Congrats to Dave Meltz and the Gypsters, the 2005 Artesia Spring League Champions. Meltz tossed a gem, a 1-0 shutout of the Black Sox. The lone run of the game was an inside the park job by Chris Minogue, down the right field foul line, just inside the chalk. Minogue came all the way around to score, hustling all the way, and sliding in safely. Ironically, Minogue is a member of the Black Sox team on weekends in the Alliance. The shutout by Meltz snapped a 3 game win streak for the Sox, including a win to get them into the playoffs, and two more in the playoffs to get into the title game.
Archive for June, 2005
Around Town, June 21
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005Portland Rose Cup Schedule Posted
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005The schedule of games has been posted at the Rose Cup website, hosted by Fastpitchwest.
Click Here to Visit the Portland Rose Cup website
You will also find menu buttons for the DeMarini Classic, the B/C tournament that runs concurrently with the Rose Cup tournament, as well as Rose Cup team rosters, broadcast schedule information, and more.
Hope you can join us for the broadcasts, which will include the Championship game, Sunday at 3pm PST.
ISF Jr. Men’s Revised Schedule (Venezuela Out)
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005HERE IS THE REVISED schedule as a result of VENEZUELA withdrawing from championship due to passport problems (they got them AFTER flight left but it was not enough to get new flight as enxt flight is IN AUGUST) so here is what it will be.
OPENING CEREMONIES 7 P.M. FRIDAY NIGHT
REVISED SCHEDULE FOR ISF 2005 JUNIOR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
SUMMERSIDE PEI – With the withdrawal of Venezuela, the ISF 2005 Jr Men’s World Softball Championship set to begin in Summerside Friday morning has a new schedule. Below is the new schedule.
Friday, 24th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
1 10:00am Australia 0 vs Mexico 0
2 12:00pm Japan 0 vs Denmark 0
3 2:00pm New Zealand 0 vs Argentina 0
4 4:00pm United States 0 vs Czech Republic 0
5 8:00pm Canada 0 vs Mexico 0
Saturday, 25th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
6 11:00am United States 0 vs Australia 0
7 1:00pm Mexico 0 vs Denmark 0
8 6:00pm New Zealand 0 vs Czech Republic 0
9 8:00pm Canada 0 vs Argentina 0
Sunday, 26th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
10 9:00am Argentina 0 vs Mexico 0
11 11:00am Australia 0 vs Czech Republic 0
12 1:00pm United States 0 vs New Zealand 0
13 6:00pm Australia 0 vs Argentina 0
14 8:00pm Canada 0 vs Japan 0
Monday, 27th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
15 9:00am Czech Republic 0 vs Japan 0
16 11:00am New Zealand 0 vs Denmark 0
17 3:00pm United States 0 vs Argentina 0
18 6:00pm Canada 0 vs Czech Republic 0
19 8:00pm Japan 0 vs Mexico 0
Tuesday, 28th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
20 11:00am New Zealand 0 vs Mexico 0
21 1:00pm Czech Republic 0 vs Denmark 0
22 6:00pm Australia 0 vs Japan 0
23 8:00pm Canada 0 vs United States 0
Wednesday, 29th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
24 11:00am United States 0 vs Denmark 0
25 1:00pm Mexico 0 vs Czech Republic 0
26 3:00pm Japan 0 vs Argentina 0
27 6:00pm New Zealand 0 vs Australia 0
28 8:00pm Canada 0 vs Denmark 0
Thursday, 30th June 2005
Game Time Team Team
29 11:00am Denmark 0 vs Argentina 0
30 1:00pm Japan 0 vs New Zealand 0
31 6:00pm United States 0 vs Mexico 0
32 8:00pm Canada 0 vs Australia 0
Friday, 1st July 2005
Game Time Team Team
33 12:00pm United States 0 vs Japan 0
34 2:00pm Argentina 0 vs Czech Republic 0
35 4:00pm Australia 0 vs Denmark 0
36 7:00pm Canada 0 vs New Zealand 0
Saturday, 2nd July 2005
Game Time Team Team
37 6:00pm – Third Place 0 vs – Fourth Place 0
38 8:00pm – First Place 0 vs – Second Place 0
Sunday, 3rd July 2005
Game Time Team Team
39 12:00pm – Winner 46 0 vs – Loser 47 0
40 3:00pm – Winner 47 0 vs – Winner 48 0
http://www.2005worldsoftball.com
Pat Healey
MARKETING AND MEDIA CONSULTANT
ISF 2005 JR MEN’S WORLD SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
So Cal Bombers, Team Rainey Receive ISC World Tournament Berths
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005The battle for SoCal supremacy between the So Cal Bombers and Team Rainey was to have been decided last Sunday in Santa Fe Springs, CA at the California Area ISC qualifier. Saturday’s games left both teams with 2-1 records, with the Bombers winning the head-to-head round robin game on Saturday. Sunday’s games were not played due to missing umpires. There was talk of a playoff game at this weekend’s Rose Cup tournametn to determine the ISC CA area champion — and who got the coveted ISC World Tournament berth. It was announced this morning that both teams will receive berths to the ISC World Tournament, and will be in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in August for the “Granddaddy of Them All”.
Rainey and the Bombers have seen plenty of each other this year, with the Bombers dominating the matchups thus far, but this weekend will give both squads a better measure of where they stack up with some of the elite teams in the game. The Bombers are currently ranked #19, while Team Rainey is right behind them at #20. Neither team has faced teams in the upper tier yet, but that is coming soon. The two will be in Portland, Oregon this weekend for the Rose Cup tournament. The Bombers take on #3 Broken Bow at 5pm Saturday, while Team Rainey will take on unranked-but-dangerous Prince George, British Columbia at 3pm. Prince George B.C, boasts a pitching staff of Colin McKenzie and Kevin Careless, who pitched last year for Victoria and Portland, respectively. Prince George also has three of the Potskin brothers on their roster, a family with some great fastball genes. Prince George is unranked only because they are not competing in the ISC World Tournament this year, but play top level competition in their home region. The Rose Cup also has another top-but-unranked team, the Vancouver Grey Sox. Currently, they are undefeated, with a 17-0-1 record. The Sox will compete in the Senior Canadians this year, not the ISC World Tournament, but probably be in the Top 10 if they were.
Team Rainey has been the California Area representative to the ISC World Tournament for the past two years. In 2003, at Kimberly, the team posted an impressive 3-1 record in pool play, and narrowly missed a spot in the “Sweet Sixteen” playoff round, dropping a playoff game to Houston, TX, the only team that beat them in pool play. During pool play, they beat Owen Sound of Canada, which was ranked #6 in the world at the time. Last year, Rainey appeared poised to step up to the next level, bolstering their roster with talented veterans, and playing the most ambitious schedules for an open team since the days of the Long Beach Nitehawks. Their run at the world tournament in 2004 proved to be a disappointment however, as the team struggled down the stretch. In 2005, Rainey pin their hopes on British Columbian pitching aces Bricklen Anderson and Rick Smith, and the addition of the core nucleus from the former Captain Dan’s team, added to the original 2003 roster that performed so well in Kimberly.
For the So Cal Bombers, it will be their first world tournament, though many of their players have ISC World Tournament experience. Five players came over from last year’s Team Rainey squad, including pitchers Travis Price and Tony Peeples, along with Mike Butler, Nate Devine and Jason Porto. But perhaps the biggest addition of all was the signing of ISC All-World catcher Todd Garcia to anchor both the defense and offense. Garcia has been the catcher for Team USA for a number of years, and caught for perennial contender The Farm Tavern of Madison, Wisconsin, handling some of the best pitchers in the world. Garcia, who lives in Northern California, wanted to spend more time with his son, difficult to do when catching for a team in Wisconsin, so he signed with the Bombers for the 2005 season. His addition to the Bombers gives So Cal fans reason to be hopeful about the Bomber’s chances at the ISC World Tournament in their first year.
An intersting side note, is that the Vancouver Grey Sox decision not to compete in the ISC World Tournament figures to play a key role in the ISC World Tournament hopes of both Team Rainey and the So Cal Bombers. Both Rainey and the Bombers are each adding an ace from the Vancouver pitching staff. The Bombers inked hard throwing Nick Underhill, while Team Rainey adds Rick Smith. The talents of Underhill and Smith will be on display this weekend in Portland at the Rose Cup tournament, albeit as members of their regular team, the Vancouver Grey Sox. Vancouver, Rainey and the Bombers are all in different pools for Saturday’s round robin games, but could meet up on Sunday in the single elimination bracket.
We will be broadcasting a selected number of games from the Rose Cup tournament this weekend, live on Ballparkradio. More details availabe at that website.
ISC World Rankings Released for June
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005Click here to view the latest set of ISC World Tournament rankings.
Not much change in this set, with the top spots holding constant. West Coast teams, the So Cal Bombers, Team Rainey and the Pueblo Bandits held their spots at #19, #20, and #21, respectively. All three will be in Portland this weekend, at the Portland DeMarini Rose Cup Tournament. The #19 Bombers will face #3 Broken Bow of New York at 5pm Saturday, with a chance to make a statement to the ranking committee.
The rankings are important, as they are used to determine seeding for the ISC World Tournament.
JRW & Associates C Squad Third at Sports Keg Invitational
Tuesday, June 21st, 2005Mt. Vernon, WA – The C squad for JRW & Associates of Yakima, WA took third in the ten team ASA Class B Sports Keg Invitational June 18-19 at the Skagit Valley Playfields. The C squad is made up of the rostered JRW players planning to enter the ASA C Class Nationals in Stockton, CA over the Labor Day weekend. Pitcher Dave Drotzmann from the ISC II JRW club was on loan for the weekend.
Bill Silves, ASA Region 15 UIC and Tournament Director, provided all teams with 5 games by allowing first round losers in single elimination play to drop to a consolation bracket.
The C squad was 1-2 in round robin play, but received the # 4 seed in single elimination play on Sunday based on breaking a tie with teams of the same record by allowing the least runs in three games.
On Saturday, the squad beat Interbay Door with the bats in a 10-3 game that ended on the mercy rule (Line scores of all 5 games are below). 21 year old Jason Grow (JRW), son of catcher Troy Grow, pitched the first 5 innings, struck out four, and held Interbay to two runs. Dave Drotzmann (JRW) pitched the 6th to get experience with a newly added catcher Matt Taylor as the tandem were to hook up for the next game. JRW right fielder Mike Parham and center fielder Tim Fischer had solo home runs in that game.
In the next game, Cleon’s Auto Repair (CAR) of Tacoma, WA plated 3 runs in the first inning and pitcher Kiwi Kevin Moon (CAR) made it hold up for a 3-2 victory. Kevin struck out 6 and JRW’s Drotzmann struck out 7. The JRW squad outhit Cleon’s 8-6, but were short in RBI category. Second Baseman Don Cawthron’s triple in the third inning provided JRW with their only RBI.
In the third game of the day, the Night Hawks of Seattle turned 3 hits, 2 errors, a walk, an HP and two WP into six runs in the second inning. JRW again outhit their opponent 9-8, but pitcher Jim Miles, Jr (NH) held on for a 6-4 victory. He walked four and struck out four. JRW Right fielder Mike Parham was 1-3 with a two RBI triple and DH Tom Magers was 2-3 with an RBI single.
In Sunday morning’s first single elimination game, JRW defeated Regal Homes of Everett 2-0 to gain no less than a tie for third place. The game was a rematch of the finals of the WA-OR-BC ISC II area tournament two weeks earlier when the JRW ISC II team beat Everett 6-3. Dave Drotzmann (JRW) struck out seven, walked none and allowed four scattered singles. Second Baseman Don Cawthron (JRW) had an RBI Fielder’s choice and Right fielder Mike Parham (JRW) singled in the second run.
Next was a return match with Cleon’s with the winner reaching the championship game. The JRW Club had runners in scoring position each of the first 5 innings, but could not plate any of them. Eventually, Pitcher Dave Drotzmann (JRW) was tiring in his fourth game, was frustrated at lack of run support, was upset with a dropped fly ball that was the third out with runners in scoring position and was fighting the rising temperature after a Sat that began with drizzling rain. With no other experienced pitcher to relieve, Cleon’s plated 8 runs in the last two innings enroute to a 9-0 victory. Kevin Moon (CAR) struck out three and walked two for his second win over JRW.
In the championship game, Cleon’s hitters could not make the adjustment from Drotzmann’s heat to the thumbing of lefty Greg Soule (CR/A) and lost to CR/Adidas of Portland 2-0. (CR/Adidas is the B squad for Roger Jones’ CR organization with the parent club – CR/DeMarini playing in the ISC qualifier in So. Calif. this past weekend. CR/DeMarini’s venture to the Southland was to lessen weekend trips for SoCal resident pitcher Mark Bennett. One report had the CR club 3-0 for Saturday with victories over Team Rainey and SoCal Bombers.
Game One (Sat)
Interbay Door, Seattle 011 001 3 – 5 – 2
JRW & Associates, Yakima 401 302 10 – 10 – 2
Hannan (LP) and Morrison; Jason Grow (WP), Dave Drotzmann (6th) and Matt Taylor.
Highlights:
HR: SS Mike Parham (JRW) Solo, CF Tim Fischer (JRW) Solo;
SS Mike Parham (JRW) 2-3, 1 RBI; CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 2-3, 3 RBI; DH Tom Magers (JRW) 2-3, 2 RBI
Game Two (Sat)
Cleon’s Auto Repair, Tacoma 300 000 0 3- 6 -1
JRW & Associates, Yakima 001 010 0 2- 8- 1
Kevin Moon, Cleon Tungsvick (5th) and Lance Bolda; Dave Drotzmann (LP) and Matt Taylor, Troy Grow (2nd)
Highlights: SS Mike Parham (JRW) 1-3, 2 RBI; 2B Don Cawthron (JRW) 1-4, 1 RBI
Pitching: Dave Drotzman (JRW) 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 W, 7 K’s
Game Three (Sat)
Night Hawks, Seattle 060 000 0 1 – 4 – 3
JRW & Associates, Yakima 100 030 0 4 – 9 – 2
Jim Miles, Jr (WP) and Jason Scheibner, Dave Drotzmann (LP) and Troy Grow
Highlights:
2B Don Cawthron (JRW) 1-3, 2 Runs; SS Mike Parham (JRW) 1-3, 2 RBI; DH Tom Magers (JRW) 2-3, 1 RBI
Pitching: Dave Drotzman (JRW) 7 IP, 2 ER, 3 W, 7 K’s
Game Four (Sun) – Single Elimination Round Starts
Regal Homes, Seattle 000 000 0 – 0 4 0
JRW & Associates, Yakima 000 002 x – 2 4 2
Jeff Rizzuto (LP) and Adam Jeans; Dave Drotzmann (WP) and Troy Grow
Highlights:
2B Don Cawthron (JRW) 1-3, 1 RBI; SS Mike Parham (JRW) 1-2, 1 RBI
Pitching: Dave Drotzmann (JRW) 7 IP, 0 ER, 0 W, 7 SO
Game Five (Sun)
Cleon’s Auto Repair, Tacoma 000 105 3 9 13 1
JRW & Associates, Yakima 000 000 0 0 4 1
Kevin Moon (WP), Tim McIntyre (7th) and Lance Bolda; Dave Drotzmann (LP) and Troy Grow.
Highlights: 1B James Munson (JRW) 2-3, Single and Double.
Rose Cup Schedule for June 25-26
Tuesday, June 21st, 2005Rose Cup has undergone a few schedule revisions due to changes in the field of teams, but it’s being reworked and should be up Tuesday, so keep an eye out. If you’re a team in the tournament and haven’t emailed your roster, hurry! Tuesday is the deadline to submit to printer if you want your team in the printed program.
Red Rock Feature Story & Photos in July 2005 Softball Magazine
Tuesday, June 21st, 2005We are pleased to report that the latest issue of Softball Magazine, dubbed the “Sports Illustrated of Softball” has published our feature story “Red Rock Ends with a Twist”, along with number of photos, taken by Maddy Flanagan, including the inside cover with a pitcher of world class pitcher Dean Holoien, the Most Valuable Pitcher in the Red Rock tournament. The photo layout also has a photo of California Painters catcher Jeff Twist, who had 2 homers and 5 RBI in the title game, and So Cal Bombers pitcher Travis Price, River City Rocker Rob Penticoff, Pueblo Bandit Jeremy Manley, and a team photo of the champion Painters. If you don’t already subscribe to the magazine, you should. If you can’t find a copy of the latest issue, write to us and we’ll try to see that you get one.
Maddy’s Monday Night Photos from Ramona, CA (USA Jr. Men & Alliance)
Monday, June 20th, 2005Click Here to view Maddy’s Photos from the So Cal ASA Alliance weekend at Ramona, California, which included the USA U19 Jr. Men’s team.
Don’t forget — the USA Jr. Men fly out tomorrow, Tuesday, June 21, 2005 for Prince Edward Island, Canada for the ISF international competition from June 24, 2005 through July 3, 2005.
Editor’s Choice for best photo of the weekend, with a bit of story to it:
As many of you know, Maddy had never been to a fastpitch game until a couple of years ago. In a short time, as I think her photos show, she’d developed quite an eye for the game. She’s always looking for a new or interesting way to share the game with you. This past weekend, she ran over to tell me that she had something new. “I’ve got some shots”, she said excitedly, “where the guy got away!”. I don’t know whether I enjoyed the photo more, or her delight in discovering something she hadn’t seen before. [smile] Ah, the things we take for granted. John Otte, you made her day.
(Look for the whole sequence of photos of the rundown play, shortly) Oh, and no, before you ask, she was not backing up on the play.
Runnerup for editor’s choice: Impersonation of a 747 landing short on runway 2-9er right.
And finally, honorable mention, for some serious air. That can’t be his normal stride — can it? BTW, who is it (#4?)
Got a favorite, or a comment on a photo? Post it by clicking that little link there on the right, just below this. (where it says ‘1 comment’, or however many there are)
NorCal Mavs Win ISC II Berth, ISC World Berth Pending
Monday, June 20th, 2005The NorCal Mavericks won the 2005 ISC II berth at the California area ISC and ISC II Qualifier at Santa Fe Springs, over the weekend, and are headed to Chippewa Falls, WI in August, for the ISC II Tournament of Champions. The Mavericks are a new team for 2005, consisting of some former members of Team Rainey, such as Chris Wright, and also last year’s Leafs team, with Troy Parker and Spud Barker. Their pitching staff includes Barker and Ed Gasper, who was the NAFA “A” Most Valuable Pitcher at the 2002 NAFA World Series in Salem, OR.
For those not familiar with the ISC II Tournament of Champions, it is entering its fourth year of existence, and has already become one of the leading men’s fastball tournaments in the world. Last year’s tournament, held concurrently with the ISC World Tournament in Fargo, North Dakota, hosted 39 teams from all over North America. The Harriston Mercurys of Harriston Ontario, Canada were crowned champions last year, for the second year in a row.
ISC II is generally termed “intermediate” level play, just below “open” level competition. Some consider it to be the rough equivalent of NAFA AAA and ASA Class “A” competition. For frame of reference, McKie Sports won last year’s ASA “A” National, and are currently ranked #10 in the ISC II rankings.
The Mavericks are a new team, and an unknown commodity with the ISC II ranking committee. They have languished somewhere in the 50’s on the latest set of rankings, in a division that only takes 40 to the Tournament of Champions. The Mavericks have now joined the “top 40” and look to make a splash in their first ever ISC II Tournament of Champions, in August 2005.
The ISC World Tournament berth has not yet been determined, as between the So Cal Bombers and Team Rainey. Stay tuned as there is some big news about to break on this one.