Seattle Invite Men’s Fastpitch Tournament
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 5:00pm – Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 6:00pm

Location:
Hidden Valley Sports Park
1905 112th Avenue Northeast
Bellevue, WA

Lightning win Petoskey tournament for 2nd year in a row. Capped off the weekend with a 7-0 victory over Tiffany’s Food & Spirits in the final. The bats were hot all weekend (including back-to-back-to-back-to-back homeruns in game 2 from Bill Kunkel, Ryan Saylor, Brian Skirka and Trevor Kelly. The Lightning pitching staff of Sean Kelly, Trevor Kelly, and Tyler Kelly did not give up a run all weekend.

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Blackshaw spins six-hitter to deny D&M’s Stars and Stripes title hopes
By BRIAN MILLER For Sun-Times Media

They might be a one-trick pony, but the No. 9 Bar of Appleton men’s fastpitch softball team doesn’t seem to care since its one trick, ace pitcher Andy Blackshaw, is pretty darn good.

Blackshaw shut out the No. 12 Shamrocks over seven innings, allowing just six hits and walking none, while striking out 10 as Appleton picked up a 6-0 win in the championship game of the Stars and Stripes Tournament held Sunday at the Stuart Sports Complex in Aurora.

“He’s getting into his groove now,” Appleton catcher Jesse Delorit said. “This is the time to do that. No walks today, walks kill you.”

“He’s just a good young pitcher,” Dolan & Murphy coach Robin Reder said. “But he’s the type of pitcher we need to face for the upcoming tournaments.”

Blackshaw, who walked five batters and struck out seven in a 5-2 win over the Shamrocks on Saturday, dominated and at one point retired 10 straight batters to become the unofficial MVP of the tournament.

“It’s just how the day went,” Reder said. “We’ve had good at-bats for the most part this year. Again, he’s a tough pitcher so you’re not going square the ball up.”

The Shamrocks gave up two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings — a hole far too big to dig themselves out of with Blackshaw on the rubber.

“With Andy on the mound, yes, you should win, (with a lead),” Delorit said. “If we get four or five runs like we did, we should capitalize and win the ballgame.”

A little luck helped Appleton in the second, when with bases loaded and two outs, Mike Armitage’s soft looper to the grass behind second base could not be caught by Shamrocks’ shortstop Dave Perkins.

“That hurt,” Reder said. “That gets the momentum down because you can’t get behind a pitcher like that. It’s awful tough to come back.”

Said Perkins: “Even though it’s a 6-0 final, if it’s zero-zero going to the third, mentally it’s a different game for everyone. … The ball was just spinning and when I got to it, I didn’t get my throwing hand on top of it to cover it up.”

The Shamrocks had a chance to push across runs in the top of the third, but ended up leaving the bases loaded despite three hits in the inning.

“Guys have to step up and just be happy putting the ball in play in that situation,” said Perkins, who singled in the inning and finished 2 for 4. “We’re thinking too much about driving in runs. We just have to put a bat on the ball and not strikeout with guys in scoring position.”

Appleton broke open the game in the bottom half of the next two innings with a two-run single by Delorit in the third, and a two-run single by cousin Chris Delorit in the bottom of the fourth.

Perkins led the Shamrocks at the plate, while Jim Pecoraro, Mike Glock, Mark Kleffner and Cooper Carson all picked up hits.

Appleton heads back to Wisconsin a winner, again, happy to have enjoyed success over the holiday weekend.

“We love coming down here,” Delorit said. “Aurora always puts on a good show. It was fun playing in Elgin at the (Chicago Bandits) stadium in front of the women’s fans. It was nice to come down.”

And get a win, Appleton’s fourth weekend tournament victory in a row.

“We’re on a roll,” he added. “Just gotta keep rolling.”

Sparks were flying with one of the best fields ever the 18th Annual 4th of July was surprising.
With Teams from Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico the field of 15 teams had a great
time. Colorado made a return to Albuquerque with the intents of making a run on the tournament.

Lead by the Pueblo Bandits, Classics and Dilligaf the Northerners were ready to battle. The Bandits had the biggest National exposure ranked as high as #15 in the ISC rankings. Most other teams don’t show up on National rankings but were ready to make their stand.

It was time to play and the teams enjoyed the great weather and Hospitality. Most teams Played four games on Saturday. Wolfpack From Las Cruces NM were back to defend their Title and matched The Bandits Win for WIn. Bandits trip to the winners bracket finals Looked Like This:

Bamdits 9
Bulls 1
WP Paul Algar

Bandits10
EP Outsiders 0
WP Paul Algar

Bandits 8
Dilligaf 0
WP Paul Algar

The WolfPack had a very similar Trip:

Woflpack 6
Rocky Mtn Rebels 2
Wp Tony Mancha

Wolfpack W
NM Rippers L
WP Tony Mancha

Wolfpack 10
2nd to None 3
WP Tony Mancha

The Winners Bracket game was the Highlight of the Day. Tony Mancha and the Wolfpack were ready to attack. They beat the Bandits 1-0. On an unearned run in the first inning. The Wolfpack scored on two errors and a passed ball. But the Bandits could not meet the Challenge and Mancha No Hit the Bandits.

On Sunday the Bandits were out for revenge. They beat the NM RIppers 8-1. The Rippers were playing in only their second Tournament ever. What a great showing. The Rippers came in third place with Big walk off 2-1 win against the Delicias Mexico team. Speaking of revenge the Rippers were able to Beat their rivals the Alb Bulls on their way to the Sunday game against the Bandits.

The Finals. Wolfpack 5 Bandits 2.
Mancha out dueled Algar in a great Championship Game. Bandits scored
first 1-0 and the Wolfpack answered with Two Runs making it 2-1 Wolfpack in the first. The Pack continued to Score and were ahead 5-2 before the Bandits made one last rally. With the tying run at the Plate. Mancha Came up with a big Strikeout to end the threat and the Game.

Wolfpack 5
Bandits 2
WP Tony Mancha
LP Paul Algar