The complete Red Rock Tournament photo galleries are now posted online: Red Rock Photo Galleries 1, 2 and 3
Archive for May, 2005
Monday Night Photos – Complete Galleries from Red Rock
Monday, May 9th, 2005Around Town, May 9, San Francisco
Monday, May 9th, 2005News from the North, from Dirk McCall and the Crabbies:
Crabs season opener ends on a drop dead ball, 7-6 vs. Da Guys
Games this Sunday
Crabs vs. Ikaikas @ 12.30
Crabs vs. Menehune @ 2:15
read more www.eteamz.com/crabs
Four Top 25 Teams Square Off in Wisconsin Classic League Play
Monday, May 9th, 2005Any time four Top 25 teams (from the ISC rankings) square off, it is deserving of some attention. This past weekend, it was #5 Circle Tap, #14 The Bar on the Avenue, #17 Shoots/Townline, and #22 Happy Hollow, in Wisconsin Classic League play.
The weekend produced one upset, with #17 Shoots/Townline knocking off #5 Circle Tap in the final game, Tane Richardson picking up a 5-1 win. Perhaps the most exciting game of the weekend was an almost-upset, with The Bar on the Avenue falling to Circle Tap 8-6 in 9 innings. The Bar’s John Zipperer hit a home run in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game and send it into a 9th inning. Circle Tap’s pitcher Robbie O’Brien helped himself out by driving in a run in the 9th to pick up the win. Fastpitchwest readers will remember Circle Tap and The Bar as the “combined team” that won the 2005 AAU International Tournament in January. Circle Tap finished the weekend 5-1, ahead of Shoots/Townline at 4-2, The Bar on the Avenue 3-3, and Happy Hollow winless in six tries. The State of Wisconsin is becoming the fastball capital of the U.S., with six teams in the top 25, including the four mentioned above, and of course, the top 2, #1 ranked County Materials and #2 The Farm Tavern, of Madison, WI. It’s only fitting then, that the Badger state will host this year’s ISC World Tournament in Eau Claire, and the ISC-II Tournament of Champions just down the road in Chippewa Falls, WI. Eighty of men’s fastball’s finest teams.. (40 at the ISC and 40 at the ISC-II)
WI Classic League Results, Weekend of May 7-8, 2005 (Al’s Fastball)
Jeremy Spear’s “Polynesian Power” at Pacifika 2005 (NY)
Saturday, May 7th, 2005A note from our friend, Jeremy Spear, director and producer of the feature length film “FASTPITCH”. Though this note is not about fastpitch, Jeremy’s earlier film has provided a tremendous amount of exposure for the game, so we thought one good turn deserved another. We understand that “Fastpitch” (The Movie) is being sought for the New York Baseball Film Festival. We wish him the best in all of his endeavors, and if for some reason, you haven’t seen “Fastpitch” (The Movie), click here for details. It’s available on DVD.
Polynesian Power at Pacifika 2005 (NY Theatrical Premiere)!!! POLYNESIAN POWER:ISLANDERS IN PRO FOOTBALL (Narrated by “The Rock”); Sunday May 22  7:30pm, Cantor Film Center #200, 36 East 8th Street, NYC; (Preceded by Academy Award© nominated short Two Cars, One Night)Ticket admission:$10.00 (does not include after screening party)
Aloha Friends! If you missed the ESPN broadcasts in February please catch it here in New York City at Pacifika 2005. Pacifika is the brainchild of my wife Janu and her partner Michelle Akina of the Hawaii Cultural Foundation. Now in its 3rd year, Pacifika is a special one-of-a-kind festival that has no true counterpart, even in Hawaii, Aotearoa or other Pacific locales. Please spread the word. At Sunday Night’s screening, Tama Waipara who contributed brilliant tracks for Polynesian Power will also play live music during the event. Rumor has it that American Samoan Congressman Eni Faleomavaega will also honor us with his attendance and I will conduct a Q&A after the screening. Keep an eye out for NBC-TV critic Jeffrey Lyons and his round-up review of Pacifika onFriday am May 20th on Today in New York. Hope to see you there. Please pass this along – It should be a great night!
Peace and aloha,
JeremyFor all info on Pacifika 2005 please go to: Pacifika.org
2005 ISC Championship Guide Now Available
Friday, May 6th, 2005The 2005 International Softball Congress Championship Guide is out! I’ve got mine, and you’re going to want to get yours. Fastpitchwest is pleased to announce that a number of Maddy’s photos made the publication this year. This one is THE hardbound publication in the world of men’s fastball. Don’t miss it! The Guide has:
* Color photos of all 40 ISC World Tournament teams and umpires;
* 149 pages – – – three more than in 2004;
* Over 300 photographs;
* A full 22-page coverage of the ISC-II Tournament of Champions;
* A feature article on ISC Commissioner Dave Blackburn and his efforts to get the ISC World Tournament on television;
* Current and historical statistics for both the ISC World Tournament and for the ISC-II Tournament of Champions.
A Look at the # 7 Ranked Team in the World: Kitchener Hallman Twins
Friday, May 6th, 2005Golden Horseshoe Fastball League season opener tonight
Thursday, May 5th, 2005Golden Horseshoe Fastball League season opener tonight (Al’s Fastball)
The Golden Horseshoe Fastball League is expanding to 14 teams this year, with 7 in each of two divisions. Thanks to my good friend Blair Setford, the league now has a permanent home on the internet, GHFL.ca. Another “must visit” website, chock full of information, stories, photos and more. Tonight’s opener features the Waterdown Hammer team against the Waterdown Coyotes. NAFA fans may remember Waterdown Hammer as the epitome of the “NAFA-3-game-guarantee” rule. In 2002, at Salem, Oregon, in the “A” division, the Hammer lost their first two games, but under the 3 game rule, they kept playing — winning 9 straight games with Tim Neil on the mound. They finished third, behind the California Crew and runnerup Rice Lake, Wisconsin. (Current So Cal Bomber Nate Devine was the Most Valuable Player that year, for the Crew, and while teammate Ed Gasper (now with the NorCal Mavericks) was the Most Valuable Pitcher)
Around Town, May 4
Thursday, May 5th, 2005Fred Hanker had two home runs in consecutive at bats last night in the Artesia league, (CA) driving in all 5 runs in his team’s 5-0 victory. The first was a towering drive to deep left field, landing somewhere in the vicinity of the South Street Deli, scoring three, while the second was a line drive into the right field corner, bringing home two. Hanker played like a veritable action figure. Leadoff batter, shortstop Andy Martinez had 3 hits, scoring two runs, while Andy de La Rosa had two hits including a triple that travelled nearly as far as Fred’s home run. Randy Clay was perfect in his three innings in relief. Fred’s Long Beach Black Sox will return to So Cal ASA Alliance league play May 21-22, 2005 in Lancaster, CA. Always something interesting at Fred’s Long Beach Black Sox website, if you haven’t visited lately. Check out this month’s “Hot Seat” interview with Dale Lopes. It’s in the “Sox News” section.
Vancouver Grey Sox – 2005 Schedule
Wednesday, May 4th, 2005Vancouver Grey Sox – 2005 Schedule (Al’s Fastball)
Editor’s note: As many of you have heard, Vancouver Grey Sox pitcher Nick Underhill has signed to pitch with the So Cal Bombers at the ISC World Tournament, as Vancouver will not be playing in the ISC. Both the Grey Sox and the Bombers will be at the Rose Cup tournament in Portland in June, so they could wind up facing each other there.
Red Rock Panoramic Photo
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005Here is a panoramic photo from the Red Rock Tournament.. The home plate umpire on this diamond can be excused for missing a call or two, wouldn’t you say?
It’s actually three photos in one, that Maddy “stitched” together electronically. Your browser should “shrink to fit” the photo so you get the panoramic effect, or let you view it large. It’s a very large hi-resolution image, so for you dial-up folks, it make take a bit longer to load.
Most have been able to view the photo in “shrink to fit” mode. For Firefox users, clicking the mouse on the photo will enlarge/shrink. If not, right mouse click, then “view” and it will shrink to fit.
Red Rock is still one of those places that you have to see in person to fully appreciate, but this photo captures more of its majesty than most regular photos can.
We have a second one, but have to clear some room on the site before we can upload. The rest of the regular photo galleries should be up soon, so keep an eye out.