Editor's Note: (We posted a link to this piece last Friday, but we're told that some people had trouble accessing, so decided to repost at in full at Fastpitch West. Enjoy.) Like many of you, we are following the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Being that we are here in So Cal, you'll have to excuse a little extra coverage of the Dodgers. Today, we share some of the Freddie Freeman home run videos, and a piece about the lead play-by-play broadcaster for … [Read More...]
Feature Stories
Brent Stevenson – ISC Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
Our final "Cliff Notes" on the ISC's upcoming Hall of Fame Class of 2025: From the official ISC Website Previously announced in 2023, Brent Stevenson was a star for the Decatur ADM teams in the 1980s making ISC All World First Team in 1984 and 1985 and ISC All World Second Team in 1987 with Decatur Pride. He won 12 games in a row at the World Tournament from 1981-1984 and finished with 23 career ISC wins. Brent went on to star in the Legends division with another 20 career … [Read More...]
Netherland’s Women’s Team Adds Mark Smith to Coaching Staff
Netherlands Eyes Spot on Podium at 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles Editor's Notes: First saw Mark Smith pitch in Southern California, with Camarillo Kings, when he was 26. No one, IMHO, threw harder than Smith. Mark won back-to-back ISC World Tournament titles in 1981 and 1982 with the Kings, and had an illustrious career pitching for Team Canada. After he retired from pitching, he applied his talents as a coach, first to the Canadian Men's National team, and later, the Canadian Women's … [Read More...]
Hill Family – ISC Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
Our second-to-last "Cliff Notes" on the ISC's upcoming Hall of Fame Class of 2025: From the official ISC Website: The Hill Family, Ohsweken, ON, founded the Hill United Chiefs in 2012 and nearly won the ISC World Tournament in their inaugural season. Since then, the Chiefs have become one of the most successful teams in the history of the ISC. The extended Hill family helps to support local teams and tournaments across southern Ontario to assist in promoting the sport. Their love of the … [Read More...]
Throwback Thursday – 1968 ISC World Tournament
Editor's Note: Retrieved from the Red Meairs Archives. (Red Meairs, ISC Hall of Fame manager of the 10-time World Champion Long Beach Nitehawks) This one should say "Throw-Way-Back". 1968. For perspective, we had not yet landed on the moon. It's a few pages from the ISC's printed newspaper/magazine from the 1968 ISC World Tournament, including the Winners and Loser's Brackets (up to the Winner's Bracket Final Four.) The tournament was held in Rock Island, Illinois. The tournament … [Read More...]
Schedule for Nor Cal USA Softball Tournament – Nov. 2-3, 2024 at Hayward CA
2024 SF Bay Area Amigos Tournament Schedule 2024 14th ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AMIGOS MAJOR/OPEN FASTPITCH INVITATIONAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT NOVEMBER 2-3, 2024 HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA USA All Games will be played at the Alden E. Oliver Sports Park, 2580 Eden Park Place, Hayward CA Played in Loving Memory of CJ DeDeaux II SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND … [Read More...]
Jon Kegel – ISC Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
From the Official ISC Website: Jon Kegel, Fargo, ND, has been managing and sponsoring men’s and youth teams in North Dakota for more than 35 years - among them the Kegel Black Knights and Kegel Signs - winning multiple state and regional championships along with a coveted national championship in 2020. His U23 teams also won multiple ISC Development tournaments in the 90s and 2000s. Jon was instrumental in bringing the ISC World Tournament to Fargo in 2004 and for many year’s was the … [Read More...]
RIP, Fernando Valenzuela
By Jim Flanagan Fernando Valenzuela, the Mexican pitching legend who ignited "Fernandomania" and transformed the Los Angeles Dodgers' relationship with their community, was more than just a baseball player – he was a cultural icon who bridged divides and inspired generations. Rising from humble beginnings in Etchohuaquila, Mexico, Valenzuela burst onto the Major League scene in 1981 with one of baseball's most remarkable debuts. As a 20-year-old rookie, he opened the season with a … [Read More...]
Keith Erkenbrack – ISC Hall of Fame – Class of 2025
From the official ISC Website: … [Read More...]
Jeremy Manley – ISC Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Click the audio to listen to this post. From the official ISC Website: Jeremy Manley arrived in Pueblo, CO with the Bandits in 2001 as a young man and instantly elevated the Bandits. A power pitcher with terrific movement on his pitches, Jeremy was a threat to beat any team single-handedly. He was named to three ISC All World First Teams and one ISC All World Second Team during his 16 ISC World Tournaments. He notched 33 wins, which places him in the top 20 all-time. Always a high … [Read More...]
Bob Otto Among ISC Hall of Fame Inductees in 2025
Otto will join players Jeremy Manley and Brent Stevenson, long-time ISC administrator Keith Erkenbrack, Jon Kegel and the Hill Family From the Official ISC Website: Originally hailing from Minnesota, Robert (Bob) Otto, Yucaipa, CA, is a longtime fastpitch pitcher, photographer, writer and newspaperman. In the late heyday of the game in 1990s through the early 2000s, Bob was fastpitch’s most prolific writer, and published articles and game photos regularly at his own website Otto in … [Read More...]
14th Amigos Fastpitch Tournament – San Francisco Bay area – Nov. 2-3, 2024
Editor's Note: the "We are hosting" refers to Vanessa O'Laughlin, Ricky Sivilla and Marcus Tan. At press time, they are looking to add another team, contact them for more information. Tournament to be held at Alden E. Oliver Sports Park, in Hayward CA, about an hour South East of San Francisco, on the other side of the bay. … [Read More...]
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