Eastern Ontario Fastball Blog

A blog dedicated to news about the Greater Ottawa Fastball League and other happenings in the world of fastball / fastpitch softball in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, with occasional stories featuring Mrs Fitzroy Fastball, Fitzroy Fastball Junior and the Caveman. If you have info to send on, send me an email at fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com. Follow @fitzroyfastball on Twitter.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Happy Ho Ho and a couple of stories from back in the day

Season's Greetings blog readers, whatever your preference may be: Merry Christmas, Festive Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza or my preference Best Wishes for a Deity-Free Secular Winter Solstice.

Been neglecting you lately, sorry about that. Busy running around to rinks and waiting for Fitzroy Junior's elusive first goal in Novice B hockey. ("Did you see how I almost scored, Dad?")

As well I was busy planning my annual November road trip....to see how that turned out, check out "my other blog" (yeah, I know, it's sad, I have two).

Anyway, here you go, a little blast from the past - think back almost 20 years ago. To the young 'uns reading this - translation: Gators - this was time known as the "early 90s". Tight ball pants, aluminum bats, the odd ball player rockin' a mullet, and yes, the wee village of Carp had its very own ISC World team. Check this out for a few familiar names:

Valley Pride wins first game at worlds;
The Ottawa Citizen
August 12, 1990 pg. B6

Carp Valley Pride got off to a quick start at the International Softball Congress world championships in Victoria Saturday when they defeated Nogalis from Mexico 6-0.

Once again the key to Carp's win was outstanding pitching.

Eric Wilson, who was added to the Carp lineup before the start of the season from New Zealand, went the first five innings for the winners allowing only one hit while striking out 10. He did not walk a batter.

He was replaced for the final two innings by Mike Crawford who was brought in for the tournament from Bracebridge. He is considered one of the top pitchers in Ontario.

In Crawford's two innings he did not allow a hit and mowed down four batters on strikes.
Offensively Carp was led by outfielders Don Cox and Randy Peck. Cox, a .316 hitter for the Pride, had three hits including a two-run double. Peck had a pair hits and he too drove in a pair of runs.

The Pride, who arrived at the tournament ranked ninth will meet Madison, Wisc., considered one of the favorites in the 48-team five-country double elimination tournament, this afternoon .

Valley Pride's Peck all-world
The Ottawa Citizen
Aug 21, 1990 pg E5

The Carp Valley Pride returned from the International Softball Congress world fastball championships in Victoria Monday with a 2-2 record and individual honors awarded to Randy Peck.

Peck was recognized as one of the top 10 softball players in the world when the outfielder [note: I'm pretty sure Randy was recognized as a catcher, but this is what the original article said] was selected to the first-team all-world squad.

Peck was named the tournament's top hitter after compiling a .600 average with six hits in 10 at-bats, an impressive accomplishment considering 58 of 95 games ended in a shutout.

Seattle Sea-First captured the world title, reaching the final of the double-knockout competition undefeated.

Defending champion Sioux City, Iowa, blanked Salt Lake City 4-0 to advance against Seattle and posted a 5-0 victory in their first encounter, scoring the first run of the tournament against Seattle pitcher Jimmy Moore.

Sioux City pitcher Peter Meredith went 57 1/3 innings before allowing his first earned run in the game.

But in the deciding contest, Moore rebounded to register a 4-2 decision in extra innings, the third victory for the tournament's top pitcher.

MVP honors went to Sioux City centre-fielder Bill Boyer, regarded by many as the world's premier fastball player.

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