2011 PIF Tournament Recap
36th Annual "Classique PIF" Vacences Transat
Hommes Invitations Men's Tournament
July 1-3, 2011
Rochester Athletic from New York won the PIF!
The PIF, as we know it here in the states, was held this past weekend in Sherbrooke, Quebec (Canada). Traditionally the PIF is known for great competition and its huge crowds. This years tournament did not disapoint. 12 teams started on Friday divided into 4 flights of 3 teams each round robin style with the top teams in each division advancing to the double elimination bracket and the rest of the teams to single elimination. The tournaments upper division used 3 fields with the main field was at Quintal Park with its lengthy dimensions of 349 to right, 362 to center, and 327 to right.
The PIF used a mat behind homeplate to call balls and strikes
Special PIF rules:
– Each batter begins with 0-0 count.
– Pif mat behind homeplate was used as a strike zone.
– The height of pitches were deemed illegal by the 2nd base umpire who used the top of the fence behind the plate as a guideline.
– 8 home run limit per team.
– Runners were not allowed to score from 3rd base on sacrifice flys. They could only score on groundouts, base hits, and walks.
– 75 foot base paths.
– 15 run rule in effect after 5 innings.
– 4 umpires per game.
– Bats provided by the Pif organizers. 26/27/28/30 FL Rusty Bumgardner AV Combat bats.
– Teams were not allowed to bring onto the playing field any personal bats. If they did, players would have been ejected from tournament. Zero tolerance.
Bats were provided by the tournament for each field
The PIF home run derby was won by Luc Chauvette from team Pharmapar/Vacances/Transat. Luc is a lefty power hitter who also plays for Combat/Pharmapar in the Conference USSSA. Luc honored Jacques Millier who was one of the greatest Canadian softball players ever and a former Steeles player, with his victory. Jacques is unfortunately battling for his life as we speak with cancer (he has since passed away). 5 players tied with 4 home runs each advanced to the playoff round. Christan Dowling, one of the Combat Derby Girls advanced to the playoff round. Of note, Dowling was the 1st ever female entered into the home run derby. She was given a standing ovation by the crowd of over 14,000 after each time she hit. She was the highlight of the home run derby and was very overwhelmed by it all and even shed some tears. The crowd was unbelievable in their support for her. Following the home run derby was a spectacular 20 minute fireworks celebration.
The famously huge crowds for the PIF homerun derby and fireworks
Luc Chauvette wins the homerun derby. I believe he hit 9 homer's?
Christan Dowling put on an impressive display as the first female contestant ever in the derby
In the upper division Vacances/Transat won the winner's bracket championship game over Rochester Athletic 6-3 and advanced to the single game final. Rochester proceeded to win the loser's bracket final over a local French team called Wilkins Champigny-Remax 23-8 to advance to finals. Rochester then defeated Pharmapar/Vacances/Transat 15-5 for the PIF Championship.
Thank you to Chris Dimitrievski and John Hickey for information about the PIF tournament
Pharmapar/Vacances/Transat
The MVP was Rochester Athletic veteran Brian Fry who was 14-24 with 5 triples, 11 runs and 10 RBI in 6 games.
Trophy presentation to Rochester Athletic
Pool Play Results
Bracket A
2-0 ROCHESTER ATHLETIC USA
1-1 CHECKING/WORTH USA
0-2 RED LITE CANADA
Bracket B
2-0 MAGIC/NATIONAL GOLD/S&S/TYJA USA
1-1 MAC KIDS/RICE TOOL CHARITY SOFTBALL TEAM CANADA
0-2 OLY.METAL/PUB.DR.COM/PUB LA CACHETTE CANADA
Bracket C
2-0 WILKINS CHAMPIGNY-REMAX/EX C.GRENIER CANADA
1-1 ACIERS SIMMONDS CANADA
0-2 X-MEN CANADA
Bracket D
2-0 PHARMAPAR/VACANCES TRANSAT CANADA
1-1 TAVERN TWELVE/ALLSTATE USA
0-2 DIRTY BIRDS/TYJA SPORTS CANADA
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