Ashland, OH Merchants and Thomson, IL Area Merchants competed in the ASA Major Championship this past weekend in South Bend, IN. Both teams will be in the ISC II ToC in Kitchener later this month.

Thomson finished 2-3, losing to eventual winner Circle Tap in their first game.
Circle Tap 3 Thomson 1
Thomson 10, Duncan Outlaws, Elkhart, IN 5
Thomson 1 Ashland Merchants 0

One run was all the Thomson, IL Area Merchants needed to even their record in the Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship Saturday at 1-1.It was the second loss in as many games for the Merchants who lost their opener to Circle Tap 3-1. The lone run came in the first inning when Kraig Sommers doubled and scored one out later on a single by Casey Eden. Ashland never got a runner past second base against winning pitcher Jonas Mach. Losing pitcher was Scott Hershey who fanned five batters.

Plangger’s Furniture 6 Thomson 5

After allowing five runs in the first inning, Doug Sleep closed the door on the Thomson Area, IL Merchants as Plangger’s Furniture of Benton Harbor, MI evened its record at 1-1 in the Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship Friday. Sleep allowed eight hits and only three after the first inning when the losers tallied five times on an RBI single by Scott Glazier, and a pair of two-run homers by Bruce Bielema and Marquis Cody. Cody’s homer was the first inside-the-park homer of the tournament. Plangger’s fought back and scored once in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Doc Brown and added two runs in the second and three in the third inning against losing pitcher Brad Cheyne, who allowed 10 hits. Shortstop Brent Mallernee had a two-run double in the second inning, Gary Cooper had a two-run double and Steve Hamming an RBI single in the third inning for Plangger’s.

Patsy’s 10 Thomson 0 (six innings)

Friday evening Patsy’s improved its record to 3-1 by beating the Thomson Area, IL Merchants in a six-inning run rule contest. Winning pitcher Adam Folkard fanned 11 in four innings with Terry Luster finishing up, striking out four in two innings. Brad Cheyne was the loser, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs (seven earned runs). He fanned four and walked one. Jeff Hook drove in four runs for Patsy’s which has rebounded after an opening game loss to win three games in a row.

Thomson shortstop Kraig Sommers was named second-team All American.

Ashland finished 0-3, having the misfortune to draw defending champion and eventual silver medallist Florida Fastpitch in their first game.
Florida Fastpitch 9 Ashland 2
Thomson 1 Ashland 0
Patsy’s 11 Ashland 0 (five innings)

Patsy’s wasted no time in seizing command of the game against the Ashland, OH Merchants, scoring six runs in the first two innings on seven hits. The runs came on a two-run homer by Frank DeGroat, a two-run triple by Chris Miljavac and a sac fly by Adam LaLonde. LaLonde added an RBI single in the third inning to expand the lead to 7-0. LaLonda got his third RBI with a single in the fifth inning expanding the lead to 8-0. Orlando Rodriguez made it 10-0 with a two-run double to left field and Louie Joglar singled in the 11th run in a four-run fifth. Winner Gerald Muzielaar hurled the first three innings before right-hander Terry Luster entered in the fourth inning and pitched the remainder of the game. Muzielaar allowed only a pair of singles, fanned four batters and walked one. Luster fanned five and allowed one hit. LaLonde led the winners with two singles, a double and three RBI. DeGroat also had three hits for Patsy’s (2-1).

Game info courtesy:
Bill Plummer
bplummer@softball.org