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Softball tourney sees change

Director says fastpitch format is only way to go

By RICK JAKACKI
Times Herald

A new era of the Quay Street Brewery Blue Water Invitational gets under way Friday night at Pine Grove Park.

The event, which annually has drawn some of the best modified softball teams in the country to Port Huron, now is a fastpitch qualifier for the International Softball Congress II (ISC-II) Tournament of Champions.

Tournament director Kurt Schieman said he has commitments from five teams, including three from the Blue Water Area. Registration deadline is Tuesday, so he still might add a few teams.

“This is, without a doubt, the only move I could have made,” Schieman said of the switch to fastpitch. “Do you continually try to fix a boat when it’s sinking? Or do you buy a new boat? Modified is dead.”

Schieman said it became tougher every year to draw modified teams, many of which now are playing fastpitch.

The area teams competing — the Secory Flyers, Alexander’s Stallions and Port Huron Lanes Hurricanes — are members of the Port Huron Competitive Sports Association’s modified league. Each, however, is expected to add a top-notch fastpitch pitcher for the three-day tournament.

The other teams in the field are from Ontario: the Ohsweken Redmen and the Alvinston Indians. The Redmen are led by legendary pitcher Darren Zack, who helped Canada win gold medals in two Pan American Games and numerous other championships.

Schieman said having the Redmen and Indians alone will translate into better softball than the tournament offered a year ago.

Added St. Clair’s Todd Kulling, an ADCO Toolshed (New Jersey) outfielder who will play for the Stallions in the invitational: “Hopefully, with fastpitch, it should (equate to) better, more competitive, tight games.”

ADCO has earned a berth to the Tournament of Champions, otherwise Kulling said it also would have participated.

He added fastpitch games usually are low-scoring and consist of “a lot more” bunting, basestealing and hitting and running than its modified counterpart.

Even though the tournament is a qualifier, Schieman said he plans to have a pool-play round to seed the teams for single-elimination play.

“This (tournament) eventually is going to be a great thing,” he said. “It’s going to be real interesting this year, for sure.”

Additional Facts
SOFTBALL WATCH
WHAT: Quay Street Brewery Blue Water Invitational
WHEN: Friday to July 5
WHERE: Pine Grove Park
TEAMS: Secory Flyers, Port Huron Lanes Hurricanes, Alexander’s Stallions, Ohsweken (Ontario) Redmen, Alvinston (Ontario) Indians.
FORMAT: Round robin, followed by a single-elimination round.
AT STAKE: Berth in the International Softball Congress II Tournament of Champions

UPDATED

#17 Minnesota Angels, #21 ASB Villard and n/r Wilber Lime are the three ISC II teams playing in the Eau Claire Classic.

The tournament got off to a great start last night, with ASB-Villard defeating Wilber Lime with a two out single in the bottom of the 7th to plate the winning run. Farm Tavern, always a favorite of the fans here in Eau Claire did not disappoint with their opening game as they defeated The Bar – Green Bay by a score of 9-1.

The crowds on Friday were FANTASTIC as was the weather. A beautiful night in the Chippewa Valley for fastpitch softball! Rain came in over night and lingered into the morning, but the fields were superb by the start of the first game at 10:00am. With the rain over and clouds lifting, the crowds are starting to build again for what promises to be some great games later this evening.

We are experiencing some difficulties with our wireless connection at the Gelein Field Press Box. We will continue to send game reports through as quickly as possible. Pool Play action continues through this evening, with the elimination bracket beginning Sunday at 9:00am.

We look forward to bringing you all the action as fast as we can, you can also view articles on the tournament by going to the Leader Telegram web site www.leadertelegram.com

Stu Taylor
Tournament Director
Eau Claire Classic

ASB Villard 6
Wilber Lime 5

Albaugh 5
Angels 2

MidWest 22
ASB Villard 0

The Farm 15
Angels 0

Wilber Lime 7
Bar of Appleton 0

Bar of Green Bay
Angels 0

Bar of Appleton 10
ASB Villard 3

MidWest 9
Wilber Lime 1

For full results, click here.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Hey softball fans, it’s elimination day here at Carson Park in Eau Claire for the 43rd Annual Eau Claire Classic. Teams completed pool play rounds last night as Midwest Stampede grabbed the #1 seed going into today. Farm Tavern was #2, Albaugh #3, The Bar of Appleton was #4, and The Bar – Green Bay #5. In the ISC II Division ASB-Villard was awarded the #1 seed, Wilber Lime #2, and the MN Angels #3.

Crowds were light on Saturday but steady as many fans showed up to watch Farm Tavern play in the afternoon and evening. Sunday morning we have bright blue sky’s and a strong wind blowing out on both diamonds. We did have a quick game this morning in our ISC II Division with the MN Angels defeating Wilber Lime 8-1 in 5 innings. Kevin Kamamueler was the winning pitcher and has thrown all 4 games thus far for the Angels. We will see if he has one more in him as they move on to face ASB-Villard at 1pm today for the ISC II Title.

ISC II CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
—————————————–
MINNESOTA ANGELS…. 110 002 5 – 9 11 2
ASB-VILLARD……… 000 013 0 – 4 10 1
—————————————–
MINNESOTA ANGELS IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
—————————————————————————-
KAMMUELLER,KEVIN W…….. 7.0 10 4 3 3 9 0 0 0 0 32 35 3 8

ASB-VILLARD IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
—————————————————————————-
COOLEY,JOEL L…………. 7.0 11 9 8 3 6 0 0 0 0 33 36 4 11