From the DuQuonn Evening Call:
By Jeff Profitt/GateHouse News Service
Elkville Fastpitch placed second in the prestigious Altamont Tournament Sunday night. Pictured in the front row (L to R) are Greg Winchester, Chad Reams, Aaron Hinter, Les Wood, Barry Maynor, Cade Freeman and Tim Herring. In back (L to R) stand Warren Yates, Waylan Leonard, Lance Bedar, Drew Porter, Nathan Hunter, Shawn Hunter and Troy Downen. Jeff Profitt photo.
Elkville Fastpitch enjoyed its highest finish ever in Illinois’ longest running in-season tournament, placing second late Sunday at the 32nd Annual Altamont Fourth of July Invitational.
Winning five of seven games over a span of less than 48 hours, Elkville (28-7) lost twice against tournament winner Wessel’s Coors Light of Teutopolis.
However, they walked away with the top individual awards as Chad Reams (15-for-23, 5 home runs, 12 RBI) was named Most Valuable Player.
Reams hit three of the homers-including a walk-off blast to end things-against Wessel’s in Saturday’s first title game.
Elkville pitcher Les Wood struck out 50 batters during the weekend, compiling a 4-1 record. He saved the fifth Elkville win.
Early Saturday morning, Elkville’s run began with a 6-1 victory over Mascoutah’s Pete’s Blues/PK Broward.
Wood fanned 11 and scattered five hits. Aaron Hunter knocked in two runs with Lance Bedar going 3-for-3.
Troy Downen and Wood combined to limit defending ASA Class B State Champion Mississippi Valley Merchants (Mendon) to just six hits in a 4-0 win early Saturday evening. Wood and Downen combined to strike out nine as Waylon Leonard, Barry Maynor and Reams all ripped two hits. Reams and Leonard tripled with Maynor adding a double.
In a contest that ended shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday, Elkville handed Vandalia’s Guaranteed Air Freight its first Altamont Tournament loss since 2002, taking a thrilling 4-2 win .
Reams’ three-run homer in the fifth was the deciding blow as Elkville rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Vandalia pitcher Alan Meinhardt.
Tim Herring added a solo home run and Shawn Hunter doubled. Reams (double) and Leonard also hit safely.
Wood was ultra-sharp, allowing only five hits with nine strikeouts.
Sunday afternoon, Elkville suffered its first loss in the winners bracket final. Wessel’s won 9-3, scoring the final nine runs of the game.
Elkville had an early 3-0 edge on RBI hits by Warren Yates, Reams and A. Hunter.
Downen was the losing pitcher. Maynor went 2-for-3 with Drew Porter and Herring contributing doubles.
Falling into the losers bracket final, Elkville rode Wood’s gutsy pitching effort to a hard-fought 6-4 win against Pete’s/PK Broward.
Bedar’s grand slam broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning.
Reams and Yates (2-for-3) knocked in Elkville’s first two runs.
Wood tossed a six-hitter with 12 strikeouts.
Wessel’s Coors Light held a 4-2 lead entering the sixth inning in the first title showdown before Elkville rallied.
Reams’ second solo shot of the game sliced the lead down to just one and a throwing error on S. Hunter’s fielders choice later in the frame tied the score.
Walks to Greg Winchester and Leonard starting the seventh set the stage for Reams’ heroics. He blasted a towering home run over the centerfield fence to give Elkville the thrilling win, 7-4. Reams finished the game with three home runs and six RBI.
Wood worked the final 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts in relief of Downen.
A. Hunter had two hits with Porter and Winchester adding safeties.
Reams contined a remarkable weekend with a two-run opposite field homer in third inning of the “if necessary gameâ€, staking Elkville to an early 2-1 edge.
In the fourth, Elkville pushed ahead 3-1 when S. Hunter scored from second base on Yates’ infield out.
Wessels, however, would tie the score in the sixth and plated what turned out to be the winning run with two hits against Wood in the seventh.
Elkville had the tying and go-ahead runners on base as the game ended.
Wood, who singled, tried to score from third base with two outs on a wild pitch. He was retired at the plate on a close play, giving Wessel’s its first-ever Altamont crown.
Reams was 2-for-3 with Bedar, A. Hunter, Herring and Nathan Hunter rapping hits.
Wood gave five hits, striking out seven.
Prior to Sunday, Elkville’s highest finish at Altamont had been a third place showing in 1999.
Tournament co-host Altamont Home Center ended up fourth in the final standings with Vandalia and Norhen Farms Heat from Villa Grove sharing fifth place.
Pete’s Blues/PK Broward took home third place.
Elkville is idle for the rest of the week and plays host to next weekend’s SIFL Tournament.