2006/2007 ISC & ISC II - My comments

Sun Aug 19 13:58:57 EDT 2007

Received: 8/19/07 11:05:54 AM 
From:  "Dave Birnie" <dbirnie at cogeco.ca> 

Subject:  2006/2007 ISC & ISC II - My comments  

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Kitchener / Cambridge, Ontario

In 2006 I was invited by the ISC II Commissioner, Blair Setford
to be an ISC II Game Controller.
I accepted his offer and had one of the most enjoyable fastball
experiences of my life.
I never thought I would ever attend an ISC World Tournament except
as a paying spectator.
This year, the ISC were in need of a few teams to complete the
32 team field and invited a few ISC II 
caliber teams to move up in class to play in the ISC World Tournament.
When they contacted our team, the 
Peterborough Murphy Windmillers, we gladly accepted. I can't
thank Blair Setford and Ken Hackmeister enough
for the invite and the prestigious honour of playing in the best
fastball tournament in the World. I'd also like to thank
the Peterborough management team of Wayne Wells, Jeff Murphy
and of course the legendary Sylvia "Sparky" Ryan
for allowing me to tag along for the ride.

There were several notable performances over the last 2 years
.......

ISC II pitcher Gord Scott, how in the heck does he do it ? I
made a comment to one of the Waterdown Hammer 
players that "I could hit off Gord Scott," The Hammer player
said " that's what everyone thinks watching from the stands."
He said "trust me Dave it's a whole different story when you
actually step in the batters box."
Gord Scott made the All Tournament Team in 2006 and paced the
Palermo Athletics to a 2nd. place finish and had another tremendous
tournament in 2007 helping the team to a 5th. place finish. 
Jeremy Tracey and Jay Herr for South Leb. TNT had monster performances
as they led their team to the 2007 ISC II ToC Title. The Waterdown
Hammer, considered an average ISC II team by some proved they
can compete with any ISC II level team. The Hammer defeated the
# 6 ranked Ottawa Team Easton Thunder, # 9 Port Elgin Blue Devils
and 
the # 12 ranked Kitchener Outlaws. Fifty year old Rod Fevreau
picked up the 6-2 win over Port Elgin throwing 5 solid innings
allowing 3 hits.
Craig Buttar of the Ottawa Team Easton Thunder saw double duty
playing for Ottawa in the ISC II ToC and also playing for Peterborough
in the ISC WT.  Peterborough squeaked out a 3-2 win over the
Bloomington Stix with Buttar belting a dramatic ninth inning
walk-off bomb. Peterborough's other win came against the unranked
Scarborough Royals, a junior team. Peterborough's 2 losses were
ugly and both ended via the mercy rule. Vancouver and All World
Pitcher Nick Underhill reminded us that we were an ISC II caliber
team as the won 7-0, Underhill allowed only 2 hits. Our other
loss was to the surprise team of the tournament, the Innerkip
Eagles. The Eagles hit us hard and often in a 9-1 mercy win.
 Dan Skillings was the big stick going 3x3 with a home run and
3 runs scored and 2 rbi. Jamie Simpson twirled a nifty 2 hitter
with 7 K's in the 5 inning game. Eagles Skipper Jeff Whetstone
had his team firing on all cylinders and I think the Eagles finished
in 8th place bowing out 3-2 to the Orillia Riversharks. Jeff
Wilson playing for the Ashland Mets was injured in his first
game but quickly recovered to hit his way on to the All Tournament
Team. How about the Legendary Darren Zack ? Some say he is done,
 just ask Broken Bow if he is done. 
Zack gave the Gremlins all they could handle as Zack's Horse
Lake Thunder team hung with the big boys before BB scored their
lone run in the 6th inning and then hung on for the 1-0 win.
It's a shame Zack was not able to pitch again after this game
due to an injury.
Karl Gollan really impressed with the arm and the stick. Other
notable / weird games, the big come back by the Jarvis Merchants
scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 7th. against Midland, Vancouver
exploding for a 17-0 win over Quad City Sox. 

What's up with California teams ? Although they didn't win a
title they had the SoCal Bombers in the ISC Final and the California
Lumber Kings in the ISC II Final with another Cali team in the
ISC II Semi Final, the A1 Taylor Farms. California well represented
in 2007 !

The tournament itself was top notch World Class all the way,
talk about volunteers, they were everywhere, I think the volunteers
had volunteers.
To the cities of Kitchener & Cambridge and all the people who
made it work so great for the last 2 years a big heartfelt thank
you.

One last note, how fitting that Al Doran will be inducted to
the ISC Hall of Fame in 2008.

Dave Birnie
Coach
Peterborough Murphy Windmillers
ontariomasters(at)hotmail(dot)com 

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We plan to be in–Kitchener – August 10-18 – 2007 ISC World Tournament
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