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Posted Online: Aug. 22, 2009, 11:59 pm

By Terry Duckett, tduckett@qconline.com

Winning International Softball Congress championships is something that has become a bit of a habit for Canadian pitching ace Scott Smith.

He led the Port Elgin Blue Devils to a 6-0 victory over the Kitchener-Waterloo Cubs in an all-Ontario championship game Saturday evening in the ISCII Tournament of Champions. Smith followed up a three-hit, seven-strikeout gem in the semifinals with a five-hit shutout and nine Ks as the Blue Devils broke open the game in the middle innings at Rock Island’s Alan Campbell Complex.

The victory gives Smith his third such title in the past seven seasons, having won titles in 2003 and ’04 with the Harriston club. After blanking Quebec’s Donnacona Blue Sox 2-0 in Saturday’s semis, he had to fight through some tight spots against K-W, which got runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings but could never break through.

“I just had to bear down. I knew the guys behind me are great defensively,” said a grinning Smith. “I was just going on adrenaline (in the title game), that’s about it. I’ve got a lot of confidence in our guys. This is my third title, and it feels great; I’m getting used to this.”

Port Elgin struck first against K-W hurler Brian Lathrop in the top of the second inning when Brian Maas drew a leadoff walk and scored on Greg Thede’s double. That score stood until the fifth when the Blue Devils broke loose for four runs and knocked Lathrop out of the game — the key blows being RBI singles from Darryl McKinnon and AaronWhitney and Mike Reiley’s two-run single.

McKinnon led Port Elgin with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, with Matt Turcotte adding two hits, a sum matched by the Cubs’ Brad Thomson.

“Our guys have been doing it all week. It’s been unbelievable,” said Smith, who struck out the side in the last of the fifth after his teammates’ offensive uprising. “That was great. I felt re-energized after that.”

Photo: Gary Krambeck
Kitchener-Waterloo Cubs base runner Brad Thomson slides into second base while taking Port Elgin Blue Devils second baseman Ryan Dudgeon off his feet as he throws to first on a double play in the 4th inning of their championship game.

On behalf of the ISC II program, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the teams, players, managers, coaches and fans for their outstanding play and sportsmanship this past week in Rock Island as the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions was a resounding success.

Thank you to the Quad Cities Host Committee led by Joe Taylor, Lynn Hunt, Larry Koberg, Amie Stahler and all of the committee members for their hard work and dedication in putting together such a wonderful group of volunteers.

The MVPs of the 2009 ToC are the Grounds Crew at the Campbell Complex in Rock Island. Todd Winter and his crew of Brad Muller, Jay Finn, Donald George, Austin Minson, Derrick Beckhart and Dustin Benore. Quite simply, we would not have completed this tournament without you. Thank you!

Our stats team does a terrific job all week and their efforts are second-to-none. Thank you to Hank DeWild, Hank DeWild Jr and Jim Johnson along with all of the volunteer scorekeepers and announcers.

I also want to acknowledge the ISC II staff who do an absolutely tremendous job administering the ToC: Canada East Regional Commissioner Joe Todd, Game Controllers Doug Bach, Mal Swift, Colin Smith, and Jeff Whetstone.

In the broadcast booth, I want to thank my broadcast partners on the Ballpark Radio crew of Lance Winn, Joe Todd, Jim Flanagan, Kyle Smith, Dave Weldin, Greg Hicks, Chad Honaker, Jodie Schnarr and all of the guests who ensure that the ISC II broadcasts are top notch. And a big thank you to our sponsors who enable the broadcasts: Corbett’s Source for Sports, The Mortgage Center, the AAU Tournament, Cutro Professional Inspections, Combat Sports Group, Stock Pack and Patriot Technologies.

Maddy Flanagan takes the best pictures in fastball and its a privilege to have you at the ToC – thank you so much for all of your efforts.

Finally, a big shout out to our ISC II Umpire-in-Chief Ken Vierling for assembling a terrific blue crew for the Tournament of Champions and to Lou Davis for stepping up to act as interim UiC in Ken’s absence. To all of our umpires – gentlemen, you did a great job – well done!

Lastly, congratulations to the Port Elgin Blue Devils on winning the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions. Port Elgin played with confidence, respect and pride and are a deserving champion.

We look forward to seeing you in Midland in 2010.

Best regards,

Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
ISC II Commissioner