If you’re discussing the greatest hitters in the game, or greatest players to come out of California, one name is likely to come up: Alan Rohrback.

The fastpitch softball community mourns the recent passing of Alan Rohrback, a Lakeside, California native who left an indelible mark on the sport. From the San Diego area, Alan represented the best of California fastpitch softball throughout an illustrious career that spanned more than a decade at the highest levels of competition. Alan was inducted to the ISC (International Softball Congress) Hall of Fame in 2010.

Alan’s rise to prominence was meteoric. In 1981, he was named “Rookie of the Year” in the Western Softball Congress while playing for the San Diego Vista Bombers. His exceptional talent quickly caught the attention of elite programs, and that same year, he was added to the Camarillo Kings roster for his debut ISC World Tournament in Saginaw, Michigan. In a storybook beginning, the Kings won that memorable tournament, and Alan was selected to the ISC First Team All-World—an extraordinary achievement for a rookie playing alongside teammates Larry Nolan (ISC HoF 2002) and Floyd “Blue” LaVergne (ISC HoF 2008).

The 1983 season marked another pinnacle in Alan’s career when he joined the Lancaster Chameleons. He dominated Western Softball Congress pitching that year, winning the batting championship with a remarkable .411 average and earning MVP honors. The Chameleons captured the ISC tournament title, cementing Alan’s reputation as one of the game’s premier hitters. The following year, the Chameleons finished third, and Alan earned his second ISC All-World team selection.

Two years later, with the newly formed Lakewood Chameleons, Alan added a third ISC All-World selection to his growing list of achievements. His consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stages defined his career.

Alan continued to compete with various elite teams throughout California, culminating in an ASA championship ring in 1991 with the Santa Rosa Guannella Brothers. Throughout his career, he was known not just for his prodigious hitting ability, but for his professionalism and the respect he earned from teammates and opponents alike.

As one former teammate and opposing pitcher noted, facing Alan in the batter’s box was always a formidable challenge. Whether wearing the uniform of the Kings, Chameleons, or any other team fortunate enough to have his bat in the heart of the order, Alan elevated those around him and helped his teams achieve greatness.

Alan Rohrback’s legacy extends beyond statistics and championships. He represented the golden era of California fastpitch softball and inspired countless players who followed in his footsteps. The softball community has lost one of its true legends, but his contributions to the game and his three ISC All-World selections ensure that his name will forever be remembered among the greatest to ever play.

Rest in peace, Alan. Your impact on fastpitch softball will not be forgotten.

A San Diego memorial service for Alan is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025.

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SCIFL has hosted this event for several years but will no longer be able to host it going forward. NAFA will resume hosting the event and is pleased to announce that the “NAFA Las Vegas Road Trip” Men’s Fast Pitch Tournament will be held on April 17-19, 2026, with the first-round games starting Friday at 8:30 AM PT, and the Championship games scheduled for 3:00 PM PT on Sunday.

PLAN EARLY AND LATE

Teams flying in and out should make plans to be ready to play early on Friday and late on Sunday in the event the brackets run late.

CONTACT AND PLAYING INFO

Teams interested in participating must contact Jesse Ortiz at his new email addressplaynafaws@gmail.com or Benjie Hedgecock at nafafastpitch@gmail.com and inform him if your team can play all three days. No one will be given a “selected” game time as it is a blind draw, and everyone is traveling to the event.

Please note that email is the main form of communication for tracking purposes. Any other form of communication can be overlooked.

HOW IT WORKS

We are accepting a maximum of 80 teams which will be placed on a team-interested list on a first-come-first-serve basis. Priority will be given to teams that agree to stay at one of the host hotels, pay their entry fee, and have their pitcher(s) approved to play in the division you are requesting to participate in. Once a specific division is full, additional teams will be added to the waiting list on a first-come-first-serve basis including when the entry fee is paid. If a team on the waiting list pays their entry fee (in full) they will have an opportunity to participate if a team drops out, a team does not pay by the due date, or if the number of teams are rearranged in the divisions because a team has not paid by the due date. If a team on the waiting list pays their entry fee and cannot get in, their entry fee will be refunded.

Confirmation to participate in the tournament will be provided once you have agreed to stay at one of the host hotels, paid your entry fee, and have your pitcher(s) approved to play in the division you are requesting to participate in.

***This tournament has filled up quickly within the past several years, so I suggest you contact Jesse as soon as possible if you want to be added to the interested team list to have the opportunity to pay first and avoid being on the waiting list. ***

ENTRY FEE AND REGISTRATION

The entry fee for the tournament is $800 plus tourney machine credit card processing fee(s).

You can start paying your entry fee now by registering your team on Tourney Machine. The link is located on the playnfafa.org home page under “Schedule and Payment.”  During the registration process you will have the opportunity to entry your team’s roster but if you do not have that information handy, you can enter it later by sending an email to playnafaws@gmail.com requesting a link to your team’s roster so you can enter it online because this will be your official roster. All teams must submit their team’s roster, list all their players and identify their pitchers to ensure teams are placed in their proper classification, otherwise the player not listed on the roster cannot participate in the tournament. It is important to make sure to include any nickname so the name on the lineup card matches what was listed on the roster to avoid any confusion.

DUE DATE

If the entry fee is not received by January 2, 2026, you will lose your spot to a team on the waiting list who has paid their entry fee. This due date provides sufficient time for teams on the waiting list to make appropriate travel arrangements if they get in.

NAFA DIVISIONS

Teams will be separated into the following divisions with the maximum number of teams listed.

AA/Open (10-teams maximum)
A-Major (16-teams maximum)
A (24-teams maximum)
Masters (20 Total with a minimum of 4 teams per division)

• 40-over
• 50-over
• 60-over
• 65-over
• 70-over

Native American (10-teams maximum). Three (3) Non-Native American players may participate but cannot pitch.

The split is based on a maximum 80-team tournament and how teams signed up from previous events. If the divisions are not filled by the due date, they will be rearranged to reduce the number of teams in a division to add additional teams that have a high number of teams on the waiting list to fill up the tournament.

NAFA PITCHERS LIST

The NAFA pitchers list posted on the NAFA website playnafa.org will be used to monitor pitchers in the tournament as well as the team’s current classification. Each team’s pitchers must be approved to play in the division requested. If we feel they are out of place or the team’s past success dictates it or the pitchers list is incorrect, we will move you to the proper division so do the right thing.

A 3-GAME GUARANTEE BRACKET will be used for all divisions with no “IF” games. The winner in the AA/Open, A-Major, and two winners in the A division will have their 2026 NAFA World Series entry fee paid for the division they participated in.

SCHEDULE

Game times will be available once the tournament is filled, and everyone has paid their entry fee. The goal is to be able to post the schedule by the first week of March 2026.

All information regarding the event, and where your team is listed will be posted on the NAFA website www.playnafa.org.

HOST HOTEL

Due to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) WrestleMania in attendance at Allegiant Stadium, average room rates will be going for $259 on Friday and Saturday but we blocked enough rooms at special discounted prices so that room rates are significantly lower, but we had to guarantee booked rooms. This means teams need to agree to stay at one of our host hotels prior to participating in the tournament.

Available dates; April 16-20, 2026, for the following hotel(s). Booking link and/or code to follow.

The Strat (Stratosphere):

• $29/$105/$105/$105
• Plus $35 Resort Fee added each night

SUNSET PARK, WARM SPRINGS PARK, AND SHADOW ROCK PARK

The tournament will be played at Sunset Park, Warm Springs Park, and Shadow Rock Park. Per the city of Las Vegas, metal cleats are prohibited at Shadow Rock Park, no exception, because it has turf fields. You may use molded cleats or turf shoes.

REFUND POLICY FOR RAINOUT
Games Played
0 = $700
1 = $600
2 = $400
3 or more no refund.

Please feel free to contact Jesse if you have any questions regarding this tournament. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.

Sincerely,
Jesse Ortiz
North American Fastpitch Association
Assistant Executive Director

   

It is with great pleasure that we share the news of Darren Zack’s upcoming October 29 induction to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Information courtesy of Lorenzo Gavilan Vargas  Digital Marketing Coordinator at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (CSHoF).

Darren’s HOF bio, from the Official Canadian Sports Hall of Fame program:

Darren Zack among 2025 Inductees to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame

Darren Zack is a legendary Ojibwe pitcher who dominated the softball diamond in the 1990s. Growing up on the Garden River First Nation, Darren mainly played softball and hockey with his numerous uncles and cousins. Everyone on the team was part of a large extended family, and this nurturing, family-oriented style shaped how he viewed his teammates throughout his career. 

Spending countless hours honing his skills with his father, John, Darren expanded his pitching arsenal into one of the finest in the world. His vast array of pitches included the overpowering rise ball, the mystifying drop ball, the elusive screwball, and the tantalizing curveball. To further disarm batters, he threw each of these pitches with variations in speed and location. These changeups left batters across the world shaking their heads in bewilderment.

In 1974, “Z-Man” began his career with the Garden River Braves at first and third base at just 14 years old. He established himself as a formidable pitcher by age 19, playing for teams across Canada and the United States. In 1991, Darren was called up to the Canadian National Team. His time wearing the maple leaf included a gold medal at the International Softball Federation (ISF) World Championships in 1992, and two silver medals in 1996 and 2004. 

He also won three consecutive Pan American Games gold medals with Canada: 1991 in Havana, 1995 in Argentina, and 1999 in Winnipeg. Darren’s most storied tournament run came at the International Softball Congress (ISC) World Championships in 1995, where he did not allow a single run in ten straight games, striking out a record 150 batters. Darren and his Toronto Gators went on to win the ISC World Championship for the second time, after becoming the first Canadian team to capture the title in 1993. “Z-Man” was the go-to pitcher, adding two more ISC World Championships in 1998 and 2000. He earned the Most Outstanding Pitcher award in 1992, 1993, 1995, and 2000.

Darren was recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1997 and the Tom Longboat Award in 2000 for his outstanding contributions to sport in Canada. In 2009, he was inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, and in 2010, he entered both the ISF and ISC Halls of Fame.

Throughout his career and into retirement, Darren has remained a vocal advocate for Indigenous rights and youth engagement in sports. A lifelong resident of the Garden River First Nation, he continues to be actively involved in his community, focusing on youth mentorship, promoting healthy lifestyles, and encouraging participation in sports. His work with organizations dedicated to Indigenous youth has been pivotal in creating opportunities and fostering a sense of pride and identity among young athletes.

Click here for the full Hall of Fame program.

There are two livestream opportunities that people can sign register for:

The 69th Annual Order of Sport Awards Presentation and Acceptance Speeches, and an engaging fireside chat featuring Conversations with Scott Russell and the Class of 2025, presented by Canadian Tire.

The Order of Sport Awards Livestream

Conversations with Scott Russell and the Class of 2025

   

Full story at USA Softball

LA PAMPA, Argentina (Box Score) – The U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team rode a dominant pitching performance and a decisive fourth-inning rally to secure a 3-0 victory over Venezuela today, improving to 2-1 in the Pan American Championship.

The Eagles finished the game with three runs, two hits and zero errors with their three runs being the most of the tournament for Team USA so far. USA’s defense only allowed two hits and zero runs.

GAME LEADERS
Pitcher Marco Diaz was nearly untouchable across all seven innings, only allowing two hits – striking out 11 Venezuelan batters. He faced 24 total hitters, finishing the game on 89 pitches with 62 total strikes.

USA’s two hits came from Alex Bodnar (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and Parker Hopkins (1-for-3, RBI double), bringing in Braden DuCharme, Cody Gibbons and Bodnar (pinch runner) for the three runs.

GAME BREAKDOWN
Scoreless after the first inning, Venezuela challenged the Eagles in the top of the second, hitting back-to-back singles with two outs on the board. Diaz didn’t falter though, striking out the final batter of the inning to keep the scoreboard clean.

Two more innings passed with both pitchers battling for their teams to stay in the game, setting up Team USA for an explosive fourth inning. With two outs on the board, Bodnar came to the plate and drilled a ground ball to right field, allowing both DuCharme and Gibbons to score and put the Eagles in the lead.

It was then Hopkins’ turn, blasting a double on a line drive that would send Bodnar across home plate for USA’s third run of the game.

Heading into the final three innings, the defense stepped up to seal the victory. Diaz threw five more strikeouts along with Gibbons and Jacob Hartranft putting in clutch performances at first base and right field, respectively.

UP NEXT
Team USA will look to keep the momentum going when they face Peru tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 16) at 8:30 a.m. CT/10:30 a.m. ART. Fans can follow along with the action at this link.

Game Changer and Streaming Schedule

Follow the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team on GameChanger for live stats and game updates.

The countries that will compete for the Pan American title are:

• Canada
• Venezuela
• United States
• Dominican Republic
• Peru
• Guatemala
• Mexico

Day 1 – September 13

• 11:00: Venezuela vs. Peru
• 13:30: Mexico vs. Canada
• 16:00: United States vs. Dominican Republic
• 18:30: Opening Ceremony
• 19:00: Argentina vs. Guatemala

Day 2 – September 14

• 11:00: Mexico vs. United States
• 13:30: Guatemala vs. Canada
• 16:00: Dominican Republic vs. Peru
• 19:00: Argentina vs. Venezuela

Day 3 – September 15

• 11:00: Guatemala vs. Mexico
• 13:30: Canada vs. Peru
• 16:00: Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic
• 19:00: United States vs. Argentina

Day 4 – September 16

• 11:00: Peru vs. United States
• 13:30: Guatemala vs. Venezuela
• 16:00: Mexico vs. Canada
• 19:00: Dominican Republic vs. Argentina

Day 5 – September 17

• 11:00: Peru vs. Guatemala
• 13:30: Venezuela vs. Mexico
• 16:00: Dominican Republic vs. Canada
• 19:00: United States vs. Argentina

Day 6 – September 18

• 11:00: Dominican Republic vs. United States
• 13:30: Peru vs. Mexico
• 16:00: Argentina vs. Canada
• 19:00: Venezuela vs. Guatemala

Day 7 – September 19

• 11:00: Guatemala vs. United States
• 13:30: Dominican Republic vs. Peru
• 16:00: Argentina vs. Venezuela
• 19:00: Mexico vs. Canada

Day 8 – September 20

• 11:00: Bronze Medal Game
• 13:30: Golden Medal Game
• 16:00: Closing Ceremony

   

Parra 1-Hitter with 14 K’s Diaz 2-Hitter with 11 K’s

Full story at USA Softball

Mexico Edges U-23 Men’s Team, 1-0

LA PAMPA, Argentina (Box Score) – It was another pitching standoff for the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team in the second game of the Pan American Championship, but the Eagles were edged by Mexico, 1-0. Team USA is 1-1 in tournament play, finishing the game with just one hit.

GAME LEADERS
Marco Diaz matched zeros for most of the game, allowing only two hits and one earned run over seven innings with 11 strikeouts. He had 82 total pitches with 57 strikes.

Outfielder Brennan DuCharme recorded USA’s lone hit, a triple in the bottom of the seventh to challenge Mexico.

GAME BREAKDOWN
For the second game in a row, it was a pure defensive battle between USA and Mexico with Mexico only earning two hits in the game along with the Eagles’ one.

Mexico would go on to score its winning run in the top of the fifth inning on a single to center field, taking the lead that would secure them the victory.  

Enter the seventh inning, Brennan DuCharme would step up to bat. Sitting at the plate with two strikes and a ball, DuCharme rocketed a line drive to right field for a triple, putting the Eagles’ in scoring position.

Unfortunately for Team USA, the lineup couldn’t find a way to push him across, ultimately falling to Mexico, 1-0.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will look to regroup and look for an offensive spark tomorrow (Monday, Sept. 15) when they battle Venezuela at 11:30 a.m. CT/1:30 p.m. ART. Fans can follow along with the action at this link.

Game Changer and Streaming Schedule

Follow the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team on GameChanger for live stats and game updates.

The countries that will compete for the Pan American title are:

• Canada
• Venezuela
• United States
• Dominican Republic
• Peru
• Guatemala
• Mexico

Day 1 – September 13

• 11:00: Venezuela vs. Peru
• 13:30: Mexico vs. Canada
• 16:00: United States vs. Dominican Republic
• 18:30: Opening Ceremony
• 19:00: Argentina vs. Guatemala

Day 2 – September 14

• 11:00: Mexico vs. United States
• 13:30: Guatemala vs. Canada
• 16:00: Dominican Republic vs. Peru
• 19:00: Argentina vs. Venezuela

Day 3 – September 15

• 11:00: Guatemala vs. Mexico
• 13:30: Canada vs. Peru
• 16:00: Venezuela vs. Dominican Republic
• 19:00: United States vs. Argentina

Day 4 – September 16

• 11:00: Peru vs. United States
• 13:30: Guatemala vs. Venezuela
• 16:00: Mexico vs. Canada
• 19:00: Dominican Republic vs. Argentina

Day 5 – September 17

• 11:00: Peru vs. Guatemala
• 13:30: Venezuela vs. Mexico
• 16:00: Dominican Republic vs. Canada
• 19:00: United States vs. Argentina

Day 6 – September 18

• 11:00: Dominican Republic vs. United States
• 13:30: Peru vs. Mexico
• 16:00: Argentina vs. Canada
• 19:00: Venezuela vs. Guatemala

Day 7 – September 19

• 11:00: Guatemala vs. United States
• 13:30: Dominican Republic vs. Peru
• 16:00: Argentina vs. Venezuela
• 19:00: Mexico vs. Canada

Day 8 – September 20

• 11:00: Bronze Medal Game
• 13:30: Golden Medal Game
• 16:00: Closing Ceremony