Posted By DOUG GRAHAM, THE WHIG-STANDARD
Both the Napanee North Key Junior Express and the North Fred Kings are trying a new approach to the season via the International Softball Congress East qualifier tournament.
With the Junior Express looking for good competition and the qualifier taking place at the familiar Napanee Fairgrounds Complex Friday through Sunday, it made sense for the team to add the event to its schedule.
“We’re not really trying to qualify (for the ISC World tournament). We’re trying to play ball,” said Joe Lewis, who along with Dave Kerr, coaches the Junior Express.
The big dates for the Express come July 9 to 11 in Cobourg when the qualifier for the Canadian championship will be contested.
Lewis said a men’s tournament this past weekend in Grafton, along with the ISC qualifier and another men’s tournament in Wyevale — near Barrie — the following weekend will help prepare his team for the junior eliminations.
“The reality is we have got to play in men’s tournaments,” said Lewis, adding it was ideal preparation to play five games in Grafton — including a 3-1 setback to the Cobourg Force, who will be Napanee’s opponent Friday in the East Qualifier opener at 7 p.m.
Four of the eight teams in the East Qualifier — Cobourg, Toronto Gators, Quebec’s Donnacona Blue Sox and St. Thomas Storm — are ranked in the top 40 by the ISC.
Napanee, North Fred, Curve Lake midgets and the Cree Nation Bears complete the lineup for the Friday to Sunday championship.
The top two teams will qualify for the 48-team ISC world tournament, Aug. 13-21 in Midland, Mich.
While allowing his team would need to play very well to advance over older and more experienced teams, Lewis said capturing one of the spots would also present a possible schedule conflict.
“It is not that we wouldn’t like to go to the (ISC worlds), but it would take a whole new complexity if we did,” Lewis said.
“We would have a conflict with the nationals (junior championship). You can’t be in two places at the same time.”
Nevertheless, Lewis said his team, led by pitchers Jordan Graham, Ian Wallwork and Kingston’s Josh Lockridge, will compete in the qualifier with the intent of winning a berth.
“We’ll play to win. But we have to play very (well) to do that,” Lewis said.
“We’ll be seeing pitchers we don’t get to see too much, which is exactly why we’re there.”
The North Fred Kings have made past ventures into the ISC, but they played at the ISC II level.
A revamping of the competition levels by ISC organizers has the North Fred team, under the coaching of Brad MacDonald and Bryan Brooks, giving the qualifier a try. The ISC will split the world tournament field once all teams have played games in the 48-team bracket.
After round-robin play, the teams will be re-ranked with the ISC I level filled first. The remaining teams go into ISC II.
“It means all the teams are going in with a chance to win the worlds,” MacDonald said.
The changes came over the winter and MacDonald admitted the fast-track move is probably a little too early for the North Fred squad, which is comprised of local players who play in the Loughborough Fastball League.
“Our goal is to work towards establishing ourselves for next season,” MacDonald said.
“It’s certainly good competition but we’re experiencing some growing pains to where we want to be.”
Jordan MacDonald and Bryan Brooks are the team’s main pitchers. Players from the Kingston Cowboys, North Fred and Sydenham are filling the team’s roster.
North Fred will face the Cree Nation Bears in its opening game Friday at 9 p.m.
The Kings are in a pool with St. Thomas, Donnacona and the Cree Nation.
Napanee plays out of the other pool with Cobourg, Toronto and the Curve Lake midgets.
Games on Saturday will be played at both the Fairgrounds and at the North Fred Complex on County Road 8.
Once pool play is complete, four teams — the top two in each pool — will play in the playoff round.
The first-place teams will square off on Sunday morning. The winner will go to the afternoon final at 1 p.m. The losing team will drop down to a second- chance game at 11 a.m.
Although there is a final, the two teams that reach that stage both qualify for the world tournament.
There is also a west qualifier going on in Innerkip — in the London area — over the weekend.
The Kitchener Rivershark Twins, the defending ISC world champions, receive an automatic berth into the 2010 event.
*
Softball Napanee will be hosting the peewee eliminations, a qualifier for the Eastern Canadian championship, from June 25 to 27. The Napanee Allen Insurance Express will be in the field. … Grant’s Insurance Midget Express have their eliminations in Owen Sound the same weekend. … Next month it will be the bantam eliminations in Mitchell. Napanee Metro Express will be playing in the qualifier for the Eastern Canadians.
dgraham@thewhig.com
Archive for June, 2010
Worldly challenge awaits
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Fastball This Week with Dennis Dosman
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010The latest edition of “Fastball This Week” from Dennis Dosman, reporting on the fastball scene in Ontario, Canada:
Another weekend in fastpitch softball….with reports on the Waterloo Midget Invitational at Hillside Park in Waterloo, a rundown of how the Mitchell tournament went, with emphasis on the teams what will be at the Legends of Fastball here in KW June 25th 26th and 27th.the line up for Innerkip and a couple of other notes….leading up to the Legends of Fastball at Peter Hallman Ball Yard…
Birthday Greetings to Ken Vierling
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010Our friend Ken Vierling’s birthday today, June 15, 2010. I’m sure he would enjoy hearing from you if you have a moment. For those of you who may not know Ken, some prior posts about him here.
On Facebook.
His email: comicdude1 (at) msn.com
Early Arrival for the California Classic
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Petco Park, San Diego, CA, just 20 minutes from the Sportsplex, Santee.
Some players have all the fun. One of them, Derek Mayson got an early start on his trip to San Diego for this weekend’s California Classic from his native British Columbia. He’ll be down on the field at Petco Park during batting practice for the Toronto Blue Jays vs. San Diego Padres game tonight. Mayson, among the youngest members of Canada’s National Softball team will be in action this weekend at the California Classic tournament at the new Sportsplex in Santee, just up the road from Petco — unless of course the Jays decide to take him along on their road trip.
Photo: Pre-game batting practice, courtesy of Derek Mayson’s Facebook.
For more information on the California Classic, click here.
Editor’s note: For any players or fans headed to San Diego, and thinking about taking in a game at Petco, they have three with the Jays (M-W), are off on Thursday and a three game set with the Orioles (F-S-Su). Friday night’s Padre game starts at 7:05pm.
Players and fans might want to peruse the Sportsplex policies before the weekend. A $2.50 gate fee is charged for those 16 and older (though you’ll get a token in return, good towards that first beverage you purchase (sort of a “one-drink miniumum”). Also, no pets in case Fido is a fastball fan. Food, beverages, including beer are sold in the park, but you can’t bring it in.
Complete set of policies after the jump. (more…)
USA Jr. Men’s National Team Camp August 4-5 at Rolla, MO
Monday, June 14th, 2010USA Softball – Jr. Men’s National Team
(click logo for official homepage for the USA Jr. Men’s team)
The USA Softball Junior National team will be hosting a two day mini camp/clinic before the start of the ASA boys nationals in Rolla, MO. This camp/clinic will be the start of the evaluation process for the 2012 National team, which will compete in the world championships in Parana, Argentina.
The camp will be on Wednesday and Thursday (August 4-5) from 8:30am – 5pm.
If you have any players or know of a player who would like to be involved in the national program, please forward the link below.
The players for this camp/clinic should be born in 1993,94,95 or 96. Pitchers of any age can attend the morning pitching sessions, please contact me if you would like to attend as a pitcher.
If you have players who would like to attend, please have them contact the coaching staff, we have limited space available.
If you have any questions, please contact me right away.
USA Softball – Jr. Men’s National Team
The USA Softball Jr. Men’s National Team is looking for players for the 2012 World Championships which will be held in Parana, Argentina.
The players must be born in 1993 – 1996. No softball experience needed.
Training will begin in 2010. All expenses are paid for those players invite to participate.
Please click here and fill out the information form.
If you have any questions, please contact me at email address below
TIMOTHY LYON
Head Coach
USA Softball Jr Men’s
National Team
timlyon (at) earthlink.net
TIMOTHY LYON
Head Coach
USA Softball Jr Men’s
National Team
801-253-0712
801-244-7477
Click here to become a Facebook fan of the USA Jr. team.
Editor’s note: Rolla, Missouri is about 2 hours from St. Louis:
(click the “View Larger Map” below this to see location better)
View Larger Map
Two up-and-coming-candidates for the USA Jr. team after the jump
#17 Aurora beats #9 Decatur to win Kelso
Monday, June 14th, 2010Aurora wins battle of favorites for title
Monday, June 14, 2010
There were few surprises as the 26th annual Kelso Klassic wrapped up Sunday.The two squads ranked in the top 15 in the world battled it out for the title as expected.
Aurora (Ill.) Dolan & Murphy, ranked 15th by the International Softball Congress, capped an undefeated run through the 14-team men’s fastpitch softball tournament with a 13-5, six-inning win over the Decatur (Ill.) Pride.
Decatur, the defending Kelso Klassic champion, is ranked ninth by the ISC.
“It came down to those two teams, like we thought it would,” tournament media coordinator Jerry Wolsey said. “To be ranked top 15 in the world, they are both very talented.
“The cream always rises to the top. That’s what happens in this tournament.”
Earlier Sunday, in the key game of the three-day, double-elimination event, Aurora helped pave its way to the title by slipping past Decatur 7-6 in nine innings in the winners bracket final.
Decatur came back to beat the Topeka (Kan.) Toros 9-6 in the losers bracket final before falling again to Aurora, which went 5-0 in the tournament.
Topeka, the 2009 NAFA A-Major national champion, wound up in third place.
Nokomis (Ill.) Bud Light, last year’s runner-up, finished fourth and Lee’s Sports Falcons from Pinckneyville, Ill., claimed fifth place.
Chris Leaf of Topeka was named the tournament MVP after breaking his own tournament record with seven home runs in six games. He previously set the mark with six homers in 2008. Leaf batted .400 (8 for 20) with 12 RBIs.
Jeramie Holman of Aurora was the most valuable pitcher. He went 3-0 in the tournament and was the winner in the championship game. He worked a total of 16 innings, allowing three earned runs and 14 hits while striking out 26 and walking two.
The two local squads both went 1-2, winning their openers but losing their next two games.
Host Kelso Fastpitch run-ruled the Belleville (Ill.) Stallions 13-0 in four innings then lost to Topeka 7-0 in five innings and to Pinckneyville 7-0 in five innings.
West End Tavern of Frohna run-ruled Pinckneyville 10-2 in five innings then fell to Aurora 10-1 in five innings and Pete’s Blues from Swansea, Ill., 8-6 in eight innings.
“We had a wonderful tournament,” said Wolsey, who plays for Kelso Fastpitch. “It was hot, but we had no rain for the first time in years.”
CHI/NY Tops Midland in Boulevard Lounge Final
Monday, June 14th, 2010Midland, MI
Complete recap at Al’s Fastball.
Condensed version:
Game 17 semi final Midland Explorers 5 Marshall Lightning Fastpitch 3
For Marshall Bruce Miller HR 2 RBI
For Midland Steve Roberts HR RBI- Dan Loney 3 RBI
Mike Joseph WPGame 18 semi final Chicago/NY 4 New York Gremlins 3
For Chicago/NY Rudy Santiago HR RBI – Jorge Montero HR 2 RBI
Manley WP In relief – Newton LPGame 19 final Chicago/NY 9 Midland Explorers o
Mike Joseph just ran out of gas. Todd Schultz 3 for 4 2 RBI
Jeremy Manley 2 H 6 K IN 5 inn.
Semi-Final Games
Midland Explorers 5, Lightning 3
WP – Mike Joseph, LP – Bryan Boyd
CHI/NY 4, Gremlins 3
WP – Jeremy Manley, LP – Bryan Newton
Final
CHI/NY 9, Explorers 0
WP – Jeremy Manley, LP – Mike Joseph
Most Valuable Pitcher – Jeremy Manley (CHI/NY) 4-0
Most Valuable Hitter – Chris Heinlein (Mickey’s) .538 average
As a result of both Port Huron and CHI/NY using players from other ISC rosters, the only US East team eligible for a berth to the 2010 ISC World Tournament is Barts (Roscommon, MI) Fastpitch.
Kyle Beane
Midland Explorers
Full Saturday scores after the jump
(more…)
Big Red’s 2-1 in Portland tourney
Monday, June 14th, 2010
(click logo for original news story)
PORTLAND, Ore. — Mo Lebron’s walkoff grand slam lifted Big Red’s Diner to an 11-8 win over the Southern Oregon Bandits in the first of the Moxee team’s three games Saturday in the Oregon Booster Cup tournament.
Big Red’s later downed Cleon’s of Tacoma 11-2 before falling to Ivory Headwear 7-5.
The tournament concludes today.
Big Red’s Diner 11, S. Oregon Bandits 8
S. Oregon Bandits 100 300 22 — 8 7 2
Big Red’s Diner 004 002 05 — 11 9 1
Durbin and Richard; Seward, Robinson (8) and Root.
Highlights: Kevin Root 2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Mo Lebron HR, 4 RBI.
Big Red’s Diner 11, Cleon’s 2
Cleon’s 110 00 — 2 6 3
Big Red’s Diner 370 1x — 11 11 3
Sanders and Malas; Robinson and Scheibner.
Highlights: Jason Scheibner 2-3, HR, 3 RBI; Shane Jones 2-3, HR, 2 RBI; Tim Roinstad 1-3, HR, 4 RBI.
Ivory Headwear 7, Big Red’s Diner 5
Ivory Headwear 022 000 3 — 7 7 0
Big Red’s Diner 202 001 0 — 5 9 2
Seoul and Sites; Robinson and Root, Scheibner (6).
Highlights: Root 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Jones 2-4, run, stolen base; Scheibner 2-3, 2b, RBI.
Results from the 20th Annual Mitchell Mets Tournament
Monday, June 14th, 2010Update
Joe Todd advises that Wellington Sox defeated Linwood Junior Chiefs in the “A” final in Mitchell.
Scores courtesy
Some notes from Joe Todd, of Ballpark Radio: Port Elgin did not have Scott Smith or Matt Hamilton, for pitching they had Scott Christie, Rob Fawcett, and Shaun Winship who showed up for their last game. Lead-off batter Darryl McKinnon had season-ending surgery on his shoulder about a month ago, he hurt it playing hockey a couple of years ago and his shoulder and collar bone kept popping out. Port Elgin lost to the Linwood Jrs. but Linwood brought in Danny Martin from Elmira Expos for this game.)
Shakespeare Falcons 7
Mitchell Jr Chiefs 2Wellington Sox 8
Mitchell Mets 3Kitchener Outlaws 6
Waterloo Jr Twins 5Linwood Jr Chiefs 16
Monkton Muskrats 4Port Elgin BLue Devils 4
Fisherville A’S 3Pushlinch Bulldogs 6
Mitchell Mets 5Wellington Brewers 11
Saugeen Shores Smoke 3Kitchener Outlaws 6
Mitchell Jr Chiefs 2Shakespeare Falcons 4
Waterloo Jr Twins 1Fisherville A’s 6
Monkton Muskrats 1Linwood Jr Chiefs 8
Port Elgin Blue Devils 2Wellington Sox 13
Puslinch Bulldogs 3Mitchell Mets 10
Saugeen Shores Smoke 2Waterloo Jr Twins 7
Mitchell Jr Chiefs 2Kitchener Outlaws 2
Shakespeare Falcons 1Linwood Jr Chiefs 4
Fisherville A’s 3 (8 innings)Port Elgin Blue Devils 10
Monkton Muskrats 0Puslinch Bulldogs 8
Saugeen Shores Smoke 3A Division Playoffs Sunday
Wellington Sox
Shakespeare FalconsKitchener Outlaws
Linwood Jr ChiefsB Division Playoffs
Port Elgin Blue Devils
Waterloo Jr TwinsPuslinch Bulldogs
Fisherville A’sC Division Playoffs
Mitchell Mets
Monkton MuskratsMitchell Jr Chiefs
Saugeen Shores Smoke
57th Annual Blue & Gray Tournament – Alabama
Sunday, June 13th, 2010Blue and Gray Tournament
Courtesy of:
(click link for original at Al’s Fastball)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The Blue & Gray Tournament in Montgomery, AL was completed today (6/13/2010) with the following results:
1st Place – Memphis Travelers, Memphis, TN
2nd Place – Alpha Heating & AC, Montgomery, AL
3rd Place – Memphis Dawgs, Memphis TN
4th Place – SC Tornados, Inman, SC
There were 12 teams participating in the 57th annual Blue & Gray Tournament.
Thanks,
Robert Gray
Editor’s note: A tournament older than me!