2009 Snapper Shootout Update
May 28, 2009
Niagara on the Lake, ON
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
Just over 1 week away from the 2009 Snapper Shootout and every thing is set to go,with 16 of the top Junior and ISC II teams in the field, it looks like it willbe a very competitive weekend of fastball. The action gets underway on Friday June 5th with 6 games schedule including The Ohsweken Redmen led by the legend Darren Zack taking onthe host Niagara Snappers at 9pm. Saturday will see 18 games being played, withthe top 8 teams advancing to Sunday’s single elimination round.
Full results will be sent on a daily basis to Al’s Fastball as well as beingposted on the GHFL forum (www.ghfl.com/forum). We will also be sending updates throughout the day by Blackberry to Al’s Fastball. With Al being in Kitchener that same weekend at the Legend’s tournament, he will be updating his site periodically throughout the day.
The St. Catharine’s Storm Bantam Girl’s Softball team will be volunteering at the Shootout this year and will be selling 50/50 tickets tohelp fundraise for their team’s expenses in 2009. The Snappers have developed apartnership with the Storm and have been running clinics throughout the winterand spring with the team.
The Razorbax will be performing in the Beer Garden on Saturday night as games for the day come to an end. Always entertaining, the Razorbax are back for their 3rd straight appearance and make Saturday night at the Shootout a memorable one. Especially when the Bridgeport Bravesare there!
Divisionsand Schedule can be found on the Niagara Snapper’s website at www.niagarasnappers.com, on the lefthand side of the home page click on DOWNLOADS.
look at the teams in this year’s field. ISC II pre-season rankings are brackets (N/R denotes NOT RANKED)
Ashland Stockpack (#1)
Ashland returns to the Shootout for the 5th consecutive year. The Stockpack are comingoff 2nd straight a tied for 5th place finish at the 2008 ISC IITournament of Champions and will be looking to improve on a 2-0-1 record in theShootout where they were ousted by the Hamilton Hawks and pitcher Greg Garrityin the quarterfinals by a 1-0 score.. The Stockpacks best Shootout finish was in 2005, when they finished in2nd place, having knocked off Keating Fitness to get to the final.
Bridgeport Braves(#2)
The Braves are coming back for the 2nd year in a row. Bridgeport finished a disappointing 0-3at the 2008 Shootout and are looking to exact some revenge in 2009. Recently reclassified pitcher Jeremy DeBelleval leads a team laden with veterans that are no strangers to playing on Sunday. Bridgeport finished tied for 9th at the 2008 ISC Tournament of Champions. The team plays out of the South PerthMen’s Fastball League.
Elmira Expos (#10)
The Elmira Erb Electric Expos return for year threeand really were the talk of the Shootout in 2008 finishing round robin playwith a 1-1-1 record before making a run in the elimination round. Although falling to the Palermo Athletics in the semi-finals, the young team from Elmira showed everyone thatthey belong amongst the top intermediate teams in the country. Elmira also competed in the 2008 JuniorMen’s National Championships were they earned a silver. The team plays out of the South PerthMen’s Fastball League.
Hamilton Hawks (N/R)
The Hawks return to the Shootout for the 3rd consecutive year (4 of5) and are eager improve upon their amazing run to the semi-finals of theShootout in 2008. Greg Garrity paced Hamilton on the mound and at the dish to helpthe team finish 2-1 in the round robin before eventually losing to thetournament champion California Lumberkings in the semi-finals on Sunday. Hamilton has a history of being one ofthe top teams in the Golden Horseshoe Fastball League.
Linwood Chiefs (N/R)
This will be Linwood first year playing in the Snapper Shootout. They play out of Linwood and compete inthe South Perth Men’s league. Last year five members were on the Elmira Junior squad that lost in thefinals of the junior Canadians. Twoyears ago this squad won a berth in the Midget Canadians inSaskatoon. They are a closely knitgroup of local guys that have played together since peewee in small townOntario.
Napanee North Key Junior Express (N/R)
Napaneeis another top junior team in Ontario and will be making their 3rdconsecutive trip to the Shootout. The Junior squad comes to us from the LFL and after a successful 2007Shootout where they made it to the quarterfinals, were disappointed at the 2008Shootout finishing with a 1-2 record and failing to make it to Sunday. With another year of experience under theirbelts, they look forward to improving upon their results this year.
Newmarket Jr. Mens Team (N/R)
TheNewmarket Jr. Mens team is excited aboutparticipating in the Shootout for the first time. Newmarket was bronzemedalists in Ontario “B” provincial play last year in their firstyear of junior play. In 2007 they were Ontario Provincial “A”Champions going undefeated and ISC U19 Central North American Champions inFrankenmuth, Michigan. In 2006 they were Ontario Provincial “B”Champions. The team plays in the Oshawa & District Men’s FastballLeague
New York Gremlins (ISC #13)
TheGremlins are making their first appearance at the Shootout in 2009. Last year the Gremlins lost in thesemi-finals at the ISC Tournament of Champions and have decided to move up andparticipate in the ISC World Tournament in 2009. An impressive pitching staff of BillHillhouse, Bryan Newton and Jeremy Tracey anchors this team, with an offenseled by 2007 ISC TofC MVP Jay Herr along with a greatmixture of former modified and ISC players.
Niagara Falls Fury (N/R)
TheFury are making are back in the Shootout after a 1 year absence. The Fury is a talented team out of theGolden Horseshoe Fastball League where they are perennial contenders to theGHFL title. With the addition ofTom Berube for the Shootout, the Fury are poised to make a run at coming out oftheir division with either the #1 or #2 seed in order to make it toSunday. Phil John, Rob Greatrix andMark Korten are the core of the Fury offense along with Berube.
Niagara Falls Dawgs (N/R)
TheDawgs are a new entry to the Shootout in 2009. The team was founded only a few shortyears ago and has grown by leaps and bounds since that time, losing to theNiagara Snappers in the GHFL finals last year. The Dawgs are a very young, quick,athletic team that will capitalize on another team’s mistakes and makethem pay. The Dawgs play out of theGolden Horseshoe Fastball League.
NiagaraSnappers (N/R)
The host team is looking to improve upon and 0-3 finish at the 2008 Shootoutthat saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in the tournaments 6 yearhistory. The Snapperscompeted at their first ever ISC World Tournament last year and hope thatexperience will help them regain their winning ways at the Shootout. Much of the team is back for 2009 alongwith newcomers Ryan Rothwell and Glen Crocker. The Snappers will be playing anIntermediate schedule as well as competing in the Golden Horseshoe FastballLeague where they won the league title last year.
Ohsweken Redmen (#16)
TheRedmen will be making their 2nd straight appearance at theShootout. Re-classified pitcherDarren Zack, who is a legend in the sport, will be leading the way for theRedmen. With a powerful battinglineup and strong defense, the Redmen will look to make some noise after adisappointing 0-3 record in 2008. The Redmen play out of the Erie Fastball League where they are aperennial powerhouse.
Port Elgin BlueDevils (#11)
TheBlue Devils are back for the 2nd consecutive year at the Shootoutand are looking to avenge their 1-2 record from 2008 where they failed toadvance to Sunday. Pitching,hitting and defense, are all there for this young, talented team. the Blue Devils failed to qualify forthe 2008 ISC Tournament of Champions after finishing tied for 9th atthe 2007 ISC TofC. Port Elgin plays out of the Blue WaterFastball League and is a powerhouse within the league. The team will also be competing in theISC Travel League this year.
Shakespeare Falcons(#26)
TheFalcons return to the Shootout for the 2nd consecutive year (3 of4). Shakespeare surprised many lastyear with their 2-0-1 record to finish 1st in their pool, but wereknocked off in the quarterfinals by the eventual tournament championsCalifornia Lumberkings in a 1-0 thriller. Pitcher Fred Follings is the cornerstone of this team and will be a hugefactor in how far they can advance. Shakespeare failed toqualify for the 2008 ISC Tournament of Champions after finishing tied for 9that the 2008 ISC II TofC. The team plays out of the South PerthMen’s Fastball League.
Team Quebec Combat(#36)
TeamQuebec is making their first trip to the Snapper Shootout in 2009. A very young, talented team led on themound by Andrew Hathway and Francois LeClaire. Team Quebec will be looking to make somenoise at this year’s Shootout and may surprise some teams.
Wyevale Tribe (#25)
The Tribe return to the Shootout for their 3rd consecutive year willhope to improve on their 1-2 record from 2008. The Tribe is lead by young fireballer Jason Giffen and is ayoung but very experienced team. Wyevale will be playing in two leagues in 2008, the SRFL as well as theISC Travel League of Eastern Canada. The Tribe tied for 17th at last year’s ISC II TofC.
PerryBartley
