Archive for August, 2007

ISC Changes that will impact ISC II

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

ISC Changes For 2008
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
There are several significant changes for 2008 that were approved by the ISC Board of Directors in Kitchener and were announced yesterday by ISC Executive Director Ken Hackmeister. Below are the ones that impact ISC II.

For a full list of the changes, click here.

Mexico and Caribbean Now Part of International Region – Effective with the 2008 season, all of Mexico and the Caribbean will be considered part of the International Region. Previously, Mexico was included in both US West and US Central regions and the Caribbean was part of US East region. This means any players living in Mexico or the Caribbean will be considered Out Of Region for US and Canadian based teams.

Mike Cutro New US East Regional Commissioner – Mike Cutro, sponsor and manager of the CPI team of Oswego, NY has been named a US East Regional Commissioner. Mike brings a passion and knowledge of the game including familiarity with the ISC II caliber teams in NY state and New England.

Team Entry Fees $350 for World Tournament and ISC II ToC – Beginning in 2008, all team entry fees are standardized at $350 for both World Tournament and ISC II teams.

Catcher Courtesy Runner Rule Eliminated – The prior rule allowing for a 2-out courtesy runner for the catcher, has been eliminated.

US West Region Changes – El Paso, Hudspeth, Culbertson, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties in west Texas are now part of US West region.

ToC will be 4 days in 2008. – Due to requests from the host committees, the 2008 ISC World Tournament will be a 7-day tournament, from Sunday thru Saturday. Likewise, the ISC II Tournament of Champions will be a 4-day tournament with the precise dates to be determined soon.

Ken Hackmeister
Executive Director
www.iscfastpitch.com
iscken(at)comcast.net

TNT/South Lebanon still relishing tourney win

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

TNT/South Lebanon still relishing tourney win
From the Lebanon Daily News

By DON SCOTT
Sports Correspondent
Lebanon Daily News

It took 20 years, but Lebanon has returned to a top spot in the softball world thanks to South Lebanon/TNT Sanitation’s perfect outing in Kitchener, Ontario.

In 1987, Jolly Molly, a perennial softball powerhouse along with South Lebanon in the local league, won the Class A National title in Redding, Calif.

This year, South Lebanon/TNT went a step better by winning the International Softball Congress II Tournament that featured 35 teams — eight from the U.S. and 27 Canadian squads.

Ranked 10th in the tourney, SL/TNT finished its season with a 51-5 record by winning 20 consecutive games since July 2. Two of those victories came when they defeated the two top-ranked teams in the semifinal and title games in Kitchener to win the championship.

“It was almost 20 years since Jolly Molly won that national tournament,” field manager Lee Lutz said, “but this is much bigger because it was an international tournament. It was also the first time in the six years of the tourney that a team from the United States won it. We went 4-0 in pool play, got a bye in the first round of the single elimination round, so we had one less game to play, then won all four after that.”

The 13 players who made the trip included pitcher Jeremy Tracy, a resident of New Brunswick, Canada, who had to travel at least 16 hours to some locations during the season to play in the Mid-Atlantic League games with SL/TNT.

“Softball is dying in New Brunswick, and he wanted a place to play last year so we contacted him,” Lutz said. “He drove to some games and flew to others the last two years with his dad, who is an assistant coach.”

Tracy won six games while also hitting two home runs in the title game, and Scot Adams of Lebanon won the other two.

After finishing fifth in last year’s tourney, Lee and his brother Irv, who was unable to make the trip, assessed their needs to improve, and thanks to a situation in neighboring Lancaster County, those holes were filled.

“Jay Herr (tourney MVP with seven home runs and 16 RBIs), Jason McClune, Jeremy Gehr and John Lechtel were looking for a place where they could all play this summer because their team folded,” Irv said. “Scot knew about their situation, so we contacted them because they were exactly what we needed.”

Rounding out the other seven spots were Brad Klopp of Sinking Spring; Paul Batt of Harleysville; and Clint Lutz, Mike Rohrer, Bob Wengert, Brad Getz and Mike Nordall, all of Lebanon area.

The South Lebanon franchise started in 1963 and over the years has gone through several sponsor name changes, but the thing that hasn’t changed since that year is that a Lutz has been on the roster.

“I started in ’68 and Lee before that,” Irv said from his hospital bed at the Good Samaritan Hospital where he is being treated for a severe liver problem. “Nobody on the team has been around longer than us. Over the years the team has won a lot of games and tournaments, but nothing compares to this.

“There is nothing higher we could win. It’s bigger than the ASA because there were teams from outside the U.S. Several Canadian teams had players from other countries, and three of the teams there were also from the Mid-Atlantic League to give you an idea of how strong that league is.”

Up until his health deteriorated, Irv was the field manager but turned that position over to Lee last summer while maintaining the duties as chief fundraiser with the help of his wife, Deb.

“It’s very expensive to go to this, especially in Canada with the money difference, plus it runs six days,” he said. “It costs $375 to enter, hotels cost about $4,000, and then there’s the food and gas, which the players pay themselves, plus they have to use vacation time. The total cost was probably around $8,000.

“We raised money all year through golf tournaments, dances, chicken barbecues and profits from the concession stand at Prescott Field. That’s in addition to our sponsor’s money.”

As the defending champion, SL/TNT qualified for the 2008 tourney in Kimberly, Wisc., and that means another plan is required to raise the funds, Irv said.

“As far as the fundraising, I’ll still be involved but won’t be able to do it without Deb’s help and also maybe looking for an additional sponsor. We really appreciate everything Leonard Tobias at TNT has done to this point. He has been great to us the last few years, but there is only so much he can do.

“Everybody on the team expects to return, including Tracy, who has told me his loyalty is to us even though other teams are after him.”

And that’s not a bad point to start from to try and bring more fame to the South Lebanon franchise that will celebrate its 45th year of continuous, successful softball competition.

Team Easton wins Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Canada East ISC II Qualifier for 2008 ToC
Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup
McNab/Braeside, Ontario

Ottawa Team Easton Thunder completed the “if” game sweep of Donnacona Blue Sox Saturday night to win the inaugural Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup and wrap up a berth in the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions.

Jeff Murphy picked up three wins in a row for Team Easton, allowing only 1 run in the process.

Thank you to tournament host Harold MacMillan and the McNab Minor Softball and to Adam Brown for representing the ISC.

Below are the complete results.

Game 1 Fitzroy 5 Stittsville 4 WP-Jim Ryan LP-Dan Bradley
Game 2 Donnacona 3 Quyon 1 WP-Francis Leclair LP-Matt Greer
Game 3 Team Easton 8 Sydenham 1 WP-Dan Konkle LP- Dale Dowdall
Game 4 Stittsville 7 Quyon 0 WP-Dan Bradley LP-Len Burger
Game 5 Donnacona 2 Carp 1 WP-Francis Leclair LP-Trevor Wood
Game 6 Fitzroy 6 Team Easton 3 WP-Steve Cavanagh LP-Jeff Murphy
Game 7 Team Easton 9 Stittsville 2 WP-Jeff Murphy LP-Rob Rattray
Game 8 Carp 3 Sydenham 2 WP-Paul Ceppi LP-Mike Halligan
Game 9 Donnacona 5 Fitzroy 3 WP-Francis Leclair LP-Jim Ryan
Game 10 Team Easton 2 Carp 2 WP-Dan Konkle LP-Neil Cooke
Game 11 Team Easton 7 Fitzroy 0 WP-Jeff Murphy LP-Steve Cavanagh
Game 12 Team Easton 4 Donnacona 0 WP-Jeff Murphy LP-Francis Leclair
Game 13 Team Easton 8 Donnacona 1 WP-Jeff Murphy LP-Jasmin Marcotte

2007 ISC II Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup Champions – Ottawa Team Easton Thunder

Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
blairjs(at)rogers.com

Eastern Ont. Challenge Cup

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Saturday afternoon scores

12:30 pm Gm 7 Ottawa Team Easton 9 Stittsville 2 – Stittsville eliminated
12:30 pm Gm 8 Carp 3 Sydenham 2 -Sydenham eliminated
2:30 pm Gm 9 Donnacona 5 Fitzroy Harbour 3 – 9 innings
2:30 pm Gm 10 Ottawa Team Easton 2 vs Carp 0 – Carp eliminated
4:30 pm Gm 11 Ottawa Team Easton 7 Fitroy Harbour 0 – Fitzroy eliminated
Championship
6:30 pm Gm 12 Donnacona vs Ottawa Team Easton
8:30 pm Gm 13 Donnacona vs Ottawa Team Easton (if necessary)

Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Fri pm/Sat am scores

Canada East ISC II Qualifier for 2008 ToC
Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup tournament
McNab / Braeside, Ontario
Hosted by McNab Minor Softball

Friday August 24
7 pm Gm 2 Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric 5 Stittsville 56ers 4
9 pm Gm 3 Ottawa Team Easton Thunder 8 Sydenham Amey’s 1
9 pm Gm 1 Donnacona Blue Sox 3 Quyon Combat Flyers 1

Saturday August 25
8:30 am Gm 4 Stittsville 7 vs Quyon Combat Flyers 0 – Quyon eliminated
10:30 am Gm 5 Donnacona Blue Sox 2 Carp I4C Victory 1
10:30 am Gm 6 Fitzroy Harbour 6 Ottawa Team Easton 3
12:30 pm Gm 7 Stittsville vs Ottawa Team Easton
12:30 pm Gm 8 Sydenham vs Carp
2:30 pm Gm 9 Fitzroy Harbour vs Donnacona Dia. 1
2:30 pm Gm 10 Winner Gm 7 vs Winner Gm 8 Dia. 2
4:30 pm Gm 11 Winner Gm 10 vs Loser Gm 9 Dia. 1
6:30 pm Gm 12 Winner Gm 9 vs Winner Gm 11 Dia. 1
8:30 pm Gm 13 Loser Gm 12 vs Winner Gm 12 Dia. 1 if necessary

The winner of the Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup will receive a berth in the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions to be held in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Blair Setford
ISC Canada East VP
blairjs(at)rogers.com

DVDs available

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

DVD’s to be made available of Championship Games of ISC WT and ISC II TOC

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

The ISC World Tournament Championship Game, and the ISC II Tournament of Champions Title Game were produced and broadcast on television by Rogers Cable TV in Ontario.

They are making DVD’s available for purchase by Fastball fans worldwide. For more information on pricing and availability, please call or email the following Rogers Cable TV contactperson:

Jen Schmidt
519-893-4400 ext. 8163
jen.schmidt@rci.rogers.com

Plans are to very soon archive on Sportsjuice.com, the video of the games covered by ISC-TV and BallParkRadio, excluding the Championship Game,
which can be purchased, as described above.

Cheers,

Dave Blackburn
ISC Commissioner
Streaming and Broadcasting
daveb(at)virtvent.com

2007 ISC II Final Order of Finish

Monday, August 20th, 2007


2007 ISC II Tournament of Champions
Final Order of Finish

1 South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.
2 Bakersfield, CA California Lumberkings
T3 Castro Valley, CA A-1/Taylor Farms
T3 Niagara, ON Snappers
T5 Wilkes-Barre, PA Keating’s Fitness
T5 Palermo, ON Athletics
T5 Perkasie, PA Hoffman Rise
T5 Ashland, OH Merchants
T9 Shakespeare, ON Falcons
T9 Jarvis, ON Rock
T9 Waterdown, ON Hammer
T9 Oswego, NY CPI
T9 Glencoe, ON Astros
T9 Tavistock, ON Merchants
T9 Rockwood, ON Rush
T9 Port Elgin, ON Blue Devils
T17 Wyevale, ON Tribe
T17 Elora, ON Wellington Brewers
T17 Kitchener, ON Outlaws
T17 Bridgeport, ON Braves
T17 Alvinston, ON Indians
T17 Ottawa, ON Team Easton Thunder
T17 Ephrata, PA Pennsylvania Power
T17 Harriston, ON Mercury’s

2007 ISC II All-Tournament Team

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

MVP – Jay Herr, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.

Top Hitter – Jay Herr, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.

Most RBIs – Jay Herr, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.

Top Pitcher – Jeremy Tracy, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.

Catchers
Jeff Twist, Castro Valley, CA A-1/Taylor Farms
Todd Swift, Linwood, ON 86ers

Pitchers
Jeremy Tracy, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.
Dave Drotzman, Castro Valley, CA A-1/Taylor Farms
Jeff Van Hooser, Ashland, ON Merchants

Infielders
Glenn Inglehart, Palermo, ON Athletics
Brent Moyer, Wilkes-Barre, PA Keating’s Fitness
Jay Herr, South Lebanon, PA T.N.T.
Ryan Dudgeon, Port Elgin, ON Blue Devils
Jeff Detta, Elora, ON Wellington Brewers

Outfielders
Kent Campbell, Rockwood, ON Rush
Joe Allen, Blackburn, ON Bombers
John Sexton, Kitchener, ON Outlaws
Rob Loglisci, Ephrata PA, Pennsylvania Power

Designated Player
Jon Nimmo, Bakersfield, CA California Lumberkings

T.N.T. duo are dynamite!

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

T.N.T.’s dynamic duo of Jeremy Tracy and Jay Herr exploded on the California Lumberkings Saturday morning combining for three home runs, four RBIs and a dominating three-hit pitching performance as the ISC II title heads south of the Canadian border for the first time ever and will reside in South Lebanon, Pennsylvania with T.N.T.

Tracy set the tone early, following a lead-off walk to Bob Wengert with a two-run home run. In the the third inning, Tracy ended Lumberkings’ starter Darren Strang’s day with a solo shot. Herr greeted reliever Ed Gaspar with a first pitch line drive HR, his record 7th of the tournament, to complete the scoring for the new champions.

The Lumberkings got two back in the 5th inning as Jon Nimmo belted another tape measure home run to score Kevin Castillo who had led off the inning with a walk. But that was all for the #2 ranked California team as Tracy shut the door the rest of the way, inducing a ground ball to second for the final out.

Herr was named the MVP and also garnered awards for Top Hitter, .571 heading into action Saturday, and Most RBIs with 16.

Tracy, who finished 7-0, was the Top Pitcher.

After three days of close competition in the round robin portion of the Tournament of Champions, the three playoff rounds on Friday produced even better games and ever-increasing pressure that culminated in two semi-finals that may never be duplicated for sheer drama.

On diamond one, Herr clobbered a rise ball from Niagara Snappers’ ace Corey Costello in the bottom of the first inning to plate himself and Tracy who had walked. The two-run lead would stand into the top of the fifth when Adam Dearborn sent one over the left field bleachers to make it 2-1. In the Snapper sixth, Costello drove a ball into right-center that was never more than 15 feet off the ground when it disappeared between the bleachers to even things at two.

With nothing settled in the 7th, the two teams headed into the eighth using the international tie-breaker rule starting a runner at second. Scott Young executed a perfect sacrifice bunt moving pinch runner Kres Anderson to third. After a walk to Jarrod Burtt, Costello hit a hard two-hopper through a drawn in infield to put the Snappers out in front 3-2. However, that was as far as the last Ontario team would get as they were unable to extend the lead.

In the home half of the 8th, Herr crushed the second pitch over the left-center bleachers for the come-from-behind, walk-off home run to send T.N.T. to the final, setting up the first all-American final.

Over on diamond two, it was a lock that a California team would make the final for the first time as the California Lumberkings were facing A-1/Taylor Farms, their rivals from upstate. A-1/Taylor took an early 3-0 lead on RBI singles by Jason Gluckman in the 2nd inning and by Greg Oliver and Jeff Twist in the 3rd.

The Lumberkings got one back in the 4th as Tim Hunt scored on a passed ball. In the top of the 7th, the Lumberkings closed the gap to 3-2 on an RBI double by Brian Teeters to score pinch runner Ryne Hicks. With the bases loaded, Tim Hunt worked A-1/Taylor pitcher Dave Drotzman for a walk to score Kasey Knight, sending the game into extra innings.

In the Lumkerkings’ 8th, ITB runner Kevin Castillo was sacrificed to third by Chris Hunt and scored on a wild pitch. Jon Nimmo then launched a massive solo HR for what turned out to the be the winning run. For A-1/Taylor in the bottom of the 8th, Rich Moore singled to score Eddie Martin. After a single by Marcus Tan and a walk to Greg Oliver, Jeff Twist bounced into a controversial game-ending double play as it was ruled that Oliver was off the baseline trying to avoid the tag.

Three games. Two extra innings games. Bases loaded pressure. Walk off home runs. Unrivaled drama. One champion. Memories that will last a lifetime. Priceless.

South Lebanon TNT PA New ISC II Champion

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

South Lebanon TNT, Pennsylvania was crowned as champion of the 2007 ISC II Tournament of Champions, topping the Lumberkings of Bakersfield California, 4-2 in the final on Saturday, August 18, behind the pitching and hitting of Jeremy Tracy, and the record setting offensive output of teammate Jay Herr. Herr shattered the ISC II home run record of four by smashing seven home runs — two in the semi-final including a walk off 8th inning home run, and one more in the championship game against Bakersfield. Herr had 16 RBI in the tournament and was hitting .571 going into the final day. Tracy was named the tournament’s top pitcher, while Herr garnered an armful of awards, including best hitter, RBI champion and the Most Valuable Player award.

Bakersfield CA reached the championship game by defeating in-state rival A-1/Taylor Farms of California, 5-4, in 8 innings, a game in which the Lumberkings trailed 3-1 going into the final inning, and which had three consecutive bases loaded frames by the two clubs.

South Lebanon PA reached the title game by defeating the # 1 ranked Niagara Snappers, on Herr’s no-out home run in the bottom of the tie-breaker inning, after Niagara had taken a one run lead in the top of the inning.

In a division long dominated by Ontario area teams, the 2007 title game marked the first all American final. Three of the final four teams hailed from the states and six of the final eight came from the U.S.

The 2008 ISC II Tournament will be held in Appleton Wisconsin.

Watched for Blair Setford’s final recap of the 2007 ISC II Tournament of Champions, here at “The Deuce” blog.

Canadian pitches U.S. team to title

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

From the KW Record

August 20, 2007
CHRISTINE RIVET
RECORD STAFF

KITCHENER

With their familiar-sounding surnames like Wengert, Getz, Lutz and Lechtel echoing from the sound system, it was destiny that the South Lebanon TNT would come to Kitchener from Pennsylvania to find a home away from home.

The TNT ignited for three homers en route to a 4-2 victory over the California Lumberkings, in the International Softball Congress II (second-tier) championship game at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard on Saturday.

Affectionately known as The Deuce, the ISC II tourney is the little brother of the ISC world tournament for senior teams.

Thanks largely to Canadian import pitcher Jeremy Tracey, of Waterville, N.B., South Lebanon becomes the first American entry to win the intermediate title in the event’s six-year history.

Named the 35-team event’s outstanding pitcher, Tracey’s complete-game three-hitter in the final took care of the defence.

His mighty stick, which accounted for a pair of homers and three RBI, provided the necessary offence.

“Our team is mostly all Pennsylvania Dutch,” said TNT field manager Lee Lutz, whose squad amassed a nine-game winning streak in Kitchener. “There’s lots of Mennonites and Amish where we are from, too. It was great coming up here. People here were really nice to us. It was like home a little bit.”

South Lebanon’s third baseman Jay Herr who added a homer in the final was named the tournament’s top hitter. He rang up tournament-leading 16 RBI and batted a glittering .571.

The Bakersfield-based Lumberkings staged a fifth-inning rally, scoring two runs off John Nimmo’s round-tripper. But Tracey retired nine of the next 10 batters he faced.

“We fell a little bit short but we had a pretty good run at it,” said Lumberkings relief pitcher Mike Egerdeen. “That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Born and raised in Kitchener, Egerdeen, 37, is an electrical contractor based in Maple Ridge, B.C. The Bluevale Collegiate grad is one of three Canucks on the Lumberkings’ roster.

South Lebanon bounced the tourney’s top-seeded Niagara Snappers 4-3 in semifinal play.

Kitchener Outlaws right fielder John Sexton was named to the tournament’s all-star team.

In the ISC’s 19 and under North American championship tournament, McDermott’s of Baltimore, Md., captured the title with an 8-1 win over the Glanworth (Ont.) Gators.

American Invasion (aka Damn Yankees!)

Friday, August 17th, 2007

The days of Ontario domination at the ISC II Tournament of Champions has ended (for this year, at least) as five of the seven pools were won by American teams, six of the Elite Eight were from south of the border and three of the Final Four come from below the 49th.

A howling wind seems to have blown in a changing of the guard at the ToC as the eight American teams in the tournament flexed their collective muscles and pushed most of the Ontario teams to the sidelines.

The upsets started in the first playoff game as wildcard Port Elgin Blue Devils finally woke up their slumbering bats and mercied the Harriston Mercury’s 9-1 before falling to A-1/Taylor Farms from California. It took A-1/Taylor nine innings to outlast the scrappy Ashland Merchants team 5-3 after Ashland eliminated the upstart Rockwood Rush. Rockwood had earlier turned out the lights on Pennsylvania Power 3-2.

Another wildcard, Jarvis Rock, ended the hopes of the Elora Wellington Brewers with a walk-off two-run HR by Brian Auld and were then knocked out by South Lebanon T.N.T. The final wildcard, Keating’s Fitness, eliminated Wyevale Tribe and Shakespeare Falcons, before getting dumped by T.N.T. in the the last quarter-final of the night.

Cutro Professional Inspections got a walk-off HR from Shaun Winship to eliminate the Bridgeport Braves before getting raked by the Niagara Snappers in the second round. The Snappers, in an all-GHFL quarter-final, triumphed in a 1-0 nailbiter to end the hopes of last year’s finalist Palermo Athletics. The last Ontario hope, Niagara Snappers, will play T.N.T. in the first semi-final.

California Lumberkings woke up their slumbering bats late in the game to eliminate Glencoe Astros 3-1 after Glencoe had disposed of Alvinston Indians 2-0. The Lumberkings would go on to eliminate Hoffman Rise 3-0, setting up an all-California semi-final matchup against A-1/Taylor.

Possible MVP candidates include Jeremy Tracy of T.N.T., Trevor Falk of Niagara and Jeff Twist of A-1/Taylor while Top Pitchers include Tracy, Jeff Van Hooser of Ashland, Corey Costello of Niagara, A-1/Taylor’s Dave Drotzman and Mike Egerdeen of the Lumberkings.

All three of the ISC II games on Championship Saturday can be heard at www.ballparkradio.com with both semi-finals starting at 9 am.