Larry H. Miller Toyota's Peter Meredith is representing Salt Lake City and his teammates in the International Softball Federation World Tournament.

His Miller Toyota teammates, however, are headed to Fargo, N.D., Friday morning to defend their Fargo Tournament Championship.Meredith was one of four USA pitchers that helped defeat the Mariana Islands, 8-1, Tuesday afternoon. The USA is 5-1 in its bracket. Canada is 6-0, and Mexico is 6-0 all in the USA's bracket. New Zeland's National Team leads the other bracket with a 6-0 record.

Miller Toyota plays Canada's Regina team at 7:45 p.m. (MDT) Friday night.

Meredith has won two of the five games that the United States National team has won in Midland, Mich. He has also lost one game.

Meredith pitched a no-hitter against Puerto Rico, 10-0, Saturday night. He had 13 strikeouts and two walks. He spun a six-hitter, defeating Australia, 6-2, Sunday night, including 10 strikeouts.

But Monday night, Meredith came into the game in the sixth inning, with the Canadian National team losing, 1-0, and gave up a two-run homer. That's all his nemesis, Canadian Darren Zack, needed. Canada won, 5-1.

Meredith's team draws Mexico Wednesday night at 6:45 p.m. (MDT). He will probably start. He is a better starter than a reliever.

Meanwhile, Miller Toyota's Tom Montgomery, and Kyle Magnusson are returning to their home state, along with Dwayne Dyck, who played with them at Minot, N.D.

Last year, Miller Toyota went undefeated in the tournament (7-0), and blasted 21 home runs, with outfielder Gary Daniels, who was the Most Valuable Player, hitting six dingers.

"It's a great trip for us, because we get to play before our families, and friends and play in the home run capitol of the world. The homer dome," smiled Magnusson, Miller Toyota's All-World second baseman.

"I used to live about four hours from there. But I really like Salt Lake City and my teammates. I call this home now. Salt Lake City and its people have been really good to me.

"And I've got great teammates," added Kyle. "This year's Fargo Tournament will have an even better field. Page Brake is going to play in the tournament. And they have only three local teams in the field this year."

The last time Montgomery, Miller's All-American shortstop, made a trip to North Dakota (Grand Forks), he watched his friend, light heavyweight champion Virgil Hill successfully defend his crown. And Montgomery also married his wife, Michelle, too, at that time.

"This will be a good tournament to get us on a roll again," said Magnusson. "It will really help us going into the Pioneer Days Tournament (July, 19,20, 21). The Pioneer Days Tournament is one of the best, if not the best tournament in the world.

"It's one of the better fields we meet all year. But the tournaments in Erie, (P.A.), Vancouver, B. C., and Perth (Canada) were also great tournaments, with great teams."

Magnusson is right about the Pioneer Days Tournament. The Sorrey, B. C. Ravens, which has defeated Miller Toyota twice, is the Salt Lake team's first opponent, July 19, at 9 p.m. (MDT).

Miller Toyota will play the 1995 International Softball Congress World Champions All Car, Green Bay, Wis., at 11 a.m. (MDT), July 20.

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The defending Pioneer Days Tournament Champions Tampa Bay Smokers are in the opposite bracket, with Broken Bow, Neb., a team which finished in the top five of the ISC last year.

Miller Toyota is 42-16 this year, while having a 79-11 record last year, and finishing second to Toronto in the ISC World Tournament.

"We've had a lot of players with nagging injuries," Magnusson pointed out. "I know that's no excuse. But it's a fact of life. Tommy (feet), Dewey (knee injury), Bill Hillhouse (knee injury), Chip Ehlers (elbow injury), Mike Aranzullo (broken index finger), Kenny Garinger (throwing arm), and me, I've been bothered with a shoulder injury.

"Good teams play through their injuries. We're a good team. So, that's what we have to do. The Fargo Tournament should help us get it rolling again."

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