For those not familiar with tidbits, its ballyard rumours, nothing
more. Maybe no fact here at all, but same kind of stories you hear in the
ballpark. Only those mentioned can confirm or deny these stories,
and traditionally they tell us nada, or hardly ever, but they can
straighten the story out any time.
We should add that there are guidelines for posting to the list and for
submitting TidBits, see them at:
http://www.alsfastball.com/webstart/news1.htm
Subscribers tell me that TidBits is the most read and most popular of all
the items we send out to our subscriber list.
I am going to take advantage of that fact and ask that all subscribers take
note that eScribe is still down, has been since about day two of the ISC's
in Eau Claire, but we never missed a beat, thanks to Saint James of
FastpitchWest.com, our good friend Jim Flanagan has provided us with an
excellent back up site with http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball
This is the time of the year when there is more talk than actual news, but
since this is all we have for the news starved fans, here we go - and
maybe just maybe the team organizers will let us know what is going on -
informally or otherwise!
TidBits from Wisconsin:
Miljavac and LaLonde to Patsy's
Ethier sticking with Aspen
Folkard to Townline/Shoots
Muizelaar to Patsy's
Circle Tap on a major recruiting campaign.
From elsewhere in the mid-west:
Juna Pottolichio returning to Aurora DM Shamrocks.
Aurora also replacing Tom Crouch (Gone to CTap) with
DJ Cochs (ATMI) and PJ McKinney (formerly of
Richwrap). Richwrap (Elburn-ISC II) looking for
pitcher for the upcoming season. Possibly someone to
relocate and live in area.
NAFA World Series to coincide with Womens Pro League
Championships which will also be in Kimberly.
Karl Gollan to Midland Explorers
Tim Jacobs back to Quad City Sox from Rockford
Blackhawk
Quinton Matzner to IS Knights
And from Ontario:
Many players looking to play at home in 2006, partly due to tired of
travel; WT in Kitchener in August; and, the opportunity may be there with
some local teams trying their best to hang onto the local talent.
Jarvis hanging onto their big gun in spite of some tempting big dollars
being thrown in the direction of Andrew Phipps to go south. He and his
catcher brother are hanging tough with Jarvis - that's loyalty.
Not so it seems with two of their Jarvis team mates, although Pat Graham
and Ian Fehrman are headed north, and still in the province, but leaving
their team a bit short. Graham was the first ever player approved by the
league to play his league games at home in Jarvis and still hold an ISC
card with another team - he played in WT in 2005 with RiverSharks... who
are part of the Ontario team it seems, but more on that later. Watch for
Ryan Thompson and John Brunton to join up with Jarvis for the year as well.
Also rumours of a major coaching change in Jarvis, a big name we all know
and watch for Adam Smith to become a playing coach. Also, Graham will be
with the team for the Canadians. Maybe he can be talked into staying with
the home team for ISC play as well. Its not over yet.
The Six Nations (Ohsweken, ON) Chiefs had Darren Zack in 2005 for league
play but he was with his Wisconsin team for most of the season and ended up
not playing in the WT, much to the great regret of the fans who had hoped
to see him play in Eau Claire. In 2006 Darren will be with the Chiefs all
year so look forward to seeing him where ever the Chiefs go. Watch for a
number of Newfoundlanders to be on this team, players we saw in Frankenmuth
in 2005.
There will be another senior team in 2006 out of Ohsweken, ON as well, the
Red Men. Watch for Mike Joseph on this new team.
The team everyone is talking about is not formalized yet but soon should
be, and will probably play out of Owen Sound.
The Owen Sound Select River Shark Smokers, or some derivation as Owen Sound
was most recently connected with the Selects (and don't forget the Crunch),
but the major influence of this new team will be Bob Nydick's River Sharks.
But do not count out Peter J. Porcelli, II of the Smokers, etc. he is
rumoured to be with the team as a consultant.
So who is with this team? Good question, but this is what our cub
reporters tell us:
Management:
Dennis Bruckert, head coach - late of Circle Tap
Bob Nydick, general manager - late of River Sharks
Peter J. Porcelli, II, consultant/coach - late of Calgary Diamonds
Pitching Staff:
Frank Cox - late of Calgary Diamonds
Rob O'Brien - late of Circle Tap
Michael White - late of Moorhead Imaging Solution Knights
Other players:
Sean O'Brien
Mike Taylor
Pat Graham
Ian Fehrman
Dan Loney
This is sure to change, or at least a lot more names to be added.
While many have told me where the 2007 ISC World Tournament will be played
(now that Decatur is out of the picture) do not book your hotel yet, wait
for the official announcement, there is lots of time left. But do book your
hotel
