[Alsfastball] World Men's Fastball Invitational - opening night

[Andy Bader]

July 1, 2004

Opening night - with a doubleheader featuring the Waterloo/Sebringville 
Hallman Twin City Sting - was as perfect as imagined, with two close games 
under glorious Canada Day summer skies. An estimated 600 people attended 
the doubleheader, and saw the Sting win a pair of 2-1 contests - first over 
Halifax-Windsor Murphy's Fish & Chips Keiths, and then against the Calgary 
Diamonds, during the inaugural World Men's Fastball Invitational tournament 
in downtown Monkton, Ontario.

In the opener, Don Scott pitched a complete-game four-hitter (his only 
nemesis lead-off hitter Ricky LeBlanc) as the Sting edged Halifax 2-1. 
Brian Stere's two-out RBI-double scored Ron White with the opening run of 
the game in the top of the first, then the winners doubled their lead when 
Derek Shackleton reached on an error to lead off the fifth, and scored on a 
two-out RBI-single by Bill Simmons. LeBlanc tripled and scored in the sixth 
for Halifax, but that was as close as they would get off Scott, who fanned 
10. Rob O'Brien suffered the loss for the Keiths, allowing just three hits 
and two walks while striking out 16.

In the nightcap, 20-year-old Aussie Andrew Kirkpatrick and Jamie Simpson 
hooked up in the pitcher's duel, with the game scoreless until Simmons 
ruined Kirkpatrick's no-hitter with a double to left to lead off the sixth. 
Grant Baechler followed with a two-run home run to center - the only 
blemish on Kirkpatrick's night. Simpson kept the Diamonds off balance for 
most of the night, until he walked the bases loaded with two out in the 
bottom of the sixth, only to be relieved by Scott. Scott walked in a run to 
cut the Sting lead in half, but rebounded to get out of the inning when 
Kelly Wenstrom popped out to third to leave the bases loaded. Scott fanned 
two of the three batters he faced in the seventh to record the save. 
Kirkpatrick finished with a two-hitter and two walks while fanning 17 
batters to suffer the tough-luck loss, while the Simpson-Scott combination 
earned a one-hitter while walking six to put the Twin City Sting in the 
driver's seat in Pool 'A'. They combined for eight strikeouts.

Action resumes Friday at the Elma-Logan Recreation Complex in Monkton, with 
Midland taking on Halifax at 2 p.m., followed by Heflin vs. Fedlock at 4 
p.m. The feature match will take place at 6 p.m. when Darren Zack will toe 
the rubber for the Madison County Materials out of Wisconsin as they take 
on Jody Eidt and the Broken Bow Spirit. Midland will take on Calgary at 8 
p.m. to conclude the Friday lineup.

Games will continue all day Saturday, starting at 8 a.m., with the first 
playoff match Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday. 
The championship final will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 4.

Andy Bader
Publisher/Editor
The Mitchell Advocate
Mitchell, ON
519-348-8431
519-348-8836 (fax)
www.mitchelladvocate.com



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