Press Release-Impact Signs
Impact Signs coach Bill Nixon has named 17 players who will be members of
the club’s roster when it represents Softball Newfoundland and Labrador in
the Labatt 2007 Senior Men’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships.
The Championships are scheduled for the Caribou Memorial Complex in St.
John's East from August 26th to September 2nd.
Impact Signs is one of three local teams scheduled to compete in the
Championships. Roebothan McKay Marshall and Grumpy Stump are the other
entries.
Most of the players scheduled to wear the Roebothan McKay Marshall uniforms
have been named by the team’s coach Glenn Littlejohn, while coach Jim Dunphy
is expected to release the Grumpy Stump roster in the near future.
Nixon has John Hill and Hal Rice as assistant coaches and Alice Connors is
the club’s manager.
The Impact Signs roster includes:
John Farrell, catcher-outfielder, is a six-time all-star and 2005 batting
champion in the St. John’s Senior Men’s League. He was named the League’s
All-Decade Team catcher for 1997 to 2006, and has represented Softball
Newfoundland and Labrador at eight national senior championships, winning a
pair of silver medals.
Jon Kelly, outfielder-catcher, is a two-time all-star in the St. John’s
Senior League. A natural power hitter, he spent the past few years playing
stateside, competing against some of the best in the world. Kelly played
with Nova Scotia at the 2005 nationals, and competed in two ISC tournaments.
Sean Whitten, pitcher, a member of the Labatt Junior Blues who represented
Softball Newfoundland and Labrador from 1998 to 2000, was a member of the
2003 national senior team that won gold at the Pan American Games in the
Dominican Republic. He was a member of the 2004 ISF’s national team that
finished second in Christchurch, New Zealand. This season, Whitten is
throwing for the SoCal Bombers of Yucaipa, California.
Matt Bramwell, pitcher, is one of the hardest throwers in the game. He won
the 2006 USA National Championship as a member of Circle Tap, Denmark WI.
Still pitching with Circle Tap, he won provincial titles with Green Sleeves
in 1997 and with Impact Signs in 2004, and helped the province to a silver
medal at the 2005 nationals.
Harold Kelly, pitcher, is a two-time provincial senior softball Most
Valuable Player. He has spent the past few seasons between Newfoundland and
the United States, as a member of Quad City of Illinois. One of the top
performers in the history of the city’s senior circuit, he was named to the
ISC second Team All-World in 2004.
Donny Cleary, pitcher-outfielder, has been a standout in the St. John’s
Senior League for 15 years, winning several city and provincial titles. A
pure hitter, who combines power and patience at the plate, Cleary was a
member of the Softball Newfoundland and Labrador bronze medal team at the
2001 senior nationals. This will be his fourth appearance at the nationals.
Steve Jesso, who can play first base or the hot corner, has long been
regarded as one of the best hitters in the nation. Feared for his power,
Jesso played for some of Canada’s best clubs during the past few years,
appearing and dominating at four national senior tournaments. A former St.
John’s Senior League batting champ, he wore Canada’s colours in
international play.
Bryan Clarke, first baseman, is one of the country’s finest young players.
He anchored the Softball Newfoundland and Labrador gold medal junior team
last year, and is a career .317 hitter in the St. John’s Senior League. This
will be his first national senior tournament.
Mark Dwyer, infielder, is a four-time all-star in the St. John’s Senior
League and was named to the league’s All-Decade Team for 1997 to 2006. The
provincial batting champion in 2005, Dwyer won several national junior
medals, and played with Grumpy Stump at the 2004 senior nationals.
Justin Gill, infielder, is one of the finest young players in the country.
Still a junior, he played short stop for Canada at the world junior
tournament several years ago, and helped the Softball Newfoundland and
Labrador to a Canadian junior title last year. Combining speed and finesse,
he’s currently among the St. John’s League’s top hitters.
Doug Marshall, shortstop, is one of local softball’s most complete players.
A career .315 hitter in the St. John’s Senior League, he played well for
Softball Newfoundland and Labrador at the national senior tournament last
year, and will likely play a big role on this year’s club.
Tony Hawco, infielder, is a nine-time all-star in the St. John’s Senior
League and is second in the League’s all-time hits with 424. A former
batting champion, he was a fixture with the great Green Sleeves clubs of the
1980s and ‘90s, and has represented Softball Newfoundland and Labrador at
six national senior tournaments.
Chris Maher, outfielder, is a standout in the St. John’s Senior League and
was a member of Canada’s national junior team at the world championships in
the late 1990s. A pure hitter, he’s a career .300 batter in the St. John’s
circuit and has the potential to anchor the club’s outfield.
Joey Maynard, outfielder, was a member of Softball Newfoundland and Labrador
silver medal team at the 2005 nationals, and has been to five senior men’s
championships. A four-time all-star in the city’s senior circuit, he was
named to the St. John’s League’s All-Decade Team for 1997 to 2006.
Danny Mullins, outfielder, dominated the St. John’s Senior League last year,
capturing the batting crown with a .427 average and earning the league’s
Most Valuable Player honors. A league all-star twice, he’s an aggressive
player who has represented Softball Newfoundland and Labrador at one
national senior tournament.
Andrew Evans, outfielder, is proof that speed can will ball games. He proved
it in 2005, helping Softball Newfoundland and Labrador to a silver medal,
scoring the winning run in a playoff game. A league all-star in 2004, this
will be his fourth appearance at the senior nationals.
Liam O’Keefe, outfielder, recently helped his Iceberg Rum team win the
provincial senior championship. Quick on the bases, he brings speed to a
team that will need it in close ball games.
Cheers,
Gerald
geraldcgosse@hotmail.com
http://www.2007labattfastpitch.com/
