[Renton, WA} – Monday June 6th, 2005
JRW & Associates Gain Pacific NW ISC II Berth at Chissus Memorial
by Jim Williamson jrwilliamson@foodfacility.com

Renton, WA ISC II 23rd ranked JRW & Associates of Yakima, WA won three straight games in the elimination round for a first place finish at the 33rd Annual Chissus Memorial tournament on Sunday June 5. The ten team Chissus Memorial served as the ISC II qualifier for Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.

JRW & Associates has accepted a berth to the 2005 ISC II Tournament of Champions (ToC) in Chippewa Falls on August 13th-20th. Not Ranked Runner-up Regal Homes of Everett, who JRW defeated 6-3 in the finals, was a surprise finalist to the championship game. Regal, typically not a traveling team, is not expected to accept the ISC II berth. The third place team, 48th ranked Bucknell Park, playing under the sponsorship of Morgan Transfer, very likely will consider accepting the second berth. (In the absence of an ISC II Travel League in 2005, this qualifier provided the two berths for the Pacific NW).

In the elimination round, JRW beat not ranked Interbay Door of Seattle 6-3 and 48th ranked Morgan Transfer (Bucknell Park) 7-2 to reach the Championship game. Most Valuable Pitcher Dave Drotzmann (JRW) pitched back to back victories with 21 K’s in the two games and allowed only two earned runs. Most Valuable Player Mike Parham (JRW) had a 2 RBI single in the 3 run 6th inning to close out the victory over Morgan Transfer which gave JRW & Associates a berth to the ToC. Mike finished with a .786 BA See stats below. In the championship victory over Regal Homes, Pitcher Matt Barnes (JRW), returning from a two year absence from fastpitch softball, struck out 12 and didn’t walk any. Although the pesky Regal team got 11 hits, Matt stranded eight of them, ending 4 of the 7 innings with strikeouts.

JRW’s only loss in the tournament was in pool play on Saturday to 45th ranked Bodle Chiropractic 2-3 in a game with two International Tie-Breaker (ITB) innings. Norm Pipke (BC) of British Columbia struck out 9 in that victory. Bodle lost to eventual runner-up Regal Homes in the first round of elimination play on Sunday.

Game One (Sat) # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 022 360 1 – 14 19 1 N/R Interbay Door, Seattle 400 301 0 – 8 13 1 Matt Barnes, Dave Drotzmann 5th (WP) and Troy Grow; Kevin Rasmussen (LP) and Steve Morrison.Highlights: HR: Steve Drissel (JRW) Solo SS Mike Parham (JRW) 4-4, 4 R; DH Dave Drotzmann (JRW) 3-5, 4 RBI; LF Steve Drissel (JRW) 4-4, 2R, 3 RBI; CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 2-4, 2 RBI.JRW rallied from a seven run tie by scoring 6 runs in the top of the 6th inning. The inning was highlighted by a 2 RBI double by P Dave Drotzmann (JRW), an RBI single by CF Tim Fischer (JRW) and an RBI triple by LF Steve Drissel (JRW).

Game Two (Sat) # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 001 001 000 – 2 6 2 # 45 Bodle Chiropractic, Seattle 101 000 001 – 3 4 1 Dave Drotzmann (LP) and Troy Grow; Norm Pipke (WP) and Link Hawley Highlights: SS Mike Parham (JRW) 2-4; CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 3-4; LF Steve Drissel (JRW) 2 RBI Pitching: Dave Drotzman (JRW) 9 IP, 1 ER, 2 W, 9 K’s Norm Pipke (BC) 9 IP, 2 ER, 3 W, 9 K’s In the bottom of the 9th with ITB runner Cal Nehren (BC) on second and one out; an unsuccessful bunt attempt blocked the catcher (JRW) and Nehren stole third. The next batter (BC) hit a slow grounder which was errored on an attempt to throw home.

Game Three (Sat) N/R Rascals Casino, Seattle 100 00 – 1 4 3 # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 318 3x – 15 11 1 Duey Christensen (LP) and Nate Collins: Travis Kraft (WP), Dave Drotzmann 5th and Bob Harris; Highlights: HR: Tim Fischer (JRW) Grand Slam; Bob Harris (JRW) 3 Run HR LF Bob Harris (JRW) 1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI; DH Dave Drotzmann (JRW) 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI; CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 2-3, 2 R, 4 RBI; LF Bob Harris’ (JRW) 3 Run HR in the 3rd and CF Tim Fischer’s (JRW) Grand Slam in the same inning capped a 15 run outburst by JRW & Associates. Pitcher Travis Kraft (JRW), after allowing only four singles, pulled a groin muscle in the 5th with no outs and a walked runner on first. Relief pitcher Dave Drotzmann (JRW) ended the game on four pitches a 6U — 6-3 DP and a ground out, 6-3.

Game Four (Sun) Single Elimination Round Starts N/R Interbay Door, Seattle 000 201 0 – 3 5 1 # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 031 002 x – 6 9 2 Kevin Rasmussen (LP) and Steve Morrison; Dave Drotzmann (WP) and Troy Grow; Highlights: HR: 3B Mike Parham (JRW) 2 Run in the 2nd RF Steve Allen (JRW) 1-1, 1 R, 1 RBI; SS Mike Parham (JRW) 3-3, 2 R, 3 RBI Pitching: Dave Drotzmann (JRW) 7 IP, 2 ER, 12 SO, 2 W After Interbay closed to one run down, JRW scored the clinching runs in B6 on 3 singles, RF Steve Drissel’s (JRW) Sac fly and an OF error.

Game Five (Sun) Morgan Transfer, Lacey, WA 010 001 0 – 2 4 4 # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 011 113 x – 7 9 3 Kory Knight (LP), Trevor Knight 5th and Josh Baumgardner; Dave Drotzmann (WP) and Troy Grow. Highlights: 2B Don Cawthron (JRW) 2-4, 2 R; Mike Parham (JRW) 2-3, 1 R, 2 RBI. Most Valuable Player Mike Parham (JRW) had a 2 RBI single in the 3 run 6th inning to close out the victory over Morgan Transfer. Mike finished with a .786 BA.

Game Six (Sun) Championship Game N/R Regal Homes, Everett 101 010 0 – 3 11 2 # 23 JRW & Associates, Yakima 010 401 x – 6 11 1 Matt Barnes (WP) and Troy Grow; Jerry Rizzuto (LP) and Isiah Piquette; Highlights: 3B Casey Johnson (JRW) 2-3, 1 RBI; CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI; RF Steve Drissel (JRW) 1-3, 1 RBI; Don Cawthron 1-4, 2 RBI Pitching: Matt Barnes (JRW) 7 IP, 2 ER, 2W, 13 K’s;

JRW Tournament All-Stars Most Valuable Pitcher – Dave Drotzmann (JRW) 3-1, 27 IP, 3 ER, 6 W, 34 K, 0.778 ERA Most Valuable Player 3B Mike Parham (JRW) 11-14, .786, 7 Runs, 5 RBI, 1 HR, 3 SB, 1 W All-Star CF Tim Fischer (JRW) 8-20, .400, 8 Runs, 8 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 SB All-Star OF Steve Drissel (JRW) 6-16, .375, 6 Runs, 8 RBI, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 SB, 1 Sac;

Many, many thanks to Tournament Director Joe Bodle who handled lots of adversity in putting on another quality event. A pitching shortage for one team had Joe switching teams and fields even before the tournament started. The change away from the traditional Memorial Day weekend for the Chissus tournament left Joe in a dogfight over field use at the Liberty Complex. The Complex had to be cleared on Sunday by noon for Sally League Co-Ed play. Five of Sunday’s nine games for the Chissus Memorial were played at the Renton Hi School ball fields.

James Robert Williamson
Mailto:jrwilliamson@foodfacility.com