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2011 Conference USSSA "Space City Classic" Houston Report

 

 

 2011 "Space City Classic"

 League City, Texas

June 3-5


Resmondo (batting) takes on Gold's Gym in the Championship game of the "Space City Classic"

Resmondo run rules the 64 team field at the "Space City Classic" in League City, Texas outside of Houston going a perfect 7-0.   Resmondo knocked off their biggest threat Darkside/TYJA/Easton, the only 'A' team in the tournament, in the winner's bracket championship game after scoring 20 runs in the top of the first inning.   Darkside then answered with 15 runs in the bottom half and it looked like the challenge was on.   Resmondo however shut down Darkside in the 4th and never looked back enroute to a 45-23 victory and then beat Gold's Gym out of Dallas, Texas on Sunday in the Championship game 54-15 as the Resmondo offensive machine was clicking on all cylinders.

Resmondo's offensive fireworks display was led by MVP Greg Connell who made the beautiful Big League Dreams Yankee Stadium with its 30 foot high walls look like a little league field with crowd pleasing line drive homer's that would curve 50 feet one way or the other. 

Resmondos Greg Conell gets ready to blast another one against Gold's Gym


It was the better part of 4 rounds into the tournament before there were any big conference matchups and upsets were few and far between. 

The tournament started on a very nice Friday night with Resmondo drawing a large crowd.   On Saturday as an extremely hot day in the upper 90's turned into a beautiful evening it was all Conference teams left standing in the final 6 with Gold's Gym beating The Scene and BWW beating FBI well after midnight.   On Sunday morning Gold's Gym turned a 12-6 deficit into a 15-12 win over BWW and then smashed Darkside before taking their beating from Resmondo in the Championship.

The best game of the weekend may have been Darksides extra innings win over BWW


64 Team breakdown:  1 – Major,   1 – 'A',  9 – 'B',  20 – 'C',  17 – 'D',  16 – 'E'

10 teams were from the Conference

11 different states represented!

BWW/Team Baden/Buzini on the awesome turf infields at the Big League Dreams park

With the "Wall Ball" rule, homeruns had to clear the entire 30 foot high outfield walls

Vote for the wall ball rules by clicking here


Friday, a large crowd gathered and heckled the Resmondo team



 

Bernie and the USSSA Live crew broadcast the games on the show field on the internet



Fenway Park replica softball field

 

Another shot of the turf infields and new turf batters boxes

 Bat testing started when the tournament was down to 16 teams on Saturday

Random video clips from the tournament

The ball used was the "other" Conference ball the .52 core Dudley Thunder HyCor and it was a very fair ball for the conditions and short fences.

 


"Space City Classic" Tournament Awards and Final Standings:

Player Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament MVP
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
Offensive Tournament MVP
Gold's Gym
Defensive Tournament MVP
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Gold's Gym
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Gold's Gym
All Tournament Team
Gold's Gym
All Tournament Team
Darkside/TYJA/Easton
All Tournament Team
Darkside/TYJA/Easton
All Tournament Team
BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports
All Tournament Team
Darkside/TYJA/Easton
All Tournament Team
BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth
All Tournament Team
Gold's Gym
 
Place
State
Team
Team
Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg
Diff
Max
Runs
1
FL
SPMensMajor
7
0
0
324
83
46.2
11.8
34.4
58
150
2
TXN
SPMensB
8
2
0
234
184
23.4
18.4
5
34
210
3
CT
SPMensA
5
2
0
181
154
25.8
22
3.85
36
180
4
MS
SPMensC
5
2
0
184
125
26.2
17.8
8.42
33
180
5
AR
SPMensB
5
2
0
177
103
25.2
14.7
10.5
37
170
5
FL
SPMensB
4
2
0
141
135
23.5
22.5
1
34
170
7
MS
SPMensC
4
2
0
168
139
28
23.1
4.83
37
120
7
TXN
SPMensC
4
2
0
148
106
24.6
17.6
7
36
120
9
TXS
SPMensC
5
2
0
142
136
20.2
19.4
0.85
31
100
9
TXS
SPMensB
4
2
0
161
121
26.8
20.1
6.66
35
100
9
LA
SPMensC
4
2
0
142
134
23.6
22.3
1.33
36
100
9
AL
SPMensC
4
2
0
130
128
21.6
21.3
0.33
32
100
13
TXS
SPMensB
3
2
0
109
93
21.8
18.6
3.2
34
80
13
MS
SPMensC
3
2
0
143
122
28.6
24.4
4.2
37
0
13
TXS
SPMensD
3
2
0
83
87
16.6
17.4
-0.7
26
80
13
LA
SPMensC
3
2
0
106
104
21.2
20.8
0.39
29
80
17
TXS
SPMensB
3
2
0
76
67
15.2
13.4
1.8
23
120
17
TXS
SPMensC
3
2
0
74
59
14.8
11.8
3
22
40
17
TXS
SPMensC
3
2
0
83
120
16.6
24
-7.4
28
40
17
TXS
SPMensD
3
2
0
105
89
21
17.8
3.2
31
40
17
TXN
SPMensC
3
2
0
106
49
21.2
9.8
11.4
30
40
17
TXS
SPMensB
3
2
0
127
95
25.4
19
6.4
36
40
17
TXS
SPMensC
3
2
0
98
97
19.6
19.4
0.20
32
40
17
TXS
SPMensC
2
2
0
70
100
17.5
25
-7.5
39
40
25
TXS
SPMensE
2
2
0
87
87
21.7
21.7
0
30
20
25
TXS
SPMensC
2
2
0
52
59
13
14.7
-1.7
23
20
25
TXS
CABO frozen
SPMensE
2
2
0
41
73
10.2
18.2
-8
16
20
25
TXS
SPMensD
2
2
0
74
63
18.5
15.7
2.75
27
20
25
TXS
SPMensD
2
2
0
51
59
12.7
14.7
-2
17
20
25
TXS
SPMensC
2
2
0
47
73
11.7
18.2
-6.5
17
20
25
LA
SPMensC
2
2
0
66
57
16.5
14.2
2.25
24
20
25
MS
SPMensC
2
2
0
80
66
20
16.5
3.5
34
20
33
WI
SPMensB
1
2
0
58
62
19.3
20.6
-1.3
36
100
33
TXN
SPMensC
1
2
0
69
73
23
24.3
-1.3
27
100
33
TXS
SPMensD
1
2
0
9
37
3
12.3
-9.3
7
0
33
LA
SPMensD
1
2
0
60
93
20
31
-11
36
0
33
OK
EVICTED frozen
SPMensC
1
2
0
76
91
25.3
30.3
-5
42
0
33
TXS
SPMensD
1
2
0
43
53
14.3
17.6
-3.3
25
0
33
TXS
DGK frozen
SPMensD
1
2
0
29
47
9.66
15.6
-6
11
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
19
46
6.33
15.3
-9
17
0
33
TXS
SPMensD
1
2
0
19
52
6.33
17.3
-11
11
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
11
60
3.66
20
-16.
7
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
23
35
7.66
11.6
-4
8
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
33
61
11
20.3
-9.3
16
0
33
TXS
SPMensD
1
2
0
26
47
8.66
15.6
-7
13
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
29
46
9.66
15.3
-5.6
13
0
33
TXS
SPMensD
1
2
0
69
55
23
18.3
4.66
38
0
33
TXS
SPMensE
1
2
0
52
79
17.3
26.3
-9
18
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
48
66
24
33
-9
33
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
23
45
11.5
22.5
-11
19
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
0
14
0
7
-7
0
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
38
48
19
24
-5
34
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
32
46
16
23
-7
24
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
2
46
1
23
-22
2
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
15
42
7.5
21
-13.
15
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
0
14
0
7
-7
0
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
22
43
11
21.5
-10.
15
0
49
TXS
SPMensC
0
2
0
20
41
10
20.5
-10.
15
0
49
AZ
SPMensB
0
2
0
0
14
0
7
-7
0
100
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
13
39
6.5
19.5
-13
10
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
18
40
9
20
-11
10
0
49
TXS
SPMensD
0
2
0
12
20
6
10
-4
12
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
0
14
0
7
-7
0
0
49
TXS
SPMensE
0
2
0
10
52
5
26
-21
7
0
 

Team by team notes brought to you by:


1st Place Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth  GTGG 

Conf 'M' from Winterhaven, FL   7-0 Record

Resmondo runs their win streak to 4 tournaments and 21 games in a row!   They now have 11 straight wins by the mercy rule.   In Houston they go 7-0 and outscored their opponents 324-83 and averaged 46.2 runs per game eventhough they never played more than 5 innings and often had the flip flop rule come into effect so they hit on average less than 5 innings per game.

Resmondo's offense was clicking on all cylinders and the first inning of what seemed like each game they played, they basically batted around the order at least one time. 

For the most part Resmondo players did whatever they wanted to offensively and a number of their player's made only a handful of outs the whole weekend.

Resmondo played without the injured BJ Fulk (obleak muscle) and Howie Krause came up a little lame with a possible knee problem during one of the games.

YouTube Preview Image

One time through the order with Resmondo in the Winner's bracket Championship vs Darkside

 Resmondo's Bobby Hughes celebrates with teammates Don Dedonatis Jr, Bryson Baker, and Andy Purcell


    Hughes and Purcell  

Resmondo's Vince Bisbee t's off on one during the Championship game on Sunday

No comment…


2nd Place Gold's Gym   GTGG 

Conf 'B' from Dallas, Texas   8-2 Record

Gold's Gym won 8 games in the Houston heat including 3 in a row on Saturday morning beginning at 8 AM to start the tournament.   Note to directors, you should never schedule 3 winner's bracket games in a row.   2 is fine, but 3 is too much.  

In the early afternoon Saturday, Gold's lost to BWW 29-20 then came back in the evening and decisively knocked off Zamoras, Classic Roofing, and run ruled The Scene 26-10 well after midnight.   A very long but successful day for Gold's.

On Sunday morning they climbed into the championship game by first knocking off a stout BWW 15-12 by scoring the last 9 runs of the game and then throttled a listless Darkside team 18-3 in a flip flop 5 inning game.

In the championship they watched an endless "merry-go-round" of Resmondo runner's and fell 54-15.

Gold's turns in their best performance of the year and should finally climb the computer rankings and Conference points list.   They do so with great veteran leadership in A+ pitcher Perry Hensley, big hitters on the corners with third baseman and lead off man Preston Spurlin and Offensive MVP first baseman Kelly Hartman and left hand hitting right fielder Clay Smitherman.   These 4 vets mixed in with the 6 skilled defensive positions filled by a group of almost "unknown" younger but solid up and coming Conference talent makes for a team that is now 9-1 vs 'B' teams on the season.   That is a stat that will pay off at the 'B' Worlds come September.

I need a nick name for the 6 "unknowns" on Gold's, just can't think of one right now.   Gold's played without their second leading hitter – catcher Trey Palacol.

Gold's Gym's Major Watch List Player Kelly Hartman was tabbed Offensive MVP of the Space City Classic

Lineup (please send me corrections where needed, I am still learning this teams players)
3B  Preston Sprulin
MI  Matt John
1B  Kelly Hartman
RF  Clay Smitherman
P   Perry Hensley
2B  Scott Short
CF  Cody Brooks
SS  Jake Mays
LF  Lester Clark
OF  John McGavic
EH  Corey Butcher


Golds Gym's 4 hitter Clay Smitherman celebrates Perry Hensley's homerun

 Golds leadoff hitter Preston Spurlin celebrates another single


 

3rd Place Darkside/TYJA/Easton   

Conf 'A' from New Britain, CT   5-2 Record

Darkside put a Resmondo type beating on a very good Evicted team in the 2nd round.   Then they used a walk off homer by left fielder Chris Smith over Fenway Park's "Green Monster" to send Classic Roofing to the loser's bracket 28-27.   In the winner's bracket semi-final a back and forth battle that featured a great running catch by right fielder Billy Moore and a great diving catch by Neil Haglund helped set up game tying 3 run homer with two outs in the bottom of the 7th by Ryan Parfitt.   In extra innings Darkside held BWW scoreless and a Matt Smith sac fly won the game vs BWW 27-26 in extra innings.   In the game Darkside stranded a boat load of runners and opened up a few innings with some suspect defense but held strong and pulled it out.

In the winner's bracket championship game on Saturday night, Resmondo put up 20 runs on them in the top of the first inning.   In the bottom of the inning Darkside impressively rattled off 15 runs and it looked like Resmondo might have a challenge.   Resmondo however received the separation they needed in the 4th inning when they got a double play ball and pulled away 45-23.

In the loser's championship on Sunday morning Darkside never really showed up as Gold's Gym hammered and flip flopped them early 18-3.

Darkside winds up one spot short of their goal but get a 3rd place finish for the second week in a row.   Darkside is still without injured pitcher Dirty Sanchez, and played without shortstop Lee Lipshutz, Jon Encarnacion, and slugger Charlie Baumgartner but I think this is another one of those great chemistry teams that doesn't need to have all of their players present on a given weekend.

YouTube Preview Image

Lineup
RF  Billy Moore
LF  Chris Smith
CF  Neil Haglund
3B  John Robinson
C/1B Matt Smith
1B  Lou Mongelli
C/OF Mark Taormina
P  Frank White
SS  Angelo Marsella
2B  Adam Belding
MI  Ryan Parfitt

Darkside gathers to talk it over

Click Wegs or Helmer for Easton equipment




 

4th Place BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports  GTGG 

Conf 'C' from Jackson, MS   5-2 Record

BWW/Team Baden/Buzini Sports is now, in my opinion, the number one 'C' team in the country.   Yes, I know that is a shocking statement when you consider what Linedrive out of Michigan and Wiley's Supreme has done the last couple weeks.   BWW has quite frankly a VERY good team with solid all around Conference talent at every position.   BWW is led by veteran pitcher and three hitter Donald Plaisance who had hitter's off balance most of the weekend.  

Going back to the old scout discussion about whether or not today's 'C' teams built with similar budgets and the majority of their players from one county or State region are EQUAL to the AVERAGE 'A' team of the early 1990's that were built in the same way?   Well BWW would have been right there with the 'A' teams of the early 1990's.   I make this statement for only the 2011 'C' teams that I have seen play in Conference tournaments across the country this year.   Most 'C' teams are really stepping up the quality of their rosters from the pitching to the shortstops and center fielders and everyone in between.   As you can tell I was very impressed and although I am just starting to get to know this team, It looked like they had their full roster for the first time this season and it showed.

It was just a few short years ago that you could catch me saying quite often that I would never attend a 'C' tournament just to watch or report on one, even a World tournament.   But my opinion has changed, if you put on a tournament with BWW, Linedrive, Wiley's, Dave's Place, Hustler's, Mad Skills, Evicted, American Mayhem, Bingo Longs, Bowtech, CA Sports, Carolina Dynasty, Classic Glass, EAP, Gutter Works, OI Livingston, P&P, Sagnasty, TG, Tyler Trucking, VFW, and a bunch I probably haven't seen yet, and give them 8 homer's to hit, then you would have yourself a quality Conference level tournament.   With a little sponsorship any one of these teams could be the next EWS or AJS and all of these teams should try to work  the 'A' and 'B' worlds into their schedules because it will payoff for them at the 'C' and into 2012.

To be honest I would broadcast the 'C' Worlds if it was on a different weekend from the Major.   Maybe we can work something out to do the final couple of games.

BWW beat a very good Team Specialists/Worth in the second round then sent Gold's Gym to the loser's bracket before giving one away to Darkside in extra innings 27-26.   They recovered for a nice late Saturday night win over FBI and then Sunday morning they led 12-6 in the 6th before Gold's Gym had a big inning and sent them home 15-12.   Definitely two losses on the weekend that could have, and should have, gone BWW's way.  

BWW adds their first Sunday finish to their Conference resume and take another step down the sometimes rocky Conference road.

Lineup (Help me out with any mistakes or ?)
1B  Kyle Wilks
C  Cody Childress
P  Donald Plaisance
EH/P Chad Loudon
MI  Stan Wilson
CF Justin Stuart
C   Brooks Bryan
LF  Brady Bascle
RF  Morgan?
3B  #4    ?
SS  Eric Patten


BWW center fielder Justin Stuart just missed this ball at the fence

BWW pitcher Donald Plaisance should have been all tournament

YouTube Preview Image

This play ended a comeback by Specialist who were down in the 7th inning and gave BWW the win


Tied 5th Place Fence Broker's/GameTimeSupply/Worth  GTGG 

Conf 'B' from Bryant, AR   5-2 Record


FBI
and Gold's Gym have the best uniforms in the country and you can get them at GameTimeSupply.com (click below)


alt

FBI won their first 3 and 5 total against non-conference opponents but went 0-2 against their peers.   They did send home a very good Bingo Longs/Sportscenter team with a 37-17 beating at Fenway but ran out of gas against Buzini after midnight Saturday 21-18.

This team continues to beat the lower levels (29-3 vs 'C') but needs to break through and beat some Conference teams to be taken seriously.   There is no reason this team shouldn't be competing similarly to Golds Gym.


Chad Walker may be our 140 pound homerun hitter we are looking for?

FBI 3B Manny Reynolds and shortstop Brad Wallace (I think)


Tied 5th Place The Scene/A.J.S./Easton/D2E  GTGG 

Conf 'B' from Fort Myers, FL   4-2 Record

The Scene won their first 4 including quality run rule wins over Zamora's and FBI.   Then they were annhilated by Resmondo 53-12 and run ruled after midnight Saturday by Gold's Gym 26-10 in the loser's bracket when one more win would have made for a successful weekend.   The Scene is playing hard and just needs a little more confidence I think in the big games.


Top of Lineup
Kathem Martin
Matt Arlett
Blake Williams
Mark Dennis

The Scene's middle infielder Joel Ramos plays for the competition


 

Update on the rest of the Conference Teams at the Space City:


Savesecond was Ambushed then blitzed by Cash Money.  Seemed they were going through the motions at times.

 

Wheelhouse only managed 1-2

 

Texas Miken Softball Club went 3-2 but didn't beat anyone.  My apologies, I somehow missed this team altogether.  I think they won by forfeit then when they dropped to the loser's bracket they were at the other park the rest of the way?

AZM Cartle no showed and folded unfortunately.


 

alt

More Pictures Below  


A big thanks to my sponsor's – Greg Huchingson and LoneStarSoftball, USSSA, Down2EarthSports.com, GameTimeSupply.com, MojoSportsGear.com, TPS, Easton, DSSBats.com, SoftballToday Magazine, BatReviews.com, and BPAthletics

I will be in Joliet, Illinois next weekend for the "Windy City Classic"

Also don't forget to click the "like" or "share" on facebook buttons for any articles you particularly enjoyed.  Thanks.

2011 Space City Classic Major pictures link

Link to the  Bracket/Stats for the Houston Major

Link to the tournament in Chicago when ready

Link to the USSSA Point Standings and Stats


Here are some other pics from the Houston Major:


Classic Roofing made a nice run to a 7th place finish and nearly knocked off Darkside to finish even higher

BaughFord.com took the Nasty out of Sagnasty with a walk off homerun win


Specialists was stacked with talent and had a couple big bombers

Bingo Longs/Sportcenter was my pick to finish 5th and they came close, 7th


Cash Money can hit it with anyone in the 'B' division

 

Wheelhouse playing at the legendary Sportsmans Park

Wrigley

This strange police contraption was watching the parking lot for mischief

Crosley Field

An abundance of conference umpires were present which was excellent

Sportin Wood cracked out the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle uniforms

 

Yes

The Lonestar Softball trailer

As always send question, corrections, comments, and criticism's to

DW@softballcenter.com

Doc: you ever been to Yankee Stadium Toto?

Toto: no, you ever been to Kansas Doc?


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