Hi-lights from 1997 exhibition doubleheader
with
1996 ISC World Champion Tampa Bay Smokers
July 16, 1997
Photos by Bob Pinkney
Darren Zack and contest winner Erik
Smokers talk things over on the mound in
game 1
. Todd Martin in action - Mike Crawford delivers
'Boomer' Brush takes a big cut
Smokers game MVP Jason 'Magic Hands' Hanson
Todd 'Wolfie' Garcia at the plate
Mike 'Minkdog28' Mink swings and misses
. MFL All-Stars
MFL game MVP Greg 'Dizzy' Edwards of the
Mississauga Mudcats
. Billy Stewart of the Brampton Brewers - David
Bakker of the Mississauga Chiefs
Ron Mitchell of the Brampton Brewers
Blair Setford of the Mississauga Chiefs
With a crowd estimated by some of more than
1,500 on hand, the MFL All-Stars took on
the 1996 International Softball Congress
World Champion Tampa Bay Smokers Wednesday
July 16.
While the champs prevailed 5-0 in the first
game and 1-0 in the second, both games featured
several fabulous defensive plays, outstanding
pitching and, particularly in the second
game, a surprisingly competitive Mississauga
squad which stayed deadlocked at zeroes with
the Smokers into the fifth inning.
MVPs of the night, who were presented with
a Blue Jays print, a Labatt MVP T-Shirt and
a Star Sports Canada T-Shirt, were Jason
Hanson of the Smokers and Greg "Dizzy"
Edwards of the MFL All-Stars.
Hanson hit a 285-foot homerun in the top
of the fifth in the second game to break
a 0-0 tie and provided the only scoring of
the game. The 43-year-old Edwards, who pitched
his Masters club to a third place finish
in the recent Ontario Eliminations and qualified
for the Canadians, held the Smokers scoreless
for four innings to start the second game.
Todd Martin hit a high of 123 kilometres
per hour on the radar gun, followed closely
by Darren Zack who hit 122. Mike Crawford
was clocked at 119. Edwards and David Bakker
of Mississauga both hit 117.
Zack, always a gentleman and a true ambassador
for the game, participated in a between innings
promotion in which three contest winners
were given the opportunity to try to get
a base hit off the best in the game. On the
line was $100 in cash and two tickets to
the Toronto Molson Indy, courtesy of the
Fan 590 All Sports Radio.
While the first two batters went down swinging
mightily, but to no avail, an 8-year old
named Erik came the closest to collecting
a hit, just missing on three pitches from
the master who did his best to make them
hittable.
Zack then autographed Erik's ticket and presented
the youngster with a Star ball autographed
by all the members of the Smokers. Erik's
night was made complete when his name was
picked from among the three contestants and
he was awarded the cash and two tickets.
The MFL wants to thank corporate partner
Labatt Breweries Ontario and territory manager
Ian Ferguson, all the fans, the Smokers,
particularly Peter Porcelli Jr., Michael
Mink and Darren Zack, all the volunteers
from MFL teams and the MFL players for making
the night a huge success.
We're already looking forward to next year!
Blair and David
Reaction from some in attendance:
Al Doran, of the ISC Eastern Canada Travel
League
Now that was a "Softball Crowd!!!!!!
"
Estimates of in excess of 1,500 jammed the
little park in the valley, Memorial Park
in the town of Streetsville, in Mississauga,
to see the famous Tampa Bay Smokers play
the All Stars from the local Mississauga
Fastball League (MFL).
Every seat filled, every square inch of fence
taken up with lawn charis with noses pressed
to the wire, backed by up to 10 deep trying
to get a look at the Smokers.
Todd Martin, who also pitches locally for
the MFL in his days off from the Smokers,
started for Tampa Bay and had 4 perfect innings.
Mike Crawford, another Ontario pitcher came
in in the 5th. Tampa won that one 5-0 without
too much trouble but the MFL did not look
all that bad.
The Smokers have a large contingent of Canadian
players on their roster, including:
Todd Martin, pitcher, Bracebridge and Toronto
Mike Crawford, pitcher, Toronto
Darren Zack (The Zee Man), pitcher, Garden
River, Ontario
Todd King, 3B, Halifax
Ron White, 3B, Sebringville ON
Lloyd Eli, BC (formerly with the North Americans)
Randy Peck, 1B/C, Ottawa
And of course on the bench:
Terry Baytor, Bench Coach, Toronto (Team
Canada/Toronto Gators)
Bongo Baird, Trainer, Toronto (ditto)
Baytor Jr., batboy, Toronto (ditto)
Hope I did not miss anyone. Too bad no programs
(NOTE: Free programs were available, but
due to a snafu, were not distributed. Anybody
wanting one should contact Blair Setford
of the MFL.) or other Smokers material on
sale, the crowd would have loved it. Smokers
merchandise didn't arrive in Canada until
Friday July 18. (Those looking for Smokers
paraphenalia should contact the MFL who will
put them in touch with the Smokers.) But,
organizers did have Star Sports T-shirts,
etc. and lots of good food etc. Organizers
also worked hard to let the softball fans
know about this special twin bill.... Well
done Blair and Co.
They sold tickets this eve for chance to
go to bat against Zack or Martin. Three "lucky"
guys had tickets drawn and went to bat, helmet
on, and are still waiting to see where Zack
threw those 3 strikes. Zack held nothing
back. IF anyone of them had gotten a hit
off of Zack, they had chance of money prize
and tickets to Molson Indy this weekend (and
why would anyone want to sit and watch cars
race in downtown Toronto when they could
go to Perth for some serious Fastball!).
Zack started the 2nd game and gave the crowd
what they wanted. Many came just to see the
Zee man. Darren, looking very fit after a
hard exericse program all winter, including
lots of hockey, looks great. Better still,
he was throwing legal this evening. Darren
has thrown in ISF worlds before so adjusting
to the pitching rules seems to come naturally
to him.
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