Editor’s Note: While no longer a pure ISC II event, the Snapper Shootout in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario will feature some of the top ISC II talent in Ontario with Shakespeare Falcons, Bridgeport Braves, Elmira Cubs, Ottawa Team Easton Thunder, Port Elgin Blue Devils, Palermo Athletics and Wyevale Tribe along with last year’s second-place team California Lumberkings and perennial contenders CPI from Oswego, NY.

With the 5th Annual Snapper Shootout set to take place on June 6-8, 2008 at Centennial Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, the planning committee is thrilled to announce that Hooligans Sportsbar of Niagara Falls and Molson’s Canada have jumped on board as title sponsors of this years event. 16 teams from across North America will battle it out for $4000 and also of note, returning to the Shootout will be “Razorbax” who will rock the beer garden as games come to an end on the Saturday evening. The schedule is complete with six games on the slate starting up on Friday evening.

7pm – Hamilton Hawks vs Niagara Snappers – A
7pm – Elmira Cubs vs Napanee Junior Express – B
7pm – Wellington Brewers vs Elmira Juniors – C
9pm – California Lumberkings vs Ohsweken Redmen – A
9pm – Palermo Athletics vs Bridgeport Braves – B
9pm – Port Elgin Blue Devils vs Shakespeare Falcons – C

Games will continue on Saturday morning starting at 9am. For a complete look at the field of 16 teams and the 2008 Shootout schedule, click here.

Monfort, WI New Image won the upper division SICFL event in Las Vegas this past weekend.

While this mid-west powerhouse have been perennial NAFA champions (and picked up an ASA “A” title in 2006), there is apparently a possibility that they will attempt to qualify for the ISC II Tournament of Champions this year as the ToC is in their backyard in Appleton. If they do qualify, New Image will certainly be a title contender.

Another contender will be Pleasant Grove, UT Innovative Communications. Formerly known as Castlewood, Innovative Communications are also looking to secure a berth in the ToC and are said to be talking to a western Canadian pitcher to go along with stalwart Steve Black.

Click here for the full story on Las Vegas on our brother blog the Morning Brief.

The #19 Alvinston Indians went undefeated to win the 2007 OASA Intermediate Eliminations, defeating #9 Port Elgin Blue Devils 6-3 in the final after knocking out the Elmira Cubs in the semi’s.

Port Elgin defeated the #1 Niagara Snappers in their semi. See below for all the scores from the weekend.

Congratulations to Paul McCart, Joe Triest and the rest of the Indians.

Port Elgin 8
Owen Sound 4

Owen Sound eliminated

Elmira 3
Tavistock 2

Tavistock eliminated

Alvinston 4
Palermo 1

Palermo eliminated

Alvinston against Elmira

Niagara against Port Elgin

courtesy Dan Bernard, Niagara Snappers

Update:

Port Elgin 4
Niagara 2
Wp Steve Ketchell
Lp Byron Demoe relief Corey Costello

Niagara eliminated

Alvinston 4
Elmira 3

Elmira eliminated

Elmira Cubs 8
#6 Palermo Athletics 3

#9 Port Elgin Blue Devils 11
Cayuga Rebels 2

Owen Sound Crunch 14
#3 Tavistock Merchants 7

courtesy Dan Bernard, Niagara Snappers

Several Ontario ISC II teams and players are competing in this weekend’s OASA Intermediate Eliminations in St. Thomas.

Friday scores:
Elmira Cubs 3
Belmont Black Sox 1
WP Casey Halstead
LP Mark Van Vliet
Lynden Grovum 2-3 and 2 RBI’S for Elmira

#18 Alvinston Indians 7
Owen Sound Crunch 0
WP Doug Charlton complete game 2 hitter
LP Mark Robbins
Mike Black 4-4 for Alvinston

#19 Glencoe Astros 11
Cayuga Rebels 2
WP Dan Konkle
LP Brent Fehrman
Mike Unwin and Rowan Lam 2 hits each for Glencoe

#1 Niagara Snappers 6
#15 Wyevale Tribe 3
Wp Corey Costello save Perry Bartley
Lp Jason Giffen
Kevin Peterson 2-3 for Wyevale
Trevor Falk 2-3 with a HR and 3 RBI’s for the Snappers

Blenheim Home Run 4
Morpeth Magic 3
WP Greg Guy
LP Lee Hopkins
Chris Drew 2-3 for Blenheim
Carmen Smith 2-3 for Morpeth

Scores courtesy Dan Bernard, Niagara Snappers and Al’s Fastball List

Results of the 6th Annual Pete Schwab Memorial Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament (ISC II level)
Frankenmuth, MI
July 13-15th, 2007

18 teams fastpitch teams from Michigan, Ontario, Indiana, and Ohio competed in this years Pete Schwab Memorial Tournament held in Frankenmuth, Michigan with Priority Mortgage (Grand Rapids, MI) beating Blenheim Home Run Restaurant (Blenheim, ON) in the finals by the score of 4-0.

Priority Mortgage earned a berth in the finals by beating the Michigan Twisters (Midland, MI) 5-2 in the semi-finals, while
Blenheim “fought” the #18 Alvinston Indians (Alvinston, ON) to an emotional 8-4 victory in the other semi-final.

Other playoff teams included Kelder’s Poured Walls (Ludington, MI) who lost 5-2 to the Twisters in a first round playoff game
and the host team, Up-to-Date Painting (Millington, MI) who were out-hit by Alvinston 10-8. Up-to-Date won a 1-0 sudden-death playoff against the Blues (Hastings, MI) to advance into the playoffs.

MVP pitchers were Duke Vanderark & Tracy Boetsma from Priority Mortgage, each pitcher having 3-0 records. MVP hitter was Rick Rutledge from the Twisters who batted 9 for 12 with 4 walks.

The four-game round robin format draw was made to force match-ups among teams not in the same league and not typically facing each other. A four hour rain delay on Saturday morning forced most of the pool play games to be started in the 3rd inning. I would to extend a sincere thank you to all the teams, fans, players, and umpires (led by UIC Dave Selden) for their patience and good spirit throughout the weekend.

We are already looking forward to next year’s event as rooms to the 3rd floor of the Bavarian Inn Lodge (over-looking the
fields) are already being reserved.

David Lach
Up to Date Painting Fastpitch

The results after round robin play were as follows:
(more…)

The Niagara Snappers competed in the 2nd annual Mickey Brennan Memorial Tournament in Lackawanna, NY and came away with the title after losing their first game and having to play 7 more to win it including 5 on the Sunday. The Snappers got themselves into a hole early by losing to Ricola’s of New Jersey by a score of 1-0. Corey Costello and Jeff VanHooser locked into a classic pitchers battle with each giving up only 1 hit in the game and Costello striking out 19 to VanHooser’s 15.

(Editor’s Note: VanHooser is expected to be with #20 Ashland, OH Merchants at the ToC.)

The Snappers then reeled off victories of 11-2, 10-3, 8-1, 7-1, and 3-2 to make it back to the finals to face Ricola’s again. The offence would make up for their earlier mistakes at the Snappers pounded out 10-2 and 7-0 (mercy) victories to lay claim to the title. For the weekend, the Snappers outscored their opponents 56-12.

This was the first time for the Snappers in this tournament and we want to congratulate everyone associated with it. From the grounds crew to the umpires to the concessions, everything was top notch. We look forward to visiting next year to defend the title.

Peter Dobbin of the Snappers was named the tournament MVP going 14-26 for the weekend with 4 walks and 4 home runs.

Following is a brief summary of the tournament:

1-0 loss to Ricola’s (Corey Costello 1 hit, 19 k’s)
11-2 win against Bear’s Den (Dan Duemo 10k)
10-3 win against Cleveland Red Eye (Jason Paylove 5k)
8-1 win against Big John’s (Byron Demoe 15k)
7-1 win against LA Lounge (Dan Duemo 10k)
3-2 win against #20 Ashland Merchants (Corey Costello 15k)
10-2 win against Ricola’s (Byron Demoe 7k)
7- 0 win against Ricola’s (Dan Duemo 3k)

Home Runs

Peter Dobbin 4
Matt Bedroisian 2
Scott Young 2
Todd Dawdy 2
Trevor Falk 1
Kevin Newhouse 1
Corey Costello 1

from
Dan Bernard
Niagara Snappers