[Alsfastball] Eau Claire Classic - semi finals and championship

[Stu Taylor]

Semifinal action from the 38th Annual Eau Claire Classic Tournament:

Game 29     IS Knights   4
             Farm Tavern  3
WP-Michael White
LP-Todd Martin

Summary - When we last left you we had reported Farm leading 3-0 in
their half of the 7th.  After no runs in their half it appeared they
were in control and headed to the title game.  But the Knights had other
ideas for their half of the inning.  After Holoien struck out the first
batter, Bob Fleming doubled.  That brought lead off hitter Greg Cascaes
homered off Holoien.  That was all manager Rod Peterson needed to see,
as the Farm's lead was suddenly trimmed to just 1!  In enters Todd
Martin who walks the first batter he faces, an error by Farm first
basemen Dan Smet put runners on first and second, and a PB moves the
runners to second and third with still just 1 out.  That's when it
happened, Steve Baumgartner sends a laser to the gap in right center
(which Paul Rosebush amazingly almost caught up with) to plate both
runners and give the IS Knights the win 4-3 over the Farm!


Game 30     County Materials  4
             Circle Tap        1
WP-Darren Zack
LP-Robbie O'Brien

Summary - With Lucas Mata for County and O'Brien for Circle Tap the fans
new they were in for a great game and they were not disappointed.  The
Tapper's struck first blood in the opening inning.  Chris Miljovac
tripled with 1 out, and scored on Robbie O'Brien sac fly to center.  But
County Materials struck back quickly.  After going down in order in the
top of the 1st, Brad Rona led off with a HR in the 2nd.  County manager
John Becker called on veteran Darren Zack in the 5th to relieve Mata
while the game was still tied at 1-1.  In the County half of the 6th
things changed.  O'Brien retired the first batter but then walked the
next two.  Needless to say things started to heat up on the field, as
O'Brien felt the zone was tightening up a bit.  With runners at first
and second, Joe Westfall singled home the go ahead run.  In came Dewey
Dyck to stop the bleeding.  Dyck walked the lead off hitter Rychick, and
retired the next batter on a short fly to center.  With 2 out Thomas
Makea ripped a single to plate 2 more runs and that was all Zack needed
as he cruised through the 6th and 7th to get the win!


Game 31  Championship Game
          County Materials  7
          IS Knights        2
WP-Darren Zack
LP-Pat Johnson

Summary - As fans started to return to Carson Park after off and on rain
throughout most of the day, like magic the skies cleared and the sun
returned for the Championship game.  With Pitcher Michael White headed
to catch a flight home, the Knights turned to Pat Johnson.  County
Materials countered with Darren Zack.  Fans were excited to see Zack
back on the mound for the Championship, where they became familiar with
him when he was with Decatur Pride.  Darren did not disappoint throwing
brilliantly and leading County to their 1st Eau Claire Classic Title!
County struck quickly in the 1st with a Rychick single and a Schultz
double to take a 1-0 lead.  It remained that way until the 3rd when
County struck again with a lead off HR.  Makea was later HBP, stole
second and came around to score on Gollan's single to right leaving
County up 3-0.  The IS Knights were not going away without a fight
however.  Cascaes led off with a single and after a Wandlar strikeout
Tony Kunka blasted a 2 run HR over the scoreboard!  That left the score
3-2 heading into the 5th.  County quickly struck back with Rychick
walking, a Schultz single, and another walk to Makea.  In steps Brad
Rona.  With John Tschida in relief of Johnson, Rona hits a "monster"
grand slam to wow the fans.  Tournament officials measured the HR at 335
ft!  That was all that was needed for County as Lucas Mata came in to
relieve Zack.  Mata gave up just 1 hit and struck out 7 in three innings
of work.

Congratulations to John Becker and his County Material team for their
first Classic Championship!  Also to Paul Lybeck and the IS Knights for
their runner-up performance.  We would like to thank all teams that
participated in this year's tournament, and invite all of you to attend
next year's Classic, June 24-26, 2005!

Stu Taylor
EC Classic Tournament Director
mailto:Stu.Taylor at ci.eau-claire.wi.us

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