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August2015

Durham Bulls slug way to ISC Legends Championship

August 16, 2015

South Bend, IN

 

ORIGINAL STORY By Bob Otto - the best sports writer in Fastball

Durham Bulls slug way to ISC Legends Championship

Written by Bob on August 16th, 2015

Tim Jacobs went 4-0 to lead the Durham Bulls to the 2015 ISC Legends Tournament Championship. Jacobs was selected the Most Valuable Pitcher of the 12-team event that features some of the most talented teams, over age 50, in North America. Photo Courtesy of Dave Birnie

Tim Jacobs went 4-0 to lead the Durham Bulls to the 2015 ISC Legends Tournament Championship. Jacobs was selected the Most Valuable Pitcher of the 12-team event that features some of the most talented teams, over age 50, in North America. Photo Courtesy of Dave Birnie

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Despite reaching a stage in life known as Quinquagenarian – a fancy title for a person between 50-60 years old – the Bulls of Durham, Ontario, Canada, proved they still have the skills to play fastpitch softball.

Especially swinging a bat.

Powered by a strong-hitting lineup of ISC Hall of Famers and former All-World players, the Bulls defeated the Toronto Gators, 10-3, to claim the 2015 ISC Legends Tournament at Belleville Softball Park, Saturday.

BALL BASHING BULLS

The 12-team tournament featured some of the most talented, age 50-over teams in North America. But the Bulls were the cream of the crop. They bullied their way through the competition winning six consecutive games and outscoring their opponents 54-32.

In the championship, the Bulls outhit the Gators 16 to 6, led by Rick Minton, who drove in three runs on two hits with a home run and a single.

Paul Walford (1995, 2000 ISC All-World) and Jody Hennigar (2011 ISC Hall of Fame) gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead to start the game on a hit and sacrifice fly. Then in the second, shortstop David Boys (2013 ISC Hall of Fame) singled in a run and Minton launched a two-run bomb over the left-field fence for a 5-1 margin.

PRICE GOES LONG BALL

But the Gators had a few players of lore on their side as well. Including cleanup hitter Steve Price – an All-World player in 1998 – who drilled a home run over the left-centerfield wall with Terry Challis (2015 ISC Hall of Fame inductee) aboard in the third to trim the Bulls’ lead to 5-3.

LEFTY JACOBS MVP

Though Bulls’ pitcher Tim Jacobs gave up Price’s home run, he was steady throughout the game, walking one and scattering six hits with eight strikeouts.

The left-hander mixed in a sharp-breaking drop that he spotted on the corners, along with changing speeds and a rise ball that he had hitters chasing above the letters, or freezing them at the knees.

The win improved Jacobs to 4-0, and he was a worthy pick for the Most Valuable Pitcher award.

ELLIS EXTENDS THE LEAD

The Bulls gave Jacobs all the runs he would need in the sixth, when Ken Sherman led off with a double, and Minton, Walford, and Brian McGuire (3-for-4 to lead the Bulls) all hit safely driving in three more runs.

And in the seventh, Rob Ellis homered over the left-field wall, and Boys ripped a double to the centerfield fence, driving in Chris Giamou (2-for-3), who rapped a two-out single, to get aboard.

BULLS PATH TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Bulls reached the championship by defeating the Gators earlier in pool play, 7-1. They also beat the Bay Merchants, 10-6, Waterloo Legends, 18-15, Rogers Masters, 7-6, and Eagle Pack, 2-1 with Jacobs outdueling Kevin Kammueller to get the Bulls into the title game.

TORONTO MARCHES TO FINAL

Meanwhile, the Gators finished 4-2. They beat Ohio Battery, 7-0, in their opener, then lost to the Bulls, but finished on a three-game win streak, downing Rogers Masters, 8-0, Waterloo Legends, 7-4, and the Midland Legends, 3-0.

AWARD WINNERS

Along with Jacobs’ post-tournament honor, Boys was the RBI Leader with nine, and Walford was selected the Most Valuable Player for his .500 average (12-for-24), 8 runs, 8 RBI, two doubles and two home runs.

And Jeff Weaver of Eagle Pack was chosen the All-World Designated Hitter, batting .533 (8-for-15), including a double and home run, and 4 runs with 4 RBI.

(It was difficult to hear the announcer, so I couldn’t get all of the All-World player names. Rather than leave anyone out, please check the ISC website for those results.)

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