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BATTLE OF THE BRANDS ROCKS ON

The “Battle of the Brands” continues on the Stadium Power Tour. DeMarini, Easton, Miken and Reebok battle, earning the right to be known as the greatest softball home run hitter on the planet.

Friday night May 24 at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark, 10 Long Haul Bombers take to the plate. In the pre-game show, Reebok and DeMarini are featured. It’s the debut of Dustin Roberts and Team Reebok, taking on current co-leader on the Stadium Power Tour, Adam Rockoff of DeMarini.

After the Reds and Cubs game, Easton and returning champ Kevin “Flip” Filby of Team Miken will hit, before a sell out fireworks night crowd.

The Reds are calling it “Battle of Ohio” as Easton Brain Wegman who lives in Cincy, takes on with Miken’s Kevin Filby, who hails from nearby Delaware Ohio.

On Sunday, May 26th, the tour takes on the “Trop”, home of the Tampa Rays and Tropicana Field. The home run derby takes place before the Rays and New York Yankees game. Reebok and Easton go “one on one” and for battle for the Manufactures cup. Easton’s Brett “The Hitman” Helmer, knows its time to put up some points.“Easton will be ready, we want keep the cup, we won it last year and want to keep it in the Easton Trophy case.”

Scott Kirby of Easton makes his first appearance of 2013. After a weekend of hitting Evil Softballs, some trends on the championship chase will emerge.

The Long Haul Bombers are a collection of the world’s greatest softball homer run hitters. They stage one of kind home run derbies at Major League ball parks across North America. Each Bomber gets 15 swings, each home run is worth one point, except the last pitch, known as the money ball, worth 2 points and can be the tie-breaker. Six Long Haul Bombers qualify for the finals of the Stadium Power Tour, scheduled for Sunday, Friday night August 23 in St. Paul at Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints.

The Stadium Power Tour features the top sporting brands in the world: DeMarini, Easton, Miken, BP Athletics, Evil Sports and Suncoast Reebok.

Fans can follow the Bombers on the national TV show, “Softball 360”, available on more than 93 million households on TV stations and cable networks across North America.

“Softball 360” also covers the grass roots of softball, including WSL tournaments across North America. www.worldsoftballeague.com It all happens at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach Florida. www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

The Long Haul Bombers are sponsored by Long Haul Trucking, running on the power of promises kept. www.longhaultrucking.com

Softball 360 Show 2 2013

Preview of Round 1 of Stadium Power Tour in San Diego.The Grudge Match as Kevin Fibly of Team Miken takes on his old teammates with Team Demarini! A look at Softball Magazines Spring Training in Coco Beach, FL. Meet the 2012 Long Haul Bomber Champ, now with Team Miken. Team DeMarini vs Team Miken from Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

Schedule set for World Cup of Softball VIII

OKLAHOMA CITY — The top four softball teams in the world will converge on Oklahoma City this July 11-14 as the World Cup of Softball VIII returns to the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium along with the Border Battle V the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today. The USA Softball Women’s National Team will look to defend their top finish from last year’s World Cup as they take on reigning International Softball Federation (ISF) World Champion Japan, Australia, Canada and Puerto Rico in the four-day event. The USA Men’s Slow Pitch Team will also compete in the fifth annual Border Battle as they look to improve their record to 4-1 over the Canadian Men’s Slow Pitch National Team. Single and All-Session tickets are currently available by phone at 800-654-8337 or online at SoftballOutlet.com.

Click here for the complete World Cup of Softball VIII and Border Battle V Schedule

Now in its eighth year, the World Cup line-up is highlighted by the 2013 USA Softball Women’s National Team as well as defending World Champs Japan. Team USA last faced Japan in the finals of the 2012 ISF Women’s World Championship where they fell 2-1 in a 10-inning shootout.. Australia claimed the Bronze Medal at the 2012 ISF World Championships while Canada took fourth.

The World Cup, an ISF sanctioned event, will again feature men’s slow pitch action with the Canadian Men’s Slow Pitch National Team, the USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team and the USA Softball Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team competing in Oklahoma City. The Border Battle V on July 11 will feature Canada against the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team at noon and will be immediately followed by the second annual Slow Pitch Showdown between the two USA teams at 3 p.m.

The women’s fast pitch portion of the World Cup closes out the day one at 7 p.m. when the USA takes on Canada with an autograph session following the game. Four women’s fast pitch games will take place on Friday, July 12 highlighted by USA vs Australia at 7 p.m.. Four more games will take place on Saturday, July 13 with the World Championship rematch between USA and Japan as the nightcap at 8 p.m. Championship Sunday at the World Cup will include two USA games as the Red, White and Blue open the day with Puerto Rico in the annual Pink Game at noon and then the playoff portion of the event gets underway.

All-session tickets, which are $30 for general admission seating, $60 for other reserved seating, and $250 for the Ultimate Fan Zone reserved seating in the first three rows of the stadium can be purchased by phone at 800-654-8337 or online at SoftballOutlet.com.

Single-session tickets are also now available at $10 for general admission seating and $20 for reserved seating.

The Ultimate Fan Zone package includes a private autograph session and meal with the USA Softball Women’s National Team, open only to Ultimate Fan Zone (UFZ) ticket holders, as well as free parking, a white ASA/USA Softball hat and the opportunity for personalized name slide on the video board with a photo opportunity and more. Tickets and other UFZ materials will be shipped in June.

The 2013 USA Softball Women’s National Team roster will be finalized in June following the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp in Oklahoma City. Click here to view the rosters of the 2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team and Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team.

USA Softball Mens Slow Pitch Team rosters announced for 2013

5 Long Haul Bombers named to Team USA and Futures rosters!

OKLAHOMA CITY – Eight National Team veterans, six Futures Team (32-Under) veterans and two rookies comprise the 2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team roster, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced today. The team will play a pair of ESPN televised games in July during the World Cup of Softball, including Border Battle V, against the 2013 Canadian Men’s Slow Pitch Border Battle Team and the second annual Slow Pitch Showdown against the USA Men’s Slow Pitch Future’s Team.

“We’re very excited to be hosting the Border Battle for the fifth consecutive year,” said ASA/USA Softball Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “This is a great event that displays some amazing athletes to a world-wide audience. The guys who compete in this game have reached the pinnacle of slow pitch softball and they deserve the recognition that comes with representing your country.”

2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team Roster
Name (Hometown) Manufacturing Sponsor
Rick Baker (West Harrison, Ind.) Combat
Bryson Baker (Magalia, Calif.) Easton
**Kevin Bazat (Columbia, Mo.) Easton
*Robert Blackburn (Indian Trail, N.C.) Louisville Slugger
Geno Buck (Red Wing, Minn.) Easton
**Travis Clark (Kenosha, Wis.) Easton
**Kevin Filby (Cardington, Ohio) Miken
*Jeff Hall (Gastonia, N.C.) Worth
Brett Helmer (Cicero, N.Y.) Easton
**Chris Larsen (Vancouver, Wash.) DeMarini
Johnny McCraw (Lake Wylie, S.C.) Combat
Jeff McGavin (2010 Team) Combat
**Lee Powers (Gaston, N.C.) Louisville Slugger
Brian Rainwater (Kathleen, Ga.) Easton
**Luis Reyna (Tampa, Fla.) Reebok
Brian Wegman (Hamilton, Ohio) Easton
* Rookie
**2012 Futures Team Member

Highlighting this year’s roster are five-time Men’s Slow Pitch National Team members Rick Baker (West Harrison, Ind.); Brett Helmer (Cicero, N.Y.); Johnny McCraw (Wylie, S.C.), the 2010 USA Softball Male Athlete of the Year; and Brian Wegman (Hamilton, Ohio). All were on the inaugural squad in 2009 and have continued to represent the United States each year since.

Returning to Team USA for their fourth campaign are Bryson Baker (Magalia, Calif.) and Brian Rainwater (Kathleen, Ga.), both of which were on the squad in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

Geno Buck (Red Wing, Minn.) has made the National Team for the third time in his career. Buck was a member of the 2011 and 2012 teams.

Seven of this year’s National Team players were members of the 2012 inaugural USA Men’s Slow Pitch Future’s Team. Kevin Filby (Cardington, Ohio), Luis Reyna (Tampa, Fla.), Travis Clark (Kenosha, Wis.), Lee Powers (Gaston, N.C.), Chris Larsen (Vancouver, Wash.) and Kevin Bazat (Columbia, Mo.) each competed against the USA Men’s Slow Pitch National Team in the 2012 Slow Pitch Showdown held during last year’s World Cup of Softball.

Two rookies, Robert Blackburn (Indian Trail, N.C.) and Jeff Hall (Gastonia, N.C.) round out the 2013 roster.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to play for Team USA this summer,” said Blackburn. “The Border Battle and Slow Pitch Showdown are great promotions for our sport. Being on ESPN, they allow for a larger viewing audience to see the game that we love to play.”

The team will be coached by Steve Shortland (Converse, Texas) who is making his fifth-consecutive appearance as the head coach of Team USA.

Created in conjunction with the inaugural Border Battle slow pitch competition against Canada in 2009, the Men’s Slow Pitch National Team program is now in its fifth run. With a 32-21 victory last year in Oklahoma City, Team USA extended its lead to 3-1 in the Border Battle series. The Americans won Border Battle I 30-23 but Canada evened the series in 2010 with a 30-29 win. The USA men rebounded in 2011 with a dominating 25-3 performance.

In addition to participating in Border Battle V, the 2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team will also take on the 2013 USA Softball Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team in the Slow Pitch Showdown this summer at the World Cup of Softball VIII in Oklahoma City. Two returners and 13 newcomers represent the 2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch Futures Team.

2013 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch Futures Team Roster
Name (Hometown) Manufacturing Sponsor
*Brandon Dillon (Anderson, Ind.) Easton
**Anthony Dress (Rosemount, Minn.) Reebok
*Sal Formosa (San Jose, Calif.) Miken
*Chente Granados (Chino, Calif.) Louisville Slugger
*Neil Haglund (New York, N.Y.) Louisville Slugger
*Brandon Jonas (Claremont, N.C.) Demarini
*Dave Kessler (Cincinnati, Ohio) Louisville Slugger
*Corey Large (Bedford, Texas) Miken
*Kyle Moyer (Tiffin, Ohio) Easton
*Bryce Oliveira (Las Vegas, Nev.)
*Adam Rockoff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) Demarini
*Casey Rogowski (Livonia, Mich.) Louisville Slugger
*Andy Vitcak (Oakdale, Minn.) Louisville Slugger
*Scott Zaciewski (Toledo, Ohio) Reebok
**Brian Zirkle (Kankakee, Ill.) Easton
* Rookie
**2012 Futures Team Member

Slow Pitch Showdown and Border Battle tickets are included in all-session tickets to the World Cup, July 11-14 in Oklahoma City. All-session tickets, which are $250 for the Ultimate Fan Zone reserved seating in the first three rows of the stadium, $60 for other reserved seating and $30 for general admission seating, can be purchased by phone at 800-654-8337 or online at SoftballOutlet.com. Single session general admission tickets will be on sale in early June.

The Ultimate Fan Zone package also includes a private autograph session and meal with the USA Softball Women’s National Team, open only to Ultimate Fan Zone (UFZ) ticket holders, as well as free parking and a white ASA/USA Softball hat and the opportunity for personalized name slide on the video board with a photo and more.

Softball 360 Show 1 2013

Season preview of the Stadium Power Tour. Meet the new Long Haul Bombers, season recap, and get to know our new hosts Dave Benz and Timi Leighton.

Win a Derby and Hit at Citi Field

Once in a life time change to hit with the Long Haul Bombers at Citi Field in New York City!

Teams Easton & Reebok will he hitting Pre Game, game starts at 7:10pm

Purchase Group Tickets to the game HERE

ASA Super Slow Pitch Returns In August

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball announced today the return of the Super Slow Pitch division with the first-ever Men’s Super Slow Pitch Invitational Championship.

Slated for August 23-25 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., this special event is a resurgence of the ASA Men’s Super Slow Pitch program, which held its last National Championship in 2003. The Men’s Super Slow Pitch division is an open-roster event which differs from the Men’s Class A, currently the highest level of Championship Play where each team can have no more than five players on the ASA restricted slow pitch players list.

“It is appropriate as we celebrate our 80th Anniversary that we return to our roots and offer an open championship where teams are allowed to assemble and bring their best players to compete in a National Championship,” said ASA/USA Softball Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “ASA Softball was built on this concept. Our founding fathers established the ASA to conduct National Events to crown a National Champion without classification restrictions. The Men’s Super Slow Pitch Invitational will crown the best Men’s Slow Pitch Team in the United States at this event in Minneapolis/St. Pau, MN.”

Bracket play for the Men’s Super Slow Pitch Invitational Championship will be played in Minneapolis/St. Paul area while the Semi-finals and Championship Game will take place at the historic Midway Stadium in St. Paul, Minn., home of the St. Paul Saints professional baseball team. Fans who are unable to attend will get the opportunity to catch the Semi-finals and Championship games on the CBS Sports Network via tape delay on Tuesday, August 27 and Wednesday, August 28.

The invitational will feature 12 of the top teams in men’s slow pitch, who will compete in a double-elimination bracket with no “if-game”, which will determine the champion. Bracket play will begin on Thursday and will continue through Friday evening. Each team is allowed 16 home runs per game, with each home run hit after that recorded as an out.
This marks the first time since 2003 that the Men’s Super Slow Pitch program has had a tournament. The first Men’s Super Slow Pitch National Championship took place in 1981 in Burlington, N.C., where Howard’s/Western Steer (Denver, North Carolina) claimed the inaugural Championship and Hall of Fame member Rick “The Crusher” Scherr took home the MVP title. Throughout the 22-year existence of the Super division, 12 teams were crowned champions, with Ritch’s Superior (Windsor Locks, Conn.) and Steele’s Silver Bullets (Grafton, Ohio) leading the pack with four championships apiece.

The Long Haul Bombers Stadium Power Tour Finals will also be held here on August 24th.

Bloomington Fireman’s History

The history of Minnesota’s biggest softball tournament, the Bloomington Fireman’s.

The idea for the tournament came from Rollie Regeur, Bob Eglund and Clarence Kelly in the Bloomington Sun newspaper office, with the underlying idea that perhaps the fire department could win its own tournament. The Bloomington Fire Department was one of the top teams in the metro area, but never could quite win a big tournament. The Firemen usually took second place.

1959 – Tournament debuts at Legion Field on 98^th and I-35W. The single-elimination event attracted 16 teams. Tournament headquarters was Marthels Tavern.

1960 – The second annual tournament saw the Bloomington Fire Department lose in the championship game. The event attracted 32 teams, making it the largest tournament in Minnesota.

The home of the big trophies!

1969 – The 11^th annual tournament drew 128 teams, and, for the first time, held a women’s division with 16 teams, for a total of 144 teams. A home run derby also was held on Sunday afternoon. The admission fee was 25 cents per game, or a tournament pass was $1.

1971 – The 13^th annual tournament attracted 96 men’s teams and 32 women’s teams at an entry fee of $35. The tournament grossed $12,500 and netted $6,250 for the relief association.

1973 – The 15^th annual tournament hosted 164 teams. A color TV designated to be awarded to the winner of the home run derby was donated to the Shrine Children’s Hospital because there wasn’t enough time to hold the contest. The celebrity game also was canceled. A full scholarship to the University of Minnesota Williams Scholarship Fund was donated instead.

1976 – The 18^th annual tournament was held at Valley View Fields and Dred Scott Fields. The event attracted 176 teams, who played 352 total games. Headquarters at Dred Scott was a motor home, and the folks in the motor home used the oven to bake the water out of softballs for re-use during a primarily rainy weekend. After a vote, it was agreed that the tournament would only be held at one park in future years.

And Pretty Ladies!

1978 – The 20^th annual tournament was held despite poor weather. The Fire Department Old Timers vs. the Minnesota North Stars was the feature attraction.

1979 – Virg Ellrich died and was buried with full honors. He was the tournament director for 19 years.

1983 – Former Chief Rueger was honored at a Bloomington Adult Sports banquet. HE was honored for his many endeavors in sports, including playing softball with many of the Bloomington Fire Department teams and tournaments.

1989 – The 31^st annual tournament was held with 128 teams.

1991 – The 33^rd annual tournament was marred by lightning and bad weather. The championship was decided with a “gentlemen’s agreement,” in which both teams ended play with two innings remaining and split the prize money.

A City of Bloomington health inspector blamed the Bloomington Fire Department for health violations stemming from the tournament. Specifically, Chief Seal was charged with a misdemeanor for “illegally dumping” wiener water in the city sewer system. The “wiener water” caused quite a stir within the city. Where the spill was located and the water dumped could not have been the same, due to the fact that there was no way for the storm sewer system to link the two areas together. Chief Seal was fined $100 for “illegally dumping” polluted waters into the drainage pipes.

1993 – The 35^th annual tournament attracted approximately 25,000 spectators.

1996 – The 38^th annual tournament was renamed the Virg Ellrich Memorial after the Bloomington Fire Department voted to cancel its sponsorship. Jeff Barnes immediately took over as the tournament director. The Fire Department elected to drop the tournament about a month before the start of it. The tournament was smaller but it went off and in the following years it would grow rapidly again.

2001 – The 43^rd annual tournament drew 118 teams as Team Miken won the men’s upper division. Miken Sports donated five softball bats to the MVP of each division.

Hank Garris

2002 – Long Haul/Miken wins it’s second Fireman’s in a row by run-ruling every opponent in the tournament.

2003 – Long Haul/Miken wins a third Fireman’s in a row, a feat that had not been done in the Men’s Upper since Newell Concrete did it in the early nineties.

2004 – 150 teams from six states will compete in the Fireman’s this season. The six states represented are: Minnesota, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Long Haul/Miken made it four championships in a row in the men’s upper and Macken Plumbing also did in the women’s upper by reeling off six wins in a row. This was the year of the “Cooler Ball Controversy.” Teams allegedly kept balls in coolers to improve the performance of the ball.

2008 – The great Jeff Barnes begins use of the 52/300 softball. ASA would adopt the ball in its bat testing models in 2012. Safety has always been a premium at Fireman’s with overlapping outfielders on the open fields.

2010 – The TC Longhorns win the Men’s top division as a “C” team. This is the first only time any team other than an “A” team has won Fireman’s top Men’s division.

2012 – The 54th event attracts 160 teams and 3 inches of rain on Friday afternoon. City of Bloomington staff and Fireman’s officials have the fields ready to play right on time as usual.

2013 – July 19-21, Rip City/DeMarini out of Iowa takes the Open Bracket!

Spectators fill the left field line!

2014 – July 18-20, Xtreme/Miken runs through the open bracket undefeated to win the 56th annual event.

Xtreme/Miken’s Alex Bremer

2015 – ???

Softball 360 TV debuts this weekend

It’s game on for “Softball 360“ the TV show. Dave Benz and Timi Leighton are your guides for all things softball on the Emmy nominated, nationally syndicated TV show.

Host Dave Benz is the voice of NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves. Reporter Timi Leighton is a former all state softball player, who also reports for AMSOIL Championship Snocross.

The Stadium Power Tour is off and running with round one in the books at Petco Park in San Diego. 2012 Stadium Power Tour Champion Kevin Filby from Miken and rookie Adam Rockoff from DeMarini took top Individual honors with 10 points each.

Team Miken is off to strong start winning fist event 27-21, as Denny Crine, Ed Vega and Flip Filby combined for 27 points.

Round 2 and 3 of the Stadium Power Tour are set for May 24 in Cincinnati and May 26 in St. Petersburg Florida at Tropicana Field.

Filby and Rockoff Tie with 10 Points

Season Opener in San Diego a Success.
Filby and Rockoff tie with 10 points

April 27, 2013 – San Diego, CA – It was not surprising to see Stadium Power Tour returning champ, Kevin Filby blast out 10 points at the season opener Saturday night. But it was a surprise as rookie Adam Rockoff tied Filby with 10 points. Rockoff rocked out many upper deck blasts, including the money ball and was pleased with his debut. “It’s a real honor to represent DeMarini on the tour and a great way to start the season“. Filby, who changed teams from DeMarini to Miken in the off season, picked up where he left off. The big lefty, took advantage of new shorter porch in right at Petco.

“The balls were flying, the weather was good, what’s not to like about hitting in San Diego.”

It was “Softball Night in San Diego” a big crowd of 38,823 including many youth softball teams came out to see the show. They enjoyed the Stadium Power Tour home run derby after the extra innings game between the Padres and the World Champion San Francisco Giants.

Final Results From Round one at Petco Park:
Kevin Filby – Miken 10 points
Adam Rockof f- DeMarini 10 points
Denny Crine – Miken 9 points
Ed Vega – Miken 8 points
Chris Larsen – DeMarini 7 points
Donovan Pokraka – DeMarini 4 points

Next Stop on the Stadium Power Tour, Friday night May 24 in Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park and Sunday May 26 at Tropicana Park in St. Petersburg Florida.

Tickets are available on line at www.softball360.tv.

The Long Haul Bombers are a collection of the world’s greatest softball homer run hitters. They stage one of kind home run derbies at Major League ball parks across North America. Each Bomber gets 15 swings, each home run is worth one point, except the last pitch, known as the money ball, worth 2 points and can be the tie-breaker. Six Long Haul Bombers qualify for the finals of the Stadium Power Tour, scheduled for Sunday, Friday night in St. Paul at Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints.

The Stadium Power Tour features the top sporting brands in the world: DeMarini, Easton, Miken, BP Athletics, Evil Sports and Suncoast Reebok.

Fans can follow the Bombers on the national TV show, “Softball 360 “, available on more than 93 million households on TV stations and cable networks across North America.

“Softball 360” also covers the grass roots of softball, including WSL tournaments across North America. www.worldsoftballeague.com It all happens at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach Florida.www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

The Long Haul Bombers are sponsored by Long Haul Trucking, running on the power of promises kept. www.longhaultrucking.com