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NAFA “AAA” World Series Recap

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

Recap of the NAFA “AAA” World Series:

1 Midwest Stampede Des Moines, Iowa 5 – 1
2 Albaugh, Inc. Elkhart, Iowa 2 – 2
3 Original Des Moines Metros Des Moines, Iowa 2 – 2
4 Kegel Black Knights Fargo, ND 2 – 2
5 Omaha Fastpitch Omaha, Neb 0 – 2
Red Angels Omaha, Neb 0 – 2

Game 1 – Kegel Black Knights 5 Red Angels 0
Game 2 – Original Des Moines Metros 5 Omaha Fastpitch 1
Game 3 – Albaugh, Inc. 5 Kegel Black Knights 2
Game 4 – Original Des Moines Metros 1 Midwest Stampede 0
Game 5 – Midwest Stampede 7 Red Angels 4, eliminated
Game 6 – Kegel Black Knights 13 Omaha Fastpitch 2, 5 innings, eliminated
Game 7 – Albaugh, Inc. 4 Original Des Moines Metros 1
Game 8 – Midwest Stampede Kegel Black Knights
Game 9 – Midwest Stampede 9 Original Des Moines Metros 3, eliminated

Championship Game
Game 10 – Midwest Stampede 7 Albaugh, Inc. 0

“If Necessary” Championship Game
Game 11 – Midwest Stampede 3 Albaugh, Inc. 2, eliminated

Midwest Stampede 2007 NAFA Class AAA World Champions

Class AAA All World Team

Most Valuable Player
Matt Palazzo, 2B, Albaugh, Inc. (Elkhart, Iowa)

Most Valuable Pitcher
Regan Manley, Midwest Stampede (Des Moines, Iowa)

Both award winners become part of the All World team

First Team All World
P Steve Langley Kegel Black Knights Fargo, ND
P Al Rebling Original Des Moines Metrs Des Moines, Iowa
P,OF Karl Gollan Albaugh, Inc. Elkhart, Iowa
C Ben Fjelland Albaugh, Inc. Elkhart, Iowa
C, OF BJ Boom Kegel Black Knights Fargo, ND
1B Brian Lammers Albaugh, Inc. Elkhart, Iowa
1B Eric Lewis Kegel Black Knights Fargo, ND
2B Rhys Casley Midwest Stampede Des Moines, Iowa
OF Marquis Cody Omaha Fastpitch Omaha, Neb
OF Dave Lay Red Angels Waverly, Minn
OF Stacy McLean Midwest Stampede Des Moines, Iowa
OF Doug Peyton Original Des Moines Metrs Des Moines, Iowa
DP Todd Budke Original Des Moines Metrs Des Moines, Iowa
DP James Darby Red Angels Waverly, Minn
DP Jeremy Manley Midwest Stampede Des Moines, Iowa

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Iowa’s Stampede take title with wee-hour win

Monday, August 27th, 2007

Rhys Casley Homer Delivers NAFA AAA Title for Midwest Stampede

From the Des Moines Register:

By LISA COLONNO
Register Staff Writer

August 27, 2007

A double late-night rally brought a men’s North American Fastpitch Association World Series championship to a first-year central Iowa team.

The Midwest Stampede from Bondurant came from behind and out of the loser’s bracket to beat favorite Albaugh Inc. from Elkhart in the triple-A division – the event’s highest level. Competition extended to about 3 a.m. Sunday at Raccoon River Park Softball Complex in West Des Moines.

The Stampede beat Albaugh Inc. 7-0 in the first championship, forcing an “if necessary” championship in the double-elimination tournament. The Stampede beat Albaugh Inc. 3-2 in the second meeting that started at about 1 a.m.

The 23-and-under and ‘A’ division champions were decided Sunday afternoon to wrap up NAFA World Series play in the Des Moines area.

“It was a long day because we had been playing since around 1 p.m.,” Stampede manager Chris Bohlmann said. “We won five in a row. We made it hard on ourselves.”

Rain forced the cancellation of the round-robin portion of the triple-A tournament and consolidated play to a one-day marathon Saturday.

The Stampede lost their first game, then won five in a row. They also had to rally in the “if necessary” championship.

Albaugh Inc. led 2-0 in the fifth inning. The Stampede then used strong pitching from Regan Manley and three solo home runs to grab the championship.

“We got on his shoulders and our bats came alive,” Bohlmann said. “You want to give it all you’ve got. We were in it to win it. It was fun to get on a roll. We have to tip our hat to Albaugh. They are a heck of a team.”

Rhys Casley, who along with Manley is from New Zealand, hit the winning shot in the top of the seventh inning for the first-year Stampede.

“We’ll build on it next year,” Bohlmann said.

Des Moines Register Reader’s Comments below.

(more…)

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UBS Pirates Win NAFA “A” World Series

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

The UBS Pirates took two of three from the Ladner Royals to claim the NAFA “A” World Series Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa. The Pirates defeated Ladner in the winner’s bracket final, 4-1, only to have Ladner emerge from the loser’s bracket to beat them 17-6 in the first championship game. But the rubber match went to the Pirates, 2-1, and with it, the 2007 title. McCormick was third, having lost an earlier round game to the Pirates as well.

Click here for the complete bracket.

Editor’s note: The Pirates were the team that handed the So Cal Hustlers their first loss, in their third game of the tournament.

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River City Rocker (Sacramento, CA) Third in NAFA AA World Series

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Via

The Rockers (43-11) are led by head coach, Paul Carelton and just completed playing in the 2007 North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) World Series double elimination tournaments “AA” division.

On Friday, August 17, 2007, The Rockers defeated an excellent past NAFA “A” champion squad, Kelder Poured Walls of Scottville, Michigan in an exciting come from behind (down 5-1 in the 6th) win in extra innings 7-6 in the 8th inning. Pitcher, Joe Jaquez came in relief of Mike Milligan in the 5th inning to pick up the win. Mike Abernathy sparked the teams offense with his hitting including a home run and his defense. Kary Moore also added a boost to the team coming off the bench and contributing with 3 hits including scoring the winning run.

Saturday, the River City Rockers jumped all over Ricola of New Jersey/New York 13-0 in 5 innings. Joe Jaquez threw the complete game and picked up the win. The Rockers sticks finally waking up with Scott Harrison, Justin Nicholson and Rusty Newnan hitting home runs. Dave Bostick, shortstop played solid defense shoring up the middle.

In another Saturday, winner bracket game , the Rockers squeaked out a 4-3 victory over Priority Mortgage of Michigan. Mike Milligan went the full distance to pick up the hard fought win. Mario Pereira scored the first run. Mark Summers scored and Greg Rogers hit a double to drive in two runs. Scott Harrison made a spectacular diving catch to secure the victory. Leading 4-1 in the 7th, Priority managed to get the winning run to the plate, but a pop out to 2nd baseman, Mike Abernathy sealed the victory for the Rocker squad.

Northern California’s top ranked men’s fastpitch team, the River City Rockers of Sacramento, CA were now 3-0 heading into the winners bracket final against Sioux Falls, South Dakotas’ Scarlett’s Sox at the NAFA 2007 World Series in Des Moines, Iowa.

The River City Rockers of Sacramento, CA lost an “old school fastpitch game” 1-0 with the Scarlett’s Sox of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Rockers’ Ed Gaspar threw a brilliant game in defeat. He threw a 3-hitter. Kyle Eberts picked up the complete game win for the South Dakota team. A single, then a past ball/wild pitch followed by a single got a run on the board in the fourth for the Sox. The Rockers threatened to score and were led with hits by Greg Rogers, Mike Abernathy, Dave Jordan, Rusty Newnan and Scott Harrison. Center fielder, Scott Harrison made an “ESPY” nominee catch. He sprinted toward the fence and caught a deep drive while falling over the fence, saving a sure home run…”dunna nun”. Dave Jordan with 2 outs in the seventh kept the game alive with a base hit, which brought up Mike Abernathy with a
chance to win it. Not this time, Eberts got the out, the game and basically the championship. This pitching dual was one for the memories and for the second year in a row, the Rockers lost
the winner bracket final by a run to the eventual champion.

The defeat set up a loser bracket final with the Rockers squaring off at 10:45 AM on Monday
morning needing one victory to get to the Championship game. Unfortunately, the Rockers came out flat and committed mistakes in the 1st inning and spotted Priority Mortgage of Grand Rapids, Michigan a 5-0 lead. The Rockers started Joe Jaquez with Greg Rogers as his battery mate. Joe was lifted in the 1st with Ed Gaspar coming in for relief. The Rockers managed to out hit their opponents, but stranded many more base runners and were unable to battle their way back from their early deficit. They lost 8-4 to Priority Mortgage and placed 3rd in the prestigious 2007 NAFA “AA” World Series tournament. The Scarlet’s Sox won the championship and “ring” with a 2-1 victory in the “If” game vs. Priority Mortgage.

All-World awards went to the Rockers’ Mike Abernathy, Scott Harrison and Greg Rogers. The Rockers now head to the ASA “B” National Championships in Altamonte Springs, Florida on August 29- Sept. 4, 2007. They drew a competitive Luna’s Towing team for the 9 AM game on Thursday morning. You can bet the Rockers won’t come out flat for that match up.

Respectfully submitted,
Kary Moore
PROPERTIES UNLIMITED COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
5926 Laguna Villa Way, Suite 330
Elk Grove, CA 95758-4731

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NAFA World Series Enters Final Day in Des Moines Sunday

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

The 2007 NAFA World Series enters its final day on Sunday, August 26. Click the logo below for scores and more at the NAFA website:

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California teams eliminated at NAFA “A” World Series

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

All three California teams were eliminated at the NAFA “A” World Series in Des Moines today. The Panteras II won their early morning game, but dropped their second game on Saturday, finishing 3-2 (?). Palm Springs and the Hustlers lost their afternoon games, finishing 2-2 in the tournament. Will Pellum of Palm Springs appeared on local television, giving his impressions of the tournament. A future in TV, Will? 😉

Safe travels to all.

Home James.

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Albaugh Inc. among fast-pitch heavy hitters

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

From the Des Moines Register:

By LISA COLONNO
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
August 23, 2007

Tom Owen and his Elkhart-based fastpitch softball team competed in Canada last week, several players have competed for the USA Softball men’s national team and now they will play in their home state of Iowa.

Albaugh Inc. is one of 64 teams in three divisions competing in the Des Moines area on the final weekend of the North American Fastpitch Association World Series.

“We travel quite a bit,” team manager Owen said. “We’re your typical weekend warriors.”

Players from the second-highest level of softball, to everyday athletes, will compete at the Raccoon River Park Softball Complex and Des Moines Softball Complex today through Sunday. Seven of the teams are based in Iowa.

Albaugh Inc., consisting of players ages 24-40 and mainly from the Des Moines area, is considered the favorite in the triple-A division, the highest level of play.

“It’s not your beer league,” Owen said.

Albaugh Inc. finished fifth in the International Softball Congress World Tournament Aug. 10-18 in Kitchener, Ontario. Pitcher Karl Gollan was named most valuable player.

Albaugh Inc. players Sonny Perkins, Matt Palazzo and Terry Luster are listed on the USA Softball men’s national team roster. Owen, Matt Darling and Ben Fjelland also have played for the United States.

The Des Moines Metros and Midwest Stampede from Bondurant also are in the triple-A division.

“Fans can expect to see some exciting, fast-paced, high- scoring, great-pitching, men’s fastpitch softball,” said Benjie Hedgecock, NAFA executive director.

The ‘A’ division is largest with 50 teams and players Hedgecock describes as “normal, everyday athletes.” Iowa-based teams the Des Moines Metro 45s, Grumpy’s Bar, Spencer Bud and Barnes City Fastpitch are in the division.

Metro 45s manager Mike Clark said his team is made up of older players from several states.

“Fans will be able to see all different levels of play,” Clark said of the weekend.

Hedgecock described the 23-and-under division as “a developmental division with some of the best players in the world, pitchers in particular.”

Included in the list of pitchers is B.J. Hunoff from the 2007 men’s national team.

(more…)

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Final Two Divisions Square Off at NAFA World Series

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

[West Des Moines and Des Moines, Iowa] – The NAFA AAA World Series will be played Saturday, August 25, in Des Moines, with six teams competing for the title, along with the the 23-and-under world series. The original schedules were revamped due to rain on Friday.

Teams competing in the AAA division:

Albaugh, IA
Kegel Black Knights, Fargo, ND
Red Angels, MN-WI
Midwest Stampede, IA
DSM Metros, IA
Omaha Fastpitch, NE

Among the athletes competing in the 23-and-under division will be B.J. Hunhoff of South Dakota, a member of both the USA Jr. Men’s team that will compete next summer in Whitehorse Yukon, Canada, and the USA Men’s team that competed this summer in the World Cup at Prague, CZ.

The So Cal Hustlers will have 4 athletes on a western region squad, Casey Shaw, Larry Watts, Jr., Luis Saldana and 16 year old CJ Salcido, setting up the “CJ vs. BJ” matchup.

Click the NAFA logo above for the schedule of games, revised due to the rain delays.

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NAFA “A” World Series Teams Battle Each other and Mother Nature

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

NAFA World Series Heads into Final Two Days

The NAFA “A” World Series in Des Moines, Iowa managed to overcome several rain delays and play back towards the original schedule, thanks to some fine work by the Des Moines grounds crew and patience and reworking of the schedule by Benjie Hedgecock and company. Hedgecock got high marks from team managers and players alike for use of a toll-free “Weather Hotline” that was updated every 30 minutes during the rain delays, keeping teams apprised of the latest field conditions at both complexes, as well as the latest rescheduling to keep the tournament moving forward. Des Moines, IA boast two of the nicer facilities that the editor has seen, one at Racoon River and another in Central Des Moines. Both were engineered to handle wet weather conditions.

The three Southern California entries in the “A” Division are still alive in the loser’s bracket, needing 8 or so wins to claim the title amongst 51 teams. The So Cal Hustlers and Panteras are 2-1, while Palm Springs is 1-1, having earned a first round bye.
The Panteras have a longer road, having dropped their second game, and will have to win two more games to get to the spot in the bracket occupied at present by the Hustlers and Palm Springs.

So Cal Hustlers

The Hustlers won their first game, 8-6 over Point Blank Tatoo of Wisconsin, with Joe Salcido picking up the win and Bobby Cole the save. It was a game of “3’s”, with Larry Watts, Jr. getting 3 hits, David Hess scoring three runs and young-just-turned 21 Casey Shaw hitting a 3 run home run over the right centerfield fence, his first of the year.

In their second game, the Hustlers had their finest offensive outpouring of the year, banging out 22 hits in the 4 inning, rain delayed, 18-0 win over Mac-O-Chee of Ohio. The Hustlers led 12-0 after two innings Thursday night when the rains came and halted play. The game resume the following morning and the Hustlers picked up where they left off, with seemingly everything they hit falling in. Ken Shaw led the barrage with 5 hits, while Daniel Roth, Steve Profitt and Luis Saldana had three hits each. Roth had a single, double and triple. Player-manager-relief pitcher Bobby Cole had a double and the Hustler’s second home run of the tournament.

In their third game, “Papa Joe” Salcido was spinning another gem, nursing a 1-0 lead into the 5th before a pair of home runs by a strong hitting USB Pirates team from Minnesota turned the tide, and sending the Hustlers to the loser’s bracket. The Hustlers suffered a bit of controversy early in the game, when Bobby Cole came flying around third, on the heels of Doug Shaw scoring the first run of the game. The plate umpire was retrieving a bat from the basepath and collided with Cole, who would otherwise have scored easily. In the end, the controversy forgotten when the Pirates padded their lead.

The Hustlers will return to play today at 1:15pm Central time, in hopes of winning four games to make it to Sunday.

Palm Springs

Graham Balog tossed a 2-0 shutout for Express’ first win, before they were dispatched to the loser’s bracket by Grumpy’s Bar of Iowa. More details as they become available. (Sorry, they were at the other complex) Palm Springs will play at 1:15pm today and need four wins to get to Sunday.

Panteras II

With hard-throwing Anthony Martinez and veteran Joe Edwards, the Panteras began their battle back from “level one” (aka the Long road) of the NAFA “A” bracket. After knocking off Hollywood Sports of Minnesota in their opener, the Panteras held a 3-1 lead when play was halted Thursday night due to rain. Clark Construction of Indiana ralled for 3 and the win, sending the Panteras to the loser’s bracket. The Panteras responded well, though, notching an 8-3 win over Cougar Lanes, Wisconsin, as Joe Edwards’ change-up kept hitters off balance all game long. Jay Obregon turned in several defensive gems to anchor the Panteras defense. The Panteras play The Bar of Appleton at 8am, and need six wins on “Survival Saturday” to make it to the final day.

(Editor’s note: No slight intended by not covering other teams in the NAFA World Series. I’m playing in this one, so just passing along a few notes for the local So Cal fans at home as time and internet connection permit. NAFA doing their own fine coverage of the tournament, so we recommend you click the logo to visit their website for all scores, updates and more.)

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Scarlett’s Sox Win the 2007 NAFA Class AA World Title

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

[West Des Moines, Iowa] – The Scarlett’s Sox (Sioux Falls, SD) defeated Priority Mortgage
(Grand Rapids, Mich) 2-1 in the “If Necessary” Championship Game at Racoon River Park in West Des Moines, Iowa to claim the 2007 NAFA Class AA World Championship.

Priority forced the “If Necessary” game by with a 4-3 win. Trailing 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning, Mike Gruppen hit a three-run homer to give Priority Mortgage the win and force
the final game. In the final game, the Scarlett’s, the 2005 Class A-Major Champion, jumped out to an early lead on Tim DeJong’s RBI single. Travis DeJong led off the Sox second inning with a triple then scored on Chris Becker’s single for a 2-0 lead. Priority cut the lead in half in the sixth on another RBI single by Mike Gruppen.

Sox catcher Tim DeJong was named the Most Valuable Player with team mate Kyle Eberts taking home Most Valuable Pitcher honors. The list of All World Players will be on the World Series website at http://www.2007ws.nafafastpitch.com.

Brett Bresnahan
breshz(at)minnesotafastpitch.com
http://www.2007ws.nafafastpitch.com
http://www.nafafastpitch.com

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