2006 Tournament

2006 Baseball International Spring Training Tournament

Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Complex

Our 2006 tournament was played in Sarasota at the Cincinnati Reds Spring Training Site. Each of our eight teams team played seven 9 inning games over the four day weekend.

The Nor'easters were lead by Al Harchik who a month later was named game MVP in Curacao during the annual Caribbean Baseball Cruise. His teammates include fellow cruiser Tom Hamre, Aaron Gluckler, Michael Mercier, John Dusenberry, Richard Fleurent, Ryan Alekman, Pre Pieraccini, Jay Sadowski, Robert Englehardt, Michael Mahan, and Joe Militello, who obviously missed the memo that the team color was red.

Harvey's Wallbangers were in the drink early, but Harvey Sherman was able to rally the boys to victory. However, the boys team was disqualified after an ID check showed they were all under 12. The men's team then swizzle sticked through the last 6 games lead by Steve Hicks, Bill Dornbusch, Terry Dornbusch, Lynn Vioght, Bo Wemm, Brian Matthews, Greg Semuskie, Robert Duff, Robert Brown, and Bill Lear.

Russo's Raiders were the power hitting surprise of the tournament, then steroid testing began. The suspended players included Ron Russo, Troy Milne, Dennis Sutton, Jack Malone, Kevin Sutton, Peter Sutton, Bob Morris, James Trapane, Jackie Davis, Chuck Lease, Ken McGruther, Barry Emswiler, and John Walsh.

Smitty's Rembrandt's were the picture of artistry on the field, but then the games would start. Bill Smith lead Dick Kruger, Lloyd Kellerhouse, Steve Klein, Paul Laubenstein, Dan Borgmeyer, Ron Ernst, Chad Morgan, Mark Smith, Phil Manooshian, Jeff Klein, Chip Myers, and Vinny Piroso. By the end of the week, Bill looked more like The Prophet Jeremiah Mourning over the Destruction of Jerusalem.

Ed Garlick's Gringoes thought they had it all wrapped up when they signed two sport superstar Don Kiser up. Then they found out his two sports were figure skating and synchronized swimming. But the Grino's had some fine baseball players in Roberto Fernandez, Bill Burke, Herb Otto, Carl Anderson, Richard Grayson, Bill Peck, Rick Kramer, Donald Schwartz, Scott Weiner, Sam Lynch, and Charles Hildebrandt.

Rick Sorci lead the Italian Stallions, who brought in a ringer. Problem was it was as a look-alike for Dr Zhivago shown here wearing his CKB uniform. The Stallions team featured Joe Maiden, Dick Kiescher, Greg Goodman, Marty Kohler, Bill Bodnar, Paul Mermel, Pete Zachariw, Russ Pollina, Mike Radley, Dave Kelpin, Rich Crane, and Dr Zhivago himself -- Sasha Muratov.

Gene Rueckert's Egg Yokes struggled in the field, especially when the guy on the left played short using his video camera the whole time. The players that paned him on the last day included Paul Spaulding, Jeff Butcher, Ron Wiess, James Gallagher, Tedd Schaffer, Dick Butcher, Robert Elias, Tony Butcher, John Demico, Patrick Demico, and Gary Mendelsohn.

Taking a page from Connie Mack, Steve Faigin managed the Faigin Fanatics in street clothes, but for some strange reason was always naked in the locker room. The Fanatics included Mark Loewenstein, Al Hurly, Lana Bernstein, Tom Jeffreys, Stu Pepper, Bill Knight, Norman Nefsky, David Montgomery, Lew Ingalls, Robert Cooper and Art Farmwald.

Opening game action in the main stadium. Scalpers held the crowd down all week by only offering fans $50 to take a ticket, any ticket please!

With daylight burning, Roy Hobbs hits the light standard to start the winning fireworks display.

Morning game in the main stadium. As in all of our tournaments, each team played one or more games in the main stadium during the tournament.

Senior citizen Harvey Sherman reaches for help walking back to the dugout. But more disturbing -- why is that other guy checking out Harvey's . . .

There's nothing better than playing baseball in 75 degree weather in mid January each year. Did I mention you can now sign up for the 2007 Spring Training Tournament?

Manager Bill Smith explains to one of his players why he is not starting even though the team only has nine players. Sometimes the truth just hurts.

Game action from the back fields. The Reds Sarasota complex is one of the finest in Florida and the weather was spectacular.

Between games of the daily doubleheaders, players were treated like the professionals with catered lunches and massages by fellow teammates depending on which team you were on. Well, at least until the police broke it up.

The spacious Cincinnati Reds locker room was our home for four days. As seen above, they had to disinfect and delouse the place as soon as we left.

Bill Smith and Dave Kelpin were 2 of the five (Joe Maiden, Pete Zachariw, and Stu Pepper) players at the tournament who had done on our World Tour in May 2005.

The intensity and competitiveness of the pitchers were high as in this shoot when the umpire had bent over to clear homeplate after a bad call.

The pitch is either a 200 mph fastball or that's just third base.

Johnny Bench couldn't make the tournament, but he was kind enough to send this inspirational message that we left behind for the Reds. The motivational message paid off as the Reds now lead the NL wildcard hunt!

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