Cap tip: Brian Helwig
(click banner above for original news story)
SOUTH BEND — The Rivershark Twins of Ambler, Pa., exploded for nine runs in the fifth inning Sunday and defeated the Broken Bow (Neb.) Travelers, 11-2, in the championship game of the ASA Men’s Major fast-pitch national softball tournament at Belleville Park.
Ryan Wolfe, Jeff Goolagong and Pat Shannon hit home runs during the rally as the Twins completed a five-game unbeaten sweep through the 14-team tournament.
Todd Martin won his second game of the tourney for the Twins, who also play out of Kitchener, Ontario, in other major tournaments. Don Scott also won two games and Grant Patterson one.
Runner-up Broken Bow finished with a 3-2 record and the Minnesota Angels fought through the losers’ bracket to place third at 6-2.
The only Michiana-area entry, the Duncan Outlaws of Elkhart, were 1-2. Ex-Goshen athlete Allen Hodge was the winning pitcher in an 8-4 victory over the Dolan & Murphy Shamrocks of Aurora, Ill., and former Fairfield hurler Lane Bender lost a 2-1 duel to the Pueblo (Colo.) Bandits.
The Anderson Lawmen went 0-3.
Both Michigan entries fared well. The Marshall Lightning, last year’s ASA Class A national champions, finished fourth and the Midland Explorers tied for fifth, each at 3-2.
It was the fifth time in the last seven years that Belleville Park has hosted the event.