(Click logo for official SCIFL website)
Update: 4/9/08, from the official SCIFL website:
The first annual SCIFL Las Vegas Road Trip is in the books and New Image of Wisconsin and the Caribbean of California were crowned the winners in their divisions. While the tournament had some growing pains by being held in new venue, the weather was perfect for fast pitch. Twenty teams from four states were entered with two champions from last year’s NAFA World Series and two 23 and under teams. Not to be ignored, the rest of the entries had plenty of softball experience and there were some surprises and upsets.
In the Upper Division, New Image rolled to a perfect 4-0 record with wins over Team Lumpy’s of Utah, Rude-Pac and Amigos of California and Innovative Communications of Utah in the Championship game. Jeramie Holman and Josh Johnson each pitched 14 innings in the tournament. Holman struck out 12 with an ERA of 1.50 and Johnson struck out 18 with an ERA of 2.00. On offense, they were supported by Brent Holman who went 8 for 14 for a .571 average. Also Jerrod Johnson and Kris Agnew each hit .462 and scoring scoring 6 times. Jerrod also had 2 doubles over the weekend.
Innovative took the long way to the Championship game by playing 4 games in a row on Sunday to make it to the Championship game. Counting Saturdays late game, they made a clean sweep of five California teams in a row. Steve Black led the Innovative pitching staff with 13 innings and getting 13 strikeouts and not allowing a base on balls while posting a 2.15 ERA. Jody Osborne had the big bat for Innovative going .500 for the weekend with 8 hits, two of them doubles, and 4 RBI’s.
In the “A” bracket the Caribbean’s went into the Championship game as the undefeated team and faced another Southern California team, the Palm Springs Express. The game was scoreless into the bottom of the seventh until Palm Springs loaded the bases and “Big Hank” Prior brought home the winning run. But the Caribbeans were not to be denied of the their first Championship and came back to beat the Express behind four plus innings of relief pitching by Gilbert Joiner to earn the win.
Editor’s note: It should also be noted that besides pitching his team into the finals, Steve Black of Innovative Communications also somehow found time to drive 5 miles down the road to the complex where the lower division was playing, to help coach the Page Brake 18-and-under squad. All in a day’s work. A well deserved tip of the cap to Steve.
Update: 4/8/08: Quick results from SCIFL News blog:
The first SCIFL Las Vegas Road Trip is in the books with New Image of Wisconsin taking the upper division over Innovative Communication of Utah, who faced a tough day in playing five games in a row. In the “A†bracket, it was a So Cal final as the Caribbeans came back in the “If†game to take the championship over the Palm Springs Express.
4/7/08: Brief results in the “A” division: An undefeated Caribbean team was playing a once-beaten Palm Springs squad in the finals Sunday afternoon. Gilbert Joiner tossed a 3-0 gem against the So Cal Hustlers in the winner’s bracket final, while Graham Balog and his Palm Springs teammates held on for a 6-5 win in the loser’s bracket final over the Hustlers to get into the finals.
All results, including the upper division, at the official SCIFL website soon.
Maddy’s photos for both divisions later in the week.