The Winnipeg Bullets (Canada), the 2010 North American Fastpitch Association “A” World Series Champions.
Photos By BOB OTTO
WEST DES MOINES, DES MOINES, IA – The Winnipeg Bullets didn’t play a lot of games this season. And they only played in one tournament, losing in the consolation final in Fargo, North Dakota.
So coming into the NAFA “A” World Series tournament a few questions needed answering: Had the Bullets played enough together to jell as a unit? Had the Bullets played enough to survive a long, grueling climb through the 42-team World Series? Did the Bullets have enough pitching and hitting to pull off a championship run?
The answers were found on Sunday, and they were yes, yes, and definitely yes, as Winnipeg overpowered the Exit Diamond Realty from Pennsylvania, 12-8, in the “if necessary” game to win the NAFA World Series championship.
Exit knocked off Winnipeg, 6-4, in the first championship game by scoring five times in the bottom of the fourth inning to overcome a 4-1 deficit and force a second game. The Bullets – which has its roster about evenly split between Winnipeg and Fargo, ND – finished with a 6-1 record.
WINNIPEG SCORES RUNS
The two teams met earlier in the winner’s bracket final with Winnipeg taking an 8-3 decision. And that kind of run production proved to be the difference for Winnipeg as its heavy-hitting lineup averaged 8.5 runs per game.
Five players especially stepped up and were selected to the All World team, including Dean Govereau, Stephen Ceslak, Brad Popik, Tyler Bruner, and Brad Erstad.
NAFA “A” All World players include Bryan Erstad, Winnipeg, front left, Dustin Snyder, Exit; Dean Govereau, Winnipeg; Clyde Zimmerman, Exit; and back row, left, Stephen Ceslak, Winnipeg; Brad Popik, Winnipeg; and Tyler Bruner, Winnipeg.
Erstad, a powerful hitter, captured the Most Valuable Player award by belting two home runs with an incredible 23 RBI. And Ceslak wasn’t far behind with two homers and 17 RBI’s.
Yet, there were some close calls during the four-day tourney that ran from Aug. 19 to the 22nd. None more critical than a comeback win over a very good Colorado team, 8-5, in eight innings with Kyle Koterba’s three-run homer the difference, along with a complete game effort from Popik.
“We played a very good Fort Collins team (fifth place) and we were down in a few games, but we are all good hitters,” said Player / Manager, Bob Lanoie, “and we play well together. Nobody gets down and we jelled at the right time.”
