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Latest Tournament News
  (updated 02/01/2010) >>
 

Mark Gemello - 2009 Paul E. Roman Award Winner

Click on the links below to see the news:

Padres Announce Lake Elsinore Tournament for March 5-7

2010 Fantasy Camp League Starts Play in March
Elk Grove Giants Crowned 2009 Champs

Tentative 2010 Fantasy Camp Tournament Schedule Announced

Mark Gemello Named 2009 Paul E. Roman Award Winner

New WCFBA Board Members Announced

Wendell Kim Update

New WCFBA Web Site Changes

WCFBA Tournament Inventory Clearance

PADRES ANNOUNCE LAKE ELSINORE TOURNAMENT FOR MARCH 5-7

The Padres have invited the Giants to participate in the second annual 'Duel at the Diamond' from March 5-7 in Lake Elsinore.  Details are still being worked out, but the tournament will feature up to eight teams.  There is room for two Giants squads if we can get enough signups.  Cost is $300 per player and that gets you a banquet with entertainment, full locker room use, laundry, a trainer (if needed), and tournament gifts.  If you are interested and want to reserve yourself a spot, send a check made out to West Coast Fantasy Baseball Association to:

WCFBA
c/o Doug Rusch
44550 Montclaire Court
Fremont,  CA 94539

Our host, Mike Britton, has recently announced the creation of a Facebook page which contains information such as hotels to stay at (three different possibilities), banquet details, and playing rules.  The Facebook page mentions your ability to pay directly to the Lake Elsinore Storm.  Please do NOT pay in this way and instead send your check to Doug.  The Facebook page can be found at:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=282039568274

SPECIAL NOTE : Many of you have asked about the annual Bakersfield tournament with the Dodgers.  After many years, the tournament was not held last year.  Rumors of a shift to Fresno or Santa Barbara were floated when I asked, but nothing definite was decided.  In the end, I have no new information regarding a 2010 tournament with the Dodgers.  I would say your best chance of playing tournament ball in March is to signup for the Lake Elsinore tournament.

 

2010 FANTASY CAMP LEAGUE BEGINS PLAY IN MARCH

The 2010 Fantasy Camp League will commence play in March and will continue on close to a bi-weekly basis into October. Four to six teams will play a 15 game schedule.  Those who wish to play full-time should respond to an email request in early February.  A draft will take place in late February to pick the teams.  Part-time or 'pool' players should respond to the pool coordinator's request by Thursday at noon of a given play week to get on the priority list. Open roster spots will be filled each week from these pool player signups.  Read about the 2010 league structure by clicking on the link below:

2010 Fantasy Camp Baseball League Information Page

The 2009 Fantasy Camp League completed play in October in San Rafael.  This year's champion was the Elk Grove Giants led by Dave DeCruz and J.C. Penney.  They completed the season with a record of 10-4-1 and won the league by one half game over the defending champion San Francisco Giants.  Other team members included Ben Chen, Stephen Cuddy, Keith DaCosta, Mark Gemello, Mike Hughey, Rob Lanterman, Dave Montellato, Mike Shaffer, and Carl Vargas.  See the season synopsis at:

2009 Fantasy Camp Baseball League Page

 

TENTATIVE 2010 FANTASY CAMP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
 

Dates

Venue

Organizer Comments
January 21-24 Melee in Mesa
Mesa, AZ - Gene Autry Complex
WCFBA Run by J.C. Penney
March 5-7 Duel at the Diamond
Lake Elsinore - Pete Lehr Field
Padres Run by Mike Britton
April 30 - May 2 Rob Weber Desert Classic
Palm Springs - Palm Springs Stadium
WCFBA Run by Carl Cardinalli and Bob Ford
June 25-27 San Diego - Pt. Loma Nazarene College WCFBA Run by Mike Weir
August 13-15 Stuck in Lodi Again
Lodi - Tony Zupo Field
WCFBA Run by Rich Thomas
August 27-29 Halo Baseball Club Memorial Tournament
Long Beach - Blair Field
Angels Run by Vic Rodriguez
September 24-26 Survivor Banner Island
Stockton - Banner Island Ballpark
WCFBA Run by Joe Matlen and Chuck Arthur
October 16-20 Old School Wood Bat Tournament
Tucson, AZ - Electric Park Complex
A's Camp Run by Dave Henderson Baseball

 

    MARK GEMELLO NAMED 2009 PAUL E. ROMAN AWARD WINNER

The 2009 Lodi Tournament served as the venue for the presentation of this year's Paul E. Roman award winners.  The award is given to the campers who most exemplify what we are trying to accomplish with these tournaments and league events.  Just as the Dodgers have their David Blakemore award, we will recognize some campers each year for their contribution to the events.  This year's sole winner was Mark Gemello in a unanimous vote.

For those of you who didn't get a chance to meet Paul who passed away in 2002, get yourself a copy of his wife Jackie's book and you'll see why he was chosen to represent this award.  A web page has been created to honor Paul and all the award winners.  Each year, previous winners will be asked to select new award recipients.  Winners will be announced at the Lodi tournament each year and they will be awarded a certificate as well as have their names etched on a perpetual plaque. 

 

THREE NEW WCFBA BOARD MEMBERS NAMED

Sorry for the delay in the board voting, but we had a virtual three-way tie which had to be broken by the board. We had decent participation as around 85 members voted. The three new board members are:

  • Mark Gemello

  • Ray Miailovich

  • Doug Penney

Congratulations to each new board member and thank you to all who put their name in the hat to run for a board seat.

For a list of all the roles and responsibilities that folks currently hold within the WCFBA, click here.

 

WENDELL KIM UPDATE

Many of you have met Wendell Kim ('WK') during your fantasy camp experience. WK was a long-time coach with the Giants and also worked with the Red Sox, Brewers, Expos, and Cubs during his career. He last worked as a coach in the Nationals system in 2005. Since then, WK and his wife Natasha have retired to Gilbert, Arizona.

Toward the end of his career, WK started to experience some loss of his short-term memory. Many tests were run to determine the cause, but nothing definitive was found. Over time, the memory loss worsened so Natasha scheduled more tests to be performed by the Mayo Clinic. Recently, it was determined that there is a 95% chance that WK has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that is incurable, degenerative and terminal in nature. To read more about the disease, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer. Steps are being taken to slow down the progress of the disease and WK will continue to see doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

WK still plays golf a few times each week, but he no longer drives a car. He is strong physically and continues to be in top shape. However, the disease is depressing and frustrating for him. He enjoys the contact he has with friends and former campers. I'm sure he would appreciate a card or letter with your good wishes and a story or two about your experiences with him. If you have photo that you could include with the letter, that could help complete the picture for him. He doesn't need your condolences so keep your message upbeat. If you would like to send a card or letter, please contact me at rweber5@prodigy.net for Wendell's address.

 

NEW WCFBA WEB SITE CHANGES

Check out all the new web site changes which include the following:

  • The 2010 tentative tournament schedule
  • The WCFBA Tournament Inventory Clearance
  • WCFBA Roles and Responsibilities
  • 2008 WCFBA Tax Returns
  • New "buy from camper links" for Allan Green, Mike Miller, Dennis McCroskey, and Cynthia Haines
  • In Memoriam write-ups for Brad Betz, Brian Marshall, Dave Marston, and Joe Mausser
  • One new "Guess the Camper" photo set
  • New team photo shots