AGELESS WONDER MIKE TROTTER MOST VALUABLE PITCHER
The Southern Oregon Bandits won the 49th Annual Seattle Invitational over the weekend at Kasch Park in Everett, WA. They defeated the Boise River Dogs 2 – 1 to win the championship.
The Bandits is Mike Trotter’s team (Yes, 70 year old Mike Trotter). He won 4 of the Bandits 6 games, including the last 2 back-to-back on Sunday afternoon with the temperature about 90 degrees. I think last year I described him as the “ageless” Mike Trotter. I may have to do that again. Mike won the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament
The Boise River Dogs. They had a great tournament too. In the Semi’s, they defeated Team Jones and Greg “Spud” Barker 1 – 0 (what a game) to reach the Championship Game. Their workhorse pitcher Shane Alder was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
He was also batting 12 for 19 going into the championship game.
It was another great tournament. However, it was also a l-o-n-g weekend. For the first time in my 28 years as TD, I had to go to the international tie breaker rule. On Saturday night, Game # 19, between the Bandits and the Portland Pirates, was the first time. That game started at 6:30. At 10:30 pm that game was tied at 18 – 18 (a 4 hour 7 inning game!). The game ended at 10:47 pm. This game had everything; arguments, fights, expulsions, close plays (a catcher broke his collar bone in a collision at home plate), lots of hits, errors, over-throws, equipment malfunctions……….and yes, poor umpiring. The Bandits finally put Trotter in to end the game. I got home and to bed about 2:00, back up at 5:00 am.
The K-Club (from Bremerton) defeated the Sting (Seattle) to win the Consolation game 11 – 2.
All Star Team
C – Jamie Kubena (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Josh McGowan (Southern Oregon Bandits)
IF – Danny Ryan (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Brain Stanton (Boise River Dogs)
IF – Jeremy Welsh (K-Club)
IF – Nick Harris (Boise River Dogs)
OF – D J Lyon (Southern Oregon Bandits)
OF – Ryan Goodman (Southern Oregon Bandits)
UT – Marcus Durbin (Southern Oregon Bandits)
UT – Danny Mecum (Southern Oregon Bandits)
P – Dan Kolda (K-Club)
P – Darren Strang (Sting)
MVPitcher – Mike Trotter (Southern Oregon Bandits)
MVPlayer – Shane Alder (Boise River Dogs)