Archive for July, 2007

AFSA Classic News Story

Friday, July 13th, 2007

Editor’s note: Here is a story that ran in a local Chicago newspaper, including a quote from the skipper for the California Lumberkings, David Weldin. The Lumberkings are back in Chicago for the second year in a row. Play begins this weekend. The Lumberkings play at 9, 11 and 5, Chicago time against Quad City Sox, Bloomington Stix and Townline.

Reprinted with permission From Aurora’s

via
(click Beacon News logo for their website)

Aurora’s Competiton Stiff
July 13, 2007
By John Sahly Staff Writer

John Sudges of the Dolan and Murphy fastpitch softball team said his team seems to step up its level of play for the bigger and better teams.

Considering the level of competition at the AFSA Classic at Stuart Sports Complex this weekend, Dolan and Murphy will need to in order to put up a good showing.

With over half the field ranked in the top 25 in the country, the tournament (which starts today at 7 p.m. with Dolan and Murphy taking on Thomson Merchants) will serve as a good opportunity for teams to measure up against possible postseason opponents.

“We’ve been playing good ball,” Sudges said. “We’re kind of on a roll. Our pitching has been solid and we’re hitting the ball pretty well.”

This eight-team tournament begins with pool play today, and bracket play will start Saturday night. The tournament will serve as an International Softball Congress World Tournament qualifying event. The top finishing team will earn a berth regardless of region.

(more…)

Lots of New Info on 2007 ISC II T of C

Friday, July 13th, 2007


(click link to visit official site)

Be sure to visit our sibling blog for the ISC II, “The Deuce”, as we’ve posted the schedule and lots more about the upcoming ISC II Tournament of Champions, August 14-18, 2007 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

We’ve also posted the master schedule, schedule by team, schedule by pool and playoff bracket. Click here.

Hardy Set to Throw for Fargo Kegel Knights

Friday, July 13th, 2007

Thanks to our friend in PEI, Canada, Pat Healey for this story:

SPECIAL TO THE GUARDIAN
ALBERTON, PE – Mitch Hardy of Alberton is joining a team where another Alberton player blossomed, signing with the Fargo, N.D. Kegel Knights or the last month of the International Softball Congress softball season in the U.S.. Hardy, a hard throwing championship caliber pitcher, will help the Knights leaps and bounds by bringing a solid arm to their rotation.

The Knights are a team that has undergone a changing of the guard which sees it with just five returning players in their roster from 2006.

“I’m excited to get this chance to play with a first class team such as the Knights,” said Hardy. “I am hoping to be able to help them in their rebuilding process and help them get better for next year.”

Hardy received word in early July that the Knights were interested in his services and just decided earlier this week eh would head south.

He leaves July 27 for Fargo, N.D. and his return to Canada will be Aug 25, when he flies into St. John’s, NL to join the Charlottetown Fawcetts for the Sr. Men’s Canadians championships.

“Playing with Fargo for the next month will also allow me to pitch at a high level and is good preparation for me for the Canadians with Charlottetown in August,” he added.

USA Jr. Men – Training Camp in SLC, Day 2

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

Day two of an eight day camp.

Team USA spilt a pair of 8-6 decisions on Thursday night.

They opened against the Kings of Salt Lake City and came back from being down 5-1 early and scored 5 runs in the fourth inning to take the lead that they never give up. Offensively Team USA was lead by Mitch Warne of Sioux Falls, SD who had two hits and scored 3 runs. Gentry Mitchell of Spanish Fork, UT had 3 hits and drove in two runs. Nick Santos of Pueblo, CO also
collected two hits.

James Hartman of Sioux Falls, SD picked up the win.

In game two, Team dropped an 8-6 decision to the Magic of SLC. Nick Cole of Sacramento, CA had an rbi triple. Tony Viger of Sioux Falls, SD had two hits. Jordan Talbert of Pattonburg, MO picked up the loss. Robbie Black of Spanish Fork, UT pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

The team will train on Friday and play three games on Saturday in a local tournament.

Thanks to head coach Tim Lyon for this report.

ISC II Tournament of Champions finalized

Thursday, July 12th, 2007


(click link to visit official site)

July 12, 2007 – The 35-team field is set for the 2007 ISC II Tournament of Champions.

The sixth annual ISC II ToC will be played August 14-18 at Budd Park in Kitchener and Kinsmen Park in Cambridge , Ontario with the semi-finals and championship to be played on the Saturday morning at Peter Hallman Ballyard in Kitchener.

Teams will play a four-game round robin schedule in seven pools of five teams each. The top three teams from each pool along with three wildcards will advance to a single elimination playoff bracket.

Headlining the field are the defending champions Tavistock, ON Merchants and the top-ranked Niagara, ON Snappers.

The pool assignments and schedule will be released tomorrow, July 13.

For additional information, please contact:

Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
ISC II Commissioner
blairjs(at)rogers.com

1 Tavistock, ON Merchants – Defending Champion
2 Palermo , ON Athletics – Finalist
3 Bridgeport , ON PROforma Braves – Host
4 Kitchener , ON Outlaws
5 Perkasie, PA Hoffman Rise
6 Bakersfield , CA California LumberKings
7 Harrisburg , PA PA Power
8 Wyevale , ON Tribe
9 Ottawa , ON Team Easton Thunder
10 Moraviantown , ON Bucktown Bees
11 Ashland , OH Merchants
12 Harriston , ON Mercury’s
13 Waterdown , ON Hammer
14 Port Elgin , ON Blue Devils
15 Quyon , QC Flyers
16 Alvinston , ON Indians
17 Shakespeare , ON Falcons
18 Glencoe , ON Astros
19 Carp , ON I4C Victory Consulting
20 Hickson , ON Reds
21 Jarvis , ON Rock
22 Kingston , ON Cowboys
23 Mitchell , ON Mets
24 Linwood , ON 86ers
25 Oswego , NY Cutro Professional Inspections
26 Wilkes-Barre , PA Keating’s Fitness
27 South Lebanon , PA T.N.T.
28 Niagara-on-the-Lake , ON Niagara Snappers
29 Elora , ON Wellington Brewers
30 Salinas , CA A-1 Taylor Farms
31 Blackburn , ON Bombers
32 Ottawa Valley , ON Raiders
33 Rockwood , ON Rush
34 Hamilton , ON Hawks
35 Ingersoll , ON Crush

Editor’s Note: A-1 Taylor Farm of Salinas, CA will become the second California ever to compete in the highly competitive ISC II Tournament of Champions. They will be joining the California Lumberkings, who last year was the first ever California team to compete in the event. Both teams have played highly competitive schedules, include ISC level tournaments such as Red Rock in St. George, UT, and Rose Cup in Portland, OR. Keep an eye out for the soon-to-be released schedule of games, as well as the broadcast schedule.

Top Teams to Vie for 2007 ISC World Title

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

From

2007 ISC World Tournament Entrants

The 2007 ISC World Tournament secured its final team today and it will be a 32-team tournament. We are working on the bracket and schedule now and hope to have it released by mid-week.

1. Patsy’s
2. Hallman Twins
3. Broken Bow Gremlins
4. Orillia Riversharks
5. The Farm Tavern
6. So Cal Bombers
7. MinnDak Millers
8. Peterborough Pros
9. Rice Creek Lightning
10. Circle Tap
11. Aspen Interiors
12. Scarborough Royals
13. Vancouver Grey Sox
14. Townline
15. Elmira Cubs
16. Portland/Demarini
17. Midland
18. Napanee Express
19. Albaugh, Inc.
20. Jarvis
21. Quad City Sox
22. Horse Lake Thunder
23. Bloomington Stix
24. Pueblo
25. Dolan & Murphy
26. Innerkip
27. St. Thomas Centennials
28. Ashland Mets
29. Plangger Furniture
30. Elkland
31. Thomson Area Merchants
32. Midwest Stampede

Ken
iscken@comcast.net (Ken Hackmeister )

Venezuela Drops Out of KFC American Challenge Series

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

From

KFC American Challenge Series schedule changed

[Oklahoma City] -The scheduleand format for the 2007 KFC American Challenge has been changed after Venezuela advised tournament officials that itwould not be making the trip to Oklahoma City due to travel details that could not be resolved in time. The new format will be a double round-robin between the USA, Japan and ArgentinaThe #1 seed after round-robin competition will receive a bye in the playoffswhile the #2 and #3 seeds play for a spot in the championship game.

Tickets to the KFC World Cup of Softball will get fans in to see allthe competition during the American Challenge Series at no additional cost.

The following is the updated schedule for the KFC American ChallengeSeries.

Fri., July 13
1:00 p.m.
Japan vs. Argentina
7:00 p.m.
USA vs. Japan
9:30 p.m.
USA vs. Argentina

Sat., July 14
12:00 p.m.
Argentina vs. Japan
3:00 p.m.
USA vs. Japan
9:00 p.m.
USA vs. Argentina

Sun., July 15
11:30 p.m.
#3 Seed vs. #4 Seed
2:30 p.m.
#1 Seed vs. winner of #3 vs. #4

For complete results, “Live” stats, photo galleries andmuch more log on to www.usasoftball.com.

Brian McCall
bmccall@softball.org

USA Jr. Men – Training Camp in SLC, UT

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

The USA Softball Jr. Men’s National Team started their day training camp in Salt Lake City with a win and a tie. They opened up the first game scoring 11 runs in bottom of the first inning against Sheriff’s of Pleasant Grove, UT. Nick cole lead off the game with a home run and added two other hits and three rbi’s. Team USA collected 13 hits. Robbie Black of Spanish Fork, UT, JT Weststeyn of St. Louis, MO and Robert Reder of Aurora, IL collected two hits each.

Jordan Talbert of Pattonburg, MO picked up the win giving up 2 hits, walking seven with 5 strike outs.

In the second game, Team USA fell behind 4-1 before scoring 2 in the sixth and one in the 7th to tie the game that finished in a 4-4 tie. Nick Cole again lead off the game with a home run for the first USA score. In the 6th, Chris Norris of Spanish Fork, UT lead off with his second of three hits and scored. In the 7th, Norris singled with two outs and nobody on and scored on a two-out, two strike triple by Nick Cole.
James Hartman of Sioux Falls, SD pitched the distance for Team USA. He allowed 9 hits while striking out 7.

Team USA plays two more games on Thursday.

Thanks to Head Coach Tim Lyon for this report.

Team USA vs. Japan on ESPN2 – July 22, 3pm CST

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

Tape Delay of USA vs. Japan on ESPN2

Thanks to Bernie Lopez, who was our roving reporter and photographer in Prague, CZ for the World Cup for this information.

The ASA has secured a two-hour time slot for men’s fast pitch action featuring Team USA against the Japanese Men’s National Team on ESPN2, Sunday, July 22 at 3:00 pm CST.

Editor’s note: To those of us on the West Coast, that should translate to 1:00pm on July 22 — but be sure to check you local guide or schedule, as they’ve been know to vary among time zones. This appears to be a tape delay of the game between the USA and Japan played at 3pm CST on Saturday during the American Challenge Series taking place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For complete schedule of American Challenge Series, click here.

* SPOILER WARNING *
Remember this is a tape delay, so if you don’t want to know who wins it before you watch it, steer clear of all reports after 3pm Saturday. (I intend to). Remember Jimmy Fallon’s “Lobster Hands” in the movie “Fever Pitch”? “La la la la la la la. I can’t hear you” 😉

USA Jr. Men to Hold Open Tryout August 2

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

From the ASA website:

Open Tryout at Caswell Park in North Mankato, MN

USA Softball will be conducting an open tryout camp for boys interested in the national fastpitch team program. The camp will take place on Thursday, August 2 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Caswell Park in North Mankato, Minnesota. The tryout is in conjunction with the Amateur Softball Association boys national tournament which begins the next day at Caswell Park. The camp is open to all boys born in 1989 or later.

USA Softball is in the process of player selection for the junior men’s national team which will compete in the International Softball Federation world championship next June in Whitehorse, Yukon Canada. To be eligible for that team, players must have been born in 1989 or later. Additionally, USA Softball is interested in observing players born in 1993 or later who are eligible for the following ISF junior men’s world championship in 2012.

USA Softball coaches Tim Lyon, Scott Standerfer and Gary Mullican will conduct the tryout camp. Please contact head coach Tim Lyon with any questions about the camp.