Added Awards —> 2015 Peach State Shootout – Atlanta Major tournament report!
2015 Nationwide Conference USSSA
D2E "Peach State" Shootout
Marietta, GA
May 23-24
D2E KAPOW hits against Xtreme in the championship game
Link to the Softballcenter.com picture album of the Atlanta Major
USSSA Atlanta tournament info and bracket link
The "Peach State Shootout" Atlanta Major returned to the Al Bishop softball complex in Marietta, Georgia after a year of park renovations. The weather was perfect for softball and the field of 30 teams, including 9 from the Nationwide Conference USSSA series battled it out "double elimination" style starting on Saturday morning. Early on the Georgia based Conference teams who normally perform well on their home turf got into trouble quickly. OI Livingston/TNT Hauling/Brothers Renovation/Worth the #18 ranked team in the country according to SoftballCenter.com's computer rankings coming into the tournament was upset by a very good D2E Sports/K-POW team in the second round 21-17. D2E Sports is a 'D' team from right there in Marietta. And #25 ranked Broughton Pharmacy/Bad Draw/Worth a North Carolina 'A' team with a number of Georgia players was upset in second round 23-17 by a very good Team Gillette a 'C' team from Georgia. The rest of the final 8 teams in the winners bracket were the favorites #21 Xtreme/Miken (MN-A), #12 Encompass/Eurotec/Easton (MN-B), Worsham Athletics/Klutch Brand/Worth (NC-C), #22 Primetime/Easton (GA-B), #24 Above All Landscaping/EVO9X (N-B), and Nightmare/Miken (MO-B). Nightmare getting by their opening round game 17-16 over a Chicken and Shine 'E' team that probably is redifining the E division.
In the final 8 the two Minnesota teams Xtreme and Encompass run ruled their opponents Team Gillette and Worsham in the top half of the bracket. In the lower half the local D2E KPOW team mercy ruled Nightmare Miken 24-4 before the game really even got started. And Primetime came from behind late in the game against Above All Landscaping to win 34-26 in a game that was probably the best game during the daytime. Kyndrich Doggett who had a .750 onbase percentage coming into the tournament had a couple of big hits and a big homer to spark the comeback and Tony Mack at second base made a great linedrive stab to help Primetime to a big win.
Going into the final 4 the hot teams seemed to be Xtreme (if they could get by rival Minnesota team Encompass), and Primetime playing in their home state seemed to have the momentum and the better draw with upstart D2E KPOW as their final 4 opponent. As the night games Saturday began the fields which had not been drug all day became dangerous and the scores and game times increased dramatically. Xtreme/Miken used a 20 run 4th inning aided by a few Encompass miscues to run rule Encompass 30-14. And D2E KPOW continued their upset ways with a 27-21 upset of Primetime to make it to the winner's finals.
In the winner's final Xtreme stepped up and although D2E kept it close, Xtreme had their patented big inning and won 30-14. In the loser's bracket the games were long and high scoring with the two 'A' teams OI Livingston and Broughton each winning 4 straight. Broughton scoring 19 runs in the 2nd inning vs Above All Landscaping in one game with 15 of the runs after the 2nd out of the inning and OI Livingston had a walk off single to beat Team Gillette by a run and a 17 run first inning to beat Worsham. But late Saturday after midnight both the Georgia 'A' powers were sent home – Primetime over OI Livingston 36-31, and Encompass over a "walking wounded" Broughton team 30-14 in a game that finished at 2:40 AM Sunday morning. In the Primetime game, Prime came back from a possible run rule early on. Chivas Clark leading the way with the stick (he was the leading hitter in the nation coming into the tournamnet) and also with two late inning "sell out" plays at 1st base on hard grounders to get the win. One of the plays he took off the chest to stop it and got the out.
On Sunday morning 3 teams battled to get to Xtreme. Encompass jumped on Primetime but Primetime as they had done all tournament came back once but their defense again let them down as Encompass ended up run ruling them 28-12. Then in the loser's bracket championship Encompass jumped out to a nice lead on D2E KPOW but the resilient D2E team came from behind and shocked Encompass on the power of left fielder Brian Hampton and the pitching and defense of Clay Prickett to make it to the finals.
The tournament had 5 Conference umpires and used the normal Conference Classic M ball. The fences were 300 feet and played fairly short in the cooler weather. Worshams Dee Hornesburger playing the hot corner at 3rd gets the best hot shot plays award fielding some nasty ones. Encompass shortstop Tim Nielson gets the best diver award on hard grounder up the middle. There were a lot of complaints about the fields not being drug all day on Saturday. Overall though Xtreme was easily the class of the field and best of show as they run ruled all 5 of their opponents. D2E Sports/KPOW the 'D' team from Marietta upset 3 conference 'B' teams and 1 conference 'A' team in the tournament sparking all kinds of chatter on TheOldScout message board. And it is all deserved. They are a great team that could more easily win 'B' worlds with 16 teams than 'D' worlds with 150.
Team Breakdown:
30 Teams Overall
9 Conference USSSA Teams
3 'A' Teams
5 'B' Teams
4 'C' Teams
9 'D' Teams
9 'E' Teams
D2E KAPOW's Brandon Davis pitches to Xtremes Seth Brown in the winners final
Winners final Xtreme and Kapow
A nice panorama of Field 4 – Above All vs Primetime
Al Bishop park has great scenery and trees. Very park like. Primetime playing Encompass on Sunday morning
OI Livingston vs Primetime late Saturday.
Country Fresh had a lead late against Primetime
Encompass slugger Justin Barber gets one past the pitcher
Oldscout pollsters were WRONG
Video Highlites brought to you by:
Long Bombers of the Week
Worshams Jason Martel hit the longest according to one fan who watched a lot of games.
Over the light pole and trees on diamond #2 early in the tournament.
Peach State Major Awards and Final Standings
Player Tournament Awards | Players Name | Plays For |
Tournament MVP | Aaron Lewicki | Xtreme/Miken |
Offensive Tournament MVP | Brian Hampton | D2E Sports/K-POW |
Defensive Tournament MVP | Seth Brown | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Kyle Decker | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Todd Newton | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Ira Brown | Primetime/Easton |
All Tournament Team | Cory Hines | Encompass / Eurotech / Easton / CA |
All Tournament Team | Matt McGowan | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Dan Skelly | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Matt Brooks | D2E Sports/K-POW |
All Tournament Team | SHANNON SMITH | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Justin Barber | Encompass / Eurotech / Easton / CA |
All Tournament Team | Ryan Hassler | Encompass / Eurotech / Easton / CA |
All Tournament Team | Sam Richards | D2E Sports/K-POW |
All Tournament Team | COREY LINDSEY | D2E Sports/K-POW |
All Tournament Team | Andrew Miller | Xtreme/Miken |
All Tournament Team | Antroine Mack | Primetime/Easton |
All Tournament Team | Adam Suhowolak | D2E Sports/K-POW |
Place | State | Team | Team Class | Wins | Losses | Ties | Runs Scored | Runs Allow | Avg Runs | Avg Allow | Avg Diff | Max Runs | USSSA Points |
1 | MN – Dayton | Xtreme/Miken | USSSA-Mens-A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 53 | 28.6 | 10.6 | 18 | 35 | 300 |
2 | GA – Marietta | D2E Sports/K-POW | USSSA-Mens-D | 5 | 2 | 0 | 143 | 129 | 20.4 | 18.4 | 2 | 27 | 225 |
3 | MN – Champlin | encompass / eurotech / easton / ca | USSSA-Mens-B | 5 | 2 | 0 | 176 | 107 | 25.1 | 15.2 | 9.85 | 34 | 200 |
4 | GA – Macon | Primetime/Easton | USSSA-Mens-B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 159 | 146 | 26.5 | 24.3 | 2.16 | 36 | 175 |
5 | NC – Greenville | broughton pharmacy/bad draw/worth | USSSA-Mens-A | 5 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 149 | 25.7 | 21.2 | 4.42 | 47 | 155 |
5 | GA – Peachtree City | oi livingston/tnt hauling/brother's | USSSA-Mens-A | 4 | 2 | 0 | 162 | 125 | 27 | 20.8 | 6.16 | 32 | 155 |
7 | NJ – Jackson | above all landscaping/evo9x | USSSA-Mens-B | 3 | 2 | 0 | 159 | 114 | 31.8 | 22.8 | 9 | 41 | 130 |
7 | NC – Fletcher | worshamathletics/klutchbrand/worth/ | USSSA-Mens-C | 3 | 2 | 0 | 115 | 126 | 23 | 25.2 | -2.2 | 33 | 130 |
9 | GA – Peachtree City | Country Fresh Foods | USSSA-Mens-D | 3 | 2 | 0 | 145 | 110 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 36 | 110 |
9 | GA – Social Circle | Southern Gents | USSSA-Mens-E | 2 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 66 | 12.7 | 16.5 | -3.7 | 26 | 110 |
9 | GA – Rincon | Team Gillette | USSSA-Mens-C | 2 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 93 | 23.7 | 23.2 | 0.5 | 34 | 110 |
9 | MO – Branson | Nightmare/Miken | USSSA-Mens-B | 2 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 92 | 17.5 | 23 | -5.5 | 30 | 110 |
13 | NJ – Runnemede | Deluxe Bakery | USSSA-Mens-B | 2 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 80 | 23.5 | 20 | 3.5 | 30 | 70 |
13 | SC – macon | Honey Badgers | USSSA-Mens-D | 2 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 91 | 24.2 | 22.7 | 1.5 | 30 | 70 |
13 | FLP – Milton | Special K | USSSA-Mens-D | 1 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 71 | 20.3 | 23.6 | -3.3 | 29 | 70 |
13 | GA – Canton | tread stone/diamond enterprises/d2e | USSSA-Mens-D | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 60 | 18 | 20 | -2 | 38 | 70 |
17 | GA – Fairmount | Chicken N Shine | USSSA-Mens-E | 1 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 49 | 16.3 | 16.3 | 0 | 21 | 40 |
17 | GA – Dallas | buckhead investment partners | USSSA-Mens-D | 1 | 2 | 0 | 62 | 66 | 20.6 | 22 | -1.3 | 25 | 40 |
17 | GA – Dallas | Hot Soup | USSSA-Mens-E | 1 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 68 | 15.3 | 22.6 | -7.3 | 31 | 40 |
17 | GA – Norcross | nouveau softball pink nation | USSSA-Mens-E | 1 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 54 | 9.66 | 18 | -8.3 | 22 | 40 |
17 | GA – Atlanta | Hammerface | USSSA-Mens-E | 1 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 62 | 13.3 | 20.6 | -7.3 | 28 | 40 |
17 | SC – Boiling Springs | Mo' Crunch | USSSA-Mens-D | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 83 | 18 | 27.6 | -9.6 | 26 | 40 |
17 | GA – Blue Ridge | team adiktiv customized/allstar ent | USSSA-Mens-D | 1 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 92 | 16 | 30.6 | -14. | 27 | 40 |
17 | GA – Macon | Causin Drama/D2E | USSSA-Mens-C | 1 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 55 | 12 | 18.3 | -6.3 | 22 | 40 |
25 | TN – Chattanooga | Team Collision/CTS | USSSA-Mens-C | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 53 | 18.5 | 26.5 | -8 | 30 | 40 |
25 | GA – Waco | Special Edition | USSSA-Mens-D | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 54 | 21 | 27 | -6 | 24 | 40 |
25 | GA – Cumming | Smith Co | USSSA-Mens-E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 47 | 8.5 | 23.5 | -15 | 11 | 40 |
25 | GA – Temple | FCC/Media Powers | USSSA-Mens-E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 58 | 15 | 29 | -14 | 19 | 40 |
25 | GA – McDonough | First Choice Contractors | USSSA-Mens-E | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 42 | 6.5 | 21 | -14. | 7 | 40 |
25 | GA – Dallas | New Divide | USSSA-Mens-E | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 34 | 22 | 34 | -12 | 22 | 40 |
Brian Hampton of D2E was Offensive MVP
Team by team notes brought to you by:
1st Place – Xtreme/Miken
Conf 'A' from MN 5-0 Record
Xtreme won 5 straight games to win their first Conference event ever? I think. They beat some good local teams like Honey Badgers, Team Gillette, and D2E Kapow twice. They also beat their Minnesota rival Encompass. More of a beating you might say. Xtreme was the class of the field. They played without pitcher Mark Urbain and outfielder Mark Harvanko was hit in the temple by a thrown ball in the Encompass game sliding into second so he missed the last 3 games. But they stacked their big hitters Miller, Smith, Palm, and Newton at the top of the order and that worked out really well. Their defense was solid but it was the big inning offensively in each game that seemed to carry them to what appeared to be easy wins.
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Xtreme/Miken lineup
1B Andrew Miller
3B Shannon Smith
EH Dustin Palm
LF Todd Newton
2B Kyle Decker
C Matt McGowan
MI Seth Brown
SS Chris Bauer
CF Dan Skelly
RF Alex Bremer
P Aaron Lewicki
Injured Mark Harvanko
Andrew Miller and Shannon Smith
Dustin Palm and Todd Newton
Kyle Decker and Matt McGowan
Seth Brown Defensive MVP and Chris Bauer
Dan Skelly and Alex Bremmer
Aaron Lewicki was MVP
Mark Harvanko
Managers Dan Bergeron and Mike McGowan
2nd Place – D2E Sports/K-POW
D from GA 5-2 Record
D2E what can you say, these guys have the pieces – 2 pitchers, SS, MI, CF, and some gritty players at all the remaining positions to succeed at whatever level they play. They beat 3 conference 'B' teams and a conference 'A' team on their home fields. They fielded the hard shots, stabbed liners and turned DP's at pitcher, tracked down balls in the outfield, and used their homers wisely. The sky is the limit and they are a fun team to watch play. Whether they wind up at D or C for worlds doesn't really matter to me, I would like the SoftballCenterMembers.com to discuss paying to send these guys to the USSSA 'B' Worlds also as an experiment to see how they would do. They have the same chance as 50 other teams to win the 'D' worlds where you have to win 4 games in the Florida heat in a row on Saturday at Disney just to have a chance. Whereas there will only be about 16 'B' teams at 'B' Worlds this year? Odds would be better for 'B'. But thats just my thought.
Brooks set the table, Hampton cleaned the table, and the rest of these guys pitched and washed the dishes. Their Saturday pitcher Brandon Davis who did so well couldn't make it Sunday because his wife was in a car accident. We hope everything is alright there.
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D2E Sports/KPOW lineup
MI Matt Brooks
3B Corey Lindsey
LF Brian Hampton
P Clay Prickett
SS Travis McGee
2B Robert Nash
C Beau Pipkins
EH Brett Dutton
RF Sam Richards
1B Adam Suhowolak
D2E/KAPOW takes on Xtreme in the championship
Offensive MVP Brian Hampton hits another big homer to put away Encompass
Middle Infielder Matt Brooks plays the game hard at leadoff and middle infield
Saturday pitcher Brandon Davis and Sunday pitcher and 4 hitter Clay Prickett
3rd Place – Encompass/Eurotech/Easton/CA
Conf 'B' from MN 5-2 Record
Encompass was taking care of business in the early rounds of the Atlanta Major. Then in the Saturday night semi final against arch rival Xtreme they were hanging with them early on but a few miscues led to a 20 run 4th inning and they lost by the run rule. Late Saturday night/Sunday morning they gutted out a big win over Broughton that ended at 2:40 AM and were back at the field at 8 AM beating Primetime to finish 3rd. Encompass is a well put together and well managed team who relies on some talented left hand hitters and outfielders in Ellwanger and Baartman and power hitters like Barber, Cory Hines, and the "streaky" Blake Williams. Baartman went over the fence to rob D2E of two homers in the loser's bracket championship game. And one of the lefties won the Encompass home run derby when they were killing time Saturday night. Tim Nielson is having an all conference type year at shortstop and middle infielder Brandon Newman was playing some good defense until food poisoning shut him down.. They came up one spot short but win and lose as a team. A team that is starting to eye up a Sunday finish at 'B' Worlds and possibly one of the last spots in the Major Worlds Series!
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Encompass / Eurotech / Easton / CA
SS Tim Nielson
RF Patrick Ellwanger
C Justin Barber
CF Colin Baartman
MI Brandon Newman
EH Blake Williams
1B Chris Olson
2B Cory Hines
3B Joe Ehnstrom
LF Ryan Hassler
P Alan Oullette
Updike was backup pitcher
Tim Nielson SS
Justin Barber and Cory Hines
Ellwanger and Baartman
4th Place – Primetime/Easton
Conf 'B' from GA 4-2 Record
More of the same for Primetime. Their offense continues to score big runs and gives them the chance to come back in games where their defense just doesn't come up with the plays. Their gloves need some stickum as they get to balls but don't always put them away. But I am starting to sound like a broken record. Lets give them credit for big gutsy comebacks against Country Fresh, Above All, and especially OI Livingston who had them down by the 15 run rule at one point. They did finish 4th in front of two Georgia 'A' teams and this is the best offensive team that Primetime has ever had in my opinion.
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Primetime Easton lineup on Saturday night:
MI Tony Mack
CF Mike Williams
1B Chivas Clark
OF/C Keyma Wright
C Ira Brown
2B Earl Bryant
C Tre Campbell
3B Lee Daniels
SS Willis James
LF JB Jennings
P Dennis Davison
This was just one lineup. Primetime had all their players and used many in different situations and games.
Frazier, Doggett, and others played a lot.
One of Primetimes infield alignments. SS James, MI TMack, 2B Frazier
Kyndrich Doggett hits a big homer against Above All in their comeback win!
Tied 5th Place – Broughton/Bad Draw/Worth
Conf 'A' from NC 5-2 Record
Broughton gutted out a 5th place finish after an early loss to a very good Team Gillette team. They won 4 straight in the losers bracket including a wild late night win over Above All Landscaping in a game that had huge run scoring swings. Many of the Broughton players had minor leg injuries and weren't running well. 0-4 vs 'A' teams this year with a quality roster makes one scratch their collective heads? They did average 25 runs a game in Atlanta. They did score 19 runs in an inning against Above All Landscaping including 15 runs after the second out!
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Adam Rockoff gets the Ferris Wheel pic 🙂
Tied 5th Place – OI Livingston/TNT Hauling/Brother's Renovation/Worth
Conf 'A' from GA 4-2 Record
OI always seems to have fun playing and the big man Jamie Hancock is one of the reasons. After battleing Primetime for about 2 hours late Saturday night one of his teammates gave him the business for not turning a single into a double. He fired back that "this body don't turn left". Someone from the bench yelled "it would if there was a hamburger over there". Funny!
OI was the favorite to win Georgia but lost their first game to D2E/KAPOW 21-17. They just flat got beat. In the losers bracket they sent home Deluxe Bakery, Gillette on a walk off single, and Worsham (on a 17 run first inning), and had Primetime down by more than 15 runs late before losing after Primetime scored a ton of unearned runs and beat them.
Nothing stood out to me with OI this past weekend. They still have a long season to get things going and the talent to do so.
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Jonathan Scott hits a grand slam vs D2E
More pictures below
Other top finishing Conference teams
Tied 7th Above All Landscaping/EVO9X – Conf 'B' from NJ 3-2 Record
Above All Landscaping lost two tough games which happened to be the two most entertaining of the tournament. They blew a big lead against Primetime and came back from a huge deficit against Broughton only to lose late Saturday night. Tough losses but losses that could build some character in this team.
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Tied 7th Worsham Athletics/Klutch Brand/Worth – Conf 'C' from NC 3-2 Record
Worsham finally broke their losing streak, played some long games with good wins over Team Adiktiv and Country Fresh but couldn't get over the hump against Encompass or OI Livingston. Brandon Patzig pitched for Stacy Bolton who wasn't there. Worsham has a bunch of lefties on this team and power hitter Justin Martel did get the Long Bomber of the week.
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Tied 9th Nightmare/Miken – Conf 'B' from MO 2-2 Record
Nightmare had a nice win over fellow Conference 'B' team Deluxe Bakery but was smashed by D2E and sent home by Broughton. Looked like they had all of their players. Need more consistency against the better B and the A teams.
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Tied 13th Deluxe Bakery – Conf 'B' from NJ 2-2 Record
Deluxe Bakery beat two locals and lost to two Conference teams in fairly close games. I am still trying to see which direction this team is going in. Paturzo and Bowles are the offensive leaders. Would be nice to see this team play a tournament like Indianapolis or a good Affiliate tournament like Virginia to see where they stand as far as the 'B' division.
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USSSA Atlanta tournament info link
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Link to the 2015 Tournament Reports
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Link to the 2012 Tournament Reports
Nationwide Conference USSSA Points Link
Some more pictures for you:
These teams would all make a nice Georgia 'C' division.
All were very good teams
Team Gillette and Chicken N Shine above
Special K and Adiktiv
Honey Badgers and Southern Mayhem.
Lots of infielders wearing masks also which was good to see
Future star for Adiktive
I thought Treadstone had the best uniform, although they looked very similar to Above All?
Dude, its underhand!
Is this Charlie Brown! Great to see
Look at the range on this catcher!
Bat testing tent
D2E players got their 2012 'B' World rings! Nice!
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