Final Wrap Up 2009 Vancouver Challenge

July 13, 2009

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Vancouver, BC

The 8th Annual edition of the Vancouver Challenge Mens FP tournament concluded Sunday evening, and was undoubtedly our most successful event to date.   Over the course of 3 days the consistent large crowds of fastpitch enthusiasts were treated to some quality team and individual performances.  Mother nature also cooperated throughout the weekend with seasonable summer weather for the first two days and although temperatures were considerably cooler on Sunday, the rain held off until the final out was completed.  
 
The host Vancouver Grey Sox captured the event with a 10 -3 victory in the final game over the Japanese National Team.

Individual Tournament Awards were as follows:
Top Hitter - Hiraku Yokoyama, Team Japan .700 avg
Top Pitcher - Nick Underhill, Vancouver Grey Sox, 3W, 1.21 ERA, 26Ks
MVP - Derek Mayson, Vancouver Grey Sox, 1W, 1 Save, 1.00 ERA, 11Ks .545 batting avg, 4 3B, 7RBIS

Tournament Highlights:

* A very committed and dedicated volunteer group who worked long hours to execute the event.  To the many people who staffed the gate, concession area, beverage gardens, groomed the fields etc. sold 50 /50 tickets and did everything possible to make the event happen we extend a special thanks.

* The largest 3 day crowds in the eight year history of the event, reminding us what makes being at the ball park so special on a nice summer's day.

* A competitive field of teams, who for the most part were evenly matched, including three international national teams (Great Britain, Denmark and Japan) who used the event as tune up for the upcoming ISF World Championship.

* An excellent and cooperative crew of umpires, under the leaderhsip of UIC Bob Henning, whose commitment to the sport was so evident and very much appreciated.
 
* Sincere thanks to our partners South Hill Sports for co - operating the event.
 
All game results including round robin and playoff are enclosed below.
 
The Vancouver Grey Sox now take an 18 day break while the ISF World Championship is completed and will resume action in the month of August with stops at the ASAs in South Bend, Indiana, the ISC World Tournament in Quad Cities and then the Softball Canada National Championship in St. Thomas, Ontario. 

Larry Kancs
President
Vancouver Grey Sox
www.vancouvergreysox.com
 
ROUND ROBIN GAMES
Vancouver Grey Sox 4 - Great Britain National Team 2
WP - Nick Underhill 5IP, 1R, 0BB, 9K, 4H with relief from Derek Mayson 1IP, 1R, 1BB, 2K, 3H
LP -  James Darby 5IP, 4R, 0ER, 3BB, 5K, 2H
Pat Mackintosh homered for the Grey Sox who capitalized on 3 Great Britain errors to score their runs.  Kevin Stockford homered for Great Britain who led 1-0 early in the contest, and had loaded the bases in the final inning with 2 out, before Grey Sox pitcher Derek Mayson recorded a strikeout to end the contest.
 
Vancouver South Hill Giants 5 - Denmark National Team 2
WP - Craig Pidcock 5IP, 1R, 0BB, 6K, 3H with relief from Collin MacKenzie 2IP,1R,1BB,2K,3H
LP - Kim Hansen 5IP, 3R, 3BB, 7K, 1H with relief from Thomas Bonde 2IP, 2R, 2BB, 2K, 3H
Giants DP Frank DeGroat broke open a 1-1 game with a 6th inning bases loaded triple to pace the Vancouver side to victory. 
 
Japan 10 - Sooke Junior A's 0
WP - Kengo Terui 3IP,3K, 0H with relief from Kunihiko Iida 1IP,1K,1H
LP - Scott Lieph 4IP,10R,4BB,3K,9H
Japan showed their speed and power early in this one to cruise to a victory over the young junior side.
 
Vernon, BC DC Arrows 6 - Vancouver Grey Sox 3
WP -Travis Kunz 4IP,3R,3H,2BB,4K with relief from Rob Johnson 3IP,0R,0H,0BB,4K
LP - Travis Price 1.2IP,6R,3H,4BB with relief from Nick Underhill 4.1IP,0R,0H,0BB,7K
Rene Blanleil delivered a three run homerun to provide the Vernon squad with the margin of victory.
 
Great Britain 5 - Kamloops 2
WP - Rich Haldane with relief from Tony Kelly (5)
LP - Scott Austin
 
Japan 8 - Denmark 1
WP - Tatsuya Hamaguche with relief from Hirokazu Murakama (4)
LP - Thomas Bonde with relief from Japer Parduro (5)
 
Vancouver South Hill 4 - Sooke 0
WP - Collin MacKenzie
LP - Ben Oates
 
Great Britain 5 - Vernon 0
WP -Mark Elson
LP - Rob Johnson with relief from Andre Blanleil
 
Japan 4 - Vancouver South Hill 0
WP - Kazutaka Murasato with relief from Kenji Nakamura
LP - John Bishop with relief from Mike Egerdeen

Kamloops 4 - Vernon 2
WP - Darren Strang  
LP - Travis Kunz

Vancouver Grey Sox 8 - Kamloops 2
WP - Nick Underhill in relief of Travis Price
LP - Scott Austin

Denmark 7 - Sooke 2
WP - Henrik Brask
LP - Scott Lieph
 
Standings at the conclusion of the round robin
 
RED POOL
(1) Vancouver Grey Sox 2-1
(2) Great Britain 2-1
(3) Kamloops 1-2
(4) Vernon 1-2
 
BLUE POOL
(1) Japan 3 - 0
(2) Vancouver South Hill 2 - 1
(3) Denmark 1- 2
(4) Sooke 0 - 3
 
PLAYOFF ROUND
Kamloops 1 - Sooke 0 - 11 innings - * a great ball game
WP - Darren Strang, 11IP, 1R, 1BB, 17K, 6H
LP - Ben Oates, 11IP, 1R, 2BB, 11K, 6H
 
Vernon 8 - Denmark 4
WP - Travis Kunz in relief of Rob Johnson
LP - Jesper Panduro with relief from Thomas Bonde and Kim Hansen
Venron exploded for 8 runs in the second inning only to see Denmark respond with 4 in the 3rd.
 
Great Britain 5 - Kamloops 0
WP - James Darby with relief from Mark Elson
LP - Darren Strang with relief from Scott Austin
 
Vancouver South Hill 7 - Vernon 0 - 5 innings
WP - Craig Pidcock
LP - Travis Kunz with relief from Maurice Blanleil
 
Japan 8 - Great Britain 3
WP - Kengo Tarui
LP - Rich Haldane
game was tied at 3 until Japan exploded for 5 runs in the 5th inning.
 
Vancouver Grey Sox 7 - Vancouver South Hill 0 - 6 innings
WP - Derek Mayson, 6IP, 1BB, 9K, 2H
LP - Collin Mackenzie, 5.1IP, 7R, 6ER, 4BB, 3K, 8H
D. Mayson aided his cause with a 3 for 4 performance at the plate, including a single, double and triple and 4 RBIS.
 
Vancouver Grey Sox 10 - Team Japan 3 - 5 innings
WP - Nick Underhill, 5IP, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6K, 5H
LP - Kazutaka Murasato, 2IP, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 3K, 3H
with relief from Hirokazu Murakami and Kenji Nakamura
Vancouver took an early 4 - 0 lead, Japan closed it to 4-3, and then the Grey Sox exploded for 6 runs in the 5th inning.