Thoughts and Thanks for the 2006 World Tournament
August 22, 2006
Kitchener, ON
Each year I sit down after the tournament and give my thoughts and thanks to those who help me through the ISC World Tournament. Right off the batI need to Congratulate County Materials on winning back to back world championships. They fought back after a 4-0 loss to Patsy's to beat the best of the best and got to raise the trophy once again. I look forwardto seeing the boys from County defend their title next August as we all gather again in Kitchener for the 2007 tournament.
I would also like to take the time to thank all the scorers who I work hours and hours with throughout the week, they give life to all those numbers we crunch all week and give us the chance to measure who is the best of the best. Throughout the week we had a great number of people who volunteered time to help both Gary and I get all the results and statsout to the world.
Another person we could not do without is our web-site director Al Doran, Gary and I spend countless hours with Al not only at the ballpark but we also through cyber space all year long. Without his dedication and leadership on getting all the action in form to get out to the world wewould all be forced to wait weeks and weeks for results. Al is simply the most famous man in all of fast pitch softball and someone I am glad I cancall a friend. (Next year Pie is on you! :) )
One group I never think get enough thanks is my umpires, well I call them mine but I just rent them for a game at a time from Brinkman down on diamond 2. These guys are simply the best of the best, the time and dedication it takes to make the ISC World Tournament the best fastpitch softball event in all of the world. I do still have that picture of Otterman I need to have Al post on the web.
In Kitchener I had a chance to make my solo broadcasting debut, we had between 20 and 30 people almost at all times listening in to the games on Diamond 2, We had a high of 54 (most of the had to be Macumber's) I do have to shoot a special thanks to the Macumber Family, I would start ton ame all of them but there is no way Microsoft would allow me to have that much room on this document. It was really awesome to see how the entire family pulled together to cheer on the Kegel Black Knights. I would also like to thank you for adopting me.
The entire Kitchener organizing committee was a pleasure to work with this year and I am sure that next year is going to be even better yet,from the Ground crew to the Volunteers it was a well run and well puttogether event and I thank each of you for that.
I would be out of place not to thank one other team and person that made me feel like family during the world tournament, this special thanks goes to the entire Patsy's organization and Phil Rogers for inviting me to hang out, have dinner and spend some time with friends each night during the worlds. It's always easy to be great when you are on top and winning but it takes something special for a person and a team to be as inviting and gracious after a tough loss. Phil and the gang are simply some of the greatest people I have ever met and I look forward to seeing them next year.
Oh I can't forget Roy, boy would I be in trouble. I have to Thanks Roy Stout and all of the game controllers who kept things under control so we could get each game started on time. Also thanks Roy for helping me move into my new home on Thursday, that Golf Cart was a blessing! We will becatching out golf outing next year.
Another special thanks to Chris (the computer guy as he wrote on mybusiness card), Chris you were great working your normal job and spendinglong hours helping me, Gary, Al, Dave Blackburn and everyone else itseems getting ISCTV and the broadcasting on diamond 2 to go sogreat!
I hope everyone that came to the park, watched on the Internet andlistened in had a great time at the 2006 ISC World Tournament and I lookforward to being back in Canada here in another 50 weeks to do it allover again,
Thanks again to everyone,
Bret
Bret Baughman
ISC Historian and Asst Statistician
www.iscfastpitch.com
stats4u@iscfastpitch.com
