The 18th Annual Best of the West Men’s fastball Tournament will be held June 7 – 8 in Santa Barbara , CA.
The Tournament is the longest running open tournament, held annually in California . Ten teams will vie for the 2008 Championship, with a berth in the 2008 ISC World Tournament, and a berth in the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions will be awarded, to the highest finishing teams in each category.
Heading the field will be the 2007 ISC World Tournament Runner Up, the Casa Trejo Bombers of Palm Springs. Team Rainey / IAC boasts and the DeMarini ball club from Portland , Oregon are all attempting to qualify for the 2008 ISC World Tournament.
Among the teams leading the charge to win the berth in the ISC II Tournament of Champions are the ISC II #17 River City Rockers ball club, based in the Sacramento area. The Rockers are fresh off a championship win at the Grants Pass , Oregon Boatnik Tournament that was held on Memorial Day weekend. Rockers Pitcher Ed Gasper shared the Co-Outstanding Pitcher honors at Grants Pass with Portland ’s Matt Barnes. Also named to the All Tournament team were Rockers Rob Penticoff, David Bostick, and Mark Summers.
ISC II #46 Innovative Communications of Lehi, Utah has won the last two Best of The West Tournament Championships. Catcher / GM Brandon Bingham leads a potent offensive attack for the Utah club. Steve Black, who was named Outstanding Pitcher at the 2007 Best of The West, is a very effective veteran right hander,
The ISC II #35 Rude Pac ball club of Sun Valley , CA has a pitching staff featuring Greg “Spud” Barker, Mark Bennett, and Gerald Pyle. In August of 2007, Rude Pac captured the NAFA A-Major World Series Championship.
The Young Bucks under 23 team ran by Santa Barbara ’s Clyde Bennett will be preparing for their run at the 2008 under 23 National Championship. The 2007 SCIFL Champions Long Beach Black Sox will be competing in their first Best of The West Tournament this year. The team is lead by GM / OF / C Fred Hanker and change-up specialist pitcher Ronny Rupp.
The Manor Dirtbags of Texas will be coming in for the Tournament and feature veteran Texas pitching Ace Johnny Mize. The always tough Grillos Team from Mexico is lead by the 2005 Best of the West MVP Arturo Solano.
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