1971 held at Meador Park in Springfield, Missouri on September 10-18.
Champion – Welty Way, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Runner Up – Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, Connecticut
A four-run fourth inning and Jerry Ralfs’ five-hitter Sunday gave Welty Way a 4-3 decision over the Raybestos Cardinals in the finals of the Amateur Softball Association Nationals tournament.
The big blow for the Iowa ASA champions was a three-run home run by Mike Pallesen. Roger Aceto’s infield hit the first of the game for Welty Way and a walk to Ed White preceded the homer.
Gary Morow’s infield hit later in the inning sent home what proved to be the winning run. A walk and John Muench’s single set up what proved to be the winning run.
Raybestos Cardinals, seeking its third straight title, collected five hits off veteran Ralfs who also struck out six. Three errors helped Stratford to score three runs in the sixth.
Clearwater Bombers won 62 consecutive games during the regular season.
Raybestos Cardinals announced after the tournament that they were disbanding, even though they would form a team again in 1972. They notified the players via a letter to the players.
- MVP – Ty Stofflet, Rising Sun Hotel
- Batting Leader – Al Yaeger, Raybestos Cardinals – .455
- Home Run Leader – N/A
- Most Outstanding Pitcher Award – Roy Burlison, Anixter Bombers
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Roy Burlison, Anixter Bombers (3-2, 35 K in a 16-inning game, 98 K total, 43 IP)
P – Ty Stofflet, Rising Sun (3-2, Perfect Game, 43 IP, 79 K, 33 K in a 16 inning game, and was 6-20, .379 batting)
P – Jerry Ralfs, Welty Way (3-0, 17 IP, 22 K)
C – Don Benedict, Raybestos Cardinals
C – Dick Zuccato, Welty Way
1B – George Adam, Raybestos Cardinals
2B – Bob Barron, Anixter Bombers
3B – Chuck Page, Masterbilt Motors
SS – John Anquillare, Raybestos Cardinals
OF – Al Yaeger, Raybestos Cardinals (10-22, 2 RBI, 6 Runs)
OF – Mike Pallesen, Welty Way (3-run HR difference in 5-2 championship game victory)
OF – Carl Walker, Raybestos Cardinals
OF – Bruce Pitts, Armed Forces
UT – Mike McElrath, Wiegand Engineers
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Jay Bob Bickford, Sports Clubs of America (3-2)
P – Al Lewis, Raybestos Cardinals (2-0)
P – Richie Stephens, Welty Way (2-0, 35 IP, 30 K)
C – Marvin Harris, Masterbilt Motors
C – Pat Whitten, Wiegand Engineers
1B – Robbie Robinson, Armed Forces
2B – Phillip Johnson, Armed Forces
3B – Jerry Jenkins, Anixter Bombers
SS – John Muench, Welty Way
OF – Gary Stephenson, Masterbilt Motors
OF – Paul Price, Rising Sun
OF – Bill LeSeuer, Sports Clubs of America
OF – Cliff Rice, Welty Way
UT – Mickey Herbert, Chuck’s Dairy
OTHERS
Dick Norenburg, Raybestos Cardinals (3-1)
Metro Szeryk, Raybestos Cardinals (2-1)
Dick Brubaker, Anixter Bombers (No Hitter with 19 K in a 7 inning game)
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Welty Way, Cedar Rapids, IA (5-0) (Western)
2. Raybestos Cardinals, Stratford, CT (6-2) (Defending Champ)
3. Anixter Bombers, Skokie, IL (4-2) (West Central)
4. Rising Sun Hotel, Reading, PA (3-2) (Central Atlantic)
5t. Masterbilt Motors, Oklahoma City, OK (4-2) (Southwestern)
5t. Sports Clubs of America, Mesa, AZ (3-2) (Cactus)
7t. Armed Forces, USA (4-2) (Armed Forces)
7t. Wiegand Engineers, Fort Worth, TX (2-2) (Texas)
9t. Chuck’s Dairy, Minneapolis, MN (2-2) (Northern)
9t. Falstaff Brewers, Fall River, MA (1-2) (New England)
9t. Shell Oilers, Nashville, TN (1-2) (South Atlantic)
9t. Little Brauhaus, Poughkeepsie, NY (1-2) (Mid-Atlantic)
13t. Clearwater Bombers, Clearwater, FL (1-2) (Southern)
13t. Scenic Riley, Springfield, MO (1-2) (Host)
13t. Muzio Bakery, Sacramento, CA (0-2) (North Pacific Coast)
13t. Lakewood Truckers, Lakewood, CA (0-2) (South Pacific Coast)
17t. Nothdurft Tool, Detroit, MI (0-2) (East Central)
17t. Pay ‘n Pak, Seattle, WA (0-2) (Northwestern)
17t. Puueo Poi, Hilo, HI (0-2) (Hawaii)
17t. Hagestad VW, Englewood, CO (0-2) (Rocky Mountain)
NOTES
Alaska Champ – Alaska Builders Cache, Anchorage, AK did not attend. Hawaii Champ – Midas Muffler, Oahu, HI listed as champ, but Puueo Poi, Hilo, HI attended.
