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.
Group A
Casa Trejo – A1 Bombers ( Palm Springs , CA )
River City Rockers ( Citrus Heights , CA )
Team Rainey / IAC (Whittier / Stockton , CA )
DeMarini ( Portland , OR )
Innovative Communications ( Lehi , UT )
Group B
Rude Pac ( Sun Valley , CA )
Manor Dirtbags (Manor, TX)
Black Sox ( Long Beach , CA )
Grillo’s (Santa Cecelia, MX)
Young Bucks ( Santa Barbara , CA )
Saturday June 7 Round Robin Schedule
Game #1 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs River City Rockers
9:00 AM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #2 Rude Pac Vs Manor Dirtbags
9:00 AM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #3 Team Rainey / IAC Vs Innovative Communications
9:00 AM Cabrillo Park
Game #4 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs Portland DeMarini
10:45 AM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #5 Manor Dirtbags Vs Santa Cecelia Grillos
10:45 AM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #6 Long Beach Black Sox Vs Young Bucks
10:45 AM at Cabrillo Park
Game #7 Team Rainey / IAC Vs Portland DeMarini
12:30 PM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #8 Rude Pac V Santa Cecelia Grillos
12:30 PM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #9 Innovative Communications Vs Young Bucks
12:30 PM (Cross/Over Game) Cabrillo Park
Game #10 Casa Trejo Bombers Vs Team Rainey / IAC
2:15 PM Pershing Park – Field #1
GAME #11 Long Beach Black Sox Vs Santa Cecelia Grillos
2:15 PM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #12 River City Rockers Vs Team Rainey / IAC
4:00 PM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #13 Rude Pac Vs Long Beach Black Sox
4:00 PM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #14 River City Rockers Vs Innovative Communications
5:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #15 Manor Dirtbags Vs Young Bucks
5:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #2
Sunday June 8 Elimination Schedule
Game #16 A5 Vs B4
8:30 AM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #17 A4 Vs B5
8:30 AM Cabrillo Park
Game #18 A3 Vs B2
8:30 AM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #19 A1 Vs Winner of Game #16
10:15 AM Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #20 A2 Vs B3
10:15 AM Cabrillo Park
Game #21 B1 Vs Winner of Game #17
10:15 AM Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #22 – Winner of Game #18 Vs Winner of Game #19
12:00 Noon Pershing Park – Field #1
Game #23 – Winner of Game #20 Vs Winner of Game #21
12:00 Noon Pershing Park – Field #2
Game #24 – Championship – Winner of Game #22 Vs Winner of Game #23
1:45 PM Pershing Park – Field #1
Maps and Directions to the two Ball Park facilities can be found through any
standard Internet map program. Use the following addresses:
Pershing Park
100 Castillo St
Santa Barbara , CA 93101
Cabrillo Ball Park
800 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara , CA 93103
Please contact me if anyone has any questions.
See you all in Sunny Santa Barbara!
Dave Blackburn
Tournament Director
2008 Best of The West Tournament
310-266-7803
daveb@virtvent.com