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Today is the day we "Play Ball" at the 2013 AAU International
All the info here
The Schedule and Results page is here
Tuesday, Jan 21
Spectacular day here in Orlando today, Wednesday, with things kicking off 10am Thursday morning with the managers meeting.
The locals would say its a little cool and may be wearing odd looking winter garments but the Canadians are splashing in the pool and running around in t's and shorts.
Only in Canada: Airbus 321 in Toronto loaded with hundreds of passengers for Orlando and they announce that due to airline regulations..... blahh blahhh, blaaaa, but new pilot on the way, but he is stuck in traffic due to the snow storm and sub zero temps.... we sit on the plan for two hours then we line up for de icing.
Arrive in Orlando and look out the window and the ground handlers are all wearing toques!
In all fairness to Air Canada, the service pre take off was amazing. The gate agent who checked me in saw my birthdate on my passport and noticed we shared a common birthday. Without a pause he had another agent throw me in a wheel chair and take me the long long way to custons, then the actual gate, it was amazing. I have always turned this service down when it was offered. Today it was like I had no choice. He must have also flagged me as the gate agent quietly came to be pre boarding and sent me on board first ahead of the hundreds of others patiently waiting. Well done Air Canada!
Only in Orlando? Ever rent a car and assume since they asked you for the airline and flight number you are arriving on assumed that they must keep track of your flight? Well I did and I was wrong. After arriving two hours late in Orlando, I read my email to find one from Avis telling me to go to stall C20 in their garage in Orlando, "keys are in the car". Not a Buick as I had hoped, but a new Camry, that will do. Load it up and head for the exit. Avis exit guy asks me for my drivers license then announces "that is not your car ..... your contract was cancelled when you were not here over an hour ago .... you were a no show ... and some else is picking up this car". So I asked why they don't track the Arrivals info they have on file.... and by the way, give me a Buick if you are taking away this Camry.... No luck, so Avis offers me a red Mustang. Not wanting to be mistaken for my buddy Sammy, I decline and repeat my request for a Buick. No luck, but I get to keep the Camry.
Wednesday, Jan 23
Thanks for all the good wishes!
All alone in Orlando, what could possibly go wrong!
Actual celebrations will take place at home next week with the family.
First game tomorrow is 2pm.
Good news on Video Streaming:
Hill United Chiefs â€@HUchiefs said:
@AlsFastball Yes but not until Fridays games @ 3pm and 7pm plus all the playoff games starting Saturday.
  The Streaming Link is: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hillustream
More Great News, BallParkRadio.com will be joining us for the AAU !!!!!
SCHEDULEÂ Â and Link
Friday, January 25, 2013
3:00 PM
Pool Play Game TBD
7:00 PM
Pool Play Game TBDSaturday, January 26, 2013
1:00 PM
Playoff Game TBD
5:00 PM
Playoff Game TBDSunday, January 27, 2013
11:00 AM
Semi-Final Game
1:00 PM
Championship Game
Thursday, Jan 23
10:00am MANAGERS MEETING at the Holiday Inn, 5711 W Irlo Bronson Hwy
Well attended meeting, and great to see so many old friends again. Nice break to the winter.
Good news on the way to the park, Bob McGowan called in to say Colin Smith of Brampton is home from the hospital and taking calls from his close friends. Speedy recovery Colin, your buddy Mal the Game Controller sends his best!
Met Debra Horn in person today for the first time, great lady who has been putting in some long hours getting ready for this great tournament. In spite of many missing team rosters, Debra said the teams have been great to work with.Â
Seemed all the teams were in attendance this morning to hear Debra Horn and Ken Hackmeister lay out the rules for the tournament and then Lou Davis, the UIC went over the rules on the field. One interesting change, pitching: previously if one team in a game wished to play ISF pitching rules, both teams played those rules. This year, one team can choose to play ISC and the other team can choose to play ISF pitching rules. The starting pitchers pick the format for that whole game.
Rules designed to make sure the games run on time. A lot of games to be played between today at 2pm and Sunday championship.
Temperatures expected to be in 80's by Saturday!
 12:45pm Thursday headed to the ball yard to test the network and get ready for "Play Ball" at 2pm!
    Colour of the day: BallParkRadio shirt and hat, in honour of our good friend Jim Flanigan returning to the ball park for #AAU2013
 1:50pm Thursday and we are live in the ball yard at Wide World of Sports. At the moment I am sitting in the tower looking out at D12 Hill United Chiefs vs Giants. Folkard vs Perez to start it off. Will be doing some tweets during this game if all goes well. Twitter feed is on our front page.
We will be updating the main Results page when we receive the first six game summaries from the Tournament director. There will be a separate game report for each set of games as a news story on our front page as soon as we receive it.
 For photos from around the park check out Facebook at:
2013 AAU Men's International Fastpitch
So far on my short walks around the ballyard, three people have gone out of their way to stop and tell me they enjoyed the #ISGU2013 on the other side of Orlando last weekend. Notably they mentioned the excellent fields and facilities; good ball, especially on Sat and Sun. Looks like a lot of people took advantage of the back to back tournaments to come to Orlando and escape the cold.
Friday, Jan 25
Forcast for sunny and 75F today.
Thursday, Jan 24
2pm Game Results
4pm Game Results
6pm Game Results
Friday, Jan 25
Saturday, Jan 26
Official Pairings After Pool Play - Playoffs Start 9am Saturday morning
Sunday, January 27
11am Game Results and Blue Crew for Championship Game
 
 Beautiful #AAU2013 Trophies on display at the Game Controllers Tent on Sunday
 Lots of pictures on Facebook    by lots of people.
  and Maddy is here taking lots of pictures!
 and watch our twitter feed on: http://www.alsfastball.com/
 and or look for #AAU2013 on Twitter
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Hill United won the 2013 AAU Men's International Fastpitch Tournament with a solid 2-0 win over New York Gremlins. Winning pitcher Adam Folkard threw a 1-hit shutout and earned the Outstanding Pitcher award.
Juan Potolicchio took the loss but pitched a great game allowing only 5-hits.
Neither pitcher allowed any walks.
Catcher Craig Crawford of Hill United won the MVP trophy.
The 2014 tournament dates are January 23-26.Â
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Congratulations to the Hill United Chiefs, #AAU2013 Champions!
And a Big Well Done to the New York Gremlins, runner up, going all the way but losing the championship game by a close 2-0 score.
As well, a Big Thank You to ALL the teams in the #AAU2013 tournament, thanks for coming, playing hard, and having an outstanding time in the Orlando area. The annual AAU International Fastpitch Tournament is a major success because You come and make it a success.
Four of the final eight teams this year were from Venezuela. Gracias for making the trip!
It was great to have Jim and Maddy Flanagan back at the AAU. Having @FastpitchWest back on the air with www.ballparkradio.com gives the tournament the professional edge it deserves and everyone is looking forward to seeing more of Maddys professional photographs, watch http://www.maddysphotos.com/Â as well as her Facebook page "Maddy's Photos".
Follow Jim on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/fastpitch.west
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 Kudos to Debra Horn, AAU Senior Sport Manager and to Ken Hackmeister, long standing Tournament Director. You made a great team and the fastpitch world owes you both a Big Thank You for delivering an outstanding #AAU2013 tournament!
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