Thursday March 28th, 2024
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2017 USSSA “Space City” Classic – Houston Major tournament report!

 

 

Note: I did not make it to Houston until Saturday at 1 PM because of a cancelled flight

so I may have missed some of the action!

 

 

2017 Nationwide Conference USSSA

 

11th Annual "Space City" Classic

 

Houston, Texas

 

April 7-9

 

Racks defensive MVP Ryan Mcclanahan also hit 3 HR and 10 RBI in the 4th inning of a 29 run explosion which pushed a run rule win and forced the "if" necessary game of the championship against Nightmare!

 

Link to the SoftballCenter picture album of the Space City 

 

2017 Space City men's and women's bracket link

 

64 teams started out at the Houston Major on the 6 artificial turf "mini" MLB fields in League City, Texas.  The tournament used the Dudley Hycor ball which kept the scores down a little bit compared to last weeks Las Vegas Major.  There were 26 'B' or higher classed teams and in the first round there was one upset of significance as the 'D' team Select Few knocked off Conference 'B' team L&S Glass 9-6 and then went on to beat Panhandle 30-28.  In the second round a few minor upsets continued as Big Ten out of Colorado knocked off Conference team Seminoles out of Oklahoma 28-13, Texas Threat beat Wileys a Florida Conference team 18-16, and Brian's Custom Detailing upset Fence Brokers 22-18.  Remember it was a year ago when Wileys finished in the top 4 of the Houston Major.  

In the round of 16 the Conference vs Conference matchups began.  AllOut a Texas 'A' team knocked off Michigan 'B' Conference team Rebel Sports 25-7.  OC Swats (CA-AA) got past Insidious (OK-B) 25-16.  Money/Miken (A) from Texas knocked off Pure Sports (A) from South Carolina 37-33.  And in one of the better games of the tournament Racks (WY-M) held off Worsham Athletics (NC-B) 37-34 with Worsham failing to score in the bottom of the 7th inning.  Steel Sports (TX-A), Nightmare (MO-AA), Baugh Ford (GA-AA), and Killbombers (TX-AA) all advanced against non-conference opponents.

In the final 8 of the winner's bracket Baugh Ford lit up Killbombers 34-12.  Nightmare made short work of AllOut 29-8.  Steel Sports put away OC Swats 36-22 over on Fenway field.  And Racks came from a double digit deficit to beat Money/Miken 27-23 with the wind gusting in from left center over on Crosley field.

At 8:30 PM Saturday night the semifinals began.  Nightmare put the defense on Baugh Ford over on Crosley field as Ben Dunn in center field made a spectacular catch diving towards the wall on a ball hit by Carlton Griffin.  And Nightmare first baseman Steve Zemanek made 5 spectacular line drive stabs as Nightmare walked away with a 29-13 win.  In the other semifinal it was Racks taking on Steel Sports at Yankee field.  Steel had a 28-24 lead in the top of the 5th on pitcher Perry Hensleys grand slam.  Then in the bottom of the 5th Steel turned a 6-10-3 double play with the bases loaded to keep their lead to 28-27.  In the 7th inning Steel got a two run homer from Matt Vasquez and a 3 run homer from Mark Cridland to tie the game at 34-34.  The game went to extra innings with both teams out of homers and Steel pulled off the upset when Racks infielder Sammy Christensen accidently hit an opposite field home run for the 3rd out because Racks had used all 12 of their home runs and Steel won by a final of 35-34.

The winner's bracket championship wasn't much of a game as Nightmare went up 23-6 on Steel after 3 innings and cruised to a 28-10 run rule win. 

Racks "played the game" and had great home run management.

Here pitcher Tyson Steel cleans them off with a 3 run homer after a Sammy Christensen single.

Meanwhile in the loser's bracket which played out until 3 AM in the morning, a non conference 'B' team out of Colorado called Levels won 6 straight games including come from behind wins against FBI 32-29 and OC Swats 27-23 and a slugfest win over Money/Miken 42-32 before finishing tied for 5th after losing to Baugh Ford 36-21.  And Pure Sports a Conference 'A' team knocked off fellow Conference teams Seminoles 29-14, Worsham 31-14, AllOut 42-33, and beat Insidious 21-19 before running out of gas against Racks 28-8 to finish tied for 5th.

So Racks and Baugh Ford advanced to meet Sunday at 8 AM after those late night wins.  It was all Racks in that first game Sunday as Tim Howard hit a 3 run homer and Racks separated from Baugh Ford in the bottom of the 4th and left Baugh on the field in the 5th with a run rule win 31-14.  Next up was Steel.  In that one Racks grabbed an early 11 run lead in the top of the 1st inning and Steel answered with 6 in the bottom half.  In the top of the 2nd inning the Steel pitchers couldn't throw a strike as Racks walked their way to a 15 run inning which was only stopped by a diving play by Steel second baseman Mark Cridland.  Racks pushed the lead to 30-13 going into the bottom of the 4th and won 32-14.

So Racks advanced to the championship where Nightmare who needed to be beaten twice grabbed a 10-7 lead on a Nolan Fogle 3 run "no doubt" homer and 2 run homers by Eli Aguilar and Jesse Solomon.  Racks then pulled ahead 11-10 through good home run management as Argen Dodds and Keith Laski hit it down for Tyson Steele who hit a 3 run homer.  Then in the 4th Racks super utility man Ryan Mclanahan hit a grand slam, Brian Faria hit a 3 runner, and Mcclanahan would add two more homers in the inning to lead Racks to a 29 run 4th and a 39-16 win.  Mcclanahan had 10 RBI in the inning by himself!  There was some chirping in these championship games this weekend as well between Billy Maggard and some of his opponents from Texas.  I don't want anyone to think it is only Resmondo that does the chirping.  ðŸ™‚

In the "if" necessary game of the championship Racks led 14-8 after 2 innings and most of their outs were great line drive stabs by the Nightmare infielders Hinojosa, Solomon, and Trammell.  Nightmare closed the gap to 22-19 but left the bases loaded in the 5th which was a pivotal moment and swung the momentum toward Racks.  Racks added 8 runs in the 6th and used a pinch hit bases loaded double by Orlando Cano to extend the lead to 37-25 in the top of the 7th.  Racks shut down Nightmare in the last two innings to just one run and won the game and the tournament 37-26.

Racks scores an important 214 Conference points with the victory and showed tremendous heart rolling through the loser's bracket.  The weather was perfect in the 70's and low 80's with a nice breeze.  The wind did affect a few games blowing in different directions on different fields and had an impact on the scoring at times.  There were a few conference umpires in attendance and they were led by the tournament UIC Jason Oberlag.  The hycor ball bounced out of some gloves and could get slick to throw but overall was the right ball for the field dimensions.  The 64 team field makes for some very late nights and long days and you have to be impressed by Racks, Pure Sports, and Levels for their resilience on what had to be some very tired players.

A final note, I want to commend Texas softball for all of their B and C teams that are stepping up and playing higher.  If the rest of the country followed their lead the B and C programs would be flourishing.

Team Breakdown:
64 Teams Overall
 16 Nationwide Conference USSSA Teams
1 Major Teams
3 'AA' Teams
6 'A' Teams
16 'B' Teams
21 'C' Teams
 17 'D/E' Teams

 

Racks Dan Kirkwood scores one of his 35 runs in the winner's semifinal

Steel's Mark Cridland ties the game with a two out 3 run line drive homer vs Racks in the semifinals

Kirkwoods getting all the press, he came this close to winning the game vs Steel with the glove on Cridlands game tying homer in the 7th inning of the winner's semifinal.

Steel went on to win in extra innings.

 

Nightmares Bryan Daniel hits of of Tommie Baugh and Baugh Ford in the semifinals

Remember when Billy Maggard hit that scud up the middle a few years ago and hit Tommie Baugh in the helmet.

Well they played each other again on the same field this past weekend, picture above.  Video of the linedrive from 2013 is below.

Steels Justin Beal hits against OC Swats Paul Winner on Fenway

A game at Ebbets Field!

Sportsmans Park

Wrigley Field

Dudley Hycor Classic Plus was used.  The bounces were not bad but they were hard to catch on hard line drives or hard grounders.

And some players felt they were slippery to throw.

 


 

Oldscout pollers had Racks to win

 


 

Video Highlites brought to you by:

Video clips from the men's Major in Houston

 


 

Long Bombers of the Week

 

Charlie Hinojosa from Nightmare had the longest homer I witnessed and the shortest hit when he popped out to the catcher.

This is a young player who is still gaining experience and he made some great stops at 3rd base!

 


 

Houston Major Awards and Final Standings

Player Tournament Awards Players Name Plays For
Tournament MVP Daniel Kirkwood Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
Defensive Tournament MVP Ryan McClanahan Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Brian Faria Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Brad Blankenship Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken
All Tournament Team Keith Laski Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Jordan Spaulding Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Tyson steele Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Adam Smylie Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Brian Therkildsen Levels
All Tournament Team Chad Folsom Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken
All Tournament Team Dustin Wager Levels
All Tournament Team John Zorich Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken
All Tournament Team Nicholas Shay Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Mike
All Tournament Team Mark Cridland Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Mike
All Tournament Team Argen Dodds Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter
All Tournament Team Everett Williams Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Mike
All Tournament Team Mathew Vasquez Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Mike
All Tournament Team Donald Plaisance Pure Sports/HB
All Tournament Team Andrew Filoteo Pure Sports/HB
All Tournament Manager Sonny Pilcher Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter

Nightmares All Tournament Selections:

Offensive MVP: Ben Dunn

All Tourney:
Wes Newell
Brian Daniel
Billy Maggard
Zane Trammell

Place State Team Team Class Wins Losses Ties Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg Runs
Allow
Avg Run
Diff
Max
Runs
Ranking
Points
1 WY – Casper Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter  USSSA-SPMensMajor 9 1 0 342 200 34.2 20.0 14.2 39 300
2 MO – Branson Nightmare/Miken  USSSA-Mens-AA 6 2 0 215 133 26.9 16.6 10.3 31 0
3 TXS – corpus christi Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Mike  USSSA-Mens-A 5 2 0 175 156 25.0 22.3 2.7 36 200
4 GA – Peachtree City Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken  USSSA-Mens-A 5 2 0 167 137 23.9 19.6 4.3 36 175
5 CO – denver Levels  USSSA-Mens-B 7 2 0 225 202 25.0 22.4 2.6 42 180
5 SC – Charleston Pure Sports/HB  USSSA-Mens-A 6 2 0 233 158 29.1 19.8 9.4 42 155
7 OK – Coweta Insidious  USSSA-Mens-B 5 2 0 179 132 25.6 18.9 6.7 41 230
7 CAS – Yorba Linda OC Swats / Semper  USSSA-Mens-AA 4 2 0 161 131 26.8 21.8 5.0 34 130
9 TXS – Olmito OlmitoHeat/DiamondKingz/Miken  USSSA-Mens-B 5 2 0 127 98 18.1 14.0 4.1 25 110
9 TXS – Conroe MONEY/MIKEN/ASP/A&A/51210SPORTS  USSSA-Mens-A 3 2 0 153 124 30.6 24.8 5.8 37 110
9 TXN – Frisco Killbombers / Demarini / GS Sports  USSSA-Mens-AA 3 2 0 130 141 26.0 28.2 -2.2 39 110
9 TXS – Houston ALLOUT/KLUTCH/WORTH  USSSA-Mens-A 3 2 0 114 95 22.8 19.0 3.8 33 110
13 TXS – League City D12  USSSA-Mens-C 4 2 0 126 113 21.0 18.8 2.2 31 70
13 AR – Bryant Fence Brokers Inc/Worth  USSSA-Mens-B 4 2 0 166 106 27.7 17.7 10.0 39 170
13 NC – Hendersonville Worsham Athletics/BF Cattle/Athon/M  USSSA-Mens-B 3 2 0 118 106 23.6 21.2 2.4 34 170
13 CO – Denver Big Ten / Deluxe Athletic Brand  USSSA-Mens-C 3 2 0 81 70 16.2 14.0 2.2 28 70
17 FLS – Haines City Wileys Supreme/Miken/Worth  USSSA-Mens-B 3 2 0 89 67 17.8 13.4 4.4 29 140
17 TXN – Fort Worth Jokers/ESP Family/FTP Empire  USSSA-Mens-B 3 2 0 116 68 23.2 13.6 9.6 34 40
17 TXS – Houston PlatinumTeamSports.com  USSSA-Mens-B 3 2 0 88 96 17.6 19.2 -1.6 19 65
17 OK – Tulsa SEMINOLES/TPS/NACSF.INC/MIKEN  USSSA-Mens-A 3 2 0 126 98 25.2 19.6 5.6 39 40
17 TXS – Galveston The Select Few  USSSA-Mens-D 2 2 0 49 93 12.3 23.3 -11.0 30 40
17 TXN – Grand Prairie Brian's Custom Detailing  USSSA-Mens-C 2 2 0 70 82 17.5 20.5 -3.0 28 40
17 TXS – Houston Texas Threat  USSSA-Mens-C 2 2 0 78 85 19.5 21.3 -1.8 26 40
17 MI – Dearborn Rebel Sports/Game On/Dirty/hangrite  USSSA-Mens-B 2 2 0 83 85 20.8 21.3 -0.5 27 140
25 TXS – Beaumont BTX/Dirty Vegas Sports  USSSA-Mens-B 2 2 0 74 69 18.5 17.3 1.3 23 40
25 FLS – Miami BeeTech  USSSA-Mens-B 2 2 0 86 83 21.5 20.8 0.8 31 65
25 FLP – Pensacola Panhandle Dynasty  USSSA-Mens-D 2 2 0 80 75 20.0 18.8 1.3 28 65
25 TXS – Houston MVP Sports  USSSA-Mens-C 2 2 0 55 74 13.8 18.5 -4.8 25 0
25 LA – Lafayette Empire/OA Labs/Gaubert Oil  USSSA-Mens-B 2 2 0 73 86 18.3 21.5 -3.3 38 40
25 CAN – San Jose L & S Glass  USSSA-Mens-B 2 2 0 90 114 22.5 28.5 -6.0 40 140
25 TXS – Beaumont Oilers/Allstate/Mojo  USSSA-Mens-C 2 2 0 87 60 21.8 15.0 6.8 30 40
25 TXN – Mesquite C&R Express/Miken/Hitmen Sports  USSSA-Mens-C 2 2 0 103 110 25.8 27.5 -1.8 36 40
33 TXS – Richmond 8th Wonder/AMS/Baa Baa Brewhouse  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 32 77 10.7 25.7 -15.0 16 40
33 TXS – Pasadena Habit  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 22 39 7.3 13.0 -5.7 12 40
33 TXS – Pearland Scared Hitless  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 55 69 18.3 23.0 -4.7 27 40
33 TXN – Rockwall LOB/Lasting Impressions Landscape  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 59 71 19.7 23.7 -4.0 24 65
33 OK – Oklahoma City AllStarPlumbing/PrimeallConst  USSSA-Mens-B 1 2 0 77 62 25.7 20.7 5.0 43 40
33 TXS – Wharton STX Nightmares  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 38 53 12.7 17.7 -5.0 19 40
33 TXS – LaPorte C.P.S/DRM/ASP  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 57 60 19.0 20.0 -1.0 28 65
33 TXS – Corpus Christi Primetime Aces/Bubba Sports  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 44 67 14.7 22.3 -7.7 25 40
33 TXS – Houston Maniacs  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 21 43 7.0 14.3 -7.3 11 40
33 TXS – San Antonio Smoking Guns  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 22 47 7.3 15.7 -8.3 12 0
33 TXS – Houston AMPM/GVMS/24-7 Softball/TI Sports  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 81 81 27.0 27.0 0.0 33 40
33 TXS – Lake Jackson Texas Terror  USSSA-Mens-D 1 2 0 20 43 6.7 14.3 -7.7 9 40
33 LA – MARRERO NOLA ELITE  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 24 49 8.0 16.3 -8.3 11 40
33 FLP – PENSACOLA 2 LEGIT  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 58 91 19.3 30.3 -11.0 29 40
33 TXW – El Paso Nine 1 Five/ASPNation/SportsLine  USSSA-Mens-B 1 2 0 51 67 17.0 22.3 -5.3 19 40
33 TXS – Humble 3rd Coast Stars  USSSA-Mens-C 1 2 0 58 56 19.3 18.7 0.7 33 0
49 TXS – League City Clutch City  USSSA-Mens-E 0 2 0 3 53 1.5 26.5 -25.0 3 40
49 TXS – Texas city Space City Expos  USSSA-Mens-E 0 2 0 11 53 5.5 26.5 -21.0 6 40
49 TXN – Arlington The B Team  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 32 51 16.0 25.5 -9.5 18 40
49 TXS – La Feria STX Untouchables/RG's/913 Soprts  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 15 34 7.5 17.0 -9.5 12 0
49 CO – Parts unknown the INFAMOUS sHooKs one PT.2  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 16 39 8.0 19.5 -11.5 10 65
49 TXS – Houston TI Sports  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 29 32 14.5 16.0 -1.5 21 40
49 TXS – Austin Game Over/FindMyCompany.com  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 26 33 13.0 16.5 -3.5 18 40
49 TXS – The Woodlands Baseball Washouts  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 15 34 7.5 17.0 -9.5 10 40
49 LA – Thibodaux LA Outkast/ Gaubert Oil  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 37 45 18.5 22.5 -4.0 23 40
49 MS – Hattiesburg Davenports/TheGarrisAgency/Buzini  USSSA-Mens-C 0 2 0 51 54 25.5 27.0 -1.5 28 40
49 TXS – Pasadena Live Action/KLUTCH/Valeo  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 14 67 7.0 33.5 -26.5 10 40
49 TXS – Houston All-Nighters  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 24 43 12.0 21.5 -9.5 15 40
49 TXS – Pearland SouthernBarrelApparel/SteelSports  USSSA-Mens-B 0 2 0 58 62 29.0 31.0 -2.0 33 40
49 TXS – Houston Team ILL  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 4 37 2.0 18.5 -16.5 4 0
49 TXS – Houston Hooliganz  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 24 56 12.0 28.0 -16.0 17 40
49 TXS – Texas City FSU/Liqui-Pro Construction  USSSA-Mens-D 0 2 0 6 28 3.0 14.0 -11.0 6 0

Racks center fielder Dan Kirkwood was the MVP

(.804, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 35 runs scored in 51 plate appearances)

 

Racks utility man (OF, SS, MI, 2B, P) Ryan Mcclanahan was the Defensive MVP

(.703, 7 HR, 28 RBI)

Nightmares Ben Dunn was Offensive Player of the tournament

 


 

Team by team notes brought to you by:

 

1st Place Racks/Sonny's/Athlon/Easton/Cutter

Conf Major from WY  9-1 Record

Racks has always been a team whose players play well tired and they did this again in Houston playing 10 games and winning 9 of them including 5 in a row and 4 on Sunday to win the tournament.  Steele was a rock on the mound and was spelled by Mcclanahan who won defensive MVP.  Kirkwood put in an MVP performance in every phase of the game while the rookie Spaulding, middle infielders Laski and Faria, and power hitters Snell and Dodds all hit double figure home totals.  Dodds had 47 RBI in 48 plate appearances.  This was a team effort so its always hard to leave names out but these guys "played the game" and conserved homers better than any team in the tournament and their reward was those coveted 214 Conference points!

Trending Up!

  

Smylie and Howard

  

Christensen and Snell

This game the left side was Cano, Laski, and Faria.

 

Brian Faria had 14 HR.  Argen Dodds another big weekend with 14 HR and 47 RBI

 


 

2nd Place Nightmare/Miken

Conf 'AA' from Missouri  6-2 Record

 

Nightmare was the toast of the tournament through the winner's bracket.  They were on an offensive and defensive roll until the finals where Racks probed them and took advantage of some miscues.  Nightmare wasn't quite as sharp those last two games and it cost them 40 Conference points by finishing 2nd instead of 1st.  But all in all Nightmare beat 3 straight Conference 'A' teams during the tournament and that was their goal to beat the teams they were supposed to beat.  The top of the lineup was 2B Fogle, CF Dunn, EH Aguilar, C Maggard, RF Daniel, 3B Hinojosa.  The Trammell brothers were at middle and left field.  Newell did the bulk of the pitching, Zemanek came up with some big plays at first base, and Solomon played SS.

Trending Up!

 

Maggard and Dunn are teammates once again

Nolan Fogle almost had him self a Conference tournament win

Wes "Rumpelstiltskin" Newell

(yes I had to google how to spell that)

 

1B Steve Zemanek made 5 huge line drive plays vs Baugh Ford.  And Eli Aguilar is in his  9th year in the Conference.

 


 

3rd Place Steel Sports/PowerhouseSportz/Miken

Conf 'A' from TX  5-2 Record

 

Steel won their first 5 games of the tournament including a run rule of 'AA' Swats and that extra inning win over Racks!  I ranked these guys the top 'A' team next to Bay Area Legends in the pre-season and they were the top 'A' team at the Houston Major.  A lot of their core players from the last two years return and they add a few pieces every year and always play better against higher competition.

Trending Up!

Steel Sunday lineup:
2B Cridland
SS Malay
LF Williams
C Shay
1B Ballard
C/OF Beal
MI Brock
3B Vasquez
RF Mitchell
OF Bullock
P Fail/Hensley

 

Veteran pitchers Perry Hensley and Rodney Fail were a good one two combo or two one

 

Shortstop Reno Malay and Kevin Ballard.  Ballard has what I call a nice "flat bat" through the hitting zone leading to lots of great line drives.

Steel left side Matt Vasquez, Malay, and Nate Brock

 


 

4th Place Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken

Conf 'A' from GA  5-2 Record

 

Baugh Ford lost to only the top two teams in the tournament Racks and Nightmare.  They beat Killbombers by 22 and knocked off the upset minded Big Ten and Levels teams.  Sidebottom was showing the glove at shortstop and with Blankenship, Loudon, and Gilfillan they have some experienced bats.  A few of their power guys couldn't make the trip but overall a good start to the year for this team.

Trending Up!

Baugh Ford Sunday Lineup:
2B Matt McCraw
RF Jason Gilfillan
Chad Folsom
LF Brad Blankenship
CF John Zorich
IF Brooks
P Tommie Baugh
Ryan McCrory
SS Ian Sidebottom
Berk Cook

 

Baugh shortstop Ian Sidebottom makes a great play in the hole and throw for the out at first.

Tommie Baugh hits a grand slam vs Killbombers

 

Carlton Griffin left and Matthew Brooks right

Chad Folsom 3rd base for Baugh Ford

 


 

Tied 5th Place Levels

Conf 'B' from CO  7-2 Record

I didn't get a lot of pictures of Levels as I didn't see them much until nightfall Saturday with my late arrival.  These guys were on the field most of the day Saturday and played with a never say die attitude.  All I know is every time I looked over to their field at Fenway they seemed to be making a big comeback and they were always running for extra bases.  They are a non Conference B team from Colorado who beat FBI, Money, and OC Swats in 3 consecutive games with 5 players from the old Stars team and some C and D pickups in the offseason.  It would be nice to see this team at a few more big events to see where they stack up.

Level came from behind late Saturday night against FBI and OC Swats to finish 5th

 

Levels pitching duo Brian Therkildsen and Dustin Wager.  On the right is Scott Montoya.

Levels left side – Hunter Ramirez, Dietrick Turney and Nick Balentine

 


 

Tied 5th Place Pure Sports/HB

Conf 'A' from SC  6-2 Record

Pure Sports beat 4 straight conference A and B teams in the losers bracket.  They picked up Military veteran Jermaine Flythe and rookie Andrew Filoteo was 33-36 .917, with 12 HR, and 30 RBI in their 8 games!  Patrick Price also had 8 HR and 27 RBI.  With veteran pitcher Donald Plaisance playing well and making all tournament look for this team to try and upset some teams all season long.

Trending Up!

 


 

Other top finishing Conference teams

 


 

Tied 7th Place – Insidious

Conf 'B' from OK  5-2 Record

This was my first look at Insidious and I felt their offense was better than I first thought.  We will have to get to know this team as the season progresses but first impression is they are better than advertised.

Trending up!

  

 

 


 

Tied 7th Place – OC Swats/Semper/Demarini

Conf 'AA' from CA  4-2 Record

 

OC Swats Mike Mallory

Swats played without JD Genter and one of their sponsor/coaches Ike Rivers who had flights cancelled.  Swats never scored that big win as they lost to Steel and Levels.  A work in progress is OC Swats but good teams  often take time to build.

Trending Even

OC Swats had some of the best uniforms

 


 

Hot Links section brought to you by:

I would like to thank all of my sponsors, USSSA, and the SoftballCenter and Oldscout advertisers!

Send corrections to dw@softballcenter.com

Link to the SoftballCenter.com Youtube channel

Link to all 2009 to 2017 Tournament Reports and Previews

Nationwide Conference USSSA Points Link

 


 

Some more pictures for you:

FBI finished tied for 13th (4-2) – here Zach Keene hits a backside hit

 

Rebel Sports tied for 17th (2-2) – SS Robert Hendren and Brian Goins are two of the newcomers

Wileys tied for 17th (3-2) after that great run to a top 4 finish in 2016

Seminoles tied for 17th at 3-2

Killbombers tied for 9th (3-2) – here is Steele Lewis doubling against Baugh Ford

Lewis was 21-21 onbase in the tournament!

Money/Miken tied for 9th at 3-2, here is Clay Smitherman hitting a line drive homer to left center

Freddi Bynum and Worsham nearly upset Racks but came up short 37-34 and finished tied for 13th at 3-2

Worsham up the middle Shawn Jones, Flaco Salazar, Freddie Bynum

 

Allouts "Florida Connection" Kydrich Doggett and Antonio Sepulveda

Allout lost to Nightmare and finished tied for 9th at 3-2

 

A pano view of Yankee during the championship

I picked Brians Custom Detailing as my non conference team for the pickem but they went 2-2 tied 17th

Ebbets field warning track

I like the different color letters on Money/Mikens uniforms

One unlucky fan got hit in the head by a home run ball

ASPNation.com had a trailer.  They also interviewed me and that should be up on Facebook soon.

Warning I am a boring interview

Eli Aguilar and Steven Lopez former champion teammates with OC Swats in USSSA 'B'

Nightmare players Zane Trammell and Steve Zemanek with their dad who came to take pictures

The umpires lineup

DJ who is from the area recently was away training Iraqi soldiers for their battle against ISIS.

Thanks DJ for all you do.

Stafford Connor of Big Time Softball magazine

I woke up Friday to a heavy snow in Cleveland but my flight to Houston was cancelled due to tornados in Atlanta

 

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