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Striving For Excellence
Softball team rockets to top
Slowpitch: The C-Town Softball Club boasts a No. 1 ranking in the USSSA power poll
By Rachel Roberts
Idaho Press Tribune
06-28-2005
Even with the days of 90 mph pitches behind them, the C-Town Softball Club is still pretty intense.
With a No. 1 power ranking among the 1,942 teams in the United States Specialty Sports Association's Men's D slow pitch poll, C-town is shocking teams throughout the west.
"We are all different characters," team manager Don Hughes said, "but we all just want to go compete for this one thing, and that's (to win) worlds."
With players ranging in age from 22 to 40-- some with college baseball and professional experience and others without-- C-town has gone 14-0 in National Invitational Tournaments this year, and has already qualified for the Men's D World Tournament this September in Orlando, Fla.
After starting up practice in early March with five new members, C-Town has since won the Las Vegas Budweiser Far West Tournament, Boise's 25th annual Polar Bear Tournament, the Keizer Iris Fest $$$ Series and the Rob Bordenkirker Memorial.
In addition to the four NIT tournament wins, C-Town has also raised the trophy in the ASA G.R.A.S.P. tournament in Caldwell and the Budlight ISG tournament in Boise, compiling an overall record of 37-3.
"I think the biggest thing is that we all get along with each other," said C-Town first baseman Chris Hoshaw of why the team has been so successful.
"You're always going to have problems with 14 different guys, but our problems are pretty minimal."
"We have the right guys in the right positions, and we play good defense," Hoshaw said.
C-Town did qualify for the Men's D World tournament last year in Sterling Heights, but finished tied for 95th.
This year, C-Town has bigger aspirations in mind.
"Our ultimate goal is to win the worlds and get a big fat ring," Hughes said. "And it's for bragging rights."
Next up for the team will be the 32nd annual Best in the West Goosetown/Bud Light ASA Men's Softball Tournament which runs July 8-10 in Anaconda, Mont.
"I think you have to have a good team bond (to be successful)," Hughes said. "We've had some tournaments where we didn't hit the ball so well and played great defense, and we've also won tournaments with our bats.
"Hopefully we can put it all together in Orlando."
Members of the C-Town Softball Club are: Travis Vezina, Don Slattery, Tim Pemberton, David Gerber, Matt Hart, Tom Mehiel, Shane Skogrand, Zack Deboi, Steve Skogrand, Glen Spivey, Andy Lakatos, Austin Needs, Dan Alandt, Hughes, and Hoshaw.
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