1st Amigos San Diego US West Qualifier May 18-19
Blair Setford • January 20, 2024
Mount San Miguel Park in San Diego hosting 1st Amigos Tournament

The 1st Amigos Men's Fastpitch Tournament in San Diego at Mount San Miguel Park is a US West 2024 Qualifier for the ISC World Tournament. Four games guaranteed for the $650 entry fee. Contact Ricky Sivilla or Vanessa O'Laughlin for more info.

At 34 years old , Jon Gwizdala has cemented himself as a cornerstone pitcher for the Midland Explorers —wearing #11 —thanks to a lifetime spent around the diamond. Off the field, Jon is a college softball coach , passing on his passion to the next wave of players. Here’s an inside look at his journey, challenges, and aspirations. A Family Game from Day One Growing up in Michigan , Jon was introduced to fastpitch at the age of eight , often serving as a batboy and absorbing knowledge in the dugout. “Pitching softball came naturally,” he recalls. “It’s been a family game for as long as I can remember.” Mentors like his uncle Tom Stasik and father Ron Gwizdala helped cultivate the local fastpitch scene, while Don Petro, Del Benson, and the late Clint Beane also played pivotal roles, especially during Jon’s time with the Junior Explorers. Trials and Triumphs Early in his career, Jon faced the challenge of finding teams to pitch for, sometimes traveling the Midwest alone to join squads in other states. His dedication paid off, culminating in a stint as one of the Midland Explorers’ marquee arms. But a knee injury and surgery derailed his 2024 season . “My goal now is to rebound strong,” he says. “I want to stay consistent and healthy, and that starts with strengthening my knee and honing my mechanics.”

Kelowna, BC – Under the sunny skies of British Columbia’s Okanagan region, the GP Pirates emerged victorious at the 2025 Kelowna May Days ISC Qualifier , defeating the Sooke Loggers 2–0 in a tightly contested championship final held at King Stadium . In a classic pitching duel, Steven Normand took the ball for the Pirates and delivered a brilliant shutout performance against Sooke ace Devon McCullough . The game remained tense and scoreless until Sam Burns broke it open with a solo home run, giving the Pirates a 1–0 lead. An RBI by Corey Jones in the top of the seventh added crucial insurance, sealing the win and the tournament title. The Loggers, who had dominated their pool with shutout wins over the GP Pirates, Prince George River Kings, and Seattle Dirt Dogs, reached the final by blanking STK Fastball 3–0 in the semifinal. The Pirates earned their ticket to the championship with back-to-back playoff wins, including a 4–2 semifinal victory over the Lacey A’s.