Thursday March 28th, 2024
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A look back at the 2016 USSSA ‘AA’ World tournament report!

 

Championship game Newbreeds Cole Patterson pitching to Precision

 

2016 USSSA

 

'AA' World tournament

 

Kissimee, FL

 

September 16-18

 

Precision MVP Justin Mucciarelli stabs a hot shot up the middle

 

Softballcenter.com picture album of the AA

 

2016 AA bracket link

 

The 'AA' division returned with a bang to USSSA softball in 2016 as 14 teams (11 AA) took to the Fortune Road Athletic Complex's 310-325-325-325-310 fields in a double elimination tournament this past weekend to crown a champion.  The tournament began on Friday night at 5 pm in overcast but warm and humid conditions with 12 teams playing into the top two seeds – #1 TG/Red's Astros and #2 Newbreed/GTS/Beus.  Line Drive Sportz knocked off Vivid 24-18 then controlled the game from the outset against Newbreed leading the whole game and upset the favorite to win 25-20!  Eurotech slugged it out with fellow Minnesota 'AA' team Xtreme in their opener.  The two teams met in the first round because the 'AA' World tournament is seeded on Nationwide Conference USSSA points.  Eurotech led most of the late innings and won 30-27 in extra innings as Xtreme could not pull it out even with the hammer.  Last seeded Primetime who is an 'A' team that hadn't beaten a 'AA' team all season won in extra innings over #3 seeded Sonny's 34-32 when Sonny's who had the hammer and home runs left to hit (teams could hit 12 HR per game) could not come through in the 7th or 8th inning.  We are starting to see a theme here.  The visiting team who traditionally loses close games at upper worlds because of the "bad batch" stadium balls used was suddenly winning over the home team in all the big games?  Puzzling.  That trend continued as #5 seeded 3rd Street could not come through in the bottom of the 7th against OC Swats and Swats won 28-26!  The only game that wasn't close in the first round was #4 Precision over Shirt Doctors 28-13 but that was close early.  In the lower part of the bracket BHR/Coppermine Lodge the recent 'A' World champs knocked off TM Sports 34-24 and then gave #1 seeded TG/Red's Astros all they could handle before a strong Red's offense who sort of let the game come to them with judicious use of the home run took over and Red's won 38-31 in a shootout.  Chad Mullins, Cory Boothe, and Travis Dale coming up with big homers in the 6th inning to pull away from BHR.

So when the Friday night lights turned off in the winner's bracket the #2, #3, and #5 seeded teams were all in the loser's bracket and Line Drive and TG/Reds were in the final 4.  The other two final 4 teams were decided at 10:30 AM on Saturday morning.  Primetime and Eurotech who were both teams no one thought would be there were suddenly playing for a trip to the final 4.  Eurotech held the lead most of the game as the scores started to wilt on field #2 with the heat and the wind coming in slightly.  Eurotechs 6 run advantage going into the bottom of the 7th though evaporated and Primetime tied the game.  In extra innings Primet Ira Brown hit a clutch walkoff to win the game!  In the final quarterfinal game Precision used strong defense to knock off a suddenly confident OC Swats team 23-12.

In the semifinals Saturday afternoon Precision went up double digits on a stunned TG/Red's Astros team and held off a late run to win 34-28.  And Primetime led Line Drive 11-3 at one point but Line Drive went on an adrenaline laced offensive explosion that lasted two innings and led 21-14 going into the 7th and won by that score.

In the winner's bracket finals on Saturday night with two teams not expected to be there (Linedrive and Precision) Precision pretty much dominated the game in every phase and even though the sun went down it was only Precision who was scoring in bunches and they won by the mercy rule 32-14.

Over in the loser's bracket the games were long and high scoring.  Vivid sent OC Swats home with a Tim Howard walk off homer.  Xtreme dominated a listless Racks team 23-5.  3rd Street separated from Shirt Doctors and won 34-19.  Eurotech knocked out TM Sports 26-15 before being hammered by Newbreed 47-6 after Newbreed had sent home 3rd Street 37-26 in a game where 3rd Street led 17-0.  In the lower part of the bracket Xtreme continued their trek beating BHR 25-19.  BHR and Xtreme had a paper scissors rock tournament to determine who got the dugout with the fan.  Xtreme rattled off two more wins over Vivid and a close 16-15 win over Primetime.  But it was Newbreeds offense that took over the losers bracket as they then sent home #1 TG/Reds 42-36 and won the last game of the night over Xtreme 36-31, Xtreme had 3 homers left and a 6 run deficit in the bottom of the 7th.  Xtreme did finish 4th.  That game was a shootout as Xtremes Shannon Smith tied the game at 26-26 with a grand slam just before the lights in the park went out.  When the lights came back on 30 minutes later it was the Newbreed defense of Rockoff at 2B and Flood in the middle that finished off Xtreme.

One of the best games of the tournament was the loser's bracket finals Sunday morning:  Linedrive had early leads of 9-1 and 19-3 against a tired Newbreed team but Newbreed had 13 run 3rd inning in a game that witnessed both relief pitchers entering the game early.  Newbreeds Rolando Rodriguez hit a moon shot 3 run homer to give them their first lead in top of 4th.  Linedrive got a nice diver from Kaminski at 2nd base to end the inning with a 26-20 Newbreed lead going to the bottom of the 4th.  Each team had hit 7 HR.  In the bottom of the 4th Matt Vern hit a grand slam for Line Drive and Mike Ortiz a 3 run homer and LD led 29-26 going to top of 5th.  The lead swapped back to Newbreed on a Gastineau 3 run homer and back again to Line Drive on a Kaminski 3 run homer 32-30.  Newbreed shortstop Nick Utley had a nice backhand and whirling throw to end the inning.  In the top of the 6th Linedrvie left fielder Cory Large made a diving catch on a liner by TJ Thompson to start the inning.  Newbreed then rallied with a sacrifice fly, a Rockoff double, and a 3 run 2 out backside homer by Gastineau made it 35-33 Newbreed.  Linedrive then walked batters to get to pitcher TJ Thompson who hit a 2 out bases loaded double over a shallow left fielder for a 39-33 lead.  In the 7th homers by Cordova and Rodriguez iced the game away for Newbreed 46-38.

The championship game had Precision jumping out to a 3-1 lead after one inning as Keith Anderson hit a 3 run homer and pitcher Justin Mucciarelli got a strikeout looking to end the inning.  There was no offense by either team in the middle innings and the game quickly advanced to the 6th inning.  In the 6th and 7th innings Precisions Bryan Porter, Bo Andrews, Chad Durick, and Frank Fracek all hit big homers to put the game away and Precision won 17-9 shutting down yet another team.

Precision celebrates the 'AA' World title

Team List:

  14 Teams Overall

  14 Nationwide Conference USSSA Teams

   11 'AA' Teams

   3 'A' Teams

Newbreeds Rolando Rodriguez puts the icing on the cake with a 2 run bomb to extend their lead over

LineDrive in the loser's final Sunday morning

 

Newbreed 1B Victor Cordova turns an unassisted DP vs Line Drive.

Pinch hit power hitter Devin Reilly hits a big homer against Line Drive in the winners final Saturday

3rd Streets Brad Tabler hits against OC Swats on Friday night

Friday night first round game between two Minnesota AA teams dubbed the "Minnesota State Championship"

3rd Streets David Kessler bounces a seeing eye single through the teeth of the Newbreed defense

 


 

Oldscout pollers had Precision at 9%.  Higher than I thought.

 


 

Video Highlites brought to you by:

 

 


 

Long Bombers of the Week

I am going to give this Long Bombers of the Week to what I call "Fortune Road War Horses".  

Players that have a history of performing well at Fortune Road and hitting bombs!

So the award goes to Precisions Keith Anderson and Chad Durick.

Also Newbreeds Adam Rockoff

And Xtremes Lyf Nimmo

I am sure there are others I am not thinking of at the moment.

Rockoff, Gastineau among others probably hit some of the longest balls.

 


 

USSSA 'AA' Awards and Final Standings

 

Player Tournament Awards Players Name Plays For
Tournament MVP Justin Mucciarelli Precision
Offensive Tournament MVP Victor Cordova Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
Defensive Tournament CO-MVP Evan Gallmeier Precision
Defensive Tournament CO-MVP Jeff Keske Precision
All Tournament Team Kyle Cowart Precision
All Tournament Team Lyf Nimmo Xtreme/Miken
All Tournament Team Jeff Flood Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
All Tournament Team Adam Ussery Line Drive Sportz/Easton
All Tournament Team Francis Fracek Precision
All Tournament Team ROBERTO PAJON Precision
All Tournament Team Adam Kaminski Line Drive Sportz/Easton
All Tournament Team Adam Rockoff Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
All Tournament Team Ryan Goodman Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
All Tournament Team Jon Gastineau Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
All Tournament Team Bryan Porter Precision
All Tournament Team Keith Anderson Precision
All Tournament Team Rolando Rodriguez Newbreed/GTS/Beus Excavation/DirtyS
All Tournament Team Alex Anthony Burkel Precision
All Tournament Team Brian McBryde Line Drive Sportz/Easton
All Tournament Team Shannon Smith Xtreme/Miken
Place State Team Team

 

 

 

Class

Wins Losses Ties Runs

 

 

 

Scored

Runs

 

 

 

Allow

Avg

 

 

 

Runs

Avg

 

 

 

Allow

Avg

 

 

 

Diff

Max

 

 

 

Runs

USSSA

 

 

 

Points

1 IL – Chicago Precision USSSA-Mens-AA 5 0 0 134 76 26.8 15.2 11.6 34 650
2 WA – Bothell newbreed/gts/beus excavation/dirtys USSSA-Mens-AA 5 2 0 237 179 33.8 25.5 8.28 47 350
3 MI – Warren Line Drive Sportz/Easton USSSA-Mens-AA 3 2 0 122 130 24.4 26 -1.6 38 300
4 MN – Medina Xtreme/Miken USSSA-Mens-AA 4 2 0 153 125 25.5 20.8 4.66 31 250
5 GA – Macon Primetime/Easton/Storm USSSA-Mens-A 2 2 0 80 85 20 21.2 -1.2 34 200
5 OH – Cincinnati OH & /Indianapolis IN tg/red's astros/headlines/k&g/worth USSSA-Mens-AA 1 2 0 102 107 34 35.6 -1.6 38 200
7 MN – Minneapolis eurotech-elite media design-easton USSSA-Mens-AA 2 2 0 78 106 19.5 26.5 -7 30 150
7 TXN – Frisco Vivid/Worth/Klutch USSSA-Mens-AA 1 2 0 69 85 23 28.3 -5.3 31 150
9 OH – West Chester 3rd street/louisville slugger USSSA-Mens-AA 1 2 0 86 84 28.6 28 0.66 34 110
9 CAS – Yorba Linda oc swats doerflinger / miken USSSA-Mens-AA 1 2 0 70 80 23.3 26.6 -3.3 30 110
9 TXN – Gladewater bhr/coppermine lodge/asp/worth USSSA-Mens-A 1 2 0 84 87 28 29 -1 34 110
9 NC – Wilmington TM Sports/Mizuno USSSA-Mens-AA 0 2 0 39 60 19.5 30 -10. 24 110
13 FLS – Port Saint Lucie shirt doctors/bomb squad/combat USSSA-Mens-A 0 2 0 32 62 16 31 -15 19 70
13 WY – Casper Team Racks/Miken/Sonny's USSSA-Mens-AA 0 2 0 37 57 18.5 28.5 -10 32 70

MVP was Precisions Justin Mucciarelli

Keske, Gallmeier, and Mucciarelli with the 1st place trophy

 


 

Team by team notes brought to you by:

 

1st Place Precision

Conf 'AA' from Illinois  5-0 Record

Precision did it all.  Shut down defense and pitching.  Timely line drive hitting and they hit some big homers.  Andrews and Porter chipping in some big homers in that championship game.  Congratulations to Bill Wax and Todd Ankney who have been chasing this ring for a few years now.

Brett McCollum – ankel, Matt Rear – leg, and Seth Burgmeier – neck were all out with serious injuries.  Get well soon.

Precision Sunday lineup was something like:

3B Evan Gallmeier

RF Kyle Cowart

EH Keith Anderson

LF Bo Andrews

C Chad Durick

1B Frank Fracek

MI Jeff Keske

2B Alex Burkel

SS Roberto Pajon

P Justin Mucciarelli

CF Bryan Porter

PH Devin Reilly

 

Hired guns so to speak – Kyle Cowart and Chad Durick

Evan Gallmeier at 3rd and Roberto Pajon at SS

The veteran Keith Anderson was supplying some Fortune Road power

Frank Fracek at 1B and Alex Burkel at 2B

The Chicago/Wisconsin talent pipe line is never ending

 

CF Bryan Porter and left fielder Bo Andrews

 

Manager Todd Ankney and MI Jeff Keske

 


 

2nd Place Newbreed/GTS/Beus/DirtySportwear/Worth

Conf 'AA' from Washington  5-2 Record

 

Newbreed was upset early then used dominating offense with big innings with and without home runs to roll through the loser's bracket and beat a who's who of the 'AA' division.  They just ran out of gas and ran into a team that was successful at shutting down good teams.  This team has so many players with motors that don't quit.  

Newbreed Sunday lineup:

2B Adam Rockoff

CF Jon Gastineau

MI Jeff Flood

1B Victor Cordova

C Donovan Pokraka

EH Rolando Rodriguez

P Cole Patterson/TJ Thompson

SS Nick Utley

LF Donald Hollingsworth

RF Nick Mangannaro

3B Ryan Goodman

Powers missed playing time with swollen glove hand.  Hoshaw and Sepulveda and Connell hit and pitched also.

 

Newbreed MI Jeff Flood and pitcher TJ Thompson will be candidates for Defensive MVP

Newbreed 2B Adam Rockoff makes a leaping stab

Newbreed has entertaining nicknames for teammates.

Jon Gastineaus nick names are "Gashole" and "Angry Ginger"…lol

 


 

3rd Place Line Drive Sportz/Easton

Conf 'AA' from Michigan  3-2 Record

 

Linedrive had a shot to salvage a tough season and probably can't believe Newbreed came from that big deficit to beat them Sunday morning.  A nice run by a talented team.

Line Drive Sportz Sunday lineup:

LF Cory Large

3B Josh Riley

2B Adam Kaminski

C Matt Vern

1B Brandon Oneal

CF Adam Tennyson

EH Alex Henry

RF Mike Ortiz

MI Brian McBride

SS Adam Ussery

P Faron Miller/Jason Bridges

Colby Hughes also played SS and outfield

Adam Kaminski moved himself up the lineup all year and played a nice 2B.

 

Brandon Oneal.  I am relearning my Oneals…

 


 

4th Place Xtreme/Miken

Conf 'AA' from Minnesota  4-2 Record

 

 

All tournament selections Nimmo and Smith

 


 

Tied 5th Place Primetime/Easton/Storm

Conf 'A' from Georgia  2-2 Record

 

Primetime had a nice 'A' World and now a great job making the winners bracket final 4 of the AA where they were winning early and could have been in the finals.  Just goes to show what can happen when you never give up on a season.

Walk off homer

Willie Mays catch

 


 

Tied 5th Place TG/Red's Astros/Headlines/K&G/Worth

Conf 'AA' from IN/OH  1-2 Record

TG just didn't quite have it.  Although many were commenting on Friday night they would win the tournament easily.  Precision and Newbreed were just a little better in those games which is why we play the game.

Boothe was a beast

Disbennet with a liner

Staton takes on ex teammate Drake

 


 

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Link to all 2009 to 2016 Tournament Reports and Previews

 


 

Some more pictures for you:

Bellamy got robbed by BHR's White in CF

 

Can't tell if Nimmo was safe but it looks like a good call

Eurotech had a shot but lost that 6 run lead to Primetime or could have been in the final 4.

3rd Street with the Astos unis came up short with the hammer against Swats and lost a big lead to Newbreed

Swats had confidence after their Friday night win over 3rd Street

McClanahan turned a sick blind throw DP and was looking like defensive mvp had they won

Tim Howard celebrates a walk off homer

Racks Ramirez almost hit a walk off homer but it was robbed by Primetimes center fielder Mike Williams

Roger Drake did some great relief pitching for BHR

Shirt Doctors went 0-2

 

Jennings drags a toddler around while Boothe and Bud pine for a pic…  ðŸ™‚

Conference umpiring crew for AA

Looks like Herb may have made a trip to the mound

Some brought their own shade

 

 

 

 

 

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