The ISC just released its latest set of team rankings, on June 24, 2010.
The 2010 Legends Fastball Classic play this weekend in Kitchener Ontario Canada is likely to rewrite those rankings when they are reconsidered in the near future. The tournament featured five of the top six teams in the world, and a large number of those teams in the top 25.
By the Numbers:
# 1 Kitchener Rivershark Twins – lost to # 2 Jarvis Travelers, the eventual champions, 3-2. Head-to-head matchups usually prevail with the ranking committee.
Other then the loss to eventual Legends champions, Jarvis, the River Shark Twins beat everyone else, including # 3 Chicago/New York, 1-0, # 5 Midland (6-1), #20 Niagara 7-0 in 5 innings, and # 19 Elmira. The biggest surprise might have been, the near upset by # 19 Elmira, which lost to Kitchener 3-2 in 9 innings.
# 2 Jarvis – see above. Jarvis did lose one game, to the # 4 NY Gremlins, but that one came in Saturday’s round-robin portion of the competition, while Jarvis found a way to win on Sunday when it counted, against two very strong teams, # 1 Kitchener and # 3 Chicago/New York.
#3 Chicago/NY – lost only to higher ranked teams, # 1 Kitchener, 1-0 on Saturday, and 4-2 to champions Jarvis on Sunday, making it to the finals. Not likely to move up as a result, but should hold the # 3 spot over NY and idle Califonria. Beat Elmira, Midland, Niagara, and Owen Sound. One of the more noteworthy stories of the weekend for Chicago/New York was the outstanding performance of pitcher Sean Cleary, on loan from the PA Power team of Pennsylvania, filling in for Rob Schweyer, who was away in Venezuela. Cleary held Jarvis in check, until he tired down the stretch of the change of game, with no relief.
# 4 – New York – turned heads with their win over eventual champions, Jarvis, the only team to beat them in the tournament, but suffered a 7-1 loss to Chicago/New York in the semi-finals.
# 5 – California A’s – did not play
# 6 Midland – struggled, without ace Frank Cox, losing four games, to # 1 Kitchener, # 3 Chicago/New York, and also # 19 ranked Elmira and # 20 Niagara.
Other action, other tournaments
# 7 Albaugh – lost to # 9 Bar of Appleton, 7-0 at the Albaugh tournament, winning the Albaugh tournament.
# 9 Bar of Appleton – Beat # 7 Albaugh 7-0 and # 16 Minnesota Angels 2-1
at the Albaugh tournament.
More later…