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2012 Arkansas Major report

 

2012 "33rd Annual"

 

"Busch/Pepsi Classic"

 

Sherwood, AR

 

July 6-8

 

Busch/Pepsi Classic trophy

The Scene's Dustin Boone hits a big home run against Team All Out

The 33rd annual Busch/Pepsi Classic started on Friday night with a home run derby where there were so many participants that they had to cut off entries.  After the home run derby for the locals was over Team Worth who consisted of guys like Greg Connell, Jeff Hall, Bobby Hughes, Rusty Bumgardner, BJ Fulk, and Tim Howard among others took on Team Arkansas to see who could hit the most.  Team Worth won and then they hit another round to see how far they could hit it.  Greg Connell hit the furthest home run into the parking lot where at least one car window was shattered during the night.

Also on Friday was the Arkansas Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2012 where Conference umpire Jason Oberlag was inducted with 9 other men and women.

  

  2012 Arkansas softball Hall of Fame inductees including Conference umpire Jason Oberlag (yellow)

Then the games began as some of the local 'C' teams played their "play in" games to see who would play the 6 Conference teams in the 2nd round.  The tournament had 25 teams total with all of them being 'C' or 'B' which made for a very strong regional type 'B' tournament and great matchups almost every game of the tournament.  All of the 'B' teams started or made it to the round of 16.  Monster beat Sagnasty in a mild upset.  T's 13 got past Texas Miken by 1 and Fence Brokers beat a tough Syndicate team 25-21, while Buzini and The Scene cruised to the final 8.

The round of the final 8 had no run rule wins as Conference teams Miken Mafia, The Scene, Buzini, and FBI all won low scoring games in the heat of the day (100 degrees).  In the final 4, The Scene demolished Miken Mafia 25-3 as Mafia ran themselves out of an early inning.  Buzinisports lead most of the way against FBI but FBI made a late run and had the bat in their hands with two outs in the bottom of the 7th with a chance to win and came up short.  The game featured each team giving up a "4 base award" when their outfielders tipped balls over the fence.

In the winners final and final game The Scene took the wind right out of Buzini with some big early offensive innings and some mid game defensive plays that had Buzini scratching their heads wondering what happened.

Congratulations to The Scene as they become our 9th different winner of 2012 in the Nationwide Conference USSSA!  I know they have been searching for the right mix of players all season long.

The Scene takes on Buzini in the championship

The Scene prepares for their game with Miken Mafia

FBI missed a walk off win in the semi-finals game against Buzini by this much

The Friday night home run derby had to cut off entries, there were so many hitters

There was plenty of home run robbing on the 3.5 foot high fences

The Sherwood park had scenic views

 

Syndicate takes on LTB

 

All of the archived games can be found here for Channel 1

 

 Arkansas tournament bracket

2012 Nationwide Insurance Conference Schedule


 


 


Remember to email pictures or scans of your stat sheets to dw@softballcenter.com for posting in a picture album and to be used to verify totals. Stats without pictures/scans of each score sheet will be removed from the USSSA site.


Video Highlites brought to you by:

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Random video highlites from Arkansas

 


 


The Mojo Masher of the week conference "newbie" is

Joshua Rasmussen of Nightmare Miken!

 

Josh isn't playing in the Conference but was hitting some hard shots and home runs when I was watching.

 


 

Arkansas 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
NYD
SPMensB
5
0
0
109
50
21.8
10
11.8
25
400
2
MS
SPMensB
4
2
0
110
97
18.3
16.1
2.16
25
325
3
MO
SPMensC
7
2
0
173
136
19.2
15.1
4.11
28
225
4
TXN
SPMensC
3
2
0
83
108
16.6
21.6
-5
31
275
5
TXN
SPMensC
4
2
0
139
113
23.1
18.8
4.33
29
255
5
AR
SPMensB
2
2
0
72
78
18
19.5
-1.5
25
255
7
MO
SPMensC
4
2
0
115
106
19.1
17.6
1.5
25
155
7
NE
T's 13 Qualified berth
SPMensB
3
2
0
82
77
16.4
15.4
0.99
25
155
9
AR
Monster Softball Qualified
SPMensC
2
2
0
76
71
19
17.7
1.25
32
110
9
AR
LTB
SPMensC
2
2
0
55
61
13.7
15.2
-1.5
21
110
9
TXS
SPMensB
1
2
0
71
58
23.6
19.3
4.33
37
110
9
MS
SPMensB
1
2
0
45
44
15
14.6
0.33
19
210
13
MS
SPMensC
2
2
0
94
68
23.5
17
6.5
25
70
13
KS
SPMensC
2
2
0
85
101
21.2
25.2
-4
27
70
13
TXS
SPMensB
2
2
0
91
86
22.7
21.5
1.25
30
70
13
AR
SPMensC
1
2
0
51
47
17
15.6
1.33
19
70
17
AR
SPMensC
1
2
0
40
57
13.3
19
-5.6
19
40
17
AR
SPMensC
1
2
0
46
50
15.3
16.6
-1.3
31
40
17
AR
SPMensC
1
2
0
58
76
19.3
25.3
-6
30
40
17
AR
SPMensC
0
2
0
37
58
18.5
29
-10.
24
40
17
MO
SPMensC
0
2
0
29
44
14.5
22
-7.5
17
40
17
AR
SPMensC
0
2
0
30
51
15
25.5
-10.
23
40
17
MO
SPMensC
0
2
0
34
47
17
23.5
-6.5
21
65
17
TXN
Texas Regulators Qualified
SPMensC
0
2
0
46
51
23
25.5
-2.5
26
40
25
TN
SPMensC
0
2
0
14
50
7
25
-18
9
40
 

 
Veteran Scene pitcher Justin Atwood was MVP with some great line drive stabs and timely hitting and home runs
 

The Scene middle infielder Ryan Goodman is my pick for defensive MVP with a number of ridiculous ground ball and line drive plays

Buzinis Kelly Hartman had the home run stroke going all weekend, including the longest home run of the tournament and is my pick for Offensive MVP


Team by team notes brought to you by:

 


1st Place – The Scene Nolkjdsa;lkajsdlkgajaljnresmondo-specialty tank worthresmondo-specialty tank worth

Conf 'B' from Hunington, NY 5-0 Record

The latest reincarnation of The Scene includes some of the top players from some of the Hubs Pub teams like Gallmeier, Leach, Boone, Barth, Hankins, and the Hubbard brothers, combined with some of The Scene players Robinson, Boldt, Cambridge, and Goodman.  Then you throw in Major Watch list pitcher Justin Atwood and you mix it together and hope for the best.  Well they got the best from everyone on this team as they roll through the Arkansas major 5-0 as if they have been playing together for 5 years!

The Scene scored early and often and even out powered a few teams in the heat of the day games.  The Scene, who was 1-6 vs 'B' level or higher teams coming into the tournament scored 12 in the first to put away their opening game against JW Sons 24-4.  Then they knocked off Team All Out 18-15 behind a clutch homer by Dustin Boone.  In the winner's semi-finals they annihilated Miken Mafia 25-3 on Sean Boldts 3 HR and 10 RBI performance.  Then in the winner's championship and championship games against Buzininsports they jumped out to early leads and used some great defensive plays by SS Scott Hubbard, middle infielder Ryan Goodman, and center fielder Evan Gallmeier to hold Buzini to just 14 runs in each game.

The Scene Lineup
CF Evan Gallmeier
2B/3B Kenny Leach
C John Robinson
1B Sean Boldt
LF Dustin Boone
EH Blaine Barth
3B Bob Hankins/2B Brandon Hubbard
RF Sean Cambridge
SS Scott Hubbard
P Justin Atwood
MI Ryan Goodman 

Tournament director Clint Albright gives Scene manager Matt Arlett the first place trophy

 The Scene first baseman racked up some big time RBI and probably could have been named offensive MVP

 

 

 


 

2nd Place – Buzinisports.com/BWW/Worth  

Conf 'B' from Jackson, MS  4-2 Record

 

Buzini was the highest ranked team in the tournament and was favored to win.  They handled a good Nightmare Miken team early on Saturday morning for their first win 16-8.  Then lead most of the way against both T's 13 and FBI, although the FBI game was in doubt at the end (24-22), to make it to the winner's bracket championship game.  Against The Scene in both the winner's final and the championship, the Buzini bats went silent and they lost without a real fight in both games.

Buzini has added middle infielder Jason Williams to the team and played without one of their top hitters Kyle Wilks.  They gave away 40 points by not winning this tournament.  Kelly Hartman was in a home run hitting groove.  Pitcher Donald Plaisance made some unbelievable line drive stabs, and center fielder Justin Stuart, and infielders Jason Williams and Chris Smith each made some highlite film defensive plays.

Buzinisports.com Lineup
33 Donald Plaisance P
29 Kelly Hartman C
4 Shane Pullen EH
21 Justin Stuart CF
22 Ryan Taylor 1B
16 Clint Harris 2B
8 Jason Williams MI
9 Brady Bascle LF
20 Ricky Owens 3B
6 Jeremy Moreau RF
25 Chris Smith SS

Buzini middle infielder Jason Williams was flashing the leather.  He has won the college world series with LSU and medalled in the Olympics according to the chat room

 

Buzini shortstop Chris Smith 



3rd Place – Nightmare/MikenGTGG

'C' from Branson, MO  7-2 Record

Nightmare, a non-conference 'C' team out of Branson, Missouri made a big impression on this tournament.  I sat down and watched them play PTI on Friday night, as it looked to be a quality game with some great talent.  Nightmare won 28-23.  The speed, defense, talent, and home runs made me think I was watching a class 'A' game from the early 1990's.  No question about it.  You can say what you want about the bats, the bigger sweet spot etc, but these 'C' teams today would have competed well with those 'A' teams of the early 1990's.

Nightmares offense let them down in their second game when Buzinisports.com beat them 16-8 early on Saturday.  Nightmare then disappeared to the back fields and sent home 4 straight teams in the loser's bracket including both Texas Miken and Team All Out, both 'B' teams by 1 run each.  Then late on Saturday night they smoked a listless FBI 22-7 and came back early morning Sunday to run rule Miken Mafia before a dead tired Nightmare team rolled over for Buzini 25-15.

Nightmare has some great young talent like SS R? Smith who has great range and arm and goes about his business with a mask which seems to give him more confidence.  Also outfielder Trey Gothard who makes the game look easy on both offense and defense and has great speed on the base paths.  Then they mix in the veteran hitters like catcher Justin Hoppe and pitcher Kirk Stafford to go with ex Golds Gym middle infielder Scott Short.  This team has a little bit of everything and would probably have to be considered a top 20 'C' team in the nation.

Nightmare Miken Lineup
 OF/Inf-Randy Gresham
 MI-Scott Short
 2B-Nolan Fogle (Sponsor)
 P-Kirk Stafford
 LF-Trey Gothard
 CF-Colby Hughes
 C-Justin Hoppe
 1B-Joshua Rasmussen
 SS-Reb Smith
 3B-Joe Skyles
 RF-Nick Schafer

Extra:
Doug Tripp
Bert Brashear

 

Nightmare pitcher Kirk Stafford eyes lit up when he saw this cookie

 

 


 

4th Place – Miken Mafia/aspnation.com

Conf 'C' from Rowlett, TX  3-2 Record

This tournament was Mafia's chance to shine and become the only 'C' team to win a Conference event.  But it wasn't meant to be as Mafia beat two local 'C' teams to get to the semi-finals.  Then against The Scene they would have had an early bases loaded situation with no outs but the runner tried for home and got tossed at the plate.  That squashed any momentum they may have had and they lost 25-3.

In the loser's bracket they beat Sagnasty 31-25 late on Saturday night but never really showed up against Nightmare Miken early on Sunday morning and was sent home 23-7.

Mafia is 30-6 vs the 'C' division but only 6-13 against the 'B' division.  They have the talent to compete against upper level teams, now they need to execute.  I want to put a plug in here for Mafia catcher Stuart Snell who made a nice showing at the Border Battle last week playing for one of the exhibition teams against Team Canada and Team USA.  Stuart had a bunch of home runs. 

Miken Mafia Lineup
10 Marcus Thornton
1 J Trammell
3 Stuart Snell C
34 Charles Key
4 C Potts
2 Bobby Mitchell
2 Lyf Nimmo
6 Kyle Bullock
35 B Freeman
Cary Williamson
C Lopez

 

Miken Mafia pitcher

Mike Cervantes

 

 


 

Tied 5th Place – Sagnasty/Worth/Prototype Gear 

Conf 'C' from Saginaw, TX  4-2 Record

Sagnasty lost a close one to a very good Monster team in their opener 19-16 when Monsters Sam Iverson pounded 3 big home runs.  I then took the picture you see above because I thought I might not get to see Sagnasty again.  Although I never did watch another Sagnasty game they did make a run through the loser's bracket on the back fields as they won 4 straight games including 2 wins over 'B' teams TPS/SportsCenter and Ts 13 before losing to Texas state rival Miken Mafia late on Saturday night.

I observed a couple innings of the Monster game and jotted down what I think was the Sagnasty lineup for that game?  Sagnasty now has a 50-18 record against the 'C' division.

Sagnasty Lineup
18 Trey Welch LF
5 Brad Sisk RF
4 Cooper Vittitow
10 Ryan Kunz C
21 Matt Vern
22 Ethan Stuckly
20 Kevin Parsons CF
7 Charlie?
23 Trace Reynolds?
1 Mykle Garrett?
50 Mark Corey P

 


 

Tied 5th Place – Fence Brokers/GameTimeSupply/Worth GTGG

Conf 'B' from Bryant, AR  2-2 Record

FBI had a nice win over Syndicate on Friday night 25-21 and beat TPS/Sportscenter on Saturday evening to make it to the semi-finals against Buzini.  In that game they trailed in the bottom of the 7th until the last batter had a chance with 2 on and 2 out to make up for all of the team's offensive and defensive miscues.  The walk off home run attempt was short and foul and FBI dropped to the loser's bracket where Nightmare/Miken run ruled them 22-7 late Saturday night.

FBI has underachieved this season.  They have all the pieces for a 'B' run at the end of the year, but it will be tough to turn it on for one tournament.  I was impressed by some of the new talent they have brought in with the outfield of Jay Mattox, Ben Dunn, and Jason Anderson.  A lot of speed, range, and hustle out of those guys mixed with the veteran hitters like Keene, Bowser, and Gigerich.  Their best hitter Greg Hartwick did not play but should make it for 'B' Worlds at the end of the season.

Fence Brokers Lineup
66 Billy Maggard 3B
8 Pat Burton SS
21 Zach Keene C
35 Tim Bowser DH
10 Jason Anderson RF
24 Ben Dunn CF
5 Brent Gigerich 1B
11 Nick Aldridge 2B
7 Brad Wallace MI
13 Jay Mattox LF
33 Jason Bridges P

 

FBI right side: second baseman Nick Aldridge, and first baseman Brent Gigerich

 

FBI catcher Zach Keene

GameTimeSupply.com arm sleeve of the week!


 

The Rest of the Conference Teams G

Tied 9th – TPS/Sports Center knocked off Shred-it/Green & Chapman, the team that won the 'C' consolation bracket, but then TPS dropped two straight to Conference peers FBI and Sagnasty.  TPS/Sports Center has a long way to go and has not won a game against an upper level team in 2012 (0-5).

 

 


More pictures below

 


Hot Links section brought to you by:

I would like to thank all of my sponsors for their support and Chris Walker in particular for helping me get to the Arkansas tournament, USSSA, and the tournament directors as well!

I will be at the Smoky Mountain Classic in Maryville, TN July 13-15!

Send corrections to dw@softballcenter.com

Link to all the photos from Arkansas Major

Link to SoftballCenter.com broadcast archive 1

Link to SoftballCenter.com broadcast archive 2

(support the amateur broadcasts by paypal dale_weiser@yahoo.com or email for an address)

Link to the SoftballCenter.com Youtube channel

2012 Conference USSSA Schedule

Link to the 2012 Tournament Reports

As always send dw@softballcenter.com any errors you see in the report or links that do not work. Thanks.



Some more pictures for you:

T's 13 finished tied for 7th 

Texas Miken finished tied for 13th?

LTB had conference veteran Jebbie King at middle infield and finished 9th 

If this guy had an arm sleeve he would have been "softball guy"

So we will give the "Softball Guy" picture of the week to LTB's right fielder

The tournament featured a number of divisions and over 100 teams!

 

 

Shawn Hardage of LTB was inducted into the Arkansas softball Hall of Fame with a long laundry list of awards

 


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