Ashland Ohio represented their city and state well in the 1996 ISC World Tournament, displaying the kind of athleticism and will to win that typifies the quality of teams that compete in the greatest of men’s Open Level tournaments.
KIMBERLY, WISC – In 1996 the ISC World Tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary in no venue better than Sunset Park in Kimberly, Wisconsin, where the world tournament has been held a record 11 times: 1972, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2008.
Sunset Park in Kimberly, home of 11 ISC World Tournaments, is considered by many players, teams, and fans as the greatest of all men’s fastpitch venues. Here before a packed crowd, the Tampa Smokers defeated the All-Car Roadrunners, 4-2, to win the 1996 title.
But 1996 is special of course as all of fastpitch softball heralded the ISC’s Golden Jubilee as one of sport’s greatest milestones. Thousands of fans poured through the gates at Sunset and filled up the stands surrounding the infield. They cheered for their home-state Farm Tavern of Madison, but the Farmers came up a little short, finishing fourth.
Brian Paton of the Toronto Gators helped his team finish third, and in 2011 Paton was inducted into the ISC Hall of Fame for his 12 consecutive ISC World Tournament appearances, playing on three championship teams. In 1995 Paton had a record 17 hits in leading the Gators to the title.
The Smokers from Tampa, Florida under the leadership of Pete Porcelli, defeated the All-Car Roadrunners of Green Bay to claim the championship. The Smokers would return to Kimberly in 1998 and win its second title over the hard-luck Farm Tavern.
Some the greatest players of all-time played in that memorable ’96 tournament and have long since retired: Remember New Zealander Hayden Smith? He was the top pitcher with six wins for Circle Tap (Wisc). Michael White and Mike Piechnik were the mainstays on the rubber for All-Car, while Todd Martin of the Smokers picked up the Most Outstanding Pitcher award for his four victories, 31 1/3 innings, 48 strikeouts and 1.485 ERA.
And the hitters? What a murderers row with Jody Schnarr of the Baltimore Merhcants hitting for a .583 batting average; Tim Wargo of Decatur Pride .500; Chris Delarwelle, Denmark Dukes . 500; Jim Augustine of the Sioux Falls Chiefs .500 and Terry Wallin of the Toronto Gators also walloped the world’s best pitchers .500.
The ISC inducted into its Hall of Fame pitcher Jimmy Moore, left, the late manager, Russell Boice, player John Egge, and Ken Hackmeister who went on to serve the ISC as Executive Director for 20 years.
For myself, being the official ISC photographer at this special time in the history of the ISC was a once in a lifetime opportunity covering such a prestigious event, made even more so by being held in Kimberly at the world’s finest ball diamond – Sunset. Thousands of fans packed Sunset over the 10-day, 48 team, double elimination tournament. What a sight to behold. One I’ll never forget.
Former members of the 10-time ISC World Champion Long Beach, Calif. Nitehawks gather for a team photo at the ’96 World Tournament, including Hall of Fame manager, the late Irvin “Red†Meairs, center, former ISC Executive Director, Milt Stark, back row behind Meairs; and Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Todd, far right. The other gentlemen are also Hall of Fame members as well.
The Long Beach Nitehawks, arguably the greatest men’s fastpitch franchise of all time. Ten World Tournament championships as undeniable truth.
Will there ever be a special ISC World Tournament quite like 1996? Well, of course, a centennial event would top it, but for now ’96 will always be the best in my book.
The Tampa Smokers were around for a short time in the mid to late ’90s, but they went on to become one of the greatest teams of that short era, winning World Tournament titles in 1996 and ’98.
