World champs soldier on despite thinning field

April 21st, 2010

BY CHRISTINE RIVET, RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER — Another day, another pair of elite ball teams drop off the face of the Earth.

International men’s fastball absorbed another pitch in the ribs, as the world’s No. 2 and No. 3 ranked club teams, Nebraska-based Broken Bow Patsy’s and Saskatoon Aspen Interiors, were put into mothballs recently.

That leaves the two-time defending International Softball Congress champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins standing atop the shrinking mountain that is senior men’s fastpitch.

Since last season, five of the world’s top eight teams have folded, including perennial powerhouse, the Farm Tavern of Madison, Wis.

Even the stodgy ISC stood up and took notice late last season, throwing the gates open at the world tournament to intermediate teams because of a shortage of senior-level clubs.

The R-Twins will stay the course, though as they plan to compete at six major tournaments this season, including the Canadian championship in Charlottetown in late August.

The Kitchener club will make a pair of local appearances, at their own Legends tournament on June 25-27, at Kitchener’s Peter Hallman Ball Yard, and at the nearby Tavistock Rocks weekend on July 16-18.

As the world’s elite (read: moneyed) teams dry up faster than the beer tent at closing time, it is either the best thing or the worst thing to happen to the game. Depends on your take.

On one hand, it levels the playing field for the also-rans as Patsy’s and Saskatoon’s players presumably will now be dispersed throughout North America’s remaining teams.

On the other, those elite clubs left standing, like the Rivershark Twins, have fewer worthy opponents.

“You just want to see good competition out there so anytime a good team folds, that hurts,” said R-Twins coach Larry Lynch.

And don’t expect the R-Twins to gobble up fastball castaways like Aussie aces Adam Folkard (Broken Bow) and Andrew Kirkpatrick (Saskatoon).

The R-Twins already have their full complement of the ISC-allowed six all-world players.

“As far as I know, our roster is set,” said Lynch. “We are pretty happy with it.”

crivet (at) therecord.com

4th Annual Log Cabin Invitational/Qualifier in Villa Grove, IL

April 21st, 2010

The winning team qualifies for the ISC World Tournament in Midland, MI. Last year we were featured on WICD (Champaign) and WAND (Decatur) and hope to grow our media coverage for 2010.

Pool A: Decatur, Hurricanes, Wessel’s, Pinckneyville
Pool B: Kelso, Belleville, Log Cabin, Franny’s

Saturday, May 15

9:00 AM – Decatur vs Hurricanes
10:45 AM – Hurricanes vs Wessel’s
12:30 PM – Wessel’s vs Pinckneyville
2:15 PM – Pinckneyville vs Decatur
4:00 PM – Kelso vs Belleville
5:45 PM – Belleville vs Log Cabin
7:30 PM – Log Cabin vs Franny’s
9:15 PM – Franny’s vs Kelso

Sunday, May 16

9:00 AM – Belleville vs Franny’s
10:45 AM – Kelso vs Log Cabin
12:30 PM – Hurricanes vs Pinckneyville
2:15 PM – Decatur vs Wessel’s
4:00 PM – 1st Pool A vs 1st Pool B
Championship Game

In determining first and second place, we will
use the following categories, in this order:
1 – Head to Head
2 – Fewest runs allowed
3 – Most runs scored
4 – Coin toss


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Passing of Doug Challoner

April 21st, 2010

CHALLONER, Douglas John

Doug passed away peacefully at home in Steveston, BC on November 13, 2009 at age 62 after a gallant two-year battle with cancer. He was born in Vancouver on March 18, 1947.
Throughout his life Doug was a devoted fan of softball, and for 40 years he made many significant contributions to the game in BC. He played for numerous teams as an accomplished catcher. In later years he was a tireless volunteer, coach, manager and sponsor of elite-level men’s junior and senior fastpitch teams. Doug served for several years as President of South Hill Sports Association in Vancouver. Along with his wife, Penny, he was one of the driving forces of this association.

Doug will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends ¾ especially those in the ball community. A celebration of Doug’s life will take place on Sunday, April 25th at Memorial South Park (“The Hill”), located on East 41st Ave between Knight and Fraser Streets in Vancouver. Doug’s friends from the South Hill Old Boys Slopitch League will play two games dedicated to Doug (at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.). At 12:30 p.m. there will be a brief presentation to Penny and a tribute to Doug. In the afternoon, teams from the Lower Mainland Fastball League will continue the softball action in Doug’s honour.

Jim Johnson

Tribute to Doug Challoner

April 20th, 2010

TRIBUTE TO DOUG CHALLONER

Please join us for a softball ball park tribute to Doug Challoner this Sunday April 25, 2010 at about noon. Feel free to drop in as early as 10 am and stay all afternoon to see some softball action and visit with good softball friends.

Location: Just off East 41st Ave between Knight Street and Fraser Street in Vancouver, BC 604-324-6505

CHALLONER, Douglas John

Photo courtesy of Milt Michael

Doug passed away peacefully at home in Steveston, BC on November 13, 2009 at age 62 after a gallant two-year battle with cancer. He was born in Vancouver on March 18, 1947. His parents, Florence and John Challoner, predecease him. Doug leaves behind his loving wife, Penny and his children: James Douglas Challoner (Sandra), Elizabeth Jean Kimko Challoner and their mother, Bernice Reico Dye. As well, Doug is survived by his son, Jonathon Scott and Jonathon’s mother, Diane Duncan. He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren Cole Challoner, Tyler Challoner and Hunter Walker, as well as Penny’s children, Raymond Lachance (Lara), Jason DeRuiter (Marylou), Leisha Zeron and Holly Zeron.

Throughout his life Doug was a devoted fan of softball, and for 40 years he made many significant contributions to the game in BC. He played for numerous teams as an accomplished catcher. In later years he was a tireless volunteer, coach, manager and sponsor of elite-level men’s junior and senior Fastpitch teams. Doug served for several years as President of South Hill Sports Association in Vancouver. Along with Penny, he was one of the driving forces of this association.

Doug will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends ¾ especially those in the ball community. A celebration of Doug’s life will take place on Sunday, April 25th at South Memorial Park (“The Hill”), located on East 41st Ave between Knight and Fraser Streets in Vancouver. Doug’s friends from the South Hill Old Boys Slo-pitch League will play two games in Doug’s honour (at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.). At 12:30 p.m. there will be a brief presentation to Penny and a tribute to Doug. In the afternoon, teams from the Lower Mainland Fastball League will continue the softball action.

Jim Johnson

More on Doug from The Inside Curve:

Bob Henning
Softball BC UIC
604-790-1166
brotherinblue (at) shaw.ca

Southwest Hall of Fame Tournament

April 20th, 2010

The Southwest Hall of Fame Tournament
3 Game Guarantee

LOCATION

Maag Park Complex, Las Cruces NM
Home of National Tournaments in 1982,1986,1987,1993
$275 Entry Fee: Due By May 30th 2010

Game Balls Provided
Awards
1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams
Outstanding Hitter & Outstanding Pitcher

Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament
June 12th & 13th, 2010

Entry form after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Stuck in Lodi

April 19th, 2010

…or not. It’s just a song lyric.


(click photo to become a fan of the Roseville Eagles)

Ed Gasper, pitching for the Roseville Eagles at Lodi over the past weekend. The Eagles came from behind to beat the Cal State Builders, but fell to the Italian Athletic Club out of Stockton, California. The IAC will be at Best of the West June 5-6, 2010. I don’t see the Eagles on the list, but they would make a great addition to the field of teams. (One spot left, Eagles!)

Photo by Taylor Penticoff, courtesy of the Roseville Eagles Facebook page.

Editor’s note: If you can’t see the photo posted above, it is likely because you are not logged in to Facebook, or the permission settings for the photos might be for “friends/fans only”. Try logging in, or sending friend request if need be.

Roseville Eagles
Coach – Paul Carleton

Mario Pereira
Ron Gonzales
Rob Penticoff
Rob Sanchez
Dany Blanco
Jeff Wilson
Nate Carleton
Bill Kenelty
Rannis Rojas
Brett Shaffer
Jeff Grosso
Tyler Moore
Kary Moore
Kevin Brown
Craig Coulter
Ed Gasper
Joe Jaquez
Mike Neeley

Wanted ?

April 19th, 2010

Disguised as a member of Innovative Communications:

Thanks to the U.S. Post Office in St. George, Utah, for loaning the photo to us from their wall.

Editor’s note: If you can’t see the photo posted above, it is likely because you are not logged in to Facebook, or the permission settings for the photos might be for “friends/fans only”. Try logging in, or sending friend request if need be.

Cal State Builders

April 19th, 2010

Cal State Builders, one of a dozen or so teams that will be in Santa Barbara, California for the Best of the West tournament, June 5-6, 2010. The roster includes Ty Fogarty, Ryan Daly, Ricky Moore II, Ricky Sivilla, Dave Carlton, Dave Jordan, Kevin Nishinaga.

Thanks to Kevin Nishnaga’s Facebook page for the photo.
To become of a fan of the Cal State Builders, click the logo above.

Editor’s note: If you can’t see the photo posted above, it is likely because you are not logged in to Facebook, or the permission settings for the photos might be for “friends/fans only”. Try logging in, or sending friend request if need be.

ASA Fastpitch News

April 19th, 2010

From the ASA Communications Center

Men’s Fast Pitch 2009-2010
April 2010 –
March 2010 –

2/12/2010 – USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athletes,
January 2010 –
December 2009 –
November 2009 –
October 2009 –

9/1/2009 – 2009-12 selection committees
August 2009
7/27/2009 – Men take fourth at Worlds
6/30/2009 USA Softball Men’s National Fast Pitch team gets…
6/26/2009 USA Softball Men’s National Fast Pitch tunes-up …
5/28/2009 USA Softball Men Finish 3-2

Women’s Fast Pitch 2009-2010
4/13/2010 – Danielle Lawrie earns POW award
4/13/2010 – Washington still No. 1
4/7/2010 – Top 25 Finalists
4/6/2010 Huskies stay at No. 1
4/6/2010 Florida’s Gammel Named USA Softball Collegiate P…
4/2/2010 2010 WNT coaches
3/30/2010 Washington still top Dawgs heading into Pac-10 play
3/23/2010 Huskies stay on top
3/8/2010 Huskies stay at No. 1 with perfect weekend
2/12/2010 USA Softball announces 2009 USA Softball Athlete…
2/10/2010 World Cup tickets on sale
1/26/2010 Washington starts at No. 1
1/14/2010 Michele Smith joining OK Sports Hall of Fame
1/11/2010 2010 WNT selected
1/6/2010 Canada selected to host ISF XIII Women’s World C…
1/5/2010 Selection Camp underway
12/29/2009 Osterman on SI’s Top 20
12/21/2009 Team USA headed to Caracas
11/3/2009 2010 Women’s Worlds moved
9/10/2009 Bid on items for charity
9/1/2009 2009-12 selection committees
8/13/2009 Softball out of 2016 Games
8/11/2009 IOC votes Thursday
8/9/2009 USA 3, Canada 1
8/8/2009 USA wins 15-0, 7-0
8/5/2009 USA 15, Belize 0
8/4/2009 USA wins 11-0, 15-0
8/4/2009 USA wins 22-0, 9-0
8/2/2009 Brazil dealt 7-0 defeat by USA Softball at Pan A…
8/2/2009 USA Softball dominant in 21-0 win over Ecuador
8/2/2009 USA wins Japan Cup
7/31/2009 American women out hit in first game of Japan Cu…
7/31/2009 USA 11, Colombia 0 in five
7/18/2009 Burkhart gets as first win as USA Softball pound…
7/16/2009 Finch, Leles lead Team USA to opening World Cup win
7/13/2009 USA wins 2009 Canada Cup
7/9/2009 USA gets two more wins
7/8/2009 USA 7, Australia 0 in five
7/5/2009 USA Softball wins 8-1 over Venezuela at Canada Cup
6/17/2009 ESPN to air World Cup
6/15/2009 Women’s teams named for ’09
6/5/2009 41 headed to Selection Camp
2/6/2009 USA Softball announces 2009-2012 Women’s Nationals

Additional ISC berth Awarded to the 2010 Best of The West

April 17th, 2010


(Elings Park, Santa Barbara, CA)

The 20th Annual Best of The West Tournament has been officially awarded an additional berth in the 2010 ISC World Tournament. That makes for a total of two berths, to be provided to the top finishing ISC USA Western Region Teams competing with their official 2010 ISC Rosters.

Eleven teams have now entered the 2010 Best of The West Tournament which will be held June 5-6 at Elings Park, located about ½ mile from the amazing beaches of Santa Barbara, CA.

That leaves one spot open for a final 12th entrant in this year’s Tourney.

The eleven current entrants are:

1. California Athletics
2. Bakersfield SilverHawks
3. Rude Pac
4. California Builders
5. Italian Athletic Club
6. Maccabi USA
7. Utah SAU Fastpitch
8. Liberty Fastpitch
9. West Coast Smokers
10. Mexico National Team
11. Mexicali, MX Santa Cecelia

Which ever team is first to mail in the $450 entry fee check gets the 12th and final spot.

Make check out to:
Dave Blackburn

Mail check to:

Dave Blackburn
1720 Pacific Ave. #130
Venice, CA 90291

Please let me know your intentions ASAP if your team is indeed interested.

Dave Blackburn
310-266-7803
daveb (at) virtvent.com