From the Saginaw News via MLive.com
The Argentinian men’s national fastpitch softball team pays a visit to Mid-Michigan and the Midland Explorers
Posted by Greg Mancina | The Saginaw News July 19, 2008 21:42PMMIDLAND — Julio Gamarci is a 34-year-old lawyer from Argentina who is spending his vacation without a cell phone, an IPod, a pager or a computer.
David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsArgentina National team pitcher Pablo Segui winds up during a game against the Midland Explorers.“Even if the Pope is calling me, I’m out,” said Gamarci, a catcher for the Argentinian national men’s fastpitch softball team.
The South Americans have spent most of the month of July making a swing through the midwest and Ontario, Canada, playing 16 games in tournaments and against world-class teams.
Today, the blue-and-white clad Argentinians play their last game of the trip, a nine-inning contest against the Midland Explorers at 10 a.m. in Midland’s Currie Stadium.
On Friday, the national team beat a team in Munger 11-2 in front of more than 700 fans, who were as impressed with their visitors as the Argentinians were with their counterparts.
“They were real, real nice guests,” said Del Benson, who put together the game in Munger and also is a coach for the Explorers. “You talk about building relationships, they represented their country very well.”
“It was remarkable how they made us feel,” Gamarci said. “It was like family.”
David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsMidland Explorers pitcher Grand Patterson delivers during a game against the Argentina National team.The reception was just as warm, but not quite as raucous, on Saturday, when Argentina and Midland split a pair of 6-1 decisions at Currie Stadium. However, fewer than 50 fans showed up to watch.
“They’re good, especially with their pitching,” said Explorers first baseman Kyle Beane, who worked with Gamarci to bring the South American team to Midland. “That’s probably a top six or seven team in the world.”
While the Explorers prepare for some upcoming national and world tournaments, Argentina was getting in some work during their country’s winter months. Gamarci said about a half dozen of their pitchers actually play on club teams in the United States.
The team will play later this year and then get serious about preparations for the International Softball Federation World Championships in 2009.
“The sport is small in Argentina but making these trips helps develop the program,” said Gamarci, one of a few South Americans fluent in English.
“The Explorers are always good, that’s why we come here. We know they’ll show up with a good level. … That’s the idea, it’s not always to win or lose, it’s the process.”
Gamarci said he and his teammates try to learn as much about the game as possible so the Argentina team can improve on its past performances. They were eighth in the last world championships three years ago, while fifth is their best showing, coming at the 1992 tournament in Manilla, Phillipines.
“Now, we’re trying to get ourselves on the podium,” Gamarci said.
Grant Patterson gave Argentina a little lesson in the first game, allowing one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings. Dan Skillings had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs.
David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsMidland Explorers Dan Skillings is congratulated by his teammates after his third inning homerun against the Argentina National team.Jose Guerrinieri then allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts for Argentina, while Gustavo Guerrinieri had two home runs and three RBIs.
Argentina leaves mid-Michigan today for Chicago, where they will catch a flight home on Friday.
“We got to see a lot of sights and play a lot of ball,” Gamarci said. “This has been great.”
Greg Mancina is a sports writer for The Saginaw News. You may contact him at 776-9670.
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