Received: 6/5/06 8:23:13 AM From: Darryl Smart <darrylsmart1(at)yahoo.ca> Subject: Monday's Legend story from Woodstock S-R
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun shines on Orillia Orillia wins rain-shortened Legends of Fastball tourney By Cory Smith Sports reporter The Woodstock Sentinel-Review Perhaps the toughest opponent any team faced during this weekends Legends of Fastball Classic was one they couldnt beat. Mother Nature wreaked havoc during the three-day tournament, cutting short games, eliminating teams and even changing the format from a three-day, round robin and playoff setup to a one-day, single elimination event. So, a day after Mother Nature had her say, the Orillia Riversharks had theirs, pounding out three home runs to win the tournament 7-0 over New York Patsys. "The committee adjusted very well to make the best out of the situation," organizer Brad Janssen said prior to Sundays championship at the Complex. "With the co-operation of the teams, we wanted to make it the best we could Sunday." The Riversharks certainly did that, winning three games on Sunday, including two in extra innings, to wrap up the championship. Orillia used the long ball to clinch the title, hitting three bombs off Patsys starting pitcher Gerald Muizelaar. Ian Fehrmans three-run homer into the pond was the winning, and longest, hit. It was about the only water that was welcome during the tournament, which was thrown into chaos after a series of thunderstorms Friday night and Saturday. By the time play was suspended Saturday afternoon, only seven of the 25 scheduled games had been played, forcing organizers to come up with an alternative plan for Sunday. The Innerkip Bright Cheese House Eagles and Midland Explorers, who were both winless in the first two days, were eliminated and the remaining eight teams played on the final day. "We agonized over what we were going to do with it," organizer Larry Lynch said. "Talking to some of the other coaches, they said: What about a single elimination? Thats a brain wave we didnt have." That meant the first two days of the tournament were basically for naught, unless you were a member of the Eagles or Explorers, who were victims of the abbreviated round robin. "Thats the one thing about single knockout, you cant make any mistakes," Lynch said. "If you dont make that happen in the first game you go home." The Eagles, who continued their string of disappointing performances at their hometown tourney, lost their first two games and were leading their third in the bottom of the sixth against the Jarvis Merchants before rain halted play. Their 0-2 record, which included losses against the Riversharks and Elmira Cubs, sent them packing. "Thats why its so disappointing," Eagles shortstop Mike Pullin said. "Everyone is here to watch. Its still early (in the season) yet, well pick it up." The loss against the Riversharks was not surprising, but giving up a late two-run lead and losing in extra innings to the Cubs, one of two intermediate teams in the tournament, was the clincher. "They just plugged away," Pullin said. "Theyre a good team for ISC. "Its just the little things that added up. It wasnt too bad. Im sure we could have played better." Als Fastball List *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball Visit our New Web Site! http://www.pmihrm.com VIA http://www.webbox.com
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