Darren Zack, Mike Piechnik lead the way
Gordon McIntyre
The ProvinceThey’re wizards in the world of windmills and, while past their prime, still pack a punch.
Pitchers Darren Zack of Ontario and Victoria’s Mike Piechnik will go moundo-a-moundo at 8:30 Saturday morning in the Vancouver Challenge fastpitch tournament, which runs today through Sunday at South Memorial Park.
Hosted by the Vancouver Grey Sox and South Hill Sports, the tournament features the elite Horse Lake Thunder from Alberta (Zack’s team), Broken Bow Gremlins (No. 1-ranked by the International Softball Congress) of Clifton Park, N.Y., and the SoCal Bombers (No. 4) from Yucaipa, Calif.
The host Grey Sox are ranked No. 10 and Piechnik’s Portland Demarini No. 12.
The unranked Richmond Linus Software Stealers round out the field.
Zack, from Garden River, Ont., became a household name in the world of softball as a hot hurler with Vancouver Magicians in the old Norwest League from 1990 to 1992.
From the Magicians he went on to Toronto, then moved to Tampa Bay, and by then many people considered him the best pitcher in the history of the game.
Zack is third and Piechnik fourth on the all-time ISC world tournament list of most wins, behind Michael White and Peter Meredith.
Zack, with an ISC record of 46-14 (.767) and an earned run average of 0.96, has 797 strikeouts, or 12.72 per seven-inning game, in 438 innings pitched.
Piechnik, who has the most wins of any left-hander in ISC world tournament history, has 770 strikeouts (12.29 per game) in compiling an ISC record of 45-16 (.729) and an ERA of .94 in 438 innings pitched.
Zack has been named all-world seven times, has won four ISC world championships and was named the tournament’s top pitcher four times.
Zack also has one perfect game and one no-hitter to his credit.
Piechnik is a nine-time all-world player and has won one world championship.
The two will be the subjects of a tribute in a ceremony at 4:30 on Saturday.
Admission is $5 per day or $10 for a tournament pass; children under 12 are admitted free.
Vancouver/Richmond kicks off the tournament at 7 tonight. Sunday’s championship game is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.
gordmcintyre@png.canwest.com
SCHEDULE FOR THE VANCOUVER CHALLENGE
ROUND ROBIN
Friday
Vancouver Grey Sox vs. Richmond Linus Software Stealers, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Portland Demarini vs. Horse Lake Thunder, 8:30 a.m.
So Cal Bombers vs. Portland Demarini, 10:30 a.m.
Richmond Linus Software Stealers vs. Broken Bow Gremlins, 12:30 p.m.
Broken Bow Gremlins vs. Vancouver Grey Sox, 2:30 p.m.
Horse Lake Thunder vs. So Cal Bombers, 4:30 p.m.
PLAYOFF ROUND
Playoffs start Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and continue with two games Sunday at 8 a.m., one at 10 a.m., a semifinal at noon and the title game at 2 p.m.
All games will be played at South Memorial Park, 5950 Prince Albert St., Vancouver (on East 41st Avenue between Knight and Fraser).
© The Vancouver Province 2007