Frankenmuth, MI

The field is set for the 2006 Pete Schwab Memorial MenÂ’s Fastpitch Tournament to be held this weekend, July 14-16, in FrankenmuthÂ’’ sHeritage Park. The 14 entrants have been divided into two 7 team brackets. Teams will play 4 round robin gameswith the top 4 teams from each bracket advancing to a single elimination playoff on Sunday afternoon.

Eight of the 14 teams entered into this yearÂ’stournament also competed in the 46 team 2005 ASA B National tournament held inDecatur, IL with 5 entrants finishing among last yearÂ’s top 10 ASA B teams.

The brackets and team notes are following:

BRACKET A

1 – UP TO DATE PAINTING (Millington, MI–) # 23 in latest ISC II rankings

2 – PRIORITY MORTGAGE (Grand Rapids, MI- #4 in 2005 ASA B Nationals

3 – ASHLAND MERCHANTS (Ashland, OH) – #18 in latestISC II rankings, Runner-up in 2005 ASA B Nationals

4 – LUMBER COMPANY (Zeeland, MI)

5 – COPPENS BRIGADE (Midland, MI- #25 in 2005 ASA B Nationals

6 – RICE CREEK LIGHTNING (Marshall, MI) – #19 inlatest ISC II rankings, #3 in 2005 ASA B Nationals

BRACKET B

1 – SUBURBAN INSULATION (Ann Arbor, MI)

2 – DUNCAN OUTLAWS (Elkhart, IN– Runner-up in 2005 NAFA A-Major Championships

3 – DELAU FIRE & SAFETY (Lansing, MI– #7 in 2005 ASA B Nationals

4 – TIFFANYÂ’S (Frankenmuth, MI) – #13 in 2005ASA B Nationals

5 – ROOFS OF THE NORTH (Roscommon, MI- # 9 in 2005 ASA B Nationals

6 – COMMUNIQUEST (Midland, MI- #17 in 2005 NAFA A-Major Championships

7 – BERNIE’S TAVERN (Homer, MI) – Welcoming the return of pitcher Bryan Boyd

The tournament started on this Friday evening with the host team, Up to Date Painting, playing a DHer against CoppenÂ’s Brigade (7:30pm) and Rice Creek Lightning (9 pm). Meanwhile, another local team,TiffanyÂ’s, played a DHer against Suburban Insulation (7:30 pm) andCommuniquest (9pm).

David Lach
Up-to-Date Painting Fastpitch
david.r.lach(at)delphi.com

Orrville, OH

The Orr Park Knights finish 2nd at the Jersey Shore tournament. The Knights went 2-0 in bracket play and had the top seed heading into single elimination on Sunday. Unfortunately the Knights only had one pitcher all weekend so Chuck Smith threw all 5 games. The Knights will be playing the next 5 weekends gearing up for the TOC.

Game 1
Knights-7
Kreider and Flick-0
WP Chuck Smith (1-0) 14K’s 3H 0R
Roger Karn 2 for 4 w/2 RBI’s
Jeff Carr 1 for 4 w/1 HR
Tony Suds 3 for 3

Game 2
Knights-8
Condo’s-0
WP Smith (2-0) 10K’s 1H 0R
Jeff Carr 2 for 3 1HR 2RBI’s
Rick Yoder 2 for 2 1HR 2RBI’s
Roger Karn 2 for 3 2B 3RBI’s

Game 3
Knights-9
Baltimore Panthers-1
WP- Smith (3-0) 5K’s 4H’s 1R
Jeff Carr 1 for 3 1HR 2RBI’s
Jason Whiteley 2 for 3 2HR’s 2RBI’s
Roger Karn 2 for 3 1HR 1RBI

Game 4
Knights-5
Generals-4
WP-Smith (4-0) 8K’s 11H 4R
LP Tim Saar
Jeff Carr 1 for 2 2RBI’s
Pete Spoerl 3 sac bunts
Tom Avery 2 for 4 2R Dan Edholm 1 for 3 Game winning HR 2RBI’s

Game 5
(Championship)
Knights-1
Ricola-5
LP- Smith (4-1) 4K’s 9H 5R
WP- Jeff VanHooser/Thompson (4th inning)
Jeff Carr 1 for 3 2B 1R
Jason Whiteley 1 for 3 2B 1RBI

jason whiteley

Article from Allentown Morning Call about results of the Fourth of July Classic. South Lebanon (ISC II #30) defeated Keating’s Fitness Center ISC #25 twice to win the championship.

TNT South Lebanon results:
Round Robin:
South Lebanon – 5
PA Power – 1

South Lebanon – 8
Allentown Patriots – 1

South Lebanon – 1
Keating’s Fitness – 0

Semi Final:
South Lebanon – 9
Matarazzo Bros. – 1 (Matarazzo are the defending 40 and over national champions)

Final:
South Lebanon – 5
Keatings Fitness – 2

July 3, 2006
For Tracy, MVP is for memorable vacation planning Canadian begins his visit by leading TNT South Lebanon to title.
By Keith Groller Of The Morning Call
Jeremy Tracy smiled as he clutched the Most Valuable Player Award from the 41st annual Allentown Patriots’ 4th of July Classic Sunday afternoon at Pates Park.
(more…)

Patriots 4th of July Tourney Opens Friday Night

Defending champ Keating Fitness Center of Wilkes-Barre is among the eight teams in the field of this year’s Allentown Patriots’ 4th of July Classic. The 41st annual tourney — it began in 1965 and has been held every year since except 1976 — begins with a pair of games Friday night at Pates Park. The KMV Rise play Bob Hoffman’s of Reading, a new team in the field, in the 7 p.m. opener. That game will be followed by the host Pates Petro Kings taking on PA Power of Harrisburg.

The round-robin tourney, sponsored by Allentown Beverage, Coca-Cola of the Lehigh Valley and the Allentown Patriots, continues with 10 games throughout the day on Saturday — two at Percy Ruhe Park — and then concludes Sunday with the semifinals in the morning and the title game at 12:30 p.m.

Keating is led by the pitching of Bill Hillhouse and Ontario native Gregg Garrity, last year’s tourney MVP. Mark Smith, Dave Martin and Justin Stock highlight the offense.

The KMV Rise, last year’s tourney runner-up, feature the 2005 most valuable pitcher, Tom Vogel, as well as veteran stars Matt Daley and Allentown native Mike Smith.

The Rise won the Niagara Snapper tournament earlier this month and is ranked No. 5 in the latest ISC II world rankings.

The host team could also be a factor. The Pates, led by Jeff Hess, Bob Thomas and Tom Stinner, have already qualified for the ASA Class C nationals in Georgia.

Other potential favorites include TNT South Lebanon, which features the pitching of Jeremy Tracey and Scott Adams and the offense of Bob Wengert, Mike Rohrer, and Paul Batt.

PA Power won last year’s ASA Class C national title and Mattarazzo Brothers is the defending ASA men’s 40&over national champions and feature Whitehall’s Reno Lato.

All-series tickets for the tourney cost $7 and daily tickets cost adults $3, seniors $2.