2005 Baseball International Spring Training Tournament

Texas Rangers Spring Training Complex

Closely conferring before our first games, you can see what happens when you let umpires room together.  Each of our eight teams team played seven 9 inning games over the four day weekend.  We played at the Texas Rangers spring training complex in Port Charlotte six months after Hurricane Charley had ravaged the area. 

Team Japan was lead by Manager Ed Garelick and included Elmer Cruz, Bill Burke, Craig Francis, Herb Otto, Don Sullivan, Bob Pearson, Don Drown,  Paul Laubenstein, and Scott Weiner.

The Sons Of Italy were lead by manager Rick Sorci and included Al Hurley, Don Kiser, Matthew Bilder, Rob Bohn, Steve Prevatt, Charles Konkus, John DeMico, Bill Bodnar, Mark Smith, and Michael Prendergast.

    Harvey Sherman's Australia team was a heavy favorite given it included Chuck Lease, Robert Duff, Terry Dornbusch, Bill Dornbusch, Al Harchik, Bill Lear, Bob Morris, Chuck Gordy, Pres Pieraccinni, and  John Purcell.

Defending champions China were lead by manager Steve Faigin and were loaded with such stars as Greg Goodman, Brian Scholtisek, Tim Gilmore, Ed Hughes, Marty Kohler, Jim Frawley, Dick Irvin, Bill Brockway, and Art Somner.

Months before he would go on the 2005 Baseball World Tour, Manager Bill Smith lead his Sri Lanka club comprised of  James Trapane, Chip Myers, Dave Harvill, Dick Loescher, Jim Gallagher, Stu Pepper, Bert Pepper, Vinny Piroso, Dick Kruger, and Dave Conrad.

Heavily favored again by Pete Rose to win it all, Ron Russo's Egypt  team was a star studded collect of such greats as Ken McGruther, Mike Caputo, Michael Consolmagno, Tom Consolmagno, Tom Lach, Charles Hildebrant, John DeCosta, Robert Albanese, Mike Baltieri and Raymond Lammie.

    Roy Yocum's Czech Republic team won it all with a club that included Ted Schaffer, Jeff Butcher, Gino Reukert, Al Spector, Kevin Spector, Charlie Cooper, Dean Glasser, Joe Calagaris, Scott Green, and Ron Weiss.

Argentina was comprised of players from Argentina, Peru, and the USA.  Manager Marcelo Ramia's team included Horacio Gandini, Joe Militello, Dave Kelpin,  John Geraffo, Robert Siciliano,  Pete Zacharkiw, Carlos Serrano, Rick Kramer, and Joe Maiden.

Elmer Cruz steps up to bat in the main stadium with his excited teammates in the dugout cheering him on.

The view from the dugout as the runner leads off from second base.

Italy and Japan battle for world domination in game one.

International baseball star Robert Siciliano gets ready to tee off on the pitch.

The tournament high and low? The long and short of it?.

The pitcher looks in for the sign, and there's the wind-up and the pitch!

The Boys Of January at it again.  Seven 9 inning games meant everyone played a lot.

Czech Republic was an offense machine and played a great defense.

No better place to be in January than Florida playing baseball!

With a swing like this, no wonder the ball is laying there on the infield grass!

Game Action from the main stadium.

Team China's defense sets for the pitch.

Matt Bilder seconds before he homers to right to lead his team to victory.

Our daily clubhouse lunch was served by the Texas Rangers official caterer in the team dining hall making everyone feel like a star.  And then the afternoon game action begins . . . . . .

Looks like a double down the line that may carry for a home run!

Game Action from field 1 outside of the main stadium with China at bat..

Note that years of pitching research have gone in to Brian Scholtisek's pitching form. You won't read about this in MoneyBall!

Harvey Sherman moments before he was ejected for trying to throw the spitball.

They all look like home run swings until you notice the ball on the infield . . . . .

Dinner with Marcelo Ramia and Horacio Gandini who came from Argentina to play in this year's tournament.

The Ultimate Baseball Road Trip Experience!