Ken Vierling Benefit – Stand up for Ken – Update

July 22nd, 2009

Greetings,

As many of you know, we are holding a fundraiser for Ken Vierling at the Farmington American Legion on Saturday, August 29, 2009. For those of you not aware of the Benefit, for further details, please check out: http://www.kenvierling.org/

For those that have helped us at this point in time!! THANK YOU!!! Your assistance is greatly appreciated!!!

Things are going good, but we still have a long ways to go!! We are holding a Silent Auction. Below is a Silent Auction Form Letter & suggestions for Silent Auction/Raffle/Doorprizes. We need Silent Auction Items!! If you are interested in helping and obtaining some item(s) for the Auction, please feel free to use the following letter. If you want, just sign my name at the bottom of the letter or sign your name or leave blank or let me know and I will come and sign it!!

Also, if you want to help promote the event, please make copies of the following flyer and hand-out and/or hang-up wherever:

And of course finally, we have tickets for the Benefit to buy/sell. So if you can buy/sell a few or a lot. Please let me know. Every little bit helps!!

The Benefit is coming quickly (Only 5 weeks from this Saturday!!!). So please E-mail this on to anyone of interest!

Thank you for any assistance you may provide!

Paul Harrington
(612)-204-5299

Editor’s note: For our earlier posts about Ken, including background, click here.

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Botswana won’t go down quietly at world softball championship

July 22nd, 2009

From THE STARPHOENIX
BY KATHRYN WILLMS
JULY 22, 2009

It was quiet morning at the ballpark on Tuesday as the United States and Botswana took the field for the first game of the day. Fans settled in for a long day of ball, coffees in hand, chatting among themselves. Two hours later, the same crowd was on the edge of their seats as a 0-4 Botswana team took its best shot at upsetting the 3-1 Americans. A morning round-robin formality had morphed into an epic battle between David and Goliath.

The United States were the first to get on the board. Shortstop Don Garvey got his team’s first hit, a single, and then utilized his speed to round the bases in quick succession before stealing home. Botswana responded in the top of the third by loading the bases but pitcher Travis Price struck out the final batter to save his team’s lead. After another inning stalemate, Adam LaLonde was walked to first then hit home by a Kyle Magnusson single. Botswana launched its attack in the sixth. Gomolemo Tshelametsi hit a single to get on base and was brought home on a double by Obusitswe Lekgothu. Lekgothu would, in turn, swiftly steal third but U.S. closer Paul Koert delivered two easy outs at first and struck out a final batter to stem the Botswana tide. Botswana couldn’t manage the tying run in the seventh, leaving one batter on base at the close of the game. The Botswana team out-hit the Americans 3-2.

“Because we have been scouting on how these guys play and hit, we decided it’s not about striking out guys,” said Botswana’s starting pitcher Tony Moyo, who allowed two hits and struck out five. “Let’s hit the spots and play a defensive game. If we get guys on base, let’s turn it into runs.”

The only people not surprised at the tight contest were the Botswana players. Moyo confirms what everyone at Bob Van Impe came to realize on Tuesday morning: Botswana came to compete.

“The U.S. team, Denmark, Mexico, Philippines, Great Britain,” said Moyo, “they were actually teams that we had targeted to play brilliantly against. With five losses down, things haven’t gone our way. This game we said let’s go full out. We have nothing to lose.”

Botswana may have the worst record of the tournament — now 0-5 — but a careful review of their its round-robin games shows Moyo’s optimistic take is far from misplaced. All tournament, the Botswana team has kept games close, flashing potential on both sides of the plate and refusing to roll over in the face of even the most intimidating opponents. It lost to Denmark 4-1, Japan 9-4, Mexico 7-0 and New Zealand 10-0.

Winning pitcher Travis Price, who allowed three hits while striking out nine in six innings pitched, was giving props after the game, clearly relieved that the U.S. escaped its flat play to earn a win.

“We never take any team lightly,” he said. “Their starting pitcher kept us off balance. We played solid defence but they hung around. They’re a decent team.”

Botswana is refashioning itself as a spoiler for the remaining games of the round-robin. It takes on the Philippines today and Great Britain Thursday, two teams with long-shot playoff aspirations.

“Nobody should get it easy,” said Moyo. “A win for us will just justify that we qualified to come here.”

kwillms@sp.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix

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Canada edges Venezuela in ISF Men’s World Championship Thriller

July 22nd, 2009

(Saskatoon,SK) – The Canadian Senior Men’s National Team showed a lot of character withanother come-from-behind victory against a tough opponent, as they came back from a 4-3 deficit to edge Venezuela 5-4. After Canada took 2-0 and 3-2 leads,Venezuela came back to take the lead and the momentum going into the sixth.Canada scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead, andheld on for the victory in front of a raucous crowd.

Earlyin the game, Venezuela starting pitcher John Garcia and Canadian starter SeanWhitten (Maddox Cove, NL) shut down the opposing hitters, retiring the side inorder in each of the first two innings. In the top of the third, Jeff Ellsworth(St. Lawrence, PEI) registered the first hit of the game, lashing a single toright field. After being sacrificed to second on a bunt by Sean O’Brien (St.John’s, NL) and advancing to third on an illegal pitch, Ellsworth came in toscore on an infield single by Ryan Wolfe (Melbourne, ON), beating the throw ofthe shortstop. Keith Mackintosh (Melfort, SK) then hit a single to centerfieldto place runners on the corners, and Ian Fehrman (Townsend, ON) drove in a runwith a single through the right side past a diving second baseman, givingCanada a 2-0 lead.

Keepingup with Canada every step of the way, Venezuela scored two runs to tie thegame, both scoring on a homerun just over the fence in straightaway centerfieldby Rafael Flores. Canada broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Wolfeand Keith Mackintosh hit back-to-back singles before Fehrman ripped a single tothe right side of the infield, allowing Wolfe to score from second and givingCanada a 3-2 lead.

Afterpitching four solid innings, Whitten was relieved by Todd Martin (Bracebridge,ON) in the bottom of the fifth. Martin surrendered three straight singles asVenezuela produced two runs to take a 4-3 lead, which lead to Martin beingreplaced by Trevor Ethier (Saskatoon, SK), who struck out two batters to getout of the inning.

Inthe top of the sixth, Stephen Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) hit a fly ball toshallow centerfield, and the centerfielder seemed to have made a great divingcatch, but the ball popped out on the landing as Mullaley reached second on thedouble. Jeff Ellsworth then sacrificed Mullaley to third, and Sean O’Brien hita single to centerfield to push Mullaley to the plate to tie the game. With RobGiesbrecht (Landmark, MB) pinch-running for O’Brien, Dale Levy (St. Mary’s, ON)drilled a pinch-hit double to right that was misplayed by the right fielder,allowing Giesbrecht to score all the way from first, giving Canada the 5-4lead.

Afterthe first Venezuelan struck out in the bottom of the sixth, Joe Vilchez hustledinto second for a double, and was replaced by a pinch-runner, who moved up tothird on an illegal pitch. Ethier was able to force the next hitter to groundout to first without allowing the runner to score, followed by a huge strikeoutmuch to the delight of all of the fans in attendance. Ethier kept the momentumin the bottom of the seventh, striking out a hitter and forcing a ground outright back to him to end a very tight ballgame.

SeanWhitten pitched four solid innings for Canada, allowing two runs on only twohits with seven strikeouts. Todd Martin allowed two runs on three hits withoutrecording an out, while Trevor Ethier allowed only one hit over three inningsand struck out five. At the plate, Ryan Wolfe, Keith Mackintosh and Ian Fehrmanall collected two hits for Canada, while Stephen Mullaley, Jeff Ellsworth, SeanO’Brien and Dale Levy each added one.

Withthe win, Canada sits atop the Pool B standings with a 5-0 record, and will takeon South Africa (1-4) at 3:30pm on Wednesday.

Inother Day 5 action, the United States edged Botswana 2-1, Puerto Rico outscoredSouth Africa 16-7, New Zealand defeated Denmark 16-0, Argentina nipped theCzech Republic 2-1, Great Britain trimmed Mexico 7-6, Australia beat Indonesia10-0 and Japan defeated the Philippines by a score of 5-0.

Forgame results and tournament standings, please visit the tournament website at http://www.2009worldmensfastpitch.com/

Formore information, please contact:

GillesLeBlanc
Manager– Marketing and Communications
SoftballCanada
(613)797-7171
gleblanc@softball.ca

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ISF Standings After Day 5

July 22nd, 2009


(click logo to visit the official ISF XII World Championships website)

Pool A

New Zealand 5-0

United States 4-1

Great Britain 3-2
Japan 3-2

Philippines 2-3
Denmark 2-3

Mexico 1-4

Botswana 0-5


Pool B

Canada 5-0

Australia 4-1

Venezuela 3-2
Argentina 3-2

Puerto Rico 2-3
Czech Republic 2-3

South Africa 1-4

Indonesia 0-5

(Top 4 teams from each pool qualify for the medal round)

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USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team tops Botswana

July 21st, 2009

From the U.S. Olympic committee:

USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team tops Botswana, strong pitching at Worlds
by Jamie Blanchard – U.S. Olympic Committee (719-866-2221)

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Canada — The USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch National Team, facing one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the tournament, topped Botswana 2-1 at the ISF World Men’s Softball Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Tuesday afternoon.

The win moved Team USA one step closer to securing a second-place standing in pool play, as they moved their record to 4-1. They next face Great Britain at 9:30 p.m. CST Wednesday.

Team USA scored its first run in the second inning as Don Garvey (Appleton, Wis.) singled, advanced to second on a walk to Nate Devine (Sonora, California) and to third on a walk to Darren Miller (Creve Couer, Ill.). Garvey then scored on a wild pitch to Marcus Tan (Union City, Calif.).

The red, white and blue added a second run in the bottom of the fifth as Adam Lalonde (Ashland, Ky.) led off with a single, stole second base and went to third on a passed ball. He scored on a double by Kyle Magnusson (Minot, N.D.).

Travis Price (Corona, Calif.) threw six strong innings for Team USA, giving up just one run on three hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. Paul Koert (Brooklin, Ontario) threw the last inning, walking one and striking out one.

Fireballer Tony Moyo, clocked at 81 miles per hour, limited the USA to only two hits but fortunately they both came in the two innings the USA scored. Botswana scored its run in the top of the sixth on a single by Tshepiso Mathame and a double by Obusitswe Lekgothu.

Team USA head coach Peter Turner (Stockton, Calif.) said, “We faced a hard-thrower who was on his game today. We did get key hits when we needed it and Price and Koert threw well for us. Fortunately, we continue to move forward in our pool and will face a scrappy Great Britain team that upset Japan in our next game.”

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XII ISF World Championship Day 5 – July 21

July 21st, 2009


(click logo to visit the official ISF XII World Championships website)

Digital clock shows local Saskatoon time.

Day 5 schedule:

JULY 21, 2009

33 11:30AM UNITED STATES 2, BOTSWANA 1
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
34 1:00PM PUERTO RICO 16, SOUTH AFRICA 7
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
35 1:30PM NEW ZEALAND 16, DENMARK 0
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
36 3:00PM ARGENTINA 2, CZECH REPUBLIC 1
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
37 3:30PM GREAT BRITAIN 7, MEXICO 6
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
38 5:30PM AUSTRALIA 10, INDONESIA 0
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
39 6:30PM CANADA 5, VENEZUELA 4
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball
40 8:30PM JAPAN 5, PHILIPPINES 0
Click here for details at Al’s Fastball

Follow all the action on Al’s Fastball. Al Doran is in Saskatoon, has the best seat in the house and is posting play-by-play updates throughout the tournament. Click logo below to go to his website, then click the links on the left hand side for each game.

Click here to see the view of the playing field that Al Doran enjoys.

Previous scores after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

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Matakauri’s YouTube Videos of ISF World

July 21st, 2009

Thanks to Mr. Matakauri for sharing his videos of the ISF on YouTube:

Opening Ceremonies

Black Sox vs Botswana
From: matakauri1 |
2009 World Mens Fastpitch Softball Champs. Brad Rona at bat scoring Donny Hale on base hit to centre field.


Canada vs Australia


Bostwana Dugout

New Zealand v. Great Britain
(You can probably tell who is up to bat !)

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Champs Chatter – The official Newsletter of the ISF XII Men’s World Championship – Day 5 – July 21, 2009

July 21st, 2009

Click here to view “Champs Chatter”, the official Newsletter of the ISF XII Men’s World Championship – Day 5 – July 21, 2009

Posted in General, ISF | No Comments »

ISF Worlds – Day 4 coverage from Saskatoon StarPhoenix

July 21st, 2009


The Saskatoon StarPhoenix provides another day of outstanding coverage of the XII ISF World Men’s Fastball Championship. Click the links to see each story. Click the logo above to see the cover of the print edition featuring New Zealand’s Brad Rona.

Brits bring A-game vs. Japan


Shortstop Ryuji Hazeyama of Japan lets a ball get past to allow Brandon Horn of Britain to advance Photograph by: Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix

Canada on cruise control
Team 4-0 after downing Indonesia


Team Canada pitcher Dean Holoien throws against Indonesia Monday Photograph by: Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix

Mercy rule the rule of thumb


A ball thrown by Dean Holoien went through the plexiglass scorer’s window behind home plate Photograph by: Greg Pender, The StarPhoenix

New Zealand team lords of the dance

Daily recap

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Record not indicative of how P.E.I. played at U-19 softball tournament

July 20th, 2009

From The Guardian:
By CHARLES REID

P.E.I.’s 1-7 record at the recent under-19 international men’s softball championship in?Charlottetown isn’t a great accomplishment, but it’s the job of Jeff Ellsworth, Team P.E.I. co-coach, to look closer.

Those seven defeats included two one-run losses and two two-run losses. That from a team with no league to play in, which forced it to scrimmage with the Charlottetown Fawcetts senior men’s team and a hodge-podge squad of former fastpitch devotees before the under-19 tourney.
“Sometimes the score does not always reflect how well the game went for a specific team. We came into the event with a goal to give ourselves a chance to win each game and for the most part we did that,” said Ellsworth in an email interview. “We played in a lot of close ball games that were won late in the game or extra innings were needed. We put the bat on the ball and didn’t make too many errors and we got the pitching from all our starters.”

Ellsworth, who’s in Saskatoon, Sask., this week with Team Canada for the International Softball Federation world men’s fastpitch championship, shared P.E.I.’s bench duties with Darcy Harris.
P.E.I. started the under-19 tourney with a 9-3 loss to the Northwest Territories but stuck it out and remained competitive before losing 1-0 to Alberta in the relegation tournament.
So how does Ellsworth compare the province’s softball program to the rest of Canada?

“We are a little weak in the numbers department, but rank up there in the skill department. With a few breaks this past week we were right there. We have many talented ball players on P.E.I., but not all play softball, which is fine. We just don’t have thousands of players to choose from when selecting a team, but I have to say sometimes that’s a good thing because the players that we selected all came for the right reasons and had the heart to play,” he said.

His current job, a fourth-year outfielder with the national squad, has him suiting up for one of 16 countries in Saskatoon. Canada is 3-0 midway through its seven-game round-robin schedule. Playoffs start Friday. The worlds operate on a four-year rotation like the Olympics. New Zealand is the three-time defending world champ. Canada last won in 1992.

Ellsworth hopes to be asked to coach P.E.I. for the next under-19 international event (it replaced the Canada Games men’s softball dropped for 2009), but will be onboard for the eastern Canadian championship next month in Quebec.

The Tignish native said his team’s will to compete proved a strength and with more games and time improvement is inevitable.

“These kids all know the game and can play well, but to succeed at this level you need to play all the time and for what we did leading up to the event, we exceeded our team and personal goals,” he said.

“Overall, the boys played really well.”

creid@theguardian.pe.ca.

Posted in Canada, International, Youth | No Comments »

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