Fastball legend Darren Zack, pitching for the Ohsweken Redmen, makes short work of the Shakespeare Falcons’ Reid Yantzi, including a beauty of a changeup. You can watch in standard definition or click the HD button in the bottom right of the video to see in high definition.
Archive for June, 2009
Darren Zack video from Innerkip
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009Passing of Lloyd Poirier
Monday, June 29th, 2009We regret to pass along news of the passing of ToC umpire Lloyd Poirier of Nova Scotia.
Please see the tribute page at Al’s Fastball.
International teams touring Ontario
Monday, June 29th, 2009Editor’s Note: The following is from Fred Follings, pitcher with the Shakespeare Falcons. ISC II fans know Fred mostly from his stint with Tavistock Merchants, where he was a stalwart from 2002 through 2005. Last year, Fred was with Bridgeport and helped lead the Braves to a top 10 finish. One of the top arms in The Deuce, Fred will get a chance to test his skills against the best in the game in the upcoming 10 days.
Hello all,
In the next few weeks the Australian and New Zealand national men’s fastball teams will be touring [southwestern] Ontario as a tune up for the International Softball Federation tournament in Saskatchewan in August. There is also a top level club team tournament in tournament in Monkton on the weekend of July 3-5.
I have been selected as an All Star for my club team and we will be playing these teams in a number of places and on a number of dates over the next two weeks. For those familiar with my club team, the Shakespeare Falcons, our shortstop Reid Yantzi has also been selected to be on the All Star team. This is a great opportunity to support some local fastball associations and see the top caliber teams and players from around the world in your own back yard. It’s also a chance to see what I spend all my summers doing! Here are the dates, locations, and times for the games. I hope to see you there!
Wednesday, July 1, Canada Day-Drayton, ON, 7pm , vs. Team New Zealand.
Friday, July 3– Monkton, ON, 4pm, vs. Saskatoon Aspen Interiors. (2nd place finishers in last year’s ISC club team championships)
Saturday, July 4– Monkton, ON, 8am vs. The Farm Tavern, Madison, Wisconsin. (3rd place finishers in last year’s ISC club team championships)
Saturday, July 4– Monkton, ON, 10am vs. Kitchener Rivershark Twins. (1st place finishers in last year’s ISC club team championships)
Sunday July 5– Monkton, ON, 3pm vs. Team New Zealand.
Wednesday, July 8– Milverton, ON, 7pm, vs. Team Australia.Here is a link to the Monkton tournament website and to my league’s website so you can see who else made the South Perth All Star team.
Thanks again, all.
Monkton World Fastball Invitational
South Perth Men’s Fastball LeagueFred Follings
Shakespeare Falcons
Port Huron Qualifier
Monday, June 29th, 2009Click logo to see original story
Softball tourney sees change
Director says fastpitch format is only way to go
By RICK JAKACKI
Times HeraldA new era of the Quay Street Brewery Blue Water Invitational gets under way Friday night at Pine Grove Park.
The event, which annually has drawn some of the best modified softball teams in the country to Port Huron, now is a fastpitch qualifier for the International Softball Congress II (ISC-II) Tournament of Champions.
Tournament director Kurt Schieman said he has commitments from five teams, including three from the Blue Water Area. Registration deadline is Tuesday, so he still might add a few teams.
“This is, without a doubt, the only move I could have made,” Schieman said of the switch to fastpitch. “Do you continually try to fix a boat when it’s sinking? Or do you buy a new boat? Modified is dead.”
Schieman said it became tougher every year to draw modified teams, many of which now are playing fastpitch.
The area teams competing — the Secory Flyers, Alexander’s Stallions and Port Huron Lanes Hurricanes — are members of the Port Huron Competitive Sports Association’s modified league. Each, however, is expected to add a top-notch fastpitch pitcher for the three-day tournament.
The other teams in the field are from Ontario: the Ohsweken Redmen and the Alvinston Indians. The Redmen are led by legendary pitcher Darren Zack, who helped Canada win gold medals in two Pan American Games and numerous other championships.
Schieman said having the Redmen and Indians alone will translate into better softball than the tournament offered a year ago.
Added St. Clair’s Todd Kulling, an ADCO Toolshed (New Jersey) outfielder who will play for the Stallions in the invitational: “Hopefully, with fastpitch, it should (equate to) better, more competitive, tight games.”
ADCO has earned a berth to the Tournament of Champions, otherwise Kulling said it also would have participated.
He added fastpitch games usually are low-scoring and consist of “a lot more” bunting, basestealing and hitting and running than its modified counterpart.
Even though the tournament is a qualifier, Schieman said he plans to have a pool-play round to seed the teams for single-elimination play.
“This (tournament) eventually is going to be a great thing,” he said. “It’s going to be real interesting this year, for sure.”
Additional Facts
SOFTBALL WATCH
WHAT: Quay Street Brewery Blue Water Invitational
WHEN: Friday to July 5
WHERE: Pine Grove Park
TEAMS: Secory Flyers, Port Huron Lanes Hurricanes, Alexander’s Stallions, Ohsweken (Ontario) Redmen, Alvinston (Ontario) Indians.
FORMAT: Round robin, followed by a single-elimination round.
AT STAKE: Berth in the International Softball Congress II Tournament of Champions
How the top 10 did this weekend
Monday, June 29th, 20091 Waterdown, ON Hammer off, Au Sable Forks next
2 Ashland, OH Stock Pack off, Lackawanna next
3 Ottawa, ON Team Easton off, Oswego next (as Kars)
4 Port Elgin, ON Blue Devils 1st at Wyevale
5 K-W, ON Cubs off, OASA Elims next
6 Elmira, ON Expos 0-4 in Jarvis
7 Bridgeport, ON Braves off, OASA Elims next
8 Dundas, ON CPI Classics off, Oswego next
9 Portland, OR Columbia River Rockers off, Vancouver Challenge next
10 Palermo, ON Athletics 1-2 in Wyevale
Wyevale Tournament scores
Sunday, June 28th, 2009Courtesy Al’s Fastball
Click here for Mike Kelly’s wrap up note to Al’s including links to game highlights.
On a beautiful Friday evening in the Georgian Bay area, local residents were treated to some well played fastball, as 3 of the 4 opening games were decided by 1 run and 2 or them required extra innings to decide the winner.
Game #1
Minesing 1 #10 Palermo 0
(8 Innings)
WP Glover
LP PhillipsGame #2
Georgian Bay 6 Toanche 0
WP Mink
LP PatenaudeGame #3
#11 Kitchener 3 #30 Wyevale 2
WP Ross
LP PhillipsGame #4
Waterloo 7 Orangeville 6
(9 Innings)
WP Faulkner
LP DettaSaturday, morning
Game #5
Minesing 9 Linwood 5
WP Priest
LP KellyGame #6
Napanee 6 Wyevale 0
WP Garrity
LP GiffenGame #7
Cobourg 13 Toanche 1
WP Linton
LP SutherlandGame #8
Port Elgin 8 Orangeville 2
WP Hamilton
LP GordonGame #9
Palermo 5 Linwood 3
WP McColl
LP CaugmillGame #10
Kitchener 2 Napanee 0
WP Hoffman
LP MacDonaldGame #11
Cobourg 5 Geo Bay 3
WP Wells
LP JacksonGame #12
Port Elgin 7 Waterloo 1
WP Fawcett
LP FaulknerGame #13
Geo Bay 2 Wyevale 0
WP Jackson
LP GiffenGame #14
Waterloo 4 Linwood 1
WP McLean
LP KellyGame #15
Orangeville 1 Palermo 0
WP Detta
LP ScottGame #16
Napanee 9 Toanche 1
WP Garrity
LP PatenaudeQuarter Finals are set:
Minesing v Geo Bay
Kitchener v Waterloo
Cobourg v Orangeville
Port Elgin v NapaneeSunday
Game #17
Geo Bay 3 Minesing 2
WP Jackson
LP GloverGame #18
Kitchener 5 Waterloo 0
WP Ross
LP FaulknerCobourg 9 Orangeville 3
WP Linton in relief of Evans
LP Gordon with relief from AndersonBut, raining now, so we are in holding pattern right now
Back under way…Port Elgin 4 Napanee 2
WP Smith
LP GarritySemi Final #1
Kitchener 5 Geo Bay 3
WP Ross
LP JacksonNote: Semi Finals have been shortened to 5 Innings. Cool and overcast, but no rain since about 1:00
Port Elgin 5 Cobourg 3
WP Fawcett Save Christie
LP Skelton relief LintonChampionship game
Port Elgin 8 Kitchener 3
WP Smith in relief of Hamilton
LP Hoffman with relief from Ross
Co-Players of the game Aaron Whitney & Mike Reilly. Both had 3 run home runs to pace the Port Elgin offense.
Michael Kelly
Tribe Fastball
ISC II Scores from Eau Claire
Sunday, June 28th, 2009UPDATED
#17 Minnesota Angels, #21 ASB Villard and n/r Wilber Lime are the three ISC II teams playing in the Eau Claire Classic.
The tournament got off to a great start last night, with ASB-Villard defeating Wilber Lime with a two out single in the bottom of the 7th to plate the winning run. Farm Tavern, always a favorite of the fans here in Eau Claire did not disappoint with their opening game as they defeated The Bar – Green Bay by a score of 9-1.
The crowds on Friday were FANTASTIC as was the weather. A beautiful night in the Chippewa Valley for fastpitch softball! Rain came in over night and lingered into the morning, but the fields were superb by the start of the first game at 10:00am. With the rain over and clouds lifting, the crowds are starting to build again for what promises to be some great games later this evening.
We are experiencing some difficulties with our wireless connection at the Gelein Field Press Box. We will continue to send game reports through as quickly as possible. Pool Play action continues through this evening, with the elimination bracket beginning Sunday at 9:00am.
We look forward to bringing you all the action as fast as we can, you can also view articles on the tournament by going to the Leader Telegram web site www.leadertelegram.com
Stu Taylor
Tournament Director
Eau Claire Classic
ASB Villard 6
Wilber Lime 5
Albaugh 5
Angels 2
MidWest 22
ASB Villard 0
The Farm 15
Angels 0
Wilber Lime 7
Bar of Appleton 0
Bar of Green Bay
Angels 0
Bar of Appleton 10
ASB Villard 3
MidWest 9
Wilber Lime 1
For full results, click here.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Hey softball fans, it’s elimination day here at Carson Park in Eau Claire for the 43rd Annual Eau Claire Classic. Teams completed pool play rounds last night as Midwest Stampede grabbed the #1 seed going into today. Farm Tavern was #2, Albaugh #3, The Bar of Appleton was #4, and The Bar – Green Bay #5. In the ISC II Division ASB-Villard was awarded the #1 seed, Wilber Lime #2, and the MN Angels #3.
Crowds were light on Saturday but steady as many fans showed up to watch Farm Tavern play in the afternoon and evening. Sunday morning we have bright blue sky’s and a strong wind blowing out on both diamonds. We did have a quick game this morning in our ISC II Division with the MN Angels defeating Wilber Lime 8-1 in 5 innings. Kevin Kamamueler was the winning pitcher and has thrown all 4 games thus far for the Angels. We will see if he has one more in him as they move on to face ASB-Villard at 1pm today for the ISC II Title.
ISC II CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
—————————————–
MINNESOTA ANGELS…. 110 002 5 – 9 11 2
ASB-VILLARD……… 000 013 0 – 4 10 1
—————————————–
MINNESOTA ANGELS IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
—————————————————————————-
KAMMUELLER,KEVIN W…….. 7.0 10 4 3 3 9 0 0 0 0 32 35 3 8
ASB-VILLARD IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
—————————————————————————-
COOLEY,JOEL L…………. 7.0 11 9 8 3 6 0 0 0 0 33 36 4 11
Perfect squeeze executed by Port Elgin
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Darryl McKinnon (batting) and Shawn Detzler of the Port Elgin Blue Devils work the squeeze bunt to perfection against the Orangeville Kings in Sunday morning action at the 2009 Innerkip ISC II qualifier. You can watch in standard definition or click the HD button in the bottom right of the video to see in high definition.
CPI’s Rankin Called Out For Leaving Early on Tag Up Play
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
With CPI’s Keith Rankin at second base, batter Craig Buttar flies out to left field. Rankin advances to third on the play but is called out for leaving early to the delight of the Port Elgin Blue Devils. You can watch in standard definition or click the HD button in the bottom right of the video to see in high definition.
Keith Rankin video clip from Innerkip Qualifier
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
CPI’s Keith Rankin doubles home Charlie Walseman in the loser’s bracket final against Port Elgin Blue Devils. Pitching for Port Elgin is Scott Smith. You can watch in standard definition or click the HD button in the bottom right of the video to see in high definition.
Fred Follings video clip from Innerkip
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Shakespeare Falcons’ Fred Follings gets Wyevale Tribe’s Mike Kelly to pop out to end the inning in their opening night match-up at the 2009 Innerkip ISC II qualifier. You can watch in standard definition or click the HD button in the bottom right of the video to see in high definition.
#6 Elmira Expos in Jarvis
Sunday, June 28th, 2009UPDATED
ISC #6 First Ontario Jarvis Gamblers – 3
ISC II #6 Elmira Erb Electric Expos – 2
WP- Paul Koert
LP- Casey Halstead
ISC #9 Midland Explorers – 6
Elmira Expos – 5
WP- Brian Urquhart
LP- Dan Martin
ISC #10 St Thomas Centennials – 12
Elmira Expos – 0
WP- Scott Wagar
LP- Casey Halstead
Playoffs:
St Thomas – 2
Elmira – 1
WP- Scott Wagar
LP- Dan Martin