Thursday March 28th, 2024
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2017 USA Softball ‘A’ National tournament report

 

 

Kyle Pearson of ASP takes on Travis Clark and Precision at the USA Softball 'A' Nationals in the final game

 

 

2017 USA Softball

 

'A' National

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Sept 30 – Oct 1

 

Precision gets the out on the pickle to end the Championship

Link to SoftballCenter picture album of the 'A' 

 

2017 'A' bracket, rosters, archived game videos links

 


 

The USA Softball 'A' Nationals started on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM with 11 teams in a double elimination format at the Hall of Fame Stadium complex with their 300 foot fence dimensions, perfect weather, and the tournament used the Dudley Thunder Hycon 52 core 300 compression ball.  The ball was flying and was much harder than other 52's I have seen but it did not take bad hops.  In the opener on the stadium Evolution/Klutch/Easton with its contingent of Classic Glass and Primetime players run ruled TPC/Boompas Burgers 27-12.  Josh Tallent and Chris Larsen were a combined 8-8 for the winner's.  Meanwhile back on field #2 OC and the All Armed Forces team were locked in a close contest.  OC went down 8-0 early on but All Armed Forces could not put them away and in the top of the 5th OC scored 9 runs to take a 14-13 lead.  The two teams were tied going to the top of the 7th and OC scored 6 runs and All Armed Forces only scored 5 after a nice diving stop by the OC 2nd baseman ended the game with runners in scoring position.  Dexter "Captain America" Avery and Aaron Neeley were an impressive 10-10 in the losing cause for Armed Forces and Andrew Malone was 4-5 with 2 big homer's for OC.    

Those two games were the "play in" games and the round of 8 which was also played Saturday morning started with Seminoles and SPRIZZI back on field #3.  Seminoles had a similar team to their regular season roster with the addition of Resmondo pitcher Dan Sanchez and SPRIZZI which is a drink company based out of Michigan had a big contingent of Florida Major players like Greg Connell, Bubba Mack, Davis Bilardello, Nick Mangannaro, Jason Matusik, and a non Florida Major player Chris Hansen among others.  SPRIZZI batted around in the bottom of the 1st inning and then some, as they scored 14 runs.  But Seminoles came back with 16 of their own in the top of the 3rd and blanked SPRIZZI in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd innings, and held them to just 1 run in the 4th.  But SPRIZZI would outscore Seminoles 10-1 in the last 3 innings and win 27-24.  Leadoff hitter Nick Mangannaro for SPRIZZI was 5-5 while Connell, Mack, and Matusik combined for 12-14 with 14 RBI in the game.  Seminoles only hit 7 HR.  Each team gets 10 HR in 'A' Nationals.  

Over on Integris field #4 it was a grudge match of sorts between Precision and FK Pauer Sports.  Precision had an Easton presence with Mike Umscheid, Travis Clark, and Brad Reckart from Resmondo and guys from Precision like pitcher Dan Bean, MI Jeff Keske, and SS Kyle Kannenberg as well as some other pickups like Steele Lewis, John Williams, and Patrick Ellwanger.  FK Pauer was the Justin Mucciarelli/Devin Reilly creation with some Newbreed players (Flood and Gastineau), some Thunder players (Yates, Haglund, Logan, Stovall, Riley), and some others like Hoynowski and Campanelli.  These players knew each other really well and it was two of the top teams in the tournament facing off early on.  Precision led 23-17 after 4 innings but conserved their home runs better and had 5 HR left going into the top of the 7th where they should have been free swinging but somehow managed to score zero and they held just a 24-23 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.  In the bottom of the 7th with no homer's left FK Pauer loaded the bases and scored the tying run on a fielder's choice but could only manage to tie the game.  In extra innings Precision got homer's from Clark, Williams, Lewis, and Ellwanger and held FK Pauer scoreless to win 29-24.  Lewis was 6-6 with 7 RBI in the win.  Jeremy Yates 6-6 in the loss.

Over on field #2 T's 13 scored 9 runs in the bottom of the 6th to come from behind and beat Evolution 25-22.  Orlando Castillo was 3-4 with 7 RBI in the win.  Trey Gilliland 4-4 with 8 RBI in the loss.

In other round of 8 action ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs who has won the 'A' Nationals the last two years played against OC who had beaten them two days earlier in the Super National.  In this game ASP scored 14 runs in the 1st inning and 14 more in the 2nd and cruised to a 34-11, 4 inning victory.  Shannon Smith, Brian McBryde, Kyle Pearson, Ryan Harvey, Benn Dunn, and Danny Evans all batted 1000 in the contest.

In the final round of 8 game WC Monsta hot of their Super National Championship the day before took on SPRIZZI.  The Monsta offense took over in the 3rd inning as they scored 31 runs in the last 4 innings of the game and won easily 34-8.  WC Monsta was led by Chente Granados who was 5-5 and Filip Washington, Pilar Amaya, and Ryan Mcclanahan who had 4 hits apiece.

The semifinals of the winners bracket got under way Saturday evening with WC Monsta vs ASP on the stadium field.  ASP scored 7 in the 1st and 14 in the 3rd but couldn't run rule WC Monsta who then got back into the game with 14 runs in the top of the 5th.  But ASP still had homer's left and Harvey and Kanaby hit them in the bottom of the 6th and they held on to win without needing to hit in the 7th 31-25.  Cory Briggs went 5-5 in the game for ASP.

The other semifinal between Precision and T's 13 started later Saturday evening as the field #4 they were on was backed up all day long.  T's 13 led by their leadoff hitter Jason Madsen who was 5-5 in the game put the pressure on Precision all game long and led by 4 runs going into the bottom of the 7th inning.  Precision got a 1 out 2 run homer from Dan Bean and then the T's 13 left fielder misplayed a running catch in the gap that would have won T's the game, and Precisions Marcus Thornton hit a clutch 2 out RBI sinlge to tie the game at 19-19.  In the top of the 8th T's 13 loaded the bases but failed to score and Precisions Steele Lewis hit a 3 run walk off homer to win it!

The winner's bracket finals started immediately afterwards in the stadium where Precision trailed 23-17 to ASP going into the top of the 6th and Precision scored 10 runs to take the lead 33-23 as Travis Clark who was 5-5 in the game capped the inning with a 2 out 3 run homer!  In the bottom of the 6th ASP misused a couple of homer's to close the gap to 2 runs with 1 homer left and held Precision scoreless in the top of the 7th.  But it was not to be for ASP as they hit a solo homer to start the inning by accident using up their last bump and got singles from Pearson and Briggs only to see a Kanaby line drive go out of the park by a few feet for a dead ball out (DBO) and Precision had advanced to the championship over ASP 27-26.  Travis Clark was 5-5 with 3 HR and 7 RBI for the winner's.

The loser's bracket played out with FK Pauer (FK standing for Flippin Keys) surviving and advancing past All Armed Forces 32-27, Seminoles 28-26, WC Monsta 31-25, and T's 13/Monsta 42-34 well after midnight Saturday.  Then in the morning ASP put up 18 runs on just 2 homer's to start the loser's bracket finals on them and beat FK/Pauer Sports 36-7.  Ryan Harvey had 11 RBI in the game as Harvey hit 2 grand slams and Ben Dunn 1.   

 


 

The Championship Game!

Precision shortstop Kyle Kannenberg makes a great stop and put out on ASP's Cory Briggs

The championship game Sunday between ASP and Precision at 11 AM got off to a slow start as Precision base hit their way to an early 4-2 lead after 1 inning, and got a double play to shut down ASP in the top of the 2nd.  In the bottom of the second Precision used walks and then homers by lead off man Patrick Ellwanger and 3 hitter Travis Clark to take a 9-2 lead.  Over the next 3 innings ASP closed the gap to 1 run (13-12) but hit too many solo homer's to feel good about it.  In the bottom of the 5th and 6th Precision separated by 12 runs as they scored 8 in the 5th on a 3 run homer by MVP Steele Lewis and got 3 more on a triple by Jeff Keske, and 8 more in the 6th when they decided to "free up" and use their home runs.  In the 7th, down 12 with only 1 homer left, ASP managed just 2 runs and the game ended on a strange 3u-10-3-6-3-10-3-10-3 double play on a "pickle".  

 


 

 

ASP's Kanaby just barely hit it over the fence for the last out. 

If it catches the fence they probably beat Precision in the winner's final.

 

Precisions Marcus Thornton gets the game tying hit with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th vs T's 13.

OC's Jason Ogden hits a big homer against T's 13 in the loser's bracket

Jeff Flood and Flippin Keys takes on Precision Saturday morning in a bit of a grudge match

SPRIZZI's Kyndrich Doggett homer's against Seminoles in a 14 run first inning.

TPC takes on Evolution to begin 'A' Nationals.

Field #2 – OC taking on All Military

 

The Dudley Thunder Hycon ZN 52/300 was used

 


 

Video Highlites brought to you by:

 


 

Long Bombers of the Week

 

The Long Bomber of the week goes to ASP's Ryan Harvey and Long Hall Bomber Champ Travis Clark of Precision

And an honorable mention to Flippin Keys Ryan Stovall who led the tournament in homer's with 11.

And ASP pinch hitter extraordinnaire Brian Bohanon who had yet another clutch pinch hit homer in the Championship

 

 


 

 'A' Awards and Final Standings

USA Softball 'A' National Standings
1st Precision 4-0
2nd ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs 3-2
3rd FK/Pauer Sports 4-2
4th Ts 13/Monsta 2-2
5th OC 3-2
5th WC Monsta 1-2
7th SPRIZZI 1-2
7th Seminoles 1-2
9th Evolution/Klutch/Easton 1-2
9th All Armed Forces 0-2
9th TPC/Boompas Burgers 0-2

 

 

'A' Slow Pitch First Team All-Americans
 

Tournament MVP: Steele Lewis, Precision

 

Batting Champ: Jason Hoynowski, FK/Pauer Sports .857

 

If USA Softball gave out a Defensive MVP it would have been Precision middle man Jeff Keske who was all over the place!

 

Ben Dunn, ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs
Adam Aceto, OC
Jason Hoynewski, FK/Pauer Sports
Cory Briggs, ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs
Ryan Stovall, FK/Pauer Sports
Orlando Castillo, T’s 13
Mickey Rowland, T’s 13
Steele Lewis, Precision
Shannon Smith, ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs
Brad Reckart, Precision
Travis Clark, Precision
Kyle Pearson, ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs
Jeff Keske, Precision
Pat Elwanger, Precision
Darren Nelson, OC

 


 

Team by team notes brought to you by:

 

 

1st Place Place Precision

 from IL  4-0 Record

Precision won their first two games in extra inning games that could have gone either way and then watched their good fortune sail out of the park for a DBO/HRO or whatever you want to call it in their 1 run win against ASP.  What could have been for ASP or T's 13 or FK/Pauer had the ball bounced a little different in those games we will never know.  But Precision took advantage of their good fortune and went undefeated and can now call themselves 'A' National Champions.  A true team effort, some real big innings and big hits when they needed them, and some great plays by the infield in key situations, and then the steady power from Travis Clark, John Williams, and Steele Lewis made for a winning combination.

 

Clark and Umschied

 

Big John Williams going yard in the championship game.  Brad Reckart was All Tournament and made that incredible throw to get Logan stealing 3rd to end an overtime game against FK/Pauer

 

RF Pat Ellwanger and CF Josh Kersten

 

Kyle Kannenberg and Dan Bean look like brothers

 


 

2nd Place Place ASP/KV Weld/A&A Utility/OA Labs

 from TX  3-2 Record

ASP let one get away in that winner's final against Precision, a game they probably win 9 out of 10 times if given the chance again.  This was one of the most impressive offensive lineups put together for a USA Softball 'A' team and they came up just short of their 3rd straight title.

Cory Briggs slices a single into right center in the championship

 

Above – Shannon Smith and Kyle Pearson

Below – Ryan Harvey and Argen Dodds

4 of the premier power hitters in the game all on one team.

 

 

Dunn and Kanaby

 


 

3rd Place Place FK/Pauer Sports

From NJ  4-2 Record

FK Pauer lost that first game to Precision in extra innings and then sent home half the field.  This was another team with a stacked lineup and how about that outfield defense of Gastineau, Logan, and Yates with Haglund at 1st and Hoynowski at catcher.  Mooch did the pitching for the most part and the team just ran into an ASP buzz saw Sunday morning or maybe they would have gotten a rematch with Precision.

 

Gas and Yates

Stovall, Campanelli, Flood

Devin Reilly and Justin Mucciarelli created the team

 

Logan did beat the throw from Kannenberg on that diving play

 

 

 


 

 

4th Place Place T's 13/Monsta

 2-2 Record

T's was a catch away from making the winner's finals and then got sent home by FK late Saturday night.  Rowland and Castillo were over .800 for the tournament.  So close!

 

 


 

5th Place Place OC

 from IA  3-2 Record

OC played a lot of hard fought games.  Aceto made All Tournament with over an .800 average.  Darren Nelson a factory hitter for Monsta carried a .800 onbase.  Heck the team batted an impressive .653 and I am hearing they should be back next year with different sponsorship.  Thanks for putting a fun team on the field and competing at the highest level!

OC beat the Military All Stars on this play

OC sent tied SPRIZZI on this hit

 


 

5th Place Place WC Monsta

 from CA  1-2 Record

The Monsta magic wasn't there in the 'A' after winning the Super on Friday with the same roster.  It is tough to repeat in one weekend with the caliber of rosters that were in this event. 

 

Brungardt, Whaley, Mcclanahan, Granados

Filip Washington .833 with 8 HR and some more LONG BOMBS!

 

 

 

 


 

SPRIZZI is new to the upper level but had a contingent of Major players from Florida


 

Evolution/Klutch didn't have the magic they had at the USA Softball 'B' earlier in the year

Seminoles went down early

Precisions Pat Ellwanger has two scoops of ice cream next to manager Todd Ankney…  🙂

Yes this was crawling around the grass

 

2017 All Armed Forces team ended a two month softball journey

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE AND HAVE MADE!

​

The Burgers were 2 and Q

 

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