Elimination Day at Mens Major National Championship
8/4/2007
South Bend, Ind.---It was elimination day at the 2007 ASA Mens Major Fast Pitch National Championship as 11 of the 17 teams were sent packing on Friday but for Patsys of New York City and Quaker Riversharks of Ambler, Pa., their hopes remained alive as they added two more wins to their resume to advance to the winners bracket finals.
Patsys shutout the Quad City Sox of Davenport, Iowa, 3-0, in their first game on Friday. Gerald Muizelaar was spectacular in the circle allowing only one hit while fanning 12 in a complete game effort. Travis Wilson provided all the runs his team would need with a two run home run. In their second game on Friday, Patsys knocked off perennial power, Broken Bow Gremlins, 11-3, to move into the winners bracket finals. Thomas Makea and Brad Rona provided the offensive spark for Patsys. Makea collected two singles, a home run and four RBI, while Rona had a single and two RBI. Omar Moraga also added two singles for Patsys. Adam Fockar picked up the win in the circle with seven strikeouts. Andrew Kirkpatrick was strapped with the loss after being tagged for 11 runs.
The Riversharks opened their day with a 4-0 win over the Midwest Stampede of Des Moines, Iowa. Blair Ezekiel hit a solo home run while Jeff Ellsworth provided an RBI double and Ryan Wolfe tacked on an RBI triple. Rob OBrien struck out 12 to collect his second win of the tournament. Kim Hanson took the loss for the Stampede. In the nightcap the Riversharks shocked the defending national champs, Circle Tap of Denmark, Wis., by posting a 7-3 win. Five different players contributed RBI for the Riversharks including Ellsworth with two and solo home runs by Steve Mullaley, OBrien and Tim McCumber. The win propelled the Riversharks into the winners bracket finals.
In the losers bracket, the Midland Explorers of Midland, Mich., and the Farm Tavern of Madison, Wis., began their day early and stayed late to advance into the semi-finals of the elimination bracket. The Explorers opened their day at 9 a.m. with a 4-0 win over the Ashland Mets of Ashland, Ohio, before knocking off Plangger Furniture of Benton Harbor, Mich., 6-2, at 11:30 a.m.
The Farm Tavern started their day at 11 a.m. with a 7-2 win over Dolan and Murphy of Aurora, Ill., then moved on with an 11-0 win over the Duncan Outlaws at 5 p.m. Against the Outlaws, Zenon Winters led with way offensively for the Farm with two doubles, a home run and two RBI. Kevin Schellenberg added a home run and three RBI to the offensive effort.
The Explorers closed out their day with a 3-2 win over the Bloomington Stix of Bloomington, Ill., at 5 p.m. and a 3-2 win over the Quad City Sox of Davenport, Iowa at 7 p.m. The win over the Sox was the second of the day for Explorers hurler Doug Sleep. Steve Hornings two run single with one out in the seventh inning kept the hopes alive for the Explorers.
On Saturday at 9 a.m., elimination continues with the Farm Tavern facing the MinnDak Millers of Fargo, ND and the Explorers facing off with Florida Fastpitch of Jacksonville, Fla. Patsys and the Riversharks face off in the winners bracket final at 11 a.m.
To follow all the action visit the official National Championship website 2007 ASA Mens Major Fast Pitch National Championship.