Normally the morning after a weekend tournament I have pulled together all the info from the weekend and have written up some sort of Blog about what went on.
But we decided to stay an extra night in beautiful downtown Niagara Falls and just arrived back at the ranch Monday afternoon.
I will attempt to write up a more fitting epilogue on the 2008 version of the Niagara Snapper's Shootout.
In the interim, just let me say that I was absolutely blown away by the quality of this tournament. This was my first time at the Shootout and first visit to the Niagara region in a few years. Well, the overall experience was simply outstanding!
Our thanks go out to Dan Bernard and his hard working team mates on the Snappers for hosting us and making sure we had everything we needed to get the job done and to have an enjoyable time while doing it. They did not let us down. They planned everything right down to the last detail. Classic example: High Speed Wireless Connection in our own locked office (we had the key) in the air conditioned arena next door. Outstanding! Another example: game summary sheets handed to us every two hours! Nice touch: the Jacuzzi at HoJo's.
See the Snappers Logo on our front page for the full story.
As well, see other postings related to the Shootout on our news site.
Quick updates: a nice note this morning from Dan saying Greg de Belleval is doing well after getting hit in the face with a line drive.
Cheek bone under his left eye has multiple fractures; minor fractures under right eye; nose and jaw seem fine, but very swolen and sore;
Greg is taking it in style and hopes to recover fast.
Kevin Castillo went home to California with his team, the 2008 Shootout Champions, California Lumberkings this morning after having surgery on the weekend on his broken leg.
We all wish him a speedy recovery.
Footnotes:
It was great having Joe Todd at the Shootout. Having one of the voices of BallparkRadio on hand as an announcer, score keeper, ISC Commissioner with his opening speech, not to mention as my navigator.
Blue Crew: exceptional group of umpires. I see many of these hard working guys at major ISC tournaments and it was great to see them in Niagara, along with a couple of new up and coming boys in blue.
Inspirational: The Elmira Junior team. This hard working group of youngersters beat their own big brothers to impress all. Nice to see young ball players with their kind of attitude. I was not the only one who noticed they were actually listening to their coaches. Well done!
Palermo: A short bench but not short on willingness to play. Nice to see one of my ISC Travel League teams in the championship game.
A bonus: thanks to the many people who wrote to say they were actually reading our reports, even the BlackBerry reports on NEWS-2 The wirless time being burned up by the folks in California must have blocked the news coming in from Best of the West ;=) Seriously, it was nice to hear the kind words from the California Lumberkings fans following our reports.
More to come later but for now, a hearty Thanks and Congratulations to the Niagara Snappers for running a First Class Tournament!
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
Some Results from Annual Jack Grafmeier Memorial Tournament but not complete - No Winner Declared (yet)
Some Results today thanks to FastpitchWest from Best of the West.
Nothing yet from Mitchel Mets Tournament.
Some other News
- Melissa Brideau Fastball Fundraiser Wrap Up
- Annual Ducks Unlimited Fastpitch Shootout Schedule Just In!
- Townline Schedule for this weekend !
Coming up next:
2008 Boulevard Lounge Tournament June 13-15, 2008
Al Doran
fastball@pmihrm.com
www.AlsFastball.com
