For immediate release and posting
The following motion has just been approved by the ISC Executive Committee, to further clarify the ISC’s 2010 PRAWN rule.
“A maximum of 6 total PRAWNS per team and only 1 can pitch regardless of how they obtained PRAWN status.”
This rule is applicable to all ISC Qualifiers and the 2010 ISC World Tournament.
Ken Hackmeister
ISC Executive Director
(click logo for official tournament website)
(click logo for photos)
From the blog at Maddy’s Photos:
2008 ISF Jr Men’s Championship – Yukon, Canada
Some of you may have wondered whatever happened to the photos I took in 2008 at the Jr Men’s World Championship in White Horse, Yukon, Canada. I was particularly excited about this tournament because of its location: the Yukon and because I do not often get to shoot young fastpitch players. However, access in this tournament was limited as the tournament already had an official photographer. Nonetheless the good folks at White Horse graciously allowed me to shoot anywhere around the ballpark as long as it was not on the field. I have not posted these pictures until now in deference to the official tournament photographer and to not impact her sales. It has been almost 18 months now but reviewing these photos brought back all the excitement. In particular the game between Argentina and New Zealand stands out. The heart shown in that game can be seen in many of the photos but those of us who were lucky enough to watch it in person will never forget the hair-raising ending, the reaction of the winning Argentine team, and the standing ovation given by the fans.
The photos are posted at www.maddysphotos.com under 2008 ISF Junior Men’s World Championship (click MP logo above).
Editor’s note: You can also find Maddy’s Photos on Facebook. Become a fan. In fact, become fan # 100 if you hurry. She’s at 99 and counting….
If you have any questions or comments about the photos, you can email Maddy directly at: maddy (at) maddysphotos (dot) com
(click logo for original news story)
Lancers skewer Red Sox for softball title
STAR ACT: Thomas Cameron was in superb form with both the ball and the bat in Wellington’s national championship victory in Christchurch yesterday.
The Wellington Lancers lashed four huge home runs to crush Canterbury and collect the National Fastpitch Championship Cup in a hit-and-run raid.
Player-coach and leadoff batter Thomas Makea set the scene by blasting the ball over the Mainland Foundation Ballpark fence in the top of the first inning to set up Wellington’s 7-0 five innings win in the Alac-sponsored series final.
Designated player Frank Pointon and pitcher Thomas Cameron slugged back-to-back homers in the third inning and Wayne Laulu hammered another in the top of the fifth to complete the rout.
The Lancers played like a team in a hurry, as if they had a plane to catch. Which they did. They literally left for the airport as soon as they departed the diamond, although infielder Carrone Conroy scuttled back to grab the NFC trophy.
Makea took time out from stowing his gear in the team mini-van to hail his side’s “outstanding hitting”. “The boys turned up to play. We knew these four-day tournaments were going to be a marathon not a sprint, and we timed our run well.”
Makea singled out Cameron for special praise. “Thomas is a big-game pitcher and he did very well, both in the pitching department and with the bat.”Cameron struck out six of 16 batters but had his no-hitter broken by Blair Murphy’s centrefield drive in the bottom of the fifth.
It was a case of too little too late for Canterbury, who were unbeaten until yesterday. “We just ran out of puff,” lamented Red Sox coach Carl Franklin.
Canterbury lost 1-2 to Wellington yesterday morning, giving the Lancers an automatic berth into the final while the Red Sox had to battle relentless rain before subduing Hutt Valley 13-11 in a playoff.
The Canterbury coaching staff made a big call in opting to start young hurler Penese Iosefo ahead of ace Nathan Taikato in the final.
Franklin said Taikato “generally struggles in the wet” and Iosefo was “warm from the last game [against Hutt Valley], so we decided to start him”.
The move backfired with Makea slamming the third pitch of the game over the left-centrefield fence. Taikato took over after Laulu scored to make it 2-0 but he conceded a hit to Pointon for a third run.
Some of Canterbury’s pitch selections were a little lax, playing into the Wellington hitters’ power zones. But Franklin rather ruefully admitted, “you’ve got to take your hat off to Wellington, they didn’t miss”.
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He said the Red Sox were “a better side than we showed in the final”, but he conceded the morning defeat to Wellington had proved costly. “We had our opportunities to win that game. We had loaded bases with one-down and then we had two stand-up Ks [strikeouts] as batters left hittable pitches.
The Red Sox had the consolation of supplying the tournament MVP (most valuable player) in captain Gareth Cook, who slugged four home runs, collected 13 RBIs (runs batted in) and had 15 hits from 28 at-bats for a .535 batting average, just behind tournament top batter Scott Cartwright (Southern Pride) on .538.
Franklin felt pitchers Taikato and Iosefo had performed strongly for most of the tournament, Scott Higgins “drove in most of our runs” and Matt Holmes had made a great fist of the leadoff batter role.
“He pulled a groin muscle [in the Hutt Valley game] but he played on; he’s a tough character.”
Speaking before the final, Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said he believed “three or four players” had shown the ability to step up to the next level.
He cited Cameron and Pointon from Wellington and said he believed Taikato and Iosefo had international potential. Pointon picked up two hits in the morning game against Canterbury and Cameron also contributed a powerful drive.
Both teams had five safe hits but Canterbury made three errors to Wellington’s none, including a fumble by shortstop Tyron Bartorillo which later led to Daniel Tarapi scoring a vital run.
But Bartorillo atoned in Canterbury’s slugfest against Hutt Valley, collecting three hits from four at-bats, including two doubles while the free-swinging Higgins clouted a home run
Update/Editor’s Notes: January 5, 2010: Ian Fehrman to Italian Athletic Club for AAU International Tournament
The Italian Athletic Club added a big stick to their already potent lineup today, with Team Canada’s Ian Fehrman joining the California based squad in Orlando. Fehrman had a huge ISF World Championship series in Saskatoon this past summer, with:
-most hits in the round robin (15)
-most hits in the championship round (8)
-highest batting average in round robin for players with 20 or more AB’s (.517, 15-23)
-highest batting average in championship round (.727, 8-11)
-most home runs in the round robin (4)
-most home runs in the championship round (2)
-most RBI in the championship round (5)
-3nd in RBI in round robin (13, behind only Thomas Makea’s 15 and Jarrad Martin’s 14)Fehrman was the key to Team Canada’s come-from-behind win over Team USA at the 2009 ISF World Championships, with a home run (cutting the lead to from 4-0 to 4-2) and double (that gave Canada the lead 5-4), finishing the game with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Italian Athletic Club
P Sean Whitten
P Derek Mayson
Ian Fehrman (added 1/5/10)
Eddie Brooks
Bryan Wells
Josh Tisdale
Chase Turner
Greg Glaser
Jason Porto
Marcus Tan
Kevin Castillo
Kris Waverick
Mark Summers
Dean Waltier
Bob Piddock, Coach
Editor’s note: Readers will recall Italian Athletic Club as the 2008 ASA “A” National champions. That club was led by 2008 ASA “A” National MVP Tony Peeples, while this one will have imported Canadian talent in the circle in Sean Whitten and young Derek Mayson. Both were members of Team Canada’s bronze medal team. Whitten had an outstanding 2009 ISC World Tournament, helping the Midwest Stampede to a fourth place finish, and earning second team All World honors.
Pitcher Sean Whitten will be with Italian Athletic Club, a California squad at 2010 AAU International Tournament. (Photo by Maddy Flanagan)
The 2010 AAU International tournament will be played at the Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World at Orlando, Florida on January 21-24, 2010. The tournament was started by AAU tournament director Alex Linares in 2000 with eight teams, growing to 40 teams in this, its eleventh year. Fastpitchwest/Ballparkradio/Maddy’s Photos has been providing coverage of the event since 2004.
Click here for a list of all 40 teams competing in the 2010 tournament.
Click here for other 2010 AAU rosters posted to date.
Midland, MI
As the new year begins, the Explorers are pleased to announced two additions to their roster for the 2010 season.
Outfielder Mark Coleman, formerly of the St Thomas Evergreen Centennials, will be part of the outfield this year. An outstanding performer for the Cents during the ISC and the Canadians for the past few years, Mark brings solid ISC and Senior experience and talent to the team.
Also, the Explorers are thrilled to announce that pitcher Frank Cox will be on the mound for the team in 2010. His accomplishments in the circle are as well known as any pitcher in the past 20 years, and with multiple championships at ISC, ASA and Canadian tournaments, Frank is a proven winner who gives the team big-game experience and success as they host the 2010 ISC.
More news to follow in the upcoming months as the roster and schedule is finalized.
Kyle Beane
Midland Explorers
kbeane8@yahoo.com
From Martin Jorge, Head of Press and Communication, Softball Confederation Argentina:
(Google translation):
The Confederation Argenina appointed coach for their selections and Young Men’s Major Argentina Softball Confederation is pleased to announce that Mr. Eduardo Sabaté (Parana) has been appointed Head Coach of Argentina National Team Men’s Mayor, ISF World Championship until 2013.
It is an honor for the CAS to announce that Mr. Mariano Spotorno (Buenos Aires) has been named Head Coach of Argentina National Team Men’s Youth World Championship will participate in the category to grow in 2012 in the city of Parana .
Mr. Eduardo Sabaté will be the new Head Coach of Argentina National Team Men’s Mayor, and will be joined on his coaching staff by Mr. Mariano Spotorno, in the role of Assistant Coach of Defense, over the physical supervision of the squad, Mr. Ricardo Biondi (Paraná) as Assistant Coach of the Monitoring batting Medical Area, and Mr. Rafael Salguero (BahÃa Blanca) in the role of Assistant Coach.
Above: Eduardo Sabate, shown here while coaching the Argentine Junior men’s team at Whitehorse in 2008, has been selected as the head coach of the Argentine senior men’s team, which will compete in the ISF world championships in New Zealand in 2013. Photo by Maddy Flanagan, www.maddysphotos.com
It is noteworthy that this Technical Body is responsible for leading the team in international competitions which the Argentine national team front, such as the Pan American Softball Championship 2010 World Championship qualifier in the category, taking place in New Zealand in the 2013. According to the Work Plan submitted by the Technical Body, the task this month begins in January with the scouting and identifying talent for the first call.
For its part, the Corps Argentina coach Youth will be headed by Mr. Mariano Spotorno as Head Coach of the team, seconded by Mr. Julio Gamarci (Paraná) in the functions of General Coach. The trainer will be Prof. John Madueño (Buenos Aires), while the team leader in this category continue to be Mr. Carlos De la Vega (Olavarria), assisted by Mr. Martin Scialacomo (Paraná).
It is noteworthy that the major commitment that this selection will be the next Youth World Youth Championship, to be staged in the city of Parana, Argentina, in 2012. According to the Work Plan submitted by the Technical Body, in early January is shaped and train a talented group of detectors that during the first stage of the process, scout all potential members of this selection along and breadth of the country (players born in the years 93, 94 and 95). The Coaching Staff will be completed in the future by incorporating group work of some of these detectors.
Softball Confederation Argentina wishes him every success to the new coaching staff, with full confidence that both the Men’s National Team and the Youth Mayor will meet all objectives, and bear the name of Argentine Softball at the top.
The CAS takes this opportunity to wish you a prosperous 2010, and that this new year begins we find sharing triumphs and personal success and sports. CONGRATULATIONS.
Martin Jorge
Head of Press and Communication
Softball Confederation Argentina
Editor’s note: Martin Jorge is the webmaster for www.softballnewsla.com, based in Argentina, the leading Spanish language website for men’s fast pitch. As noted in the article by Martin, Eduardo Sabate hails from the town of Parana Argentina, which has been selected as the host city for the 2012 ISF Junior world championships. Eduardo Sabate coached the Argentine Junior men’s team at Whitehorse in 2008, where they notched their first ever win against New Zealand, sealing the victory with a dramatic game ending triple play. Mr. Sabate is the father of well-known Argentine pitcher Francisco (“Sisko”) Sabate. At the 2008 ISF Junior world championships, under Mr. Sabate’s leadership, the Argentine Junior men’s team finished with a winning record, at 6-5, in a three-way tie for 5th place with Venezuela and Mexico, just missing the playoff round. Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico are three of the rising programs on the international level.
www.softballnewsla.com:
(click banner to visit Martin’s site, en Espanol)
Attention all Canada East fastball teams
The Annual General Meeting of the Canada East ISC League will be held on Sunday January 10 at 10 am at the Grand Valley Golf Club.
All Canada East teams are invited to attend to gather information on the 2010 season including:
* qualifying for the 2010 ISC World Tournament
* league format
Grand Valley Golf Club
1910 Roseville Road
Cambridge ON N1R 5S3
519-623-8811
For more information, please contact one of:
David Bakker
League President
bakkers@teksavvy.com
Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
blairjs@rogers.com
Joe Todd
Canada East Regional Commissioner
ftode739@rogers.com
As we turn the calendar over to 2010, I thought it would be fun to look back and recall some of the highlights of the year. Below are links to my favorites from 2009, and some mentioned by readers of this blog. From the hundreds of posts during 2009, our top 25:
AAU Poll-a-palooza (January 20, 2009)
YouTube Video of Rob O’Brien’s HR in AAU Title Game (January 28, 2009)
Maddy, la fotógrafa del softball (February 6, 2009)
Less Dough, More Show (February 8, 2009)
Why aren’t mens sports groups lobbying for Men’s Softball at the Olympics? (February 22, 2009)
Darren Zack, Son to be Teammates at ISC II (March 4, 2009)
ISC Stat Triva Poll No. 3 – Highest Batting Average from 2002-2008 (part of a series of polls, this one March 25, 2009)
Ballparkradio Duo to ESPN Radio (April 1, 2009)
Virgin Islands – Pre-ISF Tournament
Best of the West on Twitter (first real use of Twitter to cover a tournament on Fastpitchwest, May 22, 2009)
A Player’s Eye View of Best of the West (June 1, 2009)
Ballparkradio to broadcast Monkton Tournament (June 9, 2009)
Currie Stadium in Midland – “the best fastball stadium in North America.†(June 16, 2009)
Farewell for softball champ (Marty Grant, June 29, 2009)
YouTube Video – MidWest Pickoff Play ((blend of Blair Setford video and Steve Sabourin’s call on Ballparkradio, July 7, 2009)
Maddy’s Photos from the World Fastball Invitational at Monkton (July 14, 2009)
ISC World Tournament and ISC II Tournament of Champions Live on BALLPARKRADIO (August 9, 2009)
Somebody call Geppetto, Pinocchio is on fire! (The most fun I had writing a headline all year, this one practically wrote itself, August 19, 2009)
Radar Love ( August 25, 2009)
Corona softball tourney to aid 7-year-old cerebral palsy victim (August 28, 2009)
Maddy’s Photos from 2009 ISC II ToC are up! (largest collection of tournament photos ever posted, August 31, 2009)
Take me out to the virtual ball game (nice piece on Al Doran from the Canadian broadcasting Company, September 3, 2009)
The fastpitch pyramid (nice feature from Bob Otto, September 24, 2009)
Maddy’s Missing ISC Photo Surfaces (reader contribution from Dr. Dave Drotzmann, October 17, 2009)
A Legend Leaves the Game (November 14, 2009)
New Year’s Resolutions:
1. Dust off bat.
2. Oil glove.
3. Play ball.
