I Believe the Riversharks Fell 2 Runs Short of Claiming The Top Spot in Rankings

July 10, 2006

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 I  Believe the Riversharks  Fell 2 Runs Short of Claiming The Top Spot in Rankings

 

 

 

    The Orillia Riversharks, not in existence last year, easily the most exciting team in the sport this year, apparently  lost a nail biter to County Materials today, and saw their legitimate claim as the best team in the world headed into the World Tourney, go away with that loss. I only say this from my readings on Al’s list, and discussions with many, but please understand what I say in this article is not based on any statement I am making as a member of the Rivershark’s management, so let’s get on with it.

 

     By a 4-2 score in the semi at Boys of Summer, County Materials managed a 2-1 record against the upstart Sharks this year, their second consecutive, and put to rest the fear that they would fall below the top spot in the final rankings which will be turned in tomorrow by the ranking committee.

 

     But wait……this is only July, there’s Still Orillia’s tourney, there is STILL the Walsh, there is STILL a third of the season remaining. Yet rankings are in for the year? Come On!!   They do not vote the Heisman that way.

 

      To be honest with you, I don’t think the committee Ranking members are hanging out at the Downtown Athletic Club, either….

 

     So big deal, Pete, where have you been hanging out as well, who are you to pop off about what is what,……… haven’t seen you at a single event yet this year, are you going to Orillia? Answer: No. The ISC world tourney is the first event I will attend this year. But for those of you who thought I would sit back and mind my absence with some degree of peace and quiet, I have to let a bit of enthusiasm leak out, with some comments as well. I like the Shark’s progress thus far. 

 

     From the vantage point of a Fastpitch fan getting no closer to the game than Florida this year, and not even attending the AAU, I give you this report: I believe, as a person sitting in Florida The Sharks have a shot to win it all. So I am proud to think the Sharks will be going into the ISC land of the Kitchener Canucks and all that is wonderful about this game, easily ranked as a title contender

 

     Let’s look at the Sharks, they have been nobody’s Patsy’s, they sport two battery brothers but they are not twins, and they have not been plowed under by any team from Madison.

 

    What I am saying, is they hold a slim disadvantage to County Concrete boys, and I tip my hat to John Becker, we beat you once, shut you out and then lost the final at Monkton and the semi to you at Boys.

 

     The Sharks also beat the Farm in the only meeting this year. However, in softball like in cold Ocean water, Sharks don’t brag, talk trash, or pound their chests. They eat, hunt, tear flesh and hunt more, cold blooded, period.

 

     The Sharks have not played the Twins, other than league, and we got beat there. However, never  have we met in a tourney this year.   It is amazing how that has worked out yet, it begs the question.….. why is it  the Twins & Sharks have not been paired on the  battlefield  all year for a tourney confrontation? I was telling  Brian Ballie I had hoped for a Hallman-Orillia final. 

 

    Then there is Patsy’s. This is a very very good team, but we have beaten them twice and only lost once. (Bet they are saying the same things about us we are saying about County)

 

     We lost one to Circle Tap, and from what I gather it was an excellent defensive effort by the Tap….We also lost one  to one of the 6-10 ranked teams during the season, but that goes to show the field is competitive.

 

     In spite of the excellent season that has been played by the Sharks, the entire School of Sharks has yet to appear on the radar  for any one game. Either Stacey McLean, Rhys Casley, Ian Fehrman, Bam Bam Kahler, or various combinations have been absent from each and every component of the year. Remember that I have not been there too, but we are talking people who can make the difference between winning and losing, not Florida based administrative staffers, who don’t put themselves in harm’s way.

 

     By the way I talk about harm’s way and I cannot help but think of the greatest warrior the Farm ever had, Paul Algar and his facial injury. I pray for the absolute best recovery for you, Alfie, any other pitcher would have walked away after injury such as your injury. I remember all the times, when your team was down, you seized the ball, injured or other wise in the past and made the difference in the fighting ability and winning outcome for the Farm. Now without you there, Paul, things cannot be quite the same.

 

So let’s be candid about the rankings going into the now reinvented double elimination format. Years ago, Uncle Milt would base your seed at the tournament on the way the team you had last year with the same name finished in the World Tourney. Wow, things have changed. If you remember, he also would pit 3 against 1 and 2 vs 4. Don’t ask me why, but this time double knock out has a great place in center stage. County Concrete, errr Materials is our clear number one, in my mind, the Sharks are just as clearly number two, that much we know. Where Farm, Twins, Patsy’s, Midland, So Cal, Tap, end up will be determined by the Ranking Committee, although I can tell you Dak Millers did a great job of promoting their position from their showing at Boys of Summer. I am not sure I agree with Zakk Flash and call Boys the little ISC, I think it is a fab tourney, but I reserve that title for……….you guessed it, Orillia. After all, Orillia is the successor to Perth, and that tourney traditionally ended in the past the day before the ISC bids came out and the very same day Neil Fennell always completed his K-9 Demonstration of the OPP. Neil awarded plaques, and a leather jacket in the dead of summer to the Perth MVP. I used to get such a hoot out of that concept, leather to a summer victor.

 

     Everyone enjoy Orillia. I have been saddled with Biz obligations, but want to make some observations as a fan who has not been to a tourney and see how much is consistent with those who have been there say…to compare what I say with their slant on what is what. Aspen has had a great schedule, but not a lot of success. Watch out for my friends in Vancouver, they are good, very good. I hope they do not suffer the curse that my Victoria team endured, play well in Western Canada, see wheels come off in ISC. Speaking of the Farm and Victoria, it is great to see Harvey Stevenson Jr. a very good Victoria based player, and yet a tremendous  leader again playing championship ball, this time with the Farm. Also it is great to read about Darrell Joy playing full time for a second consecutive season, last year with Saskatoon, this year with Madison. Two years ago, he played on my Calgary team and I criticized his lack of participation due to work commitments, yet I understood, and called him “Rusty.” Well Darrell was in my face with an email right after that, but more importantly, he put his time where his ball talent is, and has played full time ever since,  and even has come back from serious injury. I admire that, Darrel, you are a stud! . (even if it is for the Farm). 

 

    Before I go, a couple of things……can ANYONE GET DERRICK ZECHMAN OUT? Dunno here, but he looks great. Is Bongo Baird the MVP for the Sharks? We will tell you at the ISC. What is it like not attending all year during the regular season? Two words, it’s unbearable. Can Monkton get any better? I don’t think so, but I only have half the IQ of Brian Ballie, and none of us have half of his imagination and innovative talent. So I wont count him out, but that IS NOT TO SAY Monkton lacks anywhere anyhow.

 

    OK. Watch for the World tourney seedings. That period of time between the ranking committee’s report to the ISC and the time they reveal the results seems to me like the time when the space shuttle reenters earth’s atmosphere and the black out period takes place……Earth to ISC, do you copy? (squaawwwwwk).

 

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