(ISC All-World Team Pitcher Lucas Mata of the So Cal Bombers)
(photo by Maddy Flanagan)
Last Year’s ISC World Tournament Runner-Up So Cal Bombers the Team to Beat
(Santa Barbara, California) – The 18th Annual Best of the West Men’s fastball Tournament will be held June 7 – 8 in Santa Barbara, CA. The Tournament is the longest running open tournament, held annually in California. Ten teams will vie for the 2008 Championship, with a berth in the 2008 ISC World Tournament, and a berth in the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions will be awarded, to the highest finishing teams in each category.
Heading the field will be the 2007 ISC World Tournament Runner Up, the Casa Trejo Bombers of Palm Springs. The Bombers pitching staff includes two of the best pitchers in the world, Lucas Mata of Argentina, (pictured above) and New Zealander Marty Grant. On Offense, the Bombers are lead by the 2001 ISC World Tournament Most Valuable Player, Darren Box of Canada. This will be the Bombers debut for the 2008 season.
Click here for a look at Maddy’s Photos from last year’s Best of the West.
For So Cal fans, Santa Barbara is a couple hours drive up the coast, and the scenery along the beach can’t be beat. Don’t want to make the drive? Rooms in Santa Barabara too expensive? Catch the Amtrak. train, which runs right along the water. It leaves Union Station in L.A. at 7:30am and will get you to Santa Barbara by 10am or so. Put your feet up and enjoy a cup of coffee on the way. The trains home leave Santa Barbara at 4:30pm and 7pm daily. The Sunday morning trains will get you there in time for the semis and finals. We’ll look for you on Sunday’s train.
The ballpark is a few blocks from the ocean. . The train station is just 7/10ths of a mile from the fields. .
Click here to see an aerial view of the ballpark.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Coming South on Hwy 101, from Northern California, exit at Castillo. Go right on Castillo two blocks. The two fields at Pershing Park are on the right.
Coming North on Hwy 101, from Southern California, exit at the Garden Street off ramp. Go left to Cabrillo. Go right on Cabrillo about a half mile. At Castillo, go right, about 1 block, and the two fields at Pershing Park are on the left.
(click for schedule of games and more info)
Click here for our earlier Best of the West post, with schedule, maps, and more.