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Midland, MI
The 2008 Boulevard Tournament is in the books. Many thanks to the teams that came into town for the weekend. Following is the high-level review and summary of results. Al has details noted here: http://www.alsfastball.com/uploads/File/Midland%202008%20Schedule.htm
ISC WT Qualifier
Hank Reis Memorial Division
Jarvis – 3-0
Explorers – 2-1
Lightning – 1-2
Thomson – 0-3
Bailey Insurance Division
Kitchener – 3-0
Scarborough – 2-1
Ashland – 1-2
Owen Sound – 0-3
Quarter Final Playoffs
Kitchener over Owen Sound
Jarvis over Thomson
Scarborough over Ashland
Midland over Lightning
Semi-Final
Midland over Kitchener
Scarborough over Jarvis
Final
Midland over Scarborough
** Midland Explorers win berth to the ISC World Tournament
** Jarvis Gamblers Paul Koert named Most Valuable Pitcher
** Midland Explorers Craig Crawford named Most Valuable Hitter
Pitching Wins
3 – Koert, Jarvis
2 – Patterson, Explorers
2 - Putnam, Scarborough
2 – Scott, Kitchener
2 – Urquhart, Explorers
1 – Cox, Kitchener
1 – Joseph, Explorers
1 – Kelly, Lightning
1 – Leahy, Scarborough
1 – Martin, Kitchener
1 – Phibbs, Jarvis
1 – Raymer, Ashland
1 – Skelton, Scarborough
Home Runs
2 – Beane, Explorers
2 – Fehrman, Sharks
2 – Skillings, Explorers
2 – Shackleton, Sharks
2 – Staats, Jarvis
1 – Baker, Scarborough
1 – Bielema, Thomson
1 – Boyd, Sharks
1 - Collin-Thome, Scarborough
1 – Dambrosio, Jarvis
1 – Eidt, Sharks
1 – Ezekiel, Sharks
1 – Graham, Jarvis
1 – Horning, Explorers
1 – Miller, Explorers
1 – Nash, Thomson
1 – Skelton, Scarborough
ISC II Tournament of Champions Qualifier
M-Den Division
Knights – 4-0
Kelders – 2-2
Priority Mortgage – 2-2
Duncan Outlaws – 2-2
DC Current – 1-3
Twisters – 1-3
Semi-Final
Knights over Duncan
Kelders over Priority
Final
Knights over Kelders
** NY Knights win berth to the ISC II Tournament of Champions
** NY Knights Bill Hillhouse named Most Valuable Pitcher
** Kelders Bob Cameron named Most Valuable Hitter
Pitching Wins
4 – Hillhouse, Knights
3 – Whitman, Kelders
2 – Duemo, Knights
2 – Vanderark, Priority
1 – Chabot, Duncan
1 – Huppert, DC Current
1 – Grey, Duncan
Home Runs
3 – Rozich, Knights
2 – Platt, Knights
2 – Smert, Duncan
1 – Binkley, DC Current
1 – Foor, Duncan
1 – Lawmaster, DC Current
1 – Osentoski, Twisters
1 – Pleines, Kelders
1 – Simon, Knights
Thank You – the tournament cannot be successful without the efforts of many people throughout the course of weekend.
** Joe Squires, UIC for the weekend, did his usual outstanding job of getting a top-notch crew to work the games. The Men in Blue: Lou Davis (Nova Scotia), Greg Pohl (Missouri), Kevin Wallace (Missouri), Leon Watson (Missouri), Billy Norton (Michigan, Ted Germain (Michigan)), Steve Jahnke (Michigan), Jim Lagrow (Michigan), and Dave Selden (Michigan).
** Lisa Chilmers, a 2008 graduate of Bay City Western High School performed beautiful renditions of both the Canadian and American national anthems on Friday night prior to the start of the tournament.
** Nicole Cramer, athletic trainer at Bay City Western High School, was on the job all day Saturday and Sunday tending to bumps and bruises.
** Midland Parks and Rec – fields were dragged and lined every 2 games, dugouts were stocked with water, and the park was in great shape.
** Al Doran, founder and guru of AlsFastball.com, made the trek to Midland early Saturday morning to begin live coverage of all the games at the park through the final on Sunday.
** Paul Barnetson came in from Orillia for the weekend and did a great job keeping the games on track, handling any and all issues that came up, and ensuring that teams had everything they needed.
Special Olympics Game
** This year, we were fortunate enough to have the Midland Dawgs, a Special Olympics softball team, come out to the park and play an exhibition against the Explorers. Many Thanks to Coach Kathy Peariso and her team for coming out to the park on Saturday afternoon.
After we split up the teams, figured out a batting order and positions, it was apparent that the Dawgs came to play and were fired up about showing us what they could do on the field.
Umpires Lou Davis, Ted Germain, Billy Norton and Dave Selden were on hand to make sure that the game moved along smoothly…..and even though the best umpires tend to blend into the background during the game, that was not the case this time. On more than one occasion, they could be seen making a play, and Selden even grabbed a glove to try and take away the bunt against a few hitters..
After about an hour of play, both teams had a few pictures snapped on the field before the Explorers got ready for their next game and the Dawgs headed to a cookout at the park….but not before the Dawgs shortstop passed his phone # to manager Clint Beane to let him know he was available to play whenever he needed someone to take over.
By the end of the game, there was one thing that was very obvious and common about the two teams, despite some differences…..in the end, all any ballplayer wants to do is run, throw, and hit at the ballpark on a Saturday afternoon.
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