Fargo, NAFA OPEN Wrap Up – Sooke over Angels

Written by Bob on June 19th, 2013

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By Benjie Hedgecock / June 17, 2013
NAFA Executive Director

The 2013 NAFA Open World Series in Fargo, North Dakota was a huge success this past weekend and we want to thank these people for making it such a great experience for the teams, players and fans. The NAFA Website is at nafafastpitch.com

Tournament Director Kyle Koterba did an extraordinary job with the event and was a great host to the 10 teams, players and their fans that participated. Kyle did a great job moving the tourney to another park after the main park which had flooded earlier this year was unplayable.

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Sooke Loggers claim NAFA Open-Holm Classic title

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

FARGO, ND – In fastpitch softball, ball players must have short memories. They must put bad outings and disappointing losses behind them.

Sometimes easier said than done. The Sooke Loggers would know.

In last year’s NAFA Open World Series championship, the Loggers suffered a gut wrenching, 9-8, loss to the Circle Tap Dukes. After leading by four runs in the seventh inning, the Loggers saw that hefty lead vanish as Circle Tap rallied for five runs to seize the title.

But there would be no gut-wrenching loss this year. No going back to British Columbia, Canada disappointed. Loggers’ pitcher Scott Lieph made sure of that.

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Undefeated, Loggers take the fast-pitch trophy

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

By Britt Santowski – Sooke News Mirror
Published: May 29, 2013 5:00 AM

SOOKE, BC – The Sooke Loggers played in the Kelowna May Days fast pitch softball tournament on May 17 to 19, and walked away as the undefeated champions.

On Friday night, squinting into the 9 p.m. sunset, the Loggers squared up against the Westbank Cardinals and made the sport look easy with a 17 to 7 victory.

“We hit four home runs in the game and the hitting attack was lead by Nick Medwedrich and Kyle Cowick,” summarized Len Banner, the team’s Field Manager.

Continue reading in Sooke News Mirror

 

Sooke Blue Flames burn for more players

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

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“It’s very developmental at this stage…The goal is to catch any developing bad habit and correct it, and to catch any developing good habit and nurture it. These players are a dedicated bunch, and are having a lot of fun trying different positions and learning this great game.” – boys’ coach Darrell Ell

By Britt Santowski – Sooke News Mirror
Published: June 05, 2013 5:00 AM

SOOK, BC – Saturday’s weather was great for a two game set of fast pitch softball at Art Morris Park. The Sooke U12 Boys, also known as the Sooke Blue Flames, faced some great pitching in the first game and lost 16-7 to Langford. Continue reading about boys’ fastpitch in Canada

 

Big lumber swinging Loggers advance to NAFA Open championship

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

FARGO, ND – The undefeated (4-0) Sooke Loggers of British Columbia came into Sunday’s NAFA Open semifinal outscoring its opponents by a whopping 32-5 margin.

The big question? Could Randy’s A’s silence the Loggers’ hot bats?

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Sooke Loggers and Randy’s A’s advance to semifinals

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

FARGO, ND – Newton and Gabriel lead Randy’s to victory, while hard-hitting and high-scoring Sooke Loggers continue to roll in the NAFA Open-Holm Classic.

    Randy’s A’s 3
    Kegel Black Knights 2

The Black Knights trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning and were two outs away from defeat. But Travis De Jong worked Randy’s pitcher Brian Newton for a walk, and B.J. Boom made him pay dearly by belting a triple that plated De Jong to tie the game.

After a scoreless eighth, the tiebreaker went into effect in the ninth. Kegel threatened in their top of the inning by putting runners on first and third with two out. But Newton struck out Rob Geisbrecht to end the threat.

Now the A’s had their opportunity. It started with tie-breaking runner Cory Giroux placed at second base, and Vegas Antoine at the plate. Jim Hartman, who was pitching a solid game, struck out Antoine.

But he couldn’t get Kevin Gabriel.

The third baseman hit a clean single, driving in Giroux with the game winner. Gabriel, batting in the No. 6 spot, led the A’s with two RBIs, while going 2-for-4. First baseman, Eli Jules also drove in a run and went 2-4, and catcher Chad Ghostkeeper was 3-4 with a run.

Newton turned in a gem in the circle for Randy’s. He allowed two runs, scattered four hits and struck out nine Black Knights to pick up the win and move his team on in the playoffs.

But Kegel’s Jim Hartman was tough too. The right-hander from South Dakota held a very good hitting A’s (3-1) to two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts. Kegel’s exits the tournament with a 1-3 record, but all its games were decided by one run.

    Sooke Loggers 9
    Circle Tap Dukes 2

The Loggers were leading 3-2 into the fourth inning and then broke the game open by scoring six runs, highlighted by Adam Schnarr’s solo home run, Chad Bryden’s bases-loaded double that scored two runs; Blake Hunter’s two-run triple, and Brian Banners run-scoring single.

Loggers’ pitcher, Scott Lieph, made the lead stand up by holding a good hitting Circle Tap to two earned runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Sooke roughed up Circle Tap starter Rob Schweyer for 12 hits and nine earned runs, including three home runs by Kris Walushka, Kyle Cowick, and Schnarr.

The win advances Pool B, No. 1 seed, Loggers (4-0), into the semifinals of the lower bracket where they will meet Pool A, No. 2 seed, Randy’s A’s (3-1) in a noon game at Lindenwood Park in Fargo. The 2012 NAFA Open defending champion Circle Tap leaves the tournament at 2-3.

Angels knock off D-Backs, and Bullets survive Toros
Minnesota Angels 8 Saskatoon Diamondbacks 2 (no information available)
Winnipeg Bullets 1 Topeka Toros 0 (no information available)

The Angels and Bullets will battle in the upper bracket semifinal for the right to play for the 2013 NAFA Open-Holm Classic crown.

 

Let the NAFA Open playoffs begin

Written by Bob on June 16th, 2013

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FARGO, ND – Saturday was for jockeying for position. Now the serious work of winning a NAFA Open championshipbegins. And this is the way it’s shaping out for the 10 teams of the 2013 NAFA Open-Holm Classic on Sunday.

In the upper bracket, Pool A and No. 5 seed Rooters Bar of Fargo takes on Pool B, No. 4 Winnipeg Bullets. The winner advances to battle Pool A’s, No. 1 seeded Topeka Toros.

Also in the upper bracket, the Saskatoon Diamondbacks of Pool B, the No. 2 seed plays Pool A’s, No. 3 seeded Minnesota Angels. With the winner advancing to the noon game against the winner of the Toros and Bullets (just in, the Bullets defeated Rooters 9-2, to advance).

In the lower bracket, Pool B, No. 5 seed, West Fargo Knights meets Pool A, No. 4 seed Circle Tap of Denmark, Wis. The winner moves on to meet the Sooke Loggers, Pool B’s No. 1 seed.

While, Randy’s A’s, Pool A, No. 2 seed tangles with Pool B, No. 3 seed, Kegel Black Knights of Fargo, with the winner meeting the Loggers / Kegel-Randy’s victor.

Should be a great round of games leading to the championship scheduled for 2 p.m. at Lindenwood Park in Fargo.

Visit NAFA Open Playoffs Bracket

 

Topeka Toros stay perfect in NAFA Open

Written by Bob on June 15th, 2013

FARGO, ND – Second baseman, Matt Thornton, batting in the two spot, ignited the Topeka Toros offense by blasting a solo homer in the first inning that fueled the Toros on to an 8-1 victory over Rooters Bar of Fargo, Saturday night.

The win gives the Toros a 3-0 record in Pool A of the NAFA Open-Holm Classic and the No. 1 seed going into Sunday’s single elimination playoff.

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Circle Tap blasts Rooters Bar in NAFA Open

Written by Bob on June 15th, 2013

FARGO, ND – The Circle Tap Dukes came into the NAFA Open-Holm Classic as the No. 8 ranked team in the world of men’s fastpitch softball.

But the Dukes found themselves not living up to their lofty ranking with two losses. One of those loses was a 10-0 knockout by the No. 15 Sooke Loggers.

So Circle Tap needed to get rid of the sour taste of defeat.

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Top of lineup helps Topeka Toros to first-round win at NAFA Open

Written by Bob on June 15th, 2013

FARGO, ND – The Topeka Toros (1-0) got off to a great start in the NAFA Open-Holm Classic by beating a very good Randy’s A’s (1-1) from British Columbia, 4-1, at Lindenwood Park in Fargo, Saturday.

The Toros and A’s matched hits with six apiece, but when it came to “clutch,” Topeka couldn’t have asked much more from the top of its lineup.

    The main protagonists?

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