U.S. Hosts Seventh Annual Pacific Rim Slow-Pitch Softball Championships

Nov. 1, 2019

All Stars from the USA Red team included, from left, Manager John Fournier, Al Ariano, Dave Prins and Drew Pearson.

All Stars from the USA Blue team included, from left, Co-Manager Mike Quigley, Jim Bailiff, Jim Goff, Bob Hubbard and Co-Manager Manager Ed Schell.

Senior Softball News Report
OAHU, Hawaii – A strong team from Taiwan beat the USA Red team to win the seventh annual Pacific Rim Slow-Pitch Softball Championships here, Oct. 24-25 at the Central Oahu Regional Park Softball Complex.

The games, hosted by the United States this year, are designed to build friendship through sports throughout the Pacific Rim.  This year Canada and Hong Kong joined the Pacific Rim Slow-Pitch Softball Federation, which includes charter organizations from Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States.

The Federation delegates unanimously approved Canada as host for the 2020 Pacific Rim Championships.  The games are scheduled to be played Sept. 5-6, 2020 in Vancouver.

Countries are limited to two entries each, with both Japan and the U.S. fielding two teams and the other countries fielding a team each.

“Our purpose is to grow international friendship through slow-pitch softball,” Terry Hennessy, president of the Pacific Rim Federation, told the teams at the opening ceremonies. “In friendships, as in families, there will always be differences of opinion, politics, religion and traditions.

“Our purpose is to provide a bridge over those differences through our sport to build relationships of friendship through our common love of our sport.

“This is a noble goal and one we can be proud to embrace,” said Hennessy.

Shoji Matsumoto, who is the charter delegate from Japan and outgoing Federation president, was presented with a commemorative Louisville Slugger bat at the ceremony.

“We are all friends through the Federation and we look forward to welcoming more countries and teams throughout the Pacific Rim to our family,” Matsumoto told the teams.

In the 2019 games, the eight teams were split into two divisions, with Sakata Izu (Japan), Team China, Team Canada, and Team USA Red (managed by John Fournier) in Group A; and Team Hong Kong, Nakama (Japan), Team USA Blue co-managed by Ed Schell and Mike Quigley), and Bao Zhen Xiang (Taiwan) in Group B.

Play began with a three-game round-robin format within each group to seed into a crossover single elimination bracket.

After the first day of play, all of the international players celebrated at a Hawaiian luau sponsored by Senior Softball USA.  The host country traditionally provides a party for all players and family with food and entertainment representing the host location.

On the final day of play, top seed Bao Zhen Xiang of Taiwan from Group B would go on to claim the 2019 Pacific Rim Championships. Taiwan defeated USA Red, the top seed from Group A, 10-5, in the championship game.

In the third-place game, USA Blue, the No. 2 seed in Group B, held off Team Canada, the No. 2 seed in Group A, 16-15.

USA Red and USA Blue teams announced top players at the end of the tournament:

USA Red: MVP: Drew Pearson (NC), Best Offense: Dave Prins (IA); Best Defense: Al Ariano (HI).
USA Blue: MVP: Jim Bailiff (IA); Best Offense: Bob Hubbard (WA). Best Offense: Jim Goff (IA); Best Defense: Bob Hubbard (WA).

In addition to the Pacific Rim Championships, four women’s teams competed in the Women’s Hawaii Classic Division, with three teams from Japan (Aomori Nebuta, Takisawa Club and SOREIYU Higashi-Murayama Eagles), and one from the U.S. (Hawaii).

The division featured a full three-game round robin to seed into a single elimination bracket.

Defending its home turf, Team Hawaii posted a perfect record, going 3-0 in seeding, and 2-0 in bracket play, including a 21-2 win over Takisawa Club in the championship game.

Amori Nebuta defeated SOREIYU Higashi-Murayama Eagles, 4-2, in the third-place game.

Following the Pacific Rim Championships, many of the participants took part on a seven-day cruise, visiting Maui, The Big Island and Kauai, and playing various friendly games against local teams, along with various sightseeing opportunities.

Look for complete coverage of the Cruise competitions in the Winter Edition of Senior Softball News next month!