20th Annual Best of The West - Schedule and Team Profiles
May 28, 2010
Santa Barbara, CA
20th Annual Best of The West - Schedule and Team Profiles
May 26, 2010 – Santa Barbara, CA. – Ten strong ball clubs will converge on the central California coastal
resort city of Santa Barbara for the 20th Annual “Best of The West” Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament.
The longest running Open Tournament held in California returns to the 3 field softball complex at Elings Park
on June 5 – 6. Each team will play a 3 game modified Round Robin schedule on Saturday June 5, and all 10
teams will qualify for a single elimination playoff bracket on Sunday June 6.
Two berths in the 2010 ISC World Tournament will be handed out to the top two finishing ISC Western Region
ball clubs, using only their 2010 ISC submitted rosters. Six of the ten teams have turned in official ISC Rosters,
and those six teams will be battling for the two berths.
“This is probably the most talented gathering of teams that we have fielded in our 20 years of running this Tournament,”
said Dave Blackburn, Best of The West Tournament Director. “We will be showcasing the skills of lots of former
ISC All-World players, and some who are even probable future ISC Hall of Fame inductees.”
The field will be lead by the defending “Best of The West” Champions and ISC #5 ranked California Athletics
of Salinas. The A’s feature flame throwing Canadian National Team pitcher Sean Whitten, a 2nd team ISC
All-World selection in 2009. USA National Team pitcher Travis Price joins Whitten on the A’s staff. Hard hitting
Canadian Catcher / DH / 1B Darren Box is also a 3 time ISC All-World selection (01, 02, 03), as well as being
named ISC World Tournament MVP (01). Five time ISC All-World selection Todd Budke, who lead the 2009
ISC World Tournament in batting average (.583), is also on the California A’s ISC roster, and is a deep threat
against any pitcher.
The Italian Athletic Club (IAC) team out of Stockton, CA will also be very tough, coming off a first place finish
in the recently completed Bakersfield Silverhawks Invitational Tournament. They feature young up and coming
Canadian pitching star Tyson Barkman. Veteran hurler Matt Barnes backs up Barkman in the circle for IAC.
The ISC #10 ranked Bakersfield Silverhawks boast Argentina’s Sebastian Gervasutti as their top hurler, and
young Canadian pitcher Andrew Putnam as his back-up. Former US National team pitcher Phil “Sonny” Perkins
rounds out the pitching staff, and also carries a big stick, as the 2005 ISC World Tournament’s leader in
batting average (.600).
ISC #30 ranked Maccabi USA has veteran pitching in two foreigners that have resided in the USA for many years.
New Zealander Darren Rea, and Canadian Dewey Dyck team with Russ Snow to lead the Maccabi USA staff.
Maccabi USA is captained by Steve Schucker, a 3-Time ISC All-World Centerfielder (99; 06; 07).
ISC #44 ranked Rude Pac of Sun Valley, CA was able to coax former ISC All-World infielder Joe Vigil out of
retirement, adding some offensive punch, and veteran fastpitch leadership. Nova Scotian college student Cory Avery
is spending the summer living in Southern California, and he teams with Gerald Pyle to deliver Rude Pac’s 1-2
pitching punch. Avery is an excellent young pitcher and hitter, and is part of the 40-man Canadian National
Team Athlete development pool. The Utah connection for Rude Pac include hard hitting Catcher / 1B Brandon
Bingham, infielder Ronnie Branin, and outfielder Canyon Vance.
Dave Carlton’s California Builders ball club have experienced Canadian hurler Darren Strang, and young
John Peterson \of Lake Chrystal, Minnesota, as their leading pitchers. Veteran hurler Dave Jordan rounds out the
Pitching staff. Peterson is considered among America’s most promising future pitching prospects.
Of the 4 teams not attempting to qualify, Mexicali Santa Cecelia and the Mexico National Team will bring
great hitting, solid pitching, and a Latino flavor to this year’s Tournament. National Team hurler Panfilo Valdez
will be on loan to his club team, which will allow him to pitch for Mexicali Santa Cecelia. Mexicali organizer and
power hitter Arturo Solano leads the Santa Cecelia ball club both on and off the field.
Rounding out the field are the Carribean Fastpitch, and Liberty Fastpitch ball clubs. Both clubs are mainstays in the
NAFA affiated SCIFL Travel League. Pitcher Ron Rupp and catcher Fred Hanker will be on loan for the weekend
to the Carribeans, making them a stronger ball club. Gilbert Joiner also pitches for The Caribeans.
Liberty Fastpitch has several up and coming fastpitch players, lead by Five Tool Player David Carillo, and hard hitting
Joe Janicke. Ed Patterson and Darren McCall lead the Liberty pitching staff, which is completed by veteran hurler
Doug Rooney.
Clyde Bennet is seving as the Umpire-in-Chief.
Pool A
Liberty Fastpitch
Carribean Fastpitch
Maccabi USA
Santa Cecelia / Mexicali
California Builders
Pool B
Bakersfield Silverhawks
Rude-Pac
California Athletics
Italian Athletic Club
Mexico National Team
Saturday June 5 Schedule
Game 1 9:00 AM Field #1 Liberty Fastpitch Vs Carribean Fastpitch
Game 2 9:00 AM Field #2 Bakersfield SilverHawks Vs Rude Pac
Game 3 10:45 AM Field #1 Maccabi USA Vs Santa Cecelia / Mexicali
Game 4 10:45 AM Field #2 California Atletics Vs Italian Athletic Club
Game 5 12:30 PM Field #1 Liberty Fastpitch Vs California Builders
Game 6 12:30 PM Field #2 Bakersfield SilverHawks Vs Mexico National Team
Game 7 12:30 PM Field #3 Carribean Fastpitch Vs Santa Cecelia / Mexicali
Game 8 2:15 PM Field #1 Carribean Fastpitch Vs Maccabi USA
Game 9 2:15 PM Field #2 Rude Pac Vs California Athletics
(Cross Over Game)
Game 10 2:15 PM Field #3 California Builders Vs Mexico National Team
Game 11 4:00 PM Field #1 Liberty Fastpitch Vs Maccabi USA
Game 12 4:00 PM Field #2 Bakersfield SilverHawks Vs California Athletics
Game 13 4:00 PM Field #3 Rude Pac Vs Italian Athletic Club
Game 14 5:45 PM Field #1 Santa Cecelia / Mexicali Vs California Builders
Game 15 5:45 PM Field #2 Italian Athletic Club Vs Mexico National Team
Sunday June 6 Schedule
Game 16 8:00 AM Field #1 10th Place Vs 7th Place
Game 17 8:00 AM Field #2 8th Place Vs 9th Place
Game 18 8:00 AM Field #3 6th Place Vs 5th Place
Game 19 10:00 AM Field #1 1st Place Vs Winner of Game 16
Game 20 10:00 AM Field #2 2nd Place Vs Winner of Game 17
Game 21 10:00 AM Field #3 3rd Place Vs 4th Place
Game 22 Noon Field #1 Winner of Game #18 Vs Winner of Game #19
Game 23 Noon Field #2 Winner of Game #20 Vs Winner of Game #21
Game 24 2:00 PM Field #1 Championship Game - Winner of Game 22 vs Winner of Game 23
Game 25 2:00 PM Field #2 ONLY IF NECESSARY TO DETERMINE 2ND ISC BERTH
