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2012 USSSA 'A' World Tournament Report!

 

 

2012 USSSA

 

'A' World Tournament

 

Kissimmee, FL

 

August 17-19

Taylormades Brian Logan bats against R&M pitcher Brendt Newbill in the Championship game at the 'A' Worlds!

The 2012 'A' World tournament was full of close games, walk off homers, low scores, and good hardnosed competition.  In the end it was R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/Easton based out of Waterloo, Iowa that went an undefeated 5-0 to win the tournament!  R&M trailed Taylormade/TM Sports/Mizuno on Saturday night in the winner's bracket championship game 7-3 most of the game.  In the bottom of the 7th they rallied and capped off the comeback win with a walk off grand slam homer with one out by middle infielder Steve Whaley.  On Sunday around noon, R&M met Taylormade again in the finals and jumped out to a big early lead and won the game and the title 25-5 in just 4 innings.

There were 17 teams from 11 different states in the tournament.  9 'A' teams, 5 'B' teams, and 3 'C' teams.  14 of the teams were from the Nationwide Conference USSSA.  The tournament had 11 games decided by 4 runs or less and 9 games were decided in the last at bat with 5 walk off home runs!

The tournament began on Friday night at 7 PM and the games Friday and Saturday were played under overcast skies and a very real threat of rain.  The tournament was only delayed once however for two hours on Saturday afternoon by a downpour and lightning.  On Friday night those first 3 games at 7 PM were decided in the last at bat on each field.  Headhunter/Cancooker/SHSsports.com used a walk off homer by second baseman Robert Canceran to beat their in state Georgia rivals Down2EarthSports.com/SBC/Worth 19-17.  R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/Easton overcame an early 13-0 deficit to beat Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/K&G/Easton 19-16 on a walk off homer by third baseman Joe Gordon.  And Taylormade/TM Sports/Mizuno used a walk off gap shot by shortstop Branden Blake and the subsequent steal of home by second baseman Billy Moran on an errant throw to beat Primetime/Easton 15-14.

The Friday night upsets continued as Line Drive Sportz/SSS Softball knocked off West Coast Doerflinger – Easton 24-14 and Westshore Pizza/TPS capped the night with a walk off homer by Dan Dillingham to beat Shoppe/Team TPS/Elite 22-20.  Team 454 also run ruled local Florida 'C' team Demarini Headbangers.  TYJA – Suncoast Reebok run ruled Sonny's / Louisville Slugger and Demarini/Dirty/3n2/ATWLDesigns came from a 19-13 deficit on the power of two Adam Rockoff homer's late in the game to beat upstart Jolt 25-19.

With the first round over and the typical Friday night upsets occurring, the tournament moved to Saturday where it became quickly evident that with the heat index hovering around 100 degrees and the home runs and scores very low, each game became just a "flip of the coin".  It didn't matter if you were a top 'A' team, a bottom 'A' team, or a 'B' team.  With the 325 foot fences and a soft ball it was a "small ball" game with teams earning their home runs.

The quarterfinals started with a 10:30 AM game between R&M Metals who had won on the walk off the night before playing TYJA who had looked like the only seed that had the "eye of the tiger" on opening night.  The "eye" quickly faded as the TYJA offense managed just 3 runs? in a 16-3 beating from R&M.

Then Line Drive Sportz shocked the softball world with a 19-14 win over Demarini/Dirty.  Taylormade knocked off Team 454 13-12.  And Headhunters powered past Westshore Pizza 17-12.  So the final 4 in the winner's bracket would have an unprecedented two 'B' teams in the running, Headhunters and Line Drive Sportz.

In the semi-finals Headhunters let up too many walks to Taylormade but made things interesting in the highest scoring game of the tournament, a 30-27 win for Taylormade.  In the other semi, R&M Metals held off Line Drive Sportz 11-6.

In the winner's championship as previously discussed Taylormade held a 7-3 lead until the 7th when R&M came back and Steve Whaley hit the walk off grand slam with one out.

Also on Saturday in the loser's bracket Team 454/Emerald/Worth scored 14 runs in the bottom of the 7th against Sonny's to win 21-19 on a walk off homer by Jason Branch with two outs.  Then Linedrive knocked out 454 and TYJA knocked out Headhunters to make it to Sunday.

On Sunday morning TYJA lost to Line Drive Sportz 11-10 with the bats in their hands in the bottom of the 7th and Taylormade then sent Line Drive Sportz home 15-9 with the help of a big pinch hit homer by Nate Holcomb.

The tournament was very well played and although the scores were low because of the humidity and big fields, the games were fun and filled with drama.  The top 4 seeds were all knocked to the loser's bracket early on.  The umpiring was great with a full complement of conference umpires on all 3 fields.  The ball used was the Conference .40 core and bats were tested and re-tested.  I think all would agree Fortune is the perfect place to play the 'A' Worlds! 

R&M Metals celebrates their World Championship!

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Championship game highlites and awards

Line Drive's Ryan Parfitt hits against TYJA pitcher TJ Thompson 

The Sunday Championship game was broadcast by USSSA Live with 4 cameras

 

Sunday afternoon at the 'A' Worlds, TYJA-Reebok takes on Demarini/Dirty

Team 454 vs West Coast Doerflinger made for a colorful looking game

 

The outfields at Fortune Road are spacious

Field 1 archived games done by USSSA Live can be found here when available  

All of the archived games on Field 2 can be found here

All of the archived games on Field 3 can be found here

A World tournament information

2012 Nationwide Insurance Conference Schedule


 


Video Highlites brought to you by:

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Saturday and Sunday highlites from the USSSA 'A' World


 

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Friday and Saturday highlites 


 

'A World Tournament Awards and Final Standings:

Player Tournament Awards
Players Name
Plays For
Tournament CO-MVP
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
Tournament CO-MVP
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
Offensive Tournament MVP
TaylorMade/TM Sports/Mizuno
Defensive Tournament MVP
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
Line Drive Sportz/sSs Softball
All Tournament Team
Line Drive Sportz/sSs Softball
All Tournament Team
TaylorMade/TM Sports/Mizuno
All Tournament Team
Line Drive Sportz/sSs Softball
All Tournament Team
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
TaylorMade/TM Sports/Mizuno
All Tournament Team
TYJA – Suncoast Reebok
All Tournament Team
TaylorMade/TM Sports/Mizuno
All Tournament Team
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
TaylorMade/TM Sports/Mizuno
All Tournament Team
TYJA – Suncoast Reebok
All Tournament Team
R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/EASTON
All Tournament Team
 

Place
State
Team
Team
Class
Wins
Loses
Ties
Runs
Scored
Runs
Allow
Avg
Runs
Avg
Allow
Avg
Diff
Max
Runs
1
IA
SPMensA
5
0
0
79
37
15.8
7.4
8.4
25
650
2
VA
SPMensA
4
2
0
85
95
14.1
15.8
-1.6
30
350
3
MI
SPMensB
4
2
0
94
80
15.6
13.3
2.33
25
300
4
NYD
SPMensA
4
2
0
97
69
16.1
11.5
4.66
25
250
5
VA
SPMensA
3
2
0
85
70
17
14
3
21
200
5
GA
SPMensB
2
2
0
80
80
20
20
0
27
200
7
WY
SPMensA
2
2
0
62
58
15.5
14.5
1
19
150
7
FL
SPMensA
2
2
0
64
63
16
15.7
0.25
25
150
9
TN
SPMensA
1
2
0
50
48
16.6
16
0.66
25
110
9
GA
SPMensB
1
2
0
38
37
12.6
12.3
0.33
17
110
9
CAS
SPMensA
1
2
0
28
43
9.33
14.3
-5
14
110
9
FL
SPMensB
1
2
0
43
52
14.3
17.3
-3
22
110
13
FL
SPMensC
1
2
0
35
50
11.6
16.6
-5
23
95
13
FL
Jolt frozen
SPMensC
1
2
0
39
35
13
11.6
1.33
19
95
13
FL
SPMensC
0
2
0
10
37
5
18.5
-13.
7
95
13
OHO
SPMensA
0
2
0
19
37
9.5
18.5
-9
16
70
17
GA
SPMensB
0
2
0
25
42
12.5
21
-8.5
17
40
 

All tournament team representatives from R&M Metals and Taylormade 

R&M Metals Co-MVP's pitcher Brendt Newbill and CF Brandon Dillon decide who is going to take home the trophy?

R&M middle infielder Steve Whaley received he defensive MVP trophy

Taylormade outfielder Jeremy Yates was named Offensive MVP  

All tournament manager – R&M's Rob Humphrey


Team by team notes brought to you by:


1st Place – R&M Metals/Troupe/Pipac/S&R/Easton Nolkjdsa;lkajsdlkgajaljnresmondo-specialty tank worthresmondo-specialty tank worth

Conf 'A' from Waterloo, IA  5-0 Record

R&M Metals started Friday night down 13-0 to Blitz/Weller/Watanabe.  They came all the way back and won the game on a walk off homer by Joe Gordon in the bottom of the 7th.  In their next 4 wins they never let up more than 7 runs in any game as the pitching continued to get opposing teams to pop up.  They shut down TYJA 16-3.  Beat Line Drive Sportz 11-6.  Then came from a 7-3 deficit in the bottom of the 7th in the winner's championship to beat Taylormade on a walk off ione out grand slam by Steve Whaley 8-7!  On Sunday they came out of the gate fast and furious with homers by Keith Anderson and offense throughout the lineup and run ruled Taylormade in 4 innings 25-5.

R&M is finally the bride as they have finished runner up at both USSSA and ASA Worlds in recent years.

Congratulations to the manager Rob Humphries and the great sponsorship group that has been seeking this 'A' ring for a while now! 

2013 REPEAT?  Bring it.

Joe Gordon caps a 6 run bottom of the 7th with a walk off homer for R&M Metals over Taylormade in the winner's bracket finals

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Newbill sets the table

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Gordon wins it

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Steve Whaley hits a walk off grand slam in the winner's championship vs Taylormade to win 8-7

 

R&M closes out Taylormade for the title!

Good to see Kenny Lowell doing better and back at the ballpark


 

2nd Place – Taylormade/TM Sports/Mizuno  

Conf 'A' from Williamsburg, VA  4-2 Record

 

Taylormade comes out of nowhere to win their first 3 games.  They beat Primetime in the bottom of the 7th 15-14 on a Branden Blake hit that scored Billy Moran who stole home on an errant throw.  Then they held off Team 454 in the 7th with the defense on the field 13-12.  The Cinderella run continued as they became the only team to score 30 runs in the tournament, beating Headhunters 30-27.  In the winner's championship they led a ridiculously low scoring game against R&M Metals 7-3 before losing on a walk off homer.

On Sunday, Taylormade recovered to beat Line Drive Sportz 15-9 but got hammered out of the gate against R&M and couldn't extend the game in a 25-5 run rule loss in 4 innings in the championship.

Congratulations to Taylormade on an impressive weekend nonetheless and finding some very talented young players who are peaking at the right time of the season. 

The Taylormade youth movement made all tournament

MI – Billy Moran, LF – Jeremy Yates, CF Brian Logan, "older" guy 3B Chris Kirian, and pitcher Brandon Jonas

Billy Moran has taken over the 3 spot in the Made lineup

 

Two more of Taylormades young players – SS Branden Blake and RF Daren Hunter

Chyenne Brooks eyes up the 2nd place trophy like it is a spittoon


3rd Place – Line Drive Sportz/SSS SoftballGTGG

Conf 'B' from Warren, MI  4-2 Record

 

Line Drive made an incredible run beating West Coast and Demarini/Dirty to start their tournament.  Then beating Team 454 AND TYJA in the loser's bracket after a loss to R&M in the semi-finals.  In the loser's bracket championship they ran out of gas and lost to Taylormade 15-9.

Line Drive would have to be the favorite for 'B' World which is played at these same Fortune Road fields.  The ability to play small ball, the veteran pitching and clutch hitting of pitcher Billy Barrett, and the solid play and health of this team is set for a run.

Even the grounds crew are "Tarz Nation" members!

Veteran Line Drive pitcher Billy Barrett was painting corners against TYJA

Line Drive DH Tom Luna was earned all tournament with some clutch home runs

Line Drive first baseman Shannan Green was lacing line drive singles and doubles all over the park

 


4th Place – TYJA – Suncoast Reebok

Conf 'A' from Great Neck, NY  4-2 Record

TYJA-Reebok looked like the team to beat with their quick 25-10 win over Sonny's on Friday night.  Then they laid an egg against R&M on Saturday in a 16-3 loss.  Ouch.  They recovered to knock out two of the top 'A' teams in the loser's bracket in Shoppe and Demarini/Dirty, then beat Headhunters to make it to Sunday where they lost to Line Drive Sportz with the bats in their hands in the bottom of the 7th.  A tough way to finish the 'A' Worlds and I thought they were the only team left on Saturday night that had enough left in the tank to have a chance to double dip R&M.

TYJA will be a real threat to any Major team at the Conference Championships and Major World Series and in order for Resmondo to lose in either, I think one team would have to knock them into the loser's bracket and another team would have to beat them in the finals 1 out of 2 for Resmondo to lose.  I don't think one team can beat them twice on baseball fields in the same tournament. 

TYJA left fielder David Kessler made some nice catches including a few balls that were in the sun

TYJA-Reebok seemed like the most focused of the top seeded 'A' teams on Friday night

 

 

 


 

Tied 5th Place – Team 454/Emerald/Worth

Conf 'A' from Glen Allen, VA  3-2 Record

Team 454 beat West Coast and Sonny's but lost with the bats in their hands to Taylormade 13-12.  The 14 run bottom of the 7th and walk off homer by Jason Branch to beat Sonny's was one of the many comeback highlights of the tournament.

Mitch Mabe was back in action from injury and Chad Durick played DH even though he had the knee injury.  This team is banged up and will need to dig deep to make a run at either the Conference or Major.  Remember they play better against better teams. 

454 first baseman Kyle Moyer, second baseman Mitch Mabe back from injury, and center fielder Jason Branch

Team 454's Jason Branch caps a 14 run come back win in the bottom of the 7th over Sonny's with a dramatic home run!

 


Tied 5th Place – Headhunter/Cancooker/SHSsports.com GTGG

Conf 'B' from Fayettville, GA  2-2 Record

Headhunters won their first two games.  Game one against rival D2E on a walk off homer by Robert Canceran and game two a solid "peer" win over Westshore Pizza 17-12.  In their semi-final game against Taylormade they gave up too many walks and lost 30-27 in the highest scoring game of the tournament.  They did show heart and had a chance to comeback in the 7th inning.

This team is playing very well going into the 'B' World and will have leadoff hitter Scotty King and pitcher Chad Loudon back!  A real second half of the season success story brewing.

Headhunters second baseman Robert Canceran hits a walk off homer to beat D2E in the bottom of the 7th Friday night.

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Tied 7th Place – Sonny's / Louisville Slugger

Conf 'A' from Casper, WY  2-2 Record

Sonny's had the wind taken out of their sails quickly by TYJA in an opening game 25-10 loss.  Then in the losers bracket they played some solid ball with a combined 33-12 advantage in two wins over Blitz and Westshore.  In their final game against Team 454 they carried a 19-7 lead into the bottom of the 7th when 454 went on the most amazing inning of the tournament and scored 14 runs to beat them.  Ouch.  No question Sonny's run through the loser's bracket ended prematurely.  They would have played Linedrive next and they are 13-4 vs the 'B' division on the season!  What could have been was not.

I know Sonny's USSSA season is over and I just want to say to the team and the sponsors to remember that you have a great team and although the season didn't go as expected, you have to take some time away from the game before you decide on 2013 plans.  Sonny's is a much needed team from the West and is a top 10 team as far as talent and the computer rankings.  Remember only 1 team in each division finishes their season with a win. 

 


Tied 7th Place – Demarini/Dirty/3N2/AtwldesignsGTGG

Conf 'A' from Orlando, FL  2-2 Record

Dirty showed some good heart and timely power in a comeback win over Jolt 25-19 in their opener.  Then on Saturday they never quite got things going in a 19-14 loss to Line Drive Sportz.  In the loser's bracket they sent Primetime packing before TYJA beat them 18-10.

Demarini the number 1 seed for 'A' Worlds didn't beat an 'A' team in the tournament.  A disappointing weekend and a banged up team has a chance to salvage a great season with a good run at either the Conference Championships or the Major World Series.

The left side of the Demarini defense – Dave Moore, Steve Loyd, and Orlando Castillo

Demarini pitcher Shawn Jones

Demarini was banged up but never gave up


 

The Rest of the 'A' World Teams G

 

#9 SHOPPE / TEAM TPS / ELITE – Shoppe's history of losing to lower class teams on Friday night at the 'A' Worlds continued as Westshore Pizza beat them 22-20 on a walk off homer.  There was a base open and Westshores best power hitter at the plate.  It's always tough to put the winning run in scoring position though.  Shoppe's hopes rested on the loser's bracket where they have had success this year but in their 3rd game of the tournament TYJA pounded them 20-5. 

An injury to Tim Cocco will hurt Shoppe in the coming weeks and the team's offense has disappeared.


#9 West Coast Doerflinger 1-2 – West Coast dropped their opener to Line Drive Sportz 24-14 giving up a big inning.  Then on Saturday morning managed just 4 runs but beat Jolt 4-3.  Later on Saturday against Team 454 they lost 16-10 in a game that could have gone either way.  The theory that "anyone can hit a homer" with today's equipment just doesn't hold true at Fortune Road on a hot day.


#9 Primetime/Easton 1-2 – Primetime was tied with Taylormade going into the bottom of the 7th when a shot back to the mound was deflected for an infield single and on the next batter a single and an errant throw ended up in the game winning run scoring.  Primetime knocked off the local 'C' team Demarini/Headbangers 17-7 before Demarini/Dirty sent them home.  28 runs in 3 games won't get it done at 'B' Worlds next month either for Primetime who is looking to make a run there.


#9 Westshore Pizza/TPS 1-2 – Westshore forced their opening game against TPS rival Shoppe to go 7 innings.  In the 7th, down 6, they mounted a comeback which was capped by a walk off 3 run – 2 out homer by power hitter Dan Dillingham!  Then they dropped a 17-12 decision to Headhunters and was knocked out by Sonny's.  This team showed some heart and possibly the ability to win a couple games in a row at the 'B' but they are still a year away.  How is that for 'B' World bulletin board material?

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 Dillingham's walk off homer to beat Shoppe


 

#13 Miami Blitz/Westpark 1-2 – This Miami Blitz team is a veteran group of line drive hitters whose core has been together for the better part of 10 years.  They added some young players to hit the homers and they ended up with an impressive 23-8 whooping of D2E in the only game I watched.


#13 Jolt 1-2 – Jolt had a 19-13 lead on Demarini/Dirty the #1 seed before losing the last two innings and the game.  They then had West Coast Doerflinger down 3-1 almost the entire game on Saturday morning before West Coast mounted a comeback and a 4-3 win?  wow!  Some good athletes on this team up the middle of the defense.


#13 Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/K&G/Easton 2-2 – The 2011 'B' World Champs jumped out to an impressive 13-0 lead on R&M Metals before losing on a walk off homer.  There was a blooper that fell in between the outfield and infield that needed to be caught which set up the game losing homer for them.  Blitz was then run ruled by Sonny's 18-3 on Saturday morning.  This team has a great group of players and needs to take a couple months off then refocus for 2013!


#13 Demarini Headbangers 0-2 – Headbangers were right in a low scoring game against Team 454 until midway through the game when 454 went on an offensive tear and beat them 20-3.


#17 Down2earthsports.com/SBC/Worth 0-2 – Lost to rival Headhunters on a walk off homer in the bottom of the 7th.  Then got blitzed by a veteran line drive hitting Miami Blitz team on Saturday morning.  Justin Mucciarelli was not there to pitch, which hurt with lots of walks given up.

 


More pictures below

 


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Send corrections to dw@softballcenter.com

Link to all the photos from the 'A' World

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2012 Conference USSSA Schedule

Link to the 2012 Tournament Reports


Some more pictures for you:

 

The Tarz Nation Line Drive arm sleeve gets the "Arm Thingy of the Week" award

Q made two visits to the mound…

 

I'm thinking Tiny got tossed…

Big Deal brought the donuts

The 'A' Crew minus Tony who got hit in the head by a ball…

Robo "I'll be back!" 

DW2 who updated everyone with the running ticker during the broadcasts sports his DirtySportswear.com gear!

 Some of the top seeded team had plenty of time to visit the Winghouse


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