Article in the West Carleton EMC newspaper
Posted with permission of Jeff Maguire, West Carleton EMC
Two major ISC fastball qualifiers scheduled for this district in 2008
By JEFF MAGUIRE
With so much snow on the ground it is hard to imagine that planning is already well underway for the next men’s fastball season in eastern Ontario.
This region has always been a hotbed for softball/fastball and with that in mind the International Softball Congress (ISC) has scheduled two major qualifying tournaments for west Ottawa and eastern Renfrew County next summer.
Beginning on Friday, June 20, 2008 and continuing through Sunday, June 22 the Eastern Ontario ISC II Qualifier event will be held in McNab/Braeside near Arnprior. The winner of the double knockout tournament will qualify for the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions, regardless of the region they represent.
In September, near the end of next year’s campaign, Fitzroy Harbour in the West Carleton area of West Ottawa, will play host to an equally prestigious competition.
The Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup ISC II Qualifier will be held in the village which is the home of Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League (GOFL). The double knockout event is scheduled to run from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 22.
The winner of the September event will earn a berth in the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions. The competition is open only to entries from leagues in Canada East.
Entry deadline for the McNab/Braeside tournament is Thursday, May 15, 2008 while the Fitzroy Harbour event has a deadline of Friday, Aug. 15.
In addition to the automatic berths in ISC tournament of champions for the winners, those teams which participate in either competition become eligible to receive an invitation to whichever future tournament has an open slot.
Blair Setford, the ISC vice president for Canada East, told the EMC the goal of his organization is “to raise the profile of the men’s game” across Ontario.
“We’ve traditionally had a strong presence in southwestern Ontario,” Setford says. “But we identified eastern Ontario, and in particular the Ottawa area, as a place we want to be.”
Setford says that to that end “with the assistance of local supporters such as Adam Brown (Fitzroy Harbour) and Harold MacMillan (McNab/Braeside) we established annual qualifier tournaments in June and, last summer, added a second one later in the season.
“Having these tournaments in places like Fitzroy Harbour and McNab/Braeside is very important to us,” Setford stresses.
He says the ISC is partnering with local groups, including McNab Minor Softball.
“We’re showing young kids that there is a place for them to play as they get older and hopefully that will keep them playing the game. Because we need to bring in a new generation of players,” the ISC vice-president explains.
Setford is highly complimentary of the level of play currently on display during the season in eastern Ontario.
“The level of competition in the Ottawa area is outstanding,” he observes. “Local teams like Ottawa Team Easton (the perennial GOFL champions) and Micksburg Twins (from Renfrew County) have placed in the final four of the ISC II Tournament of Champions in recent years,” he states.
“Other teams, such as Carp 14C Victory and Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric, have shown they can compete at the higher levels of the game too,” Setford adds.
“With a history of producing players like former Team Canada member Randy Peck and top ISC II players like Corey Costello, Dan Konkle, Kevin Chevrier and Dave Tubman, there is a rich tradition of (men’s) fastball in the area. We want to keep that tradition alive,” Setford underlines.
Adam Brown of Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric, who is the local coordinator of the September qualifier, is excited about next year’s competition.
“We’re looking forward to hosting another tournament in Fitzroy Harbour this coming summer. We are sure the local fans will fill the park as they have in the past to support local fastball,” Brown says.
The ISC has updated the list of qualifying tournaments for the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions. For additional information visit the website: www.alsfastball.com
Interested people can also go to the website: fitzroyfastball.blogspot.com
Read the EMC for updated information on next year’s major men’s fastball tournaments in the region as it becomes available.
Two major ISC fastball qualifiers scheduled for this district in 2008
By JEFF MAGUIRE
With so much snow on the ground it is hard to imagine that planning is already well underway for the next men’s fastball season in eastern Ontario.
This region has always been a hotbed for softball/fastball and with that in mind the International Softball Congress (ISC) has scheduled two major qualifying tournaments for west Ottawa and eastern Renfrew County next summer.
Beginning on Friday, June 20, 2008 and continuing through Sunday, June 22 the Eastern Ontario ISC II Qualifier event will be held in McNab/Braeside near Arnprior. The winner of the double knockout tournament will qualify for the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions, regardless of the region they represent.
In September, near the end of next year’s campaign, Fitzroy Harbour in the West Carleton area of West Ottawa, will play host to an equally prestigious competition.
The Eastern Ontario Challenge Cup ISC II Qualifier will be held in the village which is the home of Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric of the Greater Ottawa Fastball League (GOFL). The double knockout event is scheduled to run from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 22.
The winner of the September event will earn a berth in the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions. The competition is open only to entries from leagues in Canada East.
Entry deadline for the McNab/Braeside tournament is Thursday, May 15, 2008 while the Fitzroy Harbour event has a deadline of Friday, Aug. 15.
In addition to the automatic berths in ISC tournament of champions for the winners, those teams which participate in either competition become eligible to receive an invitation to whichever future tournament has an open slot.
Blair Setford, the ISC vice president for Canada East, told the EMC the goal of his organization is “to raise the profile of the men’s game” across Ontario.
“We’ve traditionally had a strong presence in southwestern Ontario,” Setford says. “But we identified eastern Ontario, and in particular the Ottawa area, as a place we want to be.”
Setford says that to that end “with the assistance of local supporters such as Adam Brown (Fitzroy Harbour) and Harold MacMillan (McNab/Braeside) we established annual qualifier tournaments in June and, last summer, added a second one later in the season.
“Having these tournaments in places like Fitzroy Harbour and McNab/Braeside is very important to us,” Setford stresses.
He says the ISC is partnering with local groups, including McNab Minor Softball.
“We’re showing young kids that there is a place for them to play as they get older and hopefully that will keep them playing the game. Because we need to bring in a new generation of players,” the ISC vice-president explains.
Setford is highly complimentary of the level of play currently on display during the season in eastern Ontario.
“The level of competition in the Ottawa area is outstanding,” he observes. “Local teams like Ottawa Team Easton (the perennial GOFL champions) and Micksburg Twins (from Renfrew County) have placed in the final four of the ISC II Tournament of Champions in recent years,” he states.
“Other teams, such as Carp 14C Victory and Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric, have shown they can compete at the higher levels of the game too,” Setford adds.
“With a history of producing players like former Team Canada member Randy Peck and top ISC II players like Corey Costello, Dan Konkle, Kevin Chevrier and Dave Tubman, there is a rich tradition of (men’s) fastball in the area. We want to keep that tradition alive,” Setford underlines.
Adam Brown of Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric, who is the local coordinator of the September qualifier, is excited about next year’s competition.
“We’re looking forward to hosting another tournament in Fitzroy Harbour this coming summer. We are sure the local fans will fill the park as they have in the past to support local fastball,” Brown says.
The ISC has updated the list of qualifying tournaments for the 2008 ISC II Tournament of Champions. For additional information visit the website: www.alsfastball.com
Interested people can also go to the website: fitzroyfastball.blogspot.com
Read the EMC for updated information on next year’s major men’s fastball tournaments in the region as it becomes available.
posted by fitzroyfastball | 1/07/2008 09:32:00 pm
1 Comments:
Good work, FF.
Hopefully all GOFL captains will provide a brief news release to their respective local newspaper.
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