Legends of Fastball Classic Honours 5 More Legendary Performers

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 5/27/07 12:39:34 PM 
From:  "Larry Lynch" <llynch9(at)rogers.com> 


Subject:  Legends of Fastball Classic Honours 5 More Legendary
Performers  


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WOODSTOCK, ON


The Legends of Fastball Classic is just one week away and Woodstock
is gearing up to host the best in Ontario men’s fastball. The
Classic will run Friday night June 1 through Sunday June 3, with
22 games in a two division round robin format. All 8 teams advance
to a singleelimination playoff round on Sunday with the championship
game scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

 

The Legends Classic is not an old timers tournament, far from
it. Included in the field this year is the ISC #1 ranked Orillia
Riversharks, the 2 time Canadian National Champion St.Thomas
Evergreen Centennials, the 2006 Canadian bronze medalist Jarvis
Merchants, the host Innerkip Bright Cheese House Eagles, the
ISC #5 ranked Kitchener Hallman Twins,the two time Canadian National
Junior champions the Scarborough Wolverines, the 2005 ISC II
World Champion Elmira Cubs, and the host team for the ISC II
Tournament of Champions the past two years, the Bridgeport ProForma
Braves.

 

While the action on the field focuses on the best in Ontario
fastball  today,the Legends Classic is unique in honouring fastball
legends of the past. This years class of inductees into the Legends
Hall of Fame runs the table for speed, hitting, pitching and
managing in big time softball. The honourees include :

 

Darren Zack, the definitive icon for  fastball excellence and
humility the past 2 decades. 9 times voted to the ISC World Tournament
team; ISC World titles with Toronto Gators, Tampa Bay Smokers
and Decatur Pride; countless Canadian National and Pan – Am championships;
the ace of Canada’s National team for over a decade ; ISF World
Champion in 1992; the list of his accomplishments is endless.


 

Steve Virag, a power pitching right hander with a bat to match.
The ace of his teams in Port Stanley, London Woodstock Tornadoes
and Dorchester, Virag’s heart matched his ability. His endurance
on the mound was without equal, often pitching as many as 5 games
a day. Twice selected to hurl for Ontario teams at the Canadian
National Championships (1980 and 1981 ), he once hurled acomplete
game 21 inning 1-0 victory over Saskatchewan.

 

Dick Parker, a native of Ingersoll, Ontario who first took up
fastball at age 17 after baseball folded in his home town. A
physical giant of a man with an imposing black beard, Parker
parlayed a troika of strength, confidence and imposing stance
in the batters box to intimidate and dominate pitchers for nearly
2 decades. In 1972 when the Ontario Fastball League was considered
the best in the world, Dick ‘s defensive acumen paled in comparison
with his hitting. In his inaugural season of the OFL the switch
hitting Parker batted .345 while patrolling the outfield for
the Woodstock Warriors. He spent most of his career with the
great Woodstock teams and after moving to first base continued
to strike fear in opposing pitchers while his teammates rackedup
title after title in tournaments and the Memorial Fastball League.

 

Dan “Doc” Werby, a natural infielder who made alegendary name
for himself while patrolling center field for his hometown Woodstock
teams. The anchor of the outfield and explosive lead off hitter,
Werby defined grace,speed and hitting in a community that celebrates
legendary heroes with names like Paton, MacKinnon and Tilley.
A team leader and captain on every team he played on through
3 decades, “Doc” was a 5 time Ontario Fastball League All-star,
5 times batted in the leagues top 10 and twice finished runnerup
to the OFL batting crown. A celebrated member of Woodstock’s
great teams, Flat Tires, Hotelmen, Bengals ,and Tornadoes, he
considers amongst his biggest thrills to have shared the diamond
with his 3 brothers in the hometown lineup.

 

Larry “ Hawk” Lynch, a player, coach, manager and promoter of
major men’s fastball, he has dedicated nearly one third of a
century to the game he loves. After  many years toiling the outfield
with both Shedden and Port Stanley of the Memorial Fastball League
 a career move to Kitchener resulted in a long time successful
association with the Waterloo CHYM’RS and the Waterloo Twins.
Larry has managed teams in 15 ISC World Tournaments including
7 top ten finishes. He has won 4 Ontario championships, two National
silver medals and in 2004 guided Saskatoon to a National Championship.
A true devotee of fastball, ‘’for the love of the game ‘’, he
has driven nearly 500,000 miles to ball parks to ply his trade.
Lynch will behonoured this August when he becomes the first Canadian
manager ever inducted  into the  International Softball Congress
Hall of Fame.

 

The Legends Classic gets underway on Friday evening June 1, with
3 games scheduled at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. All games are at
the beautiful Woodstock and District Community Complex and will
continue all day Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m. Admission
to the games will be $5.00 Friday night, $10.00 all day Saturday
and Sunday, or a Weekend Pass available Friday nightis $20.00
for all 22 games.

 

The Championship game goes at 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

 

The Legends Ceremony will be a highlight of the weekend andis
scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday June 2.

 

For more details contact Larry Lynch at llynch9(at)rogers.com


 

 

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