Let's get 2012 started.....
So far the fastball season has seen some great ball games played..all of
them in Florida at the AAU's tournament at ESPN Fields at Disney in
Kissemee.
Hill United out of the Six Nations picked up top spot in the 48 teamer
at ESPN's Wild World of Sports complex. 80 degree weather, just like
the weather we had here in Ontario in late March, and with 6 Ontario
ball teams travelling to Florida the AAU tournament was just what I
needed in late January for me to take a week off and head south for
some great fastball.
Kitchener Selects of the KFL, Elmira Expos, and the Kitchener Outlaws
from the South Perth league, plus the Owen Sound Juniors, a couple of
KW guys with the Niagara Fury, a few familiar faces with Cobourg Force,
and Team Canada with Don Scott (Canadian Champs KW Twins) and Ben
Wideman, and Brandon Horn of the Breslau Badgers and Adam Hiller of
the KW Cubs meant that there would be lots of familiar faces at the
ball park....
Sort of like going to the Legends but in the middle of winter. Even the
umpires looked familiar, Tim Whitelaw and Paul Baier were working this
tournament along with a half dozen other "Blue Crew" members from
Ontario. And of course what is a good fastball tournament without
fans...and sure enough...the O'Briens were there, Tim Maziaz, Marg Ryan,
Bernie Pollard, Fred Crawford, Tom and Hugh Detzler down from Mildmay.
A good size crew from all over Fastball Nation taking in some of the
Florida sun.
At the end of the week...there were two teams from Minnesota, a team
from Venezula and Hill United still standing Sunday afternoon.
Hill United beat the Force from Cobourg , got a 3 - 0 win over Surenos
from Venezuela, to head to the semi final game..
CPI with a few Port Elgin Blue Devils in the mix, along with Andrew
Putman of the Gators, topped the Venezula Giants 2 - 1, then lost to
Minnesota Angels 6 - 1 who would then meet Hill United...The Six
Nations team got the win over the Angels 4 - 1...
The Hill United - Minnesota Angels game was scoreless for 4 innings,
Adam Folkard for Hill United and Juan Potolicchio for the Angels. Two
singles in the 4th for the Angels from Nicholas Bittor and Leo Latassa
set up the RBI single for Brandon Aman.
Hill United got it on track in the 6th... After the game and back at
the condo, Craig Crawford said "I knew something was going to happen
with that "murderers row" coming up in the 6th" and did it ever
happen....Brad Ezekeil, a long. long out to left...Craig Crawford a
single, Nick Shailes a strike out, then Red Levy a single, Ryan Thompson
a RBI single, followed by Mark Arsenault's base hit and a 3RBI triple
from Calvin Miller..4 - 1 after 6 and 3 up 3 down in the 7th...
In the other bracket, Team Minnesota and Team Canada were heading to a
playoff. Team Canada over Niagara Fury 12 - 0, then 12 - 0 over
LosSocios, but an upset loss to Mexico's Diamantes 5 - 3 eliminated
Team Canada.
Local members of Team Canada, Ben Wideman, Adam Hiller and Brandon
Horn had great at bats and were outstanding on defence. Don Scott
threw some good innings for the national team. Hope they make the team
and the trip to New Zealand next March.
Team Minnesota was cruising along with wins over two Venezula teams, the
Brewers and Aragua, then Excellant Car out of New York, and finally
meeting and defeating Diamantes 9 - 1..setting up the final
Team Minnesota were 3 up 3 down for 2 innings, got a single in the 3rd
and a triple in the 5th....
Hill United opened up with 4 runs in the 1st..Coach Larry Lynch penciled
in the same "murderer's row" batting order, and it produced singles from
Brad Ezekiel, Nick Shailes, Dale Levy and a 3 RBI homer from Ryan Thompson.
The second was as productive as the 1st..double from Craig Crawford,
single RBI from Nick Shailes. Ward Gosse came in to relieve Adam
Bradshaw, and Gosse gave up a double to Red Levy and a 2RBI single to
Ryan Thompson..Mark Arsenault doubled but was left on base..
Derek Anderson RBI'd Nick Shailes in the 4th...final 9 - 0...
"Muderers Row indeed" and a AAU championship for the Six Nations
team...Ryan Thompson MVP....
Next year the tournament moves to a new site...Still in Orlando. but at
the Osceola Softball Complex, Fortune Road, Orlando
more information on Al's Fastball site...or Alex Lenares
linaresintl@hotmail.com
NOTE FROM THE ISC: ROSTER FORM
ISC TEAMS if you are heading to Midland this summer...or any of the
several ISC Qualifiers taking place in Kitchener, Brantford, Tavistock,
Niagara Falls, Port Huron, etc...
Here is the link to the ISC's registration forms....
Don't miss out by neglecting to complete the form correctly and on
time....May 1st is the deadline...
http://www.iscfastpitch.com/index.php?page=rules_and_forms
SPRINGBOARD CLINICS
and the OASA has two Springboard Clinics for young fastpitch
players..one in Burford and one in Brockville
There is an atttachment listing the activities and who is instructing
and how to get your young player enrolled,
This is a great clinic. I was at the one in Kitchener a couple of
years ago, and was very impressed with the level of instruction and the
enthusiam of the kids.
LEGENDS update
10 Men's Teams....
New Zealand, Argentina, are sending their national teams to Kitchener
for the Legends of Fastball prior to the (ISF) International Softball
Federation's World Championships in New Zealand in 2013.
The Jarvis Travellers are tuning up at the Legends for their defence of
the ISC World Championships this summer in Midland.
The Midland Explorers are bringing the host club for this August's ISC
championship to the Legends tournament at Peter Hallman Ball Yard in
Kitchener with a few familiar faces including Don Scott and Red Levy..
The New York Gremlins bring the same power hitting offence that made
the Chicago/NY club feared last year
Port Elgin Blue Devils finished strong in the Canadians Championships
last year in Owen Sound..and they are back with another great team this
summer
And the KW Cubs are building a club to win the Canadian Fastball
championships in New Brunswick late this summer.
St Thomas and the Toronto Gators are heading to Peter Hallman as well.
There is a 4 team Master's division...(over 40) and a 4 team Junior
(U21) division as well.
Three teams in each of those 2 divisions are firm, and tournament chair
Larry Lynch will announce the 4th in each division when he returns from
Yankee spring training in Tampa...
TOURNAMENTS THIS SUMMER...so far....
MAY 11 - 13th
Waterdown Hammer will be opening the season in Millgrove again.
Millgrove is just north of Hamilton, on Hwy 6....
Last year it got a bit wet during the last few games...so get there
early...May 11 - 13th...12 teams...info...
Darrin Curtis - curtisd@hdsb.ca
or
Will Lake - William.Lake@agricorp.com
MAY 19th - 21st
May 19th,20th21st, ....Woodstock Ontario, The Crush ran a great
tournament last year....I can still see that player from Fisherville
fouling off pitch after pitch, getting closer and closer to the Pontiac
parked 50' behind the screen...just to the left, just to the
right...finally right thru the window...
for more information...Darryl Wharram d.wharram@on.aibn.com 519 521 0156
May 25 - 27
And then the next weekend.... in St Clements...May 25 -26 - 27..The
Kitchener Outlaws host the annual St Clements tournament just north of
KW...Last year this touranament was rained out...water up to your
ankles on the upper diamond, up to mid calf on the lower diamond..This
year the Bell Cartage crew will make it twice as good....
Bob Hall bhall4345@hotmail.com
JUNE 1st - 3rd
June brings Ontario and New York and Pennsylvania fastball fans together
in Niagara Falls, The Snappers host their annual tournament at Ker Park
in Niagara...last year two of Ontario's best ball clubs, the Blue
Devils of Port Elgin and KW Cubs met in the "C" championship, the first
of two big fastball tournaments set for Niagara
JUNE 8th to the 10th
...Cobourg attracts a few teams from Western Ontario to the Jim Bradford
Classic at Legion Fields..this year it will be a 12 team open
tournament...The Southern Ontario Jays make the trip to eastern Ontario
for this one each year..
for more info...Steve Bedard... sjbgolf@hotmail.com or 905 885 0821
and the KWMinor Boys Midget (U18) Invitational at Hillside in Waterloo.
Bruce Young is looking for 12 teams for this one...
JUNE 15th to 17th..
The ISC Canada East qualifier is in Niagara Falls, Ker Park. Rob
Greatrix is looking forward to hosting 16 teams for this annual
tournament....This qualifier has been in Innerkip, Stratford, New
Dundee, Hillsburgh in the past....
As of March 22nd...there are only 2 openings left in the lineup....
It will qualify 4 teams to the ISCs...for more info Rob Greatrix
rob@integrityhealth.tv
Joe Todd ftode739@rogers.com or Blair Setford blairjs@rogers.com
There is a 12 teamer 4 games guaranteed, in Midland Michigan with some
great teams showing up..including Midland Explorers, Hill United,
Ashland StockPak, and the Owen Sound Juniors...Kyle Beane has 8 teams
committed... kbeane8@yahoo.com
JUNE 21st 22nd 23rd and 24th...THE LEGENDS
Then, the big 16 teamer at Peter Hallman Ball Yard in Kitchener....There
is a great lineup of the teams entered in the 9th year of this
tournament...Three Divisions...Three Diamonds......10 men's , 4 junior
U21, and a Masters...(0ver 40)....The masters promises some great ball
players in the park...fastball fans will recognize several faces in the
lineups for the Gators, The Scrappers, the Classics and a 4th team to
be announced..as soon as chair Larry Lynch returns from his annual trip
to spring training in Florida this week.
Junior play features 4 of the best under 21 teams in Ontario, Owen
Sound, Southern Ontario Jays, Napanee, and one more team to be announced...
3 Diamonds, Thursday to Sunday..National teams from New Zealand and
Argentina on their way to the ISFs in NewZealand, Great club teams on
their way to ISC and OASA and CASA championships in August and September,
This should be a good one....Make your plans for this one...there is
a lot going on in KW that week...
CANADA DAY WEEKEND
JUNE 29th - 30th - July 1st
The Canada Weekend follows...and that brings the fastball spotlite to
Duncan McLelland Park in Owen Sound for the Ontario (U21) Junior
Fastball Championships...Keady Jets under the leadership of Paul White
will be heading just a few miles up Hwy 6 to Owen Sound to host this
tournament
whitey15@rogers.com
JULY 6 7 8 Midget Elims...
Dropping down to minor classification for a minute...the next weekend
is the Midget Elims, the Ontario route to the Eastern Canadian
Championships....they will be in New Dundee.
Brad Thomson... thomson.brad2gmail.com
JULY 13th. 14th and 15th....CEPHAS ROTH MEMORIAL in TAVISTOCK
Back to big time fastpitch...and just down the road from New
Dundee.....Dave "Bags" Bailey will head up the Cephas Roth Memorial
Tournament in Tavistock...This is one great weekend of fastball...Dave
puts on a great show...good food, cold beer, two great ball diamonds, a
super host committee, and a great band provides some good rockin in Tavi.
Bags can be contacted at the best construction company north of
Woodstock, south of Monkton, east of Stratford, west of Kitchener at
davebailey@baileyconstruction.ca
Meanwhile the same weekend up in Bracebridge Ted Conway is hosting the
OASA Masters and the Junior B/C.
What could be better than a fastball weekend in Muskoka at this
tournament...(I'll still be in Tavi)
Ted Conway tedconway@muskoka.com
JULY 20th to 22nd
ISC Canada East will host a U21 (junior) tournament this
weekend...details will be released soon...
and
Over in Michigan, David Lach of the Midland ISCs committee is hosting a
tournament..
"The Midland Junior Explorers will host a tournament involving a # of
U21 teams the weekend of July 21-22 (including the US Junior National
Team). In addition, they are hosting the ISC U21 World Tournament Aug
16-18, contact David Lach of the Midland ISC host committee for
information on either event."
lachdavid@gmail.com
(Hope I got it right this time David....)
JULY 27th 28th and 29th....
THE GREAT LAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
the Great Lakes is in Jarvis...The winners of the Jarvis Great Lakes
will be the OASA champs in men's fastpitch...both intermediate and
senior champions will be declared..and the U23 championship will take
place as well.
Brad Thomson thomson.brad@gmail.com
AUGUST 3 - 5th...Erie Pennsylvania
Bill Hillhouse has a great lineup for the Ed McCormick Invitational in
Erie...NY Gremlins, Hill United, Broken Bow/Jarvis Gamblers, Midland
Explorers, PA Power, Scarboro Force, NY Swashbucklers and the KW Cubs
will be getting down to some serious fastball just prior to the
ISCs..this could be a good one...it sure looks like it on paper..
It could be kind of quiet down in Elkland
Bill is at houseofpitching@gmail.com
AUGUST 6th to the 12...CANADIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS - Owen Sound
Head to Owen Sound, and Duncan McLelland Park for another great
tournament week....the Canadian Juniors....this is always a great
event.....for more info...Jamie Simpson... simper7@hotmail.com
The Ontario teams that competed earlier in July will no doubt send 3 or
4 teams to the Canadians so head to Owen Sound twice this summer...once
for the Keady Jets hosting the OASA championships and then the CASAs
with the Owen Sound Junior Selects as hosts
AUGUST 10 - 11 - 12
After Erie and the Canadian U21, the focus moves back to OASA ball
and into Sudbury for the men's B/C tournament..
AUGUST 11th - 18th
MIDLAND MICH ISC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Back to Midland...and the ISCs..this is the one that all the fuss is
about....this is why some outfielder from some team is now playing for
the other guys, and why everyone is looking at rosters for the AAUs in
January in Florida and wondering who is going to be pitching for
who...and who is making the trip from Australia or New Zealand to
throw, bat or field for who..
Teams have spend weekends qualifying all over Canada and the USA for
this tournament.
The ISC will also host a junior U21 division and a Master's division
as well...
The web site has just opened.... www.midland2012isc.com\
AUGUST 24th to 26th
Bracebridge....Ted Conway has another tournament set for Muskoka....open
division and recreational division .....two fights,
Ted is at tedconway@muskoka.com
AUGUST 28th to SEPT 2nd...
THE OTHER BIG ONE
CASA Men's Championships in New Brunswick
The CASA's will follow the ISC, this year in New Brunswick, and they
will start the 28th of August and run to Sunday.Sept 2nd...
Look for several good Ontario teams to head to the
Canadians...including the KW Cubs....
SEPT 14th 15th 16th
The ISCs Ontario Challenge Cup will be in Brantford this year....Lion's
Park.....Sept 14th, 15th and 16th...
followed by the South Perth Championships the next weekend...the SPL
meetings in mid - April will provide more info...
KWMinor Boys
KWMinor will have its usual local league teams at Wilson Park this
summer, and will also field teams from Mite, Novice, PeeWee. Bantam and
Midget this summer...those teams will play in the North Waterloo
League...at Hillside Park in Waterloo.
JUNIOR League
Murray Patterson and the local junior teams are working on their
schedule for this summer....Teams include NewDunee/Stratford, Tavistock,
St Mary's, Elmira, Mitchell and New Hamburg.
PITCHING CLINIC IN KITCHENER
Ray Alviano co ordinates a pitching clinic each spring in Kitchener....a
brochure with the information is attached.
OLYMPICS
Editorial....The Olympics are this summer...and no fastpitch, no
baseball....I propose that these two sports start a new sports
movement. Every four years, just before the Olympic games, that
fastpitch softball and baseball come together from all corners of the
world, inviting ball players to compete for a new world championship
in men's baseball, women's baseball, men's fastpitch and women's fastpitch.
I further suggest that Lacrosse be invited to join these other two
"ball and stick" sports. Maybe we could get Cricket as well.
No slopitch!
Maybe Golf!
CURLING REPORT
Don Barr sent me the attached curling item...showing the importance of
curling to Canadians...Tim Mazaiz tells me that he is on the edge of
his seat watching the World's out of Switzerland on TSN...Go Team
Canada...Go Team Howard!!
HAMILTON REPORT
Doug Perry of Hamilton sent me this item about Hamilton Homeless
Baseball League.....see the attached pdf as well
NEW ZEALAND - THE ISFs
The International Softball Federation (ISF) championship is in New
Zealand next year...the web site is up and running
www.softball2013.com
LARRY FISHER - APPOINTED
Congrats to Larry Fisher who will be taking over from Ken Hackmeister,
as Executive Director of the ISC following the 2012 World Tournament in
Midland.
ENOUGH FOR NOW
The weather has been great, it seemed a week or so ago that ball
season had arrived...get those preseason meetings over and let's get
out to the ball yard..
Dennis
dennisdosman(at)dosmanprinting.com
