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I.S.C International Commissioner Bill Hillhouse is pleased to announce that when the 40 top teams gather in Fargo-Moorhead August 13 - 21 to contest the I.S.C. World Tournament, two European powerhouse club teams will be among the entrants.
"It is an honor and an achievement getting such outstanding foreign teams lined up to compete in our ISC World Tournament", says Hillhouse, noting that "With the addition of these two club teams, the ISC will have had the European Cup winners and the European Championship winners within three years - - - and that's quite a feat!"
These two outstanding club teams which will journey to the Great Plains area of North Dakota and Minnesota are the Ballerup Vandels club from Denmark and the Storks club from The Netherlands.
The Vandels from Ballerup are four time (and current) Danish national champions and the current European Cup champions. Storks has been a regular in the Netherlands playoffs, has won the national title, and won the European club championship in 2002 on their first effort in the event.
The Storks club, managed by Marcel Spit, with Glenn Roff as playing coach, will feature an international pitching staff anchored by Peter Noordermeer, Bart Vanderveeken, and Greg Newton with yet another hurler expected to be added. They will also feature such current or former Dutch national team players as: catcher Kenny Dame; infielders Tim Verbruggeand Ronald Romijn; and outfielders Rob van der Vlist, Steven Ketting, and Loyd Todman. The Storks have done much to raise the level of play in Europe by organizing and hosting the biannual Storks International Softball Tournament which features the best club teams and national teams from Europe.
Bill Hillhouse is particularly delighted to have the Vandels representing Denmark in ISC competition as he says, "I am especially proud that this Danish team is coming, since my wife was born and raised in Denmark" And it was Hillhouse commitment to international fastball that made that link. He continues, "I met my wife while I was doing pitching clinics over there several years ago - - and in my many travels to Denmark, I have gotten to know many of these guys who are coming here quite well."
Hillhouse' praises for the Vandels includes his reference to them as "currently the best club team in all of Europe and that is something special and unique to our ISC tournament".
ISC Executive Director Ken Hackmeister is happy to welcome these two international club teams to the tournament, saying: "With their status as European powerhouse
teams, they will add much to the World Tournament" Hackmeister also points out that there is a large Danish population in the Fargo-Moorhead area which should be expected to turn out to welcome the European teams. He also notes that adding the European teams does not take away berths from U.S. or Canadian teams in the competition.
So line 'em up, and trot 'em out on the ball fields of Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN - - - and add some extra spice from the fastball ranks of Europe for the BIGGEST SHOW IN FASTBALL - - - - the International Softball Congress World Tournament - - - coming your way August 13 - 21.
http://www.iscfastpitch.com
Feb. 23, 2004
By: Gordon Wise - - - ISC Information Officer
sgwise@woh.rr.com
http://www.iscfastpitch.com
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