The NorCal Mavericks won the 2005 ISC II berth at the California area ISC and ISC II Qualifier at Santa Fe Springs, over the weekend, and are headed to Chippewa Falls, WI in August, for the ISC II Tournament of Champions. The Mavericks are a new team for 2005, consisting of some former members of Team Rainey, such as Chris Wright, and also last year’s Leafs team, with Troy Parker and Spud Barker. Their pitching staff includes Barker and Ed Gasper, who was the NAFA “A” Most Valuable Pitcher at the 2002 NAFA World Series in Salem, OR.
For those not familiar with the ISC II Tournament of Champions, it is entering its fourth year of existence, and has already become one of the leading men’s fastball tournaments in the world. Last year’s tournament, held concurrently with the ISC World Tournament in Fargo, North Dakota, hosted 39 teams from all over North America. The Harriston Mercurys of Harriston Ontario, Canada were crowned champions last year, for the second year in a row.
ISC II is generally termed “intermediate” level play, just below “open” level competition. Some consider it to be the rough equivalent of NAFA AAA and ASA Class “A” competition. For frame of reference, McKie Sports won last year’s ASA “A” National, and are currently ranked #10 in the ISC II rankings.
The Mavericks are a new team, and an unknown commodity with the ISC II ranking committee. They have languished somewhere in the 50’s on the latest set of rankings, in a division that only takes 40 to the Tournament of Champions. The Mavericks have now joined the “top 40” and look to make a splash in their first ever ISC II Tournament of Champions, in August 2005.
The ISC World Tournament berth has not yet been determined, as between the So Cal Bombers and Team Rainey. Stay tuned as there is some big news about to break on this one.