Archive for August, 2009

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

44th Annual Grass Valley California Tournament

Thursday, August 6th, 2009


(click logo for original news story)


Men’s softball classic set for Aug. 21 – 23
michael kirby


Chas Lowry of the Artichoke Joe’s Fireballs makes a play at shortstop in action from last season’s Colfax Recreation Men’s Fast Pitch Softball Classic. The field is starting to round into shape for this year’s 44th annual event, planned for Aug. 21-23.

The field is starting to take shape for the upcoming 44th Colfax Recreation Association’s Men’s Softball Classic, which is slated for Aug. 21-23 at the Living War Memorial Park in Colfax.

A line-up of eight men’s fast pitch teams are expected to fill the tourney brackets which will be pool play the first two days of the tournament followed by an elimination round on Sunday.

Confirming entries as if this week were the NorCal Gamblers from Sacramento, Sonoma Valley, Les Eva All-Stars of Grass Valley, All Phase Land Clearing of Grass Valley, Nor Cal Merchants of Stockton, Perfect Game from Grass Valley and the Pastime Club Fireballs of Colfax.

The longtime running tournament began in 1966 with four teams playing a one-day event.

At its peak in the early 1980s, the tournament was once played over a six-day period and included as many as 22 teams.

The Colfax Fireballs with 13 tournament championships lead the title winners in the event. Other multiple winners include Sutherland Union Oil (4), Reno Raiders (3), Ball Stars (3), Neilsen Gamblers (2), Italian AC (2), and J&P Sportsmen (2).

Keywords

Posted in General, Nor Cal | No Comments »

NAFA “A” World Series at Sioux Falls – Aug 6-9

Thursday, August 6th, 2009


(click logo for original news story)

Men’s softball teams clash in Sioux Falls

DAVE MARTIN •
DAMARTIN@ARGUSLEADER.COM

Sioux Falls will continue to bask in the national softball limelight for the next two weekends, but this time it will be the men who are the headliners.

Forty teams from the U.S. and Canada hit the diamonds today through Sunday at Harmodon Park for the North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) Men’s ‘A’ World Series, while 11 teams will be competing for the 23-under world series title starting Friday.

Championship games are set for Sunday at 3 p.m. for the ‘A’ teams and 4:45 p.m. in the 23-under division.

Next weekend, Aug. 13-16, there will be 20 teams in the ‘AA’ division and 44 teams in the ‘A’ major division battling for world series titles.

“It’s a big challenge for us to host these tournaments because we got into it late – just after Thanksgiving,” said event organizer Kerwyn Lykken, the state’s regional NAFA director.

“I got a call from the national office asking us to host it after they took the original bid away from Appleton, Wis., which didn’t follow through on promised field improvements.”

Lykken said the national office likes to locate the tournaments in the Midwest, due to geographical considerations and past success at sites such as Fargo; Mankato, Minn.; Des Moines, Iowa, and Eau Claire, Wis.

Teams competing in the ‘A’ division – the lowest of the five divisions (other than the 23-under group) – are expected from Canada and 13 states, including California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin and South Dakota.

Lykken said teams are placed in divisions according to the rating given their top pitcher.

“We (state commissioners) rate all the pitchers by observing them pitch and clocking their pitches with a radar gun and then placing their teams in the various divisions to try to make the playing field as level as possible,” he said.

Lykken said men’s fastpitch is especially strong in Canada, the Midwest and “hotbed” states of Wisconsin and California.

South Dakota will be represented by six teams: Crow Bar No. 2, Scarlett’s and Silver Stars, all from Sioux Falls; Young’s Prime No. 2 from Watertown and teams from Ramona and Freeman.

Posted in NAFA, Tournaments | No Comments »

Southern Oregon Bandits Win the 49th Seattle Invitational

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Thanks to Charlie Bendock for some great coverage of this long running tournament.

The Southern Oregon Bandits defeat the Boise River Dogs to Win the 49th Seattle Invitational.

The Southern Oregon Bandits, behind the stellar pitching of the “ageless” Mike Trotter, defeated a very determined Boise River Dogs, 2 – 1 to capture the Championship in the 49th Annual Seattle Invitational at Kasch Park in Everett, WA over the weekend. The game was a classic fastpitch pitching duel between two hard nosed determined pitchers; Mike Trotter and Shane Alder of the River Dogs. Both pitchers had been workhorses for their teams throught the tournament and on Sunday in the 90 degree heat.

To reach the Championship Game, the River Dogs had to defeat a very stuborn team from Spokane, the Generals 7 – 5. After falling behind in the game 5 – 1 in the 2nd inning, a 3 run Home Run by All-Star Nick Harris in the 3rd inning ignited the come back by the River Dogs. Next they had to get by the pre-tournament favorite Team Jones with the 2008 Seattle Invitational Most Valuable Pitcher, Greg Barker.The River Dogs and Shane were up to the challenge, defeating Team Jones 1 – 0. Shane spaced out 5 Team Jones hits and struck out 9 in the victory. The Bandits had an equally tough road to the Championship Game.

In their first game against the Portland Pirates, both teams were tied 2 – 2 going into the 7th before the Bandits pushed across 3 runs in the top half of the inning. Mike came in and shut the door to preserve the 5 – 2 victory. The Bandits then had to defeat a very strong Outlaw team (seeded 2nd after Saturday’s pool play) from Mt Vernon, WA. After 7 innings the game was tied at 3 apiece. After 9 innings it was tied at 4 apiece. In the 10th, the Bandits were able to push across 3 runs to make it 7 – 4. The big blow in the inning was a triple by All-Star Josh McGowan. Mike went the distance in this game striking out 9 Outlaw batters.

The Championship Game was a real battle. The Bandits struck first in the 3rd inning. Consecutive singles by Branden Dixon and Josh McGowan after one out put runners at first and third. A slow roller to second by All-Star D.J. Ryan allowed Dixon to score and make it 1 – 0. The Bandits struck again in the top of the 7th. A lead off triple by Ryan Goodman got the inning started. Shane then struck out Nate Olson, but the ball got by catcher Jamie Kubena allowing Goodman to score making it 2 – 0. However, the River Dogs would not give up.
In the home half of the 7th, with one out, All-Star Brian Stanton doubled. Nick Harris followed with a single to drive in Stanton. Trotter then struck out Brian Blake and got Dan Ryan to groud out to preserve the victory. Just a Great Championship game!

The K-Club Defeats The Sting to Win the 49th Annual Seattle Invitational Consolation Game

The K-Club from Bremerton, WA banged out 13 hits in 4 innings to defeat the favored Sting 11 – 2 and win the 49th Annual Seattle Invitational Consolation Game. The K-Club started fast scoring 6 runs in the first inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate. That was all the cushion that All-Star pitcher Dan Kolda needed as he spaced out 3 hits and struck out 3 in 5 innings to preserve the victory for the K-Club. A real good victory for the K-Club, a young team in its first year of play. Jeremy Welsh (second base) had an outstanding tournament and was selected as an All-Star.

Posted in General, Tournaments | No Comments »

49th Annual Seattle Invitational All Stars

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

49th Annual Seattle Invitational Fastpitch Tournament
Kasch Park, Everett August 1-2, 2009

All Stars

C – Jamie Kubena Boise River Dogs
IF – Josh McGowan Bandits
IF – Danny Ryan Boise River Dogs
IF – Jeremy Welsh K-Club
IF – Brian Stanton Boise River Dogs
IF – Nick Harris Boise River Dogs
OF – D J Ryan Bandits
OF – Ryan Goodman Bandits
UT – Marcus Durbin Bandits
UT – Danny Mecum Bandits
P – Dan Kolda K-Club
P – Darren Strang Sting

MVPitcher – Mike Trotter – So. Oregon Bandits
MVPlayer – Shane Alder – Boise River Dogs

Updated List of Previous Winners for the past 49 years after the jump

(more…)

Posted in General, Tournaments | No Comments »

ASA Newsletter – The Inside Pitch – August 2009

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Click here for the latest issue of Bill Plummer’s Newsletter, “The Inside Pitch”. It’s a color PDF, so give it time to load.

You’ll find coverage of Team USA Men’s fastpitch team towards the back of the issue, on page 15 (of 16).

Posted in ASA | No Comments »

2009 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Recap

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Courtesy of Al’s Fastball:

Friends of ASA Fast PitchSoftball,

One of the most exciting Men’sMajor Fast Pitch National Championship Finals has concluded today in SouthBend, Indiana. Farm Tavern, Madison, Wisconsin – managed and owned by RodPeterson lost their first game Thursday night at 8 p.m. to NY Gremlins, StatenIsland, New York by a 5-2 score. Rod’s squad, rolled up theirsleeves, tied their shoes a littler tighter, and manned-up through the losers’bracket – winning ten (10) straight games to claim their third Men’sMajor title. Farm Tavern won the 2003 tournament played in Midland, MI,the 2004 tournament played in South Bend, Indiana, and now the 2009 tournamentplayed in South Bend, Indiana.

Six Farm Tavern players earnedFirst Team All-American honors, while two more players received Second TeamAll-American Honors.

Farm Tavern players also didwell in the individual awards:

1. Most Home Runs –Donny Hale (1B) , Farm Tavern – hit 5 HR’s
2. Batting Champion –Shawn Vanduvall, Bandits (Pueblo, Colorado)
3. Herb Dudley ExcellentPitcher – Frank Cox, Farm Tavern
4. Most Valuable Player– Donny Hale (1B) , Farm Tavern

While Rod was fighting aninfected tooth, he still enjoyed this mighty comeback by his team.

To view a completed game bracketwith scores, game-by-game summaries, All-American Teams, Post Tournament FactSheet, and the Official Order of Finish – please visit our web site: www.sbpark.org

Click on the gold menu, “ASASoftball”. Then choose the “- ASA Softball” tab. Now click on either “NEW!!” or “CLICK HERE”. Now you are on the “Belleville” web page. Choose the blue “Tournaments”tab. Then the “2009 ASA MFP Major” pop out tab. Now youare at the 2009 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch page.

Tomorrow we will be postingBatting Statistics, Pitching Statistics, and Photos.

Also please review the web pagefor the 2010 Rose Cup Softball Tournament which is annually held in Portland,Oregon and our 2010 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch page.

Remember you can never plan toofar ahead. Help us keep the fast pitch game alive and well.

Sincerely,
Bob Waters
Belleville Softball Staff
bwaters48881(at)mchsi.com

Posted in ASA | No Comments »

49th Annual Seattle Invitational Results

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

AGELESS WONDER MIKE TROTTER MOST VALUABLE PITCHER

The Southern Oregon Bandits won the 49th Annual Seattle Invitational over the weekend at Kasch Park in Everett, WA. They defeated the Boise River Dogs 2 – 1 to win the championship.

The Bandits is Mike Trotter’s team (Yes, 70 year old Mike Trotter). He won 4 of the Bandits 6 games, including the last 2 back-to-back on Sunday afternoon with the temperature about 90 degrees. I think last year I described him as the “ageless” Mike Trotter. I may have to do that again. Mike won the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament

The Boise River Dogs. They had a great tournament too. In the Semi’s, they defeated Team Jones and Greg “Spud” Barker 1 – 0 (what a game) to reach the Championship Game. Their workhorse pitcher Shane Alder was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
He was also batting 12 for 19 going into the championship game.

It was another great tournament. However, it was also a l-o-n-g weekend. For the first time in my 28 years as TD, I had to go to the international tie breaker rule. On Saturday night, Game # 19, between the Bandits and the Portland Pirates, was the first time. That game started at 6:30. At 10:30 pm that game was tied at 18 – 18 (a 4 hour 7 inning game!). The game ended at 10:47 pm. This game had everything; arguments, fights, expulsions, close plays (a catcher broke his collar bone in a collision at home plate), lots of hits, errors, over-throws, equipment malfunctions……….and yes, poor umpiring. The Bandits finally put Trotter in to end the game. I got home and to bed about 2:00, back up at 5:00 am.

The K-Club (from Bremerton) defeated the Sting (Seattle) to win the Consolation game 11 – 2.

All Star Team

C – Jamie Kubena (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Josh McGowan (Southern Oregon Bandits)
IF – Danny Ryan (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Brain Stanton (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Jeremy Welsh (K-Club)
IF – Nick Harris (Boise River Dogs)
OF – D J Lyon (Southern Oregon Bandits)
OF – Ryan Goodman (Southern Oregon Bandits)
UT – Marcus Durbin (Southern Oregon Bandits)
UT – Danny Mecum (Southern Oregon Bandits)
P – Dan Kolda (K-Club)
P – Darren Strang (Sting)

MVPitcher – Mike Trotter (Southern Oregon Bandits)
MVPlayer – Shane Alder (Boise River Dogs)

Posted in General | No Comments »

ISC Special Olympics Game – August 19, 2009

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

[Quad Cities, IA] – I’d like to invite any and all ISC and ISC II players, coaches, managers, officials and umpires to participate in the 2009 ISC/Special Olympics exhibition game. Last year’s game in Kimberly was a great success and we expect nothing but the same for Quad Cities.

Here are the details:

** 5:00 p.m.
** Wednesday, August 19th
** Diamond #8, Greenvalley Sports Complex
** Meet at the Main Diamond at Greenvalley at 4:30 p.m.

We’re going to try and get the Special Olympics team introduced on the main diamond, and then make the walk to Diamond #8. It’s a short distance between the two fields, and the Special Olympics team and the ISC players can make the trek together.

Once we get to Diamond #8, we’ll split the two groups up, mix and match the teams, and Play Ball!

Souvenirs Needed!!

Last year, many of the ISC and ISC II teams donated one of their hats, or t-shirts, or jerseys to the Special Olympics team – this gesture was very much a surprise to the players and they treated those mementos as treasures. I’d like to be able to do the same thing this year. Anyone who has something they’d like to donate, please let me know. Once we get to Quad Cities, you can give those items to myself, or Ric Thompson (who plays for the Bar of Green Bay).

Hope to see as many of our ISC family out to this game – if you’ve never participated in an event like this, I highly suggest it, you’ll be happy you did.

Kyle Beane
– Midland Explorers
– ISC Player Rep

Posted in General, ISC | No Comments »

The Farm Claims ASA Major Title with 10 Win Weekend

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

The Farm Tavern, WI takes two from previously unbeaten NY Gremlins for ASA Major Title

The Farm Tavern overcame a first game loss to the New York Gremlins, winning ten games in a row thereafter, including two championship game wins over the runner-up Gremlins to claim the ASA Major National Title. The Farm handed the Gremlins their first loss of the tournament, 12-5 in the first championship game, and then 8-1 in the “if” game.

The string of wins against top flite teams was important for The Farm Tavern, whose big question mark heading into this month’s ISC World Tournament, was pitching. The Farm won the ISC World Tournament in 2007 at Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on the strength of the arm of Most Valuable Pitcher Korrey Gorreau. Gorreau helped pitch them to a top 5 finish again last year, but retired prior to the 2009 season. The Farm made a key acquisition to replace Gorreau, signing Canadian Frank Cox away from the 2008 ISC World Champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins, and adding another hard throwing Canadian, Darryl Tilley. Tilley went down with an injury and was questionable for the 2009 ISC World Tournament.

At the World Fastball Invitational in Monkton last month, Tilley was unavailable, and Cox carried the lions share of innings, getting help from 18 year old Australian Andrew Blackshaw. The innings took their toll on Cox, though, as the weekend wore on, underscoring the questions fans had about the Farm’s chances at the ISC World Tournament. Judging from their outstanding performances at the ASA Major this weekend, the Farm (ranked # 5 at present) appear to be ready to challenge the world’s best.

At this weekend’s ASA Major, Cox won six games, including the final two on Sunday to win the title, while Tilley had four wins of his own. The Farm’s bats stayed hot on Sunday, with seven home runs on the day. The squad from Madison, Wisconsin, held to just 4 hits in their opening round loss to Bryan Newton, knocked out a total of 28 hits Sunday, (15 and 13, respectively.

In the first championship game, it was Jim Corbett (2 homers), Donny Hale (homer and 4 RBI) and Colin Abbott (homer, 2 RBI) combining for 8 RBI, to carry the offense. Rob Gray also homered for the Farm.

In the second championship game, Abbott and Corbett each homered again, and Zenon Winters added one more for the 209 ASA Major Champions.

New York pitcher Bryan Newton appeared to tire on Sunday, after picking up three wins (including the opening round games against the Farm) , to pitch his team into the finals. Despite falling twice on Sunday, the NY Gremlins turned some heads this weekend with their runner-up finish, including three wins over higher ranked teams. No team left South Bend without at least one loss, the champion Farm Tavern included.

Details from Sunday’s final two games:

Game 37 Sunday, August 2-9 a.m. game ends after 6 innings Red Field
Team Name — Hometown Runs Hits Errors
Visitor The Farm — Madison, WI 12 15 0
Home NY Gremlins — Staten Island, NY 5 6 1

Winning Pitcher: Frank Cox, Farm — WIN, 6 inn, 3 earned, 5 hits, 8 K’s, 4 BB’s; Darrell Tilley, Farm —0 inn, 2 earned, 1 hits, 1 BB’s
Losing Pitcher: Bryan Newton, Gremlins— LOSS, 2 inn, 5 earned, 7 hits, 1 K; Dave Lohman, Gremlins— 1 inn, 2
earned, 3 hits; Bill Hillhouse, Gremlins – 3 inn, 5 earned, 5 hits, 2 K’s

Highlights: Tom Owens, Farm —2 Singles, RBI; Donny Hale, Farm — Double, Home Run, 4 RBI’s; Colin Abbott, Farm
— Single, Home Run, 2 RBI’s; Rob Gray, Farm — Single, Home Run, RBI; Jim Corbett, Farm — 2 Home Runs, RBI; Mike Grant, Farm —2 Singles; Jordan Taveras, Gremlins — 2 Singles

Game 38 Sunday, August 2— 11 a.m. game ends after 5 innings Red Field
Team Name — Hometown Runs Hits Errors
Visitor The Farm — Madison, WI 8 13 0
Home NY Gremlins — Staten Island, NY 1 2 0

Winning Pitcher: Frank Cox, Farm — WIN, 5 inn, 1 earned, 2 hits, 5 K’s
Losing Pitcher: Bryan Newton, Gremlins – LOSS, 5 inn, 8 earned, 13 hits, 2 K’s
Highlights: Zenon Winters, Farm — Home Run, 2 RBI’s; Tom Owen, Farm —2 Singles, Colin Abbott, Farm — Home
Run, RBI; Jeff Goolagong, Farm — Triple; Rob Gray, Farm — 3 Singles, RBI; Jim Corbett, Farm — Single, Home Run, 2
RBI’s; Mike Grant, Farm —Single, 2 RBI’s; Kick Shailes, Gremlins—Single, Home Run, RBI

Click here for PDF Bracket

Click here for PDF printer friendly version of these game summaries and line scores. (PDF)
(Cap tip to Brent Swanson for the link)

Complete recap of scores and game summaries after the jump.

(more…)

Posted in ASA, Teams, Tournaments | No Comments »

ASA Major Game Summaries

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

SOUTH BEND
PARKS & RECREATION
DEPARTMENT

ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch
National Championship Finals
Belleville Softball Complex

1300 South Mayflower Road • South Bend, Indiana 46619-3910
Telephone: 574-282-1449 • Facsimile: 574-282-8182
Web site: www.sbpark.org • Email: softball@southbendin.gov
Thursday, July 30 — Sunday, August 2, 2009
All game times are eastern dayliqht time

Click here for PDF Bracket

Click here for PDF printer friendly version of these game summaries and line scores. (PDF)
(Cap tip to Brent Swanson for the link)

Game 1 Thursday, July 30 —4 p.m. Game ended bottom 6, 1 out Green Field
Team Name — Hometown Runs Hits Errors
Visitor Ashland Stock Pack — Ashland, OH 0 0 0
Home Pueblo Bandits — Pueblo, CO 7 13 0
Winning Pitcher: Jeremy Manley, Pueblo — WIN, 6 inn, perfect game, 15 K’s, 8 consecutive K’s to end game
Losing Pitcher: Kevin I(more…)

Posted in ASA | No Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »