Friday March 29th, 2024
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2008 Worth/Miller Lite Last Chance Part 2

Highlights of other teams at the Michigan Tournament:

Contractors Capital out of Minnesota continues to play well even though they have a few different players at every tournament. This week they played without slugger Dustin Palm and they picked up hard hitting Mark Streeter and Left Fielder Brian Farrar (both from Ohio). Where is Chaun Demars when you need him? Hopefully they pick him up for the stretch run. I believe Contractors Capital to be the best all around defensive team in the "B" division.


CC has the best defense in the "B" division


Fence Brokers Inc/Laservision/Worth from Arkansas looked to have most of their team and they looked healthy. FBI won close ones over Blitz and GTL and played well against Jean Shoppe. I would say this is the best I've seen of FBI and the team chemistry is finally coming around. When FBI beats the "B" teams and splits with the "A" teams then they have a shot at quality tournament finishes.


FBI pitcher Brendt Newbill


Columbus Pipe/Easton from Ohio played without lead-off hitting shortstop Steve Edwards who is injured and will attempt to return for the "B" Worlds. In his place Pipe has picked up former Spider Pig and Aubrey's shortstop Greg Collette. They also picked up a left handed hitter who was playing some 3rd base. Pipe also lost Ron Stang who went to play for Wisconsin Worth and they were playing without their starting pitcher Bob Noeth and also their 3 hitter Jon Jamison. With all of those missing pieces and a close 2nd round loss to Ropeclub 28-27, they still managed a solid performance. Pipe was eliminated by Dan Smith 38-1 when Dan Smith decided to take out frustration on them after losing to Long Haul.


Pipe newbie Greg Collette


Team Bud Light/Easton from Michigan continued their thrashing of the "B" division as they eliminated Canes 22-2 and Mike Foulk's 25-5. Bud Light is now 10-3 against "B" teams this year.


Bud Light almost throws the runner out at second but the ball pops loose


Blitz/Watanabe from Cincinnati hammered Canes then lost close games to FBI and Contractors Capital. I think Blitz is healthy and set for solid finishes in the "A" and "B" Worlds. Centerfielder Brian Alexander has worked his way to the top of the Blitz order, a top which already features Jason Roesch and Jimmy Carter. Blitz has the ability to shift gears and hit more homers by adding Steve Bosch and Brad Tabler to the lineup or going smaller and quicker with the Minges brothers, Larry Wert, and they can always throw in hall of fame stick Kevin Birkofer.


Blitz/Watanabe 3B Jason Roesch has quietly had a monster season with the stick


Linedrive from Michigan secured their Conference berth with a first round victory over Angle Inn and came up with another nice win over GTL 30-28 before dropping games to Combat and Contractors. Linedrive is the class "B" version of Resmondo. They don't get rattled, they play hard, and they use their homeruns well. They also added backup pitcher Mike Laduke and stadium power hitter Bob Woldyke to the team for the stretch run.


Linedrive beats Angle Inn in a hard fought first round game


GTL/Creative Stucco/Worth was about to make their patented loser bracket run to another Sunday finish when they lost to FBI 18-17 on a walkoff homer. GTL finishes the Conference regular season at 46-19 and have a better record against "A" teams 14-7 than against "B" teams 15-10.


GTL may be set for a run at the "A" Worlds


Quote of the Week: comes from the Ropeclub bench after Tommy Thompson was getting a little excited and messing with the Jean Shoppe team during Ropeclubs 32-23 victory. The bench could be overheard yelling, "Get Tommy his Ritalin" and "Wheres the muzzle".


Conference USSSA Tournaments from earlier in 2008:
#1 Phoenix, AZ Winner – Jean Shoppe/Easton (A) 2nd Place – GTL/Creative Stucco/Worth (A)

#2 Kissimmee, FL Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M)

#3 Glen Burnie, MD Winner – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M) 2nd Place – Jean Shoppe/Easton (A)

#4 St Louis, MO Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Long Haul/Phonemasters/Miken (M)

#5 Euless, TX Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M)

#6 Columbus, IN Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Linedrive/SSS Sportscard/Pole Position Auto Body (B)

#7 Atlanta, GA Winner – C-Town/American Funding/Easton/Eli(A) 2nd Place – Taylormade/Floyd Environmental/Mizuno (B)

#8 Concord, CA Winner – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M) 2nd Place – C-Town/American Funding/Easton/Elite (A)

#9 Crossville, TN Winner – Jean Shoppe/Easton (A) 2nd Place – GTL/Creative Stucco/Worth (A)

#10 Joliet, IL Winner – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M) 2nd Place – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M)

#11 Houston, TX Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Jean Shoppe/Easton (A)

#12 Brooklyn, MN Winner – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M) 2nd Place – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M)

#13 Branford, CT Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – ABS/Easton (A)

#14 Sherwood, AR Winner – 365 Fitness/Easton (A) 2nd Place – Suncoast/RBK (A)

#15 Kent, WA Winner – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M) 2nd Place – Classic Glass/Easton/DSS (B)

#16 Maryville, TN Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M)

#17 Cincinnati, OH Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Jean Shoppe/Easton (A)

#18 Raleigh, NC Winner – ABS/Easton (A) 2nd Place – Fence Brokers Inc/Laservision/Worth (A)

#19 Sterling, MI Winner – Resmondo/Specialty Tank/Worth (M) 2nd Place – Dan Smith/Menosse/Benfield/Combat (M)

Final Word:
I would like to thank SoftballKingdom.com for great coverage of the Conference USSSA regular season and I look forward to the upcoming World and Conference Championships! Also I would like to give a special thanks to Mrs. McDonald (Vicki) for the wonderful Chicken dinner she brought to the SBK crew on Friday night. I'm thinking Sean and Jean Shoppe might get some extra coverage at the "A" Worlds!

Look for a special Class "A" World tournament preview after the bracket gets posted later this week. Softball Kingdom will be showing the "A" World tournament this coming weekend August 15-17, live for free from the wonderful Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Links to more pictures:
http://usssalive.com/index.php?optio…tos&Itemid=127

Link to the Sterling Hts Conference Tournament #19 Info:
http://www.usssa.com/sports/Tourname…amentID=408185


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