By John Kennett for the Midland Daily News
With one International Softball Congress World Tournament already under their belts, plans are well underway for the 2012 ISC Men's World Fastball Tournament.
Projected to pump $2.3 million into the local economy, the Midland Explorers host committee welcomes over 70 teams to Emerson Park on Aug. 11 for eight days of the best fast pitch softball in the world.
"I still say we were very fortunate because we got great community response from the fans that came out in 2010," said Midland Explorers' Host Committee CO-chair Kyle Beane. "The second time through is easier. It's still a lot of hard work, but there are not as many surprises this time because we have a list to work from."
The community responded with 250 volunteers in 2010 and the host committee will once again need that many volunteers this summer.
"Those volunteers are absolutely essential," said Beane. "They do a lot of the work that goes on off-the-field, like selling tickets or programs and cleaning up."
One volunteer that will be sorely missed by Beane and fellow CO-chairs Dave Lach, and Jeff Servinski will be Lee Isenhart, the longtime Midland Explorers President and ISC Commissioner on Oct. 13,2011.
"Lee was such a big part of the tournament first time around," said Beane. "You certainly can't replace him."
Fans will see the same format as in 2010 with a 48-team bracket. The first 24 teams with two losses will drop into the single-elimination ISC II Championship.
"How teams perform in the first two or three games will determine whether they got to the (ISC World Tournament) or to the ISC II," said Beane. "We also plan on having eight teams for the 50-over Legends Tournament and we're shooting for 16 teams in the U-21 Tournament."
One of those teams, entered in the U-21 Tournament, will be the Junior Explorers.
"We've been kicking this around for a couple of years," said Beane. "We're real excited that Dave Lach will be managing the team.
Hoping to re-ignite a sport that is slowly fading in popularity, this year's tournament will have an added emphasis on activities geared toward youth.
"In 2010, we did a girls' softball clinic and we're going to do that again," said Beane. "This year we're going to have a boys' baseball clinic that will focus on baseball skills and how they relate back to softball."
The instructor for the boys' clinic will be Travis Wilson, who played in the Atlanta Braves Minor League system and currently plays for Chicago/New York. The 2011 championship game saw Wilson go 2-for-3 with three runs batted in during a 5-4 loss.
"Girls' softball has taken off in the last 20 years," said Beane. "We want to make sure that boys' have knowledge of this sport and know that it is a viable option."
The ISC will truly be an international tournament this season as teams from the Czech Republic, Venezuela and the Argentina Junior National Team planning on appearing in Midland.
"On Friday (Aug. 10) the Venezuelan team will play Carey All-State and the Czech Republic will face Tiffany's from Frankenmuth," said Beane.
One event that is dear to Beane is the Special Olympic game that will take place Aug. 13.
"In years past, it's been on a secondary field," said Beane. "But, the ISC made a commitment to hold it (at Currie Stadium) and give it a prime time spot."
The Explorers open the season as they host their annual tournament on June 15-17 at Emerson Park.
