games will be broadcast on live streaming audio at no charge.
The streaming media broadcast program for the International Softball Congress is now in its 10th year, headed up by Executive Producer Dave Blackburn. Dave brought streaming media to the ISC World Tournament and the fastball world back in 2001, with help from technical guru Greg Panos. Dave had this to say about the 2010 Live Streaming broadcast program:
“Our broadcast team is very excited about our plans for streaming many live games from the 2010 World Tournament. After four years of continuous improvement in producing our own online video telecasts, and offering those for free, in 2010 we are evolving to a Pay-Per-View online delivery model. This is the most viable way for the ISC to continue our efforts to provide this unique live and archival coverage to our global audience of fastball fans long into the future.”
The ISC World Tournament broadcast program operates a four camera set-up, with play-by-play announcers and color commentators. Assistant Streaming Producer Rosanne Allan will work with Dave Blackburn on production, and full-time cameramen Gerry and Mike Betz will be back for their sixth and fifth years respectively.
Broadcast program directors Blair Setford and Jim Flanagan will join play-by-play anchors Kyle Smith and Lance Winn in the booth, along with Joe Todd and other guest color commentators. Smith and Winn are both broadcast professionals. Winn works in Canadian sports TV while Smith works in the Toronto area, doing minor league baseball and hockey in addition to his fastball work, and serves as the lead broadcaster for Ballparkradio. Joe Todd has been broadcasting for the ISC since 2003.
In 2010, the ISC will break new ground, offering its first ever Spanish language audio broadcast, in collaboration with Cristian Lacout of Softbol Radio , based in Argentina. The remote-connected broadcast will be available to a world-wide audience, free of charge.
For complete details of the streaming video and streaming audio broadcasts, including subscription details, visit:
Fastball fans will find quick and easy access to the 2010 ISC World Tournament video and audio broadcasts as follows:
Video: www.Ballparkradio.tv
Audio: www.Ballparkradio.com
The complete broadcast schedule of games will be released soon, so keep an eye out at the Ballparkradio websites, the official ISC website, http://www.iscfastpitch.com> and Al’s Fastball,
—
International Softball Congress (“ISCâ€)
www.iscfastpitch.com
Order the ISC All-Access Tournament Subscription by August 9th and save $10.00 !
$49.95 for at least 24 games
All Proceeds Go to the International Softball Congress (ISC)
See You in Des Moines (says Bob Otto)
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010One man, one camera, 160 teams
(click banner for original news story at OttoinFocus)
Written by Bob Otto on July 22nd, 2010
YUCAIPA, CA – I emailed Maddy Flanagan, ISC photographer extraordinaire, and the lovely wife of Fastpitchwest Editor, Jim Flanagan.
I needed some camera lens advice.
“Maddy I’m thinking of shooting the NAFA World Series in Des Moines, and I’m thinking (usually I don’t do much of that) of buying a 300mm lens. What f-stop is yours?â€
“That would be awesome if you could shoot NAFA!†said Maddy.
Well, Maddy gave me her lens advice, I bought the lens (received it yesterday) and this morning I told NAFA Executive Director, Benjie Hedgecock, that I’ll be in Des Moines.
It’s been a long drought for me. My last national tournament was the 2000 ISC World Tournament in St. Joseph, Missouri. A great tournament and wonderful city, by the way.
Now, 10 years later, I’m off to Des Moines. And I’m jazzed about it. Just imagine, more than 160 teams battling in six divisions for World Series championships from Aug. 13 to Aug 22.
More than 160 teams!
“Gulp.â€
I just realized that I’m going to attempt to shoot a LOT of teams and players. The most I’ve covered before was when the ISC World Tournament had the double-knockout, 48 team bracket.
Make that a double, “gulp, gulp.â€
But since Benjie and I have emailed back and forth, I’m ready to go. Ready to photograph and report as much as possible. We want the NAFA website to sizzle and sing with game reports, photos, and ballpark updates.
And that’s where we need the help of the teams making the trip to Des Moines.
You’re going to see this guy – me – lugging around two cameras, one hanging off each shoulder, along with a notepad. Oh, and a tape recorder stuck in my pants pocket. (If you talk faster than I can write, you will be recorded.)
I’m going to be asking you managers for a few minutes of your time – perhaps BEFORE a game is about to begin. I’m going to be asking to talk with your players. I promise I won’t take much of your time because I know you want to focus on the games at hand.
And I’m always on the hunt for short profile stories. So if you’ve got someone on your ball club I should know about, then flag me down.
And if there’s someone who wants to help me out, perhaps gathering post-game information (I can furnish you with a guide), that’d be awesome.
I’ve been emailing and talking on the phone with many of you for the past year. I’m looking forward to finally putting faces with the names. This is going to be fun.
See you in Des Moines!