Just Five of 50 States Represented in National Tournament

From the Illinois section of the Fastpitchwest Forum: A Nationals with a special thanks to forum member Epley21 for tracking down this information:

Sixteen teams at this year’s ASA “A” Nationals. A better turnout than in recent years. Unfortunately, just four from out of state. But for the great state of Illinois, they could hold this tournament in one afternoon. In 1991, there were 67 teams at the ASA “A”. What has befallen this once great tournament?

From Illinois
Cerro Gordo Broncos
Springfield Brandts
Mt. Zion Merchants
Nokomis Bud Light, Nokomis
Vandalia Freight, Vandalia
Lee’s Sports Falcons, Radom
Rudd’s Trophy, Peoria
The Heat, Villa Grove
Pete’s Blues, Mascutah
Wessel’s Coors Light, T-Town
West Central Bud, Jacksonville
Chicago Fastpitch, Chicago

From out of State:
Ashland, OH
New Image, WI
RPM Reasnor, IA
Rice Creek Homer, MI

As aptly put by Illinois Forum member Jeff Proffit:

Or the more sobering note by Epley21:

Here is the wealth of information on the ASA “A” National tournament available at the official ASA website.

Circle Tap Garners First National Title in “if” Game of ASA Major

From Al’s Fastball, courtesy of ASA’s Bill Plummer:

SOUTH BEND, IN — Denny Bruckert, manager of the Circle Tap men’s fast pitch softball team had won five ASA national titles entering the 74th ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship, which concluded here Sunday.

Make it six after Circle Tap decisioned a scrappy Florida Fast Pitch team of Jacksonville, FL 4-1 to win the 74th ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship at the Belleville Softball Complex.

Circle Tap, which had never finished higher than third in this event, was forced to the if game after Florida Fast Pitch won 15-3 in five innings, pounding out 16 hits including four homers.

The second and if necessary game figured to be different and was as Circle Tap struck for a run in the first inning, added one in the fourth and two in the sixth. Circle Tap finished the tournament 6-1, Florida Fast Pitch was 7-2 and finished runner-up for the second year in a row.

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Florida Fastpitch in Finals for Second Year in a Row

From Al’s Fastball, courtesy of ASA’s Bill Plummer:

SOUTH BEND, IN — One swing of the bat can turn a game from a loss to a defeat. Ask the Circle Tap softball team. Trailing 5-3 entering the seventh inning, Circle Tap of Green Bay, WI got a grand slam homer from Matt Bramwell to defeat the Heflin Gremlins of Balston Lake, NY 7-5 and advance to the championship round of the 74th ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National hampionship. The championship will be played Sunday morning at 10 with an “if” game scheduled at noon.

Circle Tap trailed 5-3 entering the seventh before Bramwell hit his first grand slam of the tournament to straight away center field off losing pither pitcher Brian Uruqhart. Urquhart fanned seven and allowed 11 hits in going the distance. Collin McKenzie was the winner with a complete game and allowed five hits and walked three, striking out seven.

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Match-ups for Saturday, the last full day of competition at the ASA Major at South Bend, Indiana, with the Championship game slated for Sunday at 10am (“if” game to follow at noon if necessary)

(All game times EDT)

Loser’s Bracket

11am-MVD, OH vs. Townline, WI
9am-Dolan & Murphy’s, IL vs. Minn Dak, MN
Winners of these games square off at 1pm

9am-Florida Fastpitch, FL vs. Keatings, PA
9am-Midland, MI vs. Patsy’s NY
Winners of these games square off at 1pm

Winner’s Bracket
Semi-finals
11am-Circle Tap WI vs. The Farm, WI
11am-Bloomington, IL vs. Heflin, HY

Losers of these games square off with the winners of the 1pm Loser’s Bracket games. (see above)
Semi-final winner’s bracket winners will play in Winner’s Bracket Final at 5pm

Loser’s Bracket Final at 7pm.

All game times EDT.

2006 ASA Major Bracket (Updated)

Circle Tap vs. The Farm, Bloomington vs. Helfin in Semi-Finals

2006 ASA Major Bracket (Updated)

From Al’s Fastball

SOUTH BEND, IN — Four teams advanced to Saturday’s semi-finals of the 74th annual ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship after 17 games were played Friday at the Belleville Softball Complex.

Saturday’s semi-finals are scheduled at 11 a.m. and will match two teams that know each other well because they are both from Wisconsin, Circle Tap of Green Bay (3-0) and The Farm Tavern (2-0) of Madison. In the other semi-final, the Bloomington (IL) Stix (2-0) will oppose Heflin Builders (2-0) of Balston Lake, NY.

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