Grand Forks International

The Grand Forks International (GFI) is an annual international invitational baseball tournament hosted at James Donaldson Park in Grand Forks, British Columbia.[1] The GFI is the largest invitational baseball tournament in Canada[2][3] and is a large part of the culture in Grand Forks.[4][5] The tournament is also notable for being run entirely by volunteers.

Not to be confused with Grand Forks International Airport.
Grand Forks International
SportBaseball
Founded1975
MottoCome see tomorrow's stars, today!
No. of teams12
CountryCanada
Venue(s)James Donaldson Park, Grand Forks, British Columbia
ContinentNorth America
Most recent
champion(s)		Seattle Studs (5th title)
Most titlesLewiston Truckers (9 titles)

History

The Grand Forks International was founded by Larry Seminoff, and the tournament led to the existence of the World Baseball Challenge, initially starting in 2002, at James Donaldson Park.[6] The 2015 prize purse is $54,000.

Past Winners

Prior winners of the tournament are:[7]

YearIterationChampions
19751stSeattle Stoen
19762ndVancouver T.O.S.
19773rdSeattle N.W. Screw Products
19784thLewiston Truckers
19795thSeattle N.W. Screw Products
19806thSeattle Angels
19817thLewiston Truckers
19828thSpringfield Abbey's
19839thGrants Pass Thunderbirds
198410thLewiston Truckers
198511thSpokane Bulldogs
198612thSeattle Swannies
198713thLewiston Truckers
198814thTeam Japan
198915thWashington State Cougars
199016thTahoe Stars
199117thL.A. Rangers
199318thTeam Japan
199419thTeam Japan
199520thLewiston Truckers
199721stTeam Japan
199922ndHouston Astros
200123rdSeattle Studs
2002-No tournament due to World Baseball Challenge[8]
200324thHouston Astros
200425thSan Diego Stars
200526thNew York Storm
200627thSan Diego Stars
200828thLewiston Truckers
200929thLewiston Truckers
201030thSeattle Studs
201131stLewiston Truckers
201232ndLewiston Truckers
2013-Cancelled[9][10]
201433rdBurnaby Bulldogs[11]
201534thSeattle Studs
201635thSeattle Studs
201736thSeattle Studs
2018-Cancelled [12]

Alumni

Notable Grand Forks International Alumni[13]

PlayerYearTeam
Jason Bay-Trail Orioles
Jeff Francis1999Team Canada
John Olerud1987-1988Washington State Cougars
Josh Beckett1997Houston Astros
Larry Walker1984-
Tim Lincecum2004Seattle Studs
Sean Halton2008Lewiston Truckers
Aaron Sele1988-1990Washington State Cougars
Keith Foulke1993Lewiston Truckers
Marcus Giles-San Diego Stars

Rules

Rule 1: The official rules of baseball, as published by Baseball Canada, shall govern the playing of baseball games during the tournament. Specifications as to facility, equipment, play-off format, etc. have been modified to meet the needs of the tournament. Teams may elect to use the designated hitter rule.[14]

Rule 2: All games will be nine (9) innings. Extra innings to be played to determine winners.

Rule 3: Toss of a coin at home plate will determine home team for all preliminary round games. Teams with better records, as determined by the tournament rules, will be the Home Teams for all Money Round games.

Rule 4: Teams must be prepared to play ball when scheduled. Infield drills will be permitted only if time allows.

Rule 5: The 20 second rule between pitches will be invoked. If the pitcher has not delivered the ball to the batter within 20 seconds after receiving the ball an automatic ball will be issued to the batter. If the batter is not set in the batter’s box within the 20 seconds and the pitcher is ready to throw an automatic strike will be issued.

Rule 6: After the third out of each at bat the teams have 90 seconds to resume play.

Rule 7: An Eight Run rule will apply to all tournament games except the semi-finals and final. If one team is ahead by eight or more runs after the trailing team has completed seven innings the game is over.

Rule 8: Should circumstances arise where a game or games are postponed or cancelled, the Tournament Rules Committee (TRC) has the authority to act upon any alteration to the tournament format or schedule.

Rule 9: There are no restrictions relative to roster size. However, teams will not be permitted to add to their roster any player who was on the roster of a team eliminated earlier from further competition.

Rule 10: Should a protest arise, that protest must officially be brought to the attention of the home plate umpire, who in turn will forward such protest to the Tournament Protest Committee Chairman or designate. This Committee will then rule on the identified protest and their decision will be final.

Rule 11: In the event a contest is forfeited, the team receiving the forfeiture shall claim a 7-0 win. The forfeiting team, meanwhile, shall surrender all earnings, if any, to the tournament.

Rule 12: The top two teams in each division will qualify for the tournament’s Money Round.

Rule 13: Two wild card teams with the best record after the top two division teams are determined will complete the eight team Money Round.

Rule 14: Tie Breaker Rule: the following Rule will determine division winners, division runner-up teams, wild card teams, and Money Round seeding.

Tie Breaker Rule:

  1. Runs allowed / innings played defensively.
  2. Earned Run average.
  3. Runs for / innings played offensively

Rule 15: A playoff game of 5 innings will be held to determine the second wild card team in the event of all 3 divisions having 3 teams with identical 2 - 1 round robin records.

Rule 16: This is a wood bat tournament. Composite bats are allowed.

Rule 17: Any player who is ejected from the game is subject to further discipline at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

See also

References
  1. "Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament in Grand Forks BC Canada". Grandforksbaseball.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  2. "Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament in Grand Forks BC Canada". Grandforksbaseball.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  3. Milner, Marie (2012-08-22). "Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament | Kootenay Business". Kootenaybiz.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  4. "Festivals & Events - City of Grand Forks". Grandforks.ca. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  5. http://kootenays.myezrock.com/GFIBaseball/index.aspx
  6. "World Baseball Challenge". Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  7. "Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament in Grand Forks BC Canada". Grandforksbaseball.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  8. "World Baseball Challenge". Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  9. Karl Yu. "UPDATED: 2013 Grand Forks International baseball tournament cancelled". BCLocalNews.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  10. "GFI cancelled for 2013, to come back in 2014". The Castlegar Source. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  11. Craig Lindsay (2014-06-30). "Bulldogs come from behind to take GFI championship - Grand Forks Gazette". Grandforksgazette.ca. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  12. "Grand Forks International cancelled for 2018 - Grand Forks Gazette". Grand Forks Gazette. 2018-05-25. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  13. "Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament in Grand Forks BC Canada". Grandforksbaseball.com. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-20. Retrieved 2015-06-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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