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2011 Conference USSSA Championship Recap

 

 

 2011 USSSA

Conference Championships

Kissimmee, Florida

September 2 – 4

 

The Conference Championships get under way with Sonny's pitcher Danny Lopez pitching to Doerflinger

 

Team Combat/Laser Vision in the field takes on GTL

Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth, the #1 ranked men's slow-pitch team in the nation came out of the loser's bracket and "double dipped" Team Combat/Laser Vision/D2E/Supreme, the #4 ranked team in the country for the Conference Championship title.  The Championship's were held in their traditional location, the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida the weekend of September 2-4, 2011.  Resmondo had dropped to the loser's bracket on Saturday after losing to Team Combat/Laser Vision by an astonishing score of 23-4 in the winner's bracket championship game.  Then on Sunday they ran the table, winning 3 straight and picking up their 4th Conference Championship title in the 6 years the league has been in existence.  Resmondo's first win Sunday was a 26-23 win over Suncoast/Reebok after they trailed 15-4 in the second inning.  Then they beat Combat/Laser Vision 22-7 and finally 23-22 on a walk off bases loaded single by Jeremy Isenhower to take the title.  All of the games in the Major portion of the Championships were played on baseball fields with 330-390-410-390-330 dimensions.  The largest fields used in softball today.
 
2nd Place Team Combat/Laser Vision finally broke through with that 23-4 win over Resmondo.  That was the first time Resmondo had been held under 10 runs since April of 2009 when Long Haul beat them 20-5 at the Hall of Fame Classic. This was the first time Combat has beaten Resmondo all year long.  3rd Place went to Suncoast/Reebok who knocked off Sinister, Sonny's, Team 454 and GTL to make it to the Sunday final 4.  4th place went to GTL Cartel/Demarini who has tailed off here at the end of the season but still managed to maintain their #2 ranking in the standings and Conference points. 

 

Click HERE for all the archived video of the Conference Championship games 

 

 

Resmondo's Howie Krause gets the walk off run rule hit against Combat to force the "If" game

As you can see the umpires hand is still up signalling timeout when Messina pitched the ball and Isenhower hit it.  Thus, no pitch.  There was some controversy on the internet message boards saying that time was not called.

Combat/Laser Vision's Brian Wegman mashes another

 

The tournament was played under very warm and humid weather conditions and there were very few upsets as the 5-8 seeds advanced to the Major bracket as expected.
 
The Championships featured a new format where the top 16 teams in Conference points faced off in the Major bracket, but the loser's in the first two rounds of games dropped down into the "Open" division and played their own double elimination tournament.  The "Open" was won by the red hot R&M Metals/Troupe/TCP/Easton team based out of Waterloo, Iowa.  They won the championship game in an offensive shootout 31-27 over Taylormade/TM Sports/Mizuno.  R&M has a 3 tournament string of finishing at least 2nd or better in Conference and World tournament play.
 
There was also a 'B' Division which featured 5 teams from Conference USSSA playing in a 3 game guarantee bracket of their own.  The Scene/A.J.S./Easton/D2E sponsored out of Florida and New York beat Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/MAB/Easton out of Cincinnati, Ohio 28-23 in the Championship game.  The Scene went 3-0 on the weekend.
 
The Conference Championship weekend is highlighted by a banquet for the teams on Saturday night at the Mystic Dunes country club, and awards for "All Conference" are given out to the players along with some other special awards like the inaugural John Glidewell Sportsmanship award which was given to Team Combat/Laser Vision center fielder Rick Baker. 

Team breakdown:  4 – Major,   10 – 'A',  2 – 'B'


Wood Law's Loyd Watson hits a walk off single Friday night to beat Taylormade

YouTube Preview Image

 

The Scene takes on Blitz for the 'B' Conference Championship

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Random video clips from the tournament (sorry, youtubes video editor is having sound problems this week)

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GTL's left fielder Donovan Pokraka isn't getting to this homer

Sinister playing on diamond #1 where the scores were often single digits

Diamond #2 behind Osceola County Stadium with Doerflinger taking on Sonny's

 


Conference Championships,  Tournament Awards and Final Standings:

Place
State
Team
Team
Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg
Diff
Max
Runs
1
FL
SPMensMajor
5
1
0
115
83
19.1
13.8
5.33
26
150
2
WA
SPMensMajor
3
2
0
87
72
17.4
14.4
3
23
110
3
FL
SPMensA
4
2
0
98
102
16.3
17
-0.6
24
180
4
WA
SPMensMajor
2
2
0
77
51
19.2
12.7
6.5
23
80
5
TN
SPMensA
2
2
0
47
66
11.7
16.5
-4.7
19
140
5
VA
SPMensA
1
2
0
41
46
13.6
15.3
-1.6
18
140
7
TXN
SPMensA
1
2
0
21
47
7
15.6
-8.6
11
120
7
WY
SPMensA
1
2
0
30
40
10
13.3
-3.3
16
120
 

Place
State
Team
Team
Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg
Diff
Max
Runs
1
IA
SPMensA
4
1
0
107
68
21.4
13.6
7.8
31
300
2
VA
SPMensA
4
3
0
135
107
19.2
15.2
4
27
220
3
WA
SPMensB
4
3
0
93
106
13.2
15.1
-1.8
20
180
4
MI
SPMensA
3
3
0
77
77
12.8
12.8
0
18
160
5
GA
SPMensB
1
3
0
47
63
11.7
15.7
-4
20
140
5
CT
SPMensA
1
3
0
54
78
13.5
19.5
-6
26
140
7
IL
SPMensA
1
3
0
76
77
19
19.2
-0.2
25
120
7
WA
SPMensMajor
0
3
0
30
52
10
17.3
-7.3
12
60

 

 


Team by team notes brought to you by:


1st Place Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth  GTGG 

Conf 'M' from Winterhaven, FL   5-1 Record

Resmondo-Specialty Tank / Worth won with, at times, dominating power, but mostly with just a pure "will to win".  They come out of the loser's bracket and win three straight in the heat an humidity and do so by doing whatever it took to win.  Resmondo was paced by Conference Co-MVP's Bryson Baker and Greg Connell on offense and a barage of two run homer's throughout the lineup.  Resmondo is the clear favorite to win the Major.  The team seems to be near 100% healthy and poised to continue their streak of "mercy rule" wins at the Series.

 

  

Resmondo's Bryson Baker (above) was Co-Conference MVP for 2011 (.800, 67 HR, 215 RBI)
with Greg Connell (pictured below) (.801, 111 HR, 300 RBI)

Jr is so good, sometimes he closes his eyes and sees if he can catch it!

Resmondo pitcher Andy Purcell picked up the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Purcell, Connell and the Resmondo players also earned "Arm Thingy" of the week with their custom made arm thingy's

Maybe they could sell those through a website like maybe, SoftballCenter.com!

Connell hits it 431 feet

YouTube Preview Image

 


2nd Place Team Combat/Laser Vision/R   GTGG 

Conf 'M' from Kent, WA   3-2 Record

Team Combat/Laser Vision/D2E/Supreme and their new pitching pick up, Chad Munger, scored that big 23-4 win over Resmondo but then failed to close out Resmondo in the "If" game of the championship.  Munger is one of the only pitchers that has beaten Resmondo this year (twice with two different teams) besides Geno Buck of GTL who has done it 6 times.

 

The Co-Offensive MVP of the Conference for 2011 was Brett Helmer.  .823 onbase %, 106 HR and 286 RBI.  Brett was also the Batting Champion

"All Conference" selections Rick Baker, Dal Beggs, and Rusty Bumgardner celebrate

Newly aquired Combat/Laser Vision pitcher Chad Munger almost scored two wins over Resmondo

RCombat's Johnn McCraw hit this one over the 390 sign eventhough he reached for it.  Wow!

YouTube Preview Image


 

3rd Place Suncoast/Reebok   

Conf 'A' from Parish, FL   4-2 Record

Suncoast/Reebok scores themselves a nice weekend and broke through with 4 quality win's including beating this years 'A' World champs Team 454 and last years 'A' World champs GTL in consecutive games.  Then in the loser's championship game against Resmondo they jumped out to an impressive 15-4 lead before fading to a 26-23 loss. 

Suncoast left fielder Ryan Robbins goes up for a nice catch

Suncoast/Reebok knocks off Team 454 Worth

 


 

4th Place GTL Cartel/Demarini  GTGG 

Conf 'M' from Othello, WA   2-2 Record

GTL Cartel/Demarini finishes 4th in a tournament that most of us expected them to finish first or second.  GTL is now just 15-10 since they won the winner's bracket championship game at the Dudley.  We know they can play on the baseball fields as well as any team in recent history but you have to wonder if this team has forgotten how to win and may be more affected by the 2012 roster shuffleing than an established team like Resmondo that pretty much knows who is going to be where every year.

GTL's lefty/righty power combo of Kevin Filby and Chris Larsen give it the hat tap celebration.

Larsen also was Co-Offensive MVP with a .777 onbase percentage, 73 HR's, and 194 RBI

GTL has lost their early season momentum

GTL's Donovan Pokraka was "All Conference"


Tied 5th Place Shoppe / Team TPS/ D2E / Elite  GTGG 

Conf 'A' from McKenzie, TN   2-2 Record

Shoppe held off EWS 19-18 and beat Wood Law 18-8 early on Friday before dropping to Team 454 and GTL by run rules, only scoring 10 runs total in the two losses.  Shoppe missed their power hitter Tim Cocco.

 

 


Tied 5th Place Team 454 Emerald/Worth  GTGG 

 Conf 'A' from Glen Allen, VA   1-2 Record

Team 454 Emerald/Worth crushed Shoppe 18-3 on Friday night but dropped two straight on Saturday to Resmondo (only scoring 6 runs) and Suncoast.  Look for Team 454 to build for the future and try to win on baseball fields with 2 wins at the Major World Series.

Mid game pep rallies didn't help Team 454 this weekend

Team 454 "All Conference" player Kevin Bazat stretches a single into a double

"All Conference" outfielder Bubba Mack free swinging

 


Tied 7th Place Wood Law/Mizuno/Famous/Easton  GTGG 

Conf 'A' from Dallas, TX   1-2 Record

Wood Law beat Taylormade by one on a walk off single by Loyd Watson then combined to score 10 runs in two losses to Resmondo and Shoppe.  2-2 at best at the Major, but they are hoping to be the FBI of 2011.

Wood Law's Bryan Goins made a bid for arm thingy of the week

Wood Law's Dennis Shrum was "All Conference" again

Wood Law made the Major part of the bracket but didn't do anything once they got there

 YouTube Preview Image

  

Click Wegs or Helmer for Easton equipment

 


Tied 7th Place Sonny's/Desert Falls/Elite  GTGG 

Conf 'A' from Casper, WY   1-2 Record

Sonny's/Desert Falls/TPS handled Doerflinger but then only managed 14 runs against Suncoast and GTL.  Sonny's hopes to have a better experience at the Major where they will be at a power disadvantage the whole tournament.

 

Sonny's infielder Alexis Ramirez

Sonny's outfielder Mario Granados

Sonny's Tony Verdugo – has one eye on the future


  

R&M Metals "All Conference" one/two punch of Brian Zirkle and Kyle Yerkes led them to the "Open" Championship

Taylormade place #2 Kevin Rye on the "All Conference" squad and finished 2nd in the "Open" tournament

Taylormade original players.  The two that started this team when they were in class 'D' – Brian Floyd and Chyenne Brooks

 The Scene went 3-0 to win the 'B' Conference Championship and have some nice momentum going into worlds

Place
State
Team
Team
Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg
Diff
Max
Runs
1
FL
SPMensB
3
0
0
53
35
17.6
11.6
6
28
150
2
OHO
SPMensB
3
3
0
96
83
16
13.8
2.16
23
110
3
SC
SPMensB
3
2
0
75
76
15
15.2
-0.1
29
90
4
IN
SPMensB
0
3
0
47
68
15.6
22.6
-7
24
80
5
MA
SPMensB
1
2
0
38
47
12.6
15.6
-3
26
70
 


 

alt

"All Conference" Awards

2011 Conference USSSA Banquet – Award Winner's

The 1st Annual John Glidewell Award winner Rick Baker – presented by Don Dedonatis Jr.

Highest finishing 'B' Team – D2E

Highest finishing 'A' Team – 454 Emerald/Worth

Highest finishing Major Team – Resmondo

2011 USSSA Hall of Fame Inductees

Don Cooper

Dal Beggs

Larry Quartuccio

Frank Webb

'B' All Conference Team

Midwest Swing – Cody Gilbert, Michael Noonan, Rick Potter

Blitz/Watanabe – Dave Kessler, Jon Jamison, Brad Tabler

The Scene – Matt Arlett, Kathem Martin, Blake Williams

Gas It – Blaine Bolin, Jason Gilfillan, Brad Clark

Magic – Chris Carr, John Hickey, Jeff Lahair

Manager of the year – Drew Dubberly

2nd Team All Conference

R&M Metals – Kyle Yerkes

Pharmapar – Mike Dill, Michael Taylor,

D2E – Johnathan Scott

Wood Law – Dennis Shrum

Suncoast – Brian Justice

Darkside – Charlie Baumgartner

Team 454 – Mitch Mabe

D2E – Sean Greer

Darkside – John Robinson

Team 454 – Kevin Bazat

Wood Law – Chris Hansen

Shoppe – Chad McLamb

Taylormade – Kevin Rye

Suncoast – Adam Rockoff

R&M Metals – Brian Zirkle

Wood Law – Adam Elliot

Suncoast – Ryan Robbins

Team 454 – Tiny Taylor

1st Team All Conference

P Resmondo – Andy Purcell

P GTL – Geno Buck

C Combat – Brett Helmer

C GTL – Kevin Filby

UT GTL – Chris Larsen

UT Resmondo – Jeremy Isenhower

UT Team 454 – Kyle Moyer

UT Shoppe – Tim Cocco

UT Resmondo – Vince Bisbee

UT Resmondo – Bobby Hughes

1B Shoppe – Eric Thompson

2B Combat – Rusty Bumgardner

2B Resmondo – Greg Connell

2B Combat – Dal Beggs

3B Shoppe – Lee Powers

3B Combat – Dennis Rulli

SS Resmondo – Don Dedonatis Jr

SS GTL – Anthony Dress

MI Resmondo – Bryson Baker

MI GTL – Matt Pesso

OF Combat – Rick Baker

OF Combat – Brian Wegman

OF GTL – Donovan Pokraka

OF Team 454 – Bubba Mack

OF GTL – Tim Howard

OF Resmondo – Brian Rainwater

OF Resmondo – Scott Striebel

Manager of the year – John Rector

Batting Champion – Combat/Laser Vision – Brett Helmer .823 onbase

HR Champion – Resmondo – Greg Connell – 111 Homer's

Co-Outstanding Offensive Player – Combat/Laser Vision – Brett Helmer .823 onbase, 106 HR's, 286 RBI

Co-Outstanding Offensive Player – GTL – Chris Larsen .777, 73 HR's, 194 RBI

Outstanding Defensive Player – Resmondo – Andy Purcell

Co-MVP of Conference – Resmondo – Greg Connell – .801, 111 HR, 300 RBI

Co-MVP of Conference – Resmondo – Bryson Baker – .800, 67 HR, 215 RBI

More Pictures Below  


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

I will be at the USSSA 'B' World, and the USSSA Major World Series in the upcoming weeks.

2011 Conference Championships pictures link

Link to the Bracket/Stats for the Conference Championship Major and Open Divisions

Link to the Bracket/Stats for the Conference Championship 'B' Division

Link to the 'B' World tournament bracket when ready

Link to the 'B' World Team List so far

Link to the USSSA Point Standings and Stats


Here are some other pics from the Conference Championships:


 

Doerflinger finishes off Down2EarthSports

Doerflinger's Robert Sena and the boys have their eye set on that 'B' World title in two weeks – live on SoftballCenter.com

Johnathan Scott made "All Conference" – both of the Scott twins had great years so I'll post both pics because I can't tell who is who

Sean Greer also made "All Conference" for D2E 

USSSA Live was broadcasting the stadium field

Darksides John Robinson scored "All Conference"

Combat/Pharmapar took one on the chin this weekend, 0-3

Sinister has nice uniforms, but will need to win some low scoring games to advance at the Major

EWS should all put their differences aside and play hard for 5 days at the end of September and see what happens.  Eric deserves that much.

This will be the view from the Fortune Roads field #1 for the 'B' World broadcast in two weeks

The dew on the field gets so thick in the morning they actually drag the outfield

 

If you need a team bonding experience while you are at the upcoming worlds in Kissimmee go to the "Kissimmee Go Karts and Arcade" on 192.

 It is very expensive but the karts are fast and the course is a mile long…

Also the rides at Universals Islands of Adventure are top notch


Broadcasting update.  SoftballCenter.com has received 29 broadcasting donations.  Thank you VERY much for your generosity.

You can learn more about supporting the broadcasts by clicking here.

Broadcast Schedule:

USSSA 'B' Worlds – September 16-18

USSSA Major World Series loser bracket games on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday September 24th

ASA 'A' Worlds is now on the schedule.  I'll take my broadcast equipment in case they are not doing their own broadcast.

Still discussing the Toys 4 Tots in December

2012 schedule to be determined

 


Check out our new sponsor's Triple SSS Sportscards by clicking the logo

and QWExpress.com

 


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

DW@softballcenter.com

Enrico Pallazzo did such a great job on my logo that I just had to post it.  LOL!


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