2001 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Champion – T’s 13/Nike, Omaha, NE (West)
Runner Up – Creative Stucco/Easton, Columbus, OH (East)
This season featured splitting the country into two halves (east and west) with the champions of each tournament going to Oklahoma City for the Hooters Softball Championship Series. In 2001 T’s 13/Nike would defeat Creative Stucco/Easton 3 games to 2.
In the first ever USA Softball National Championship Series, T’s 13 (Omaha, NE) opened a huge lead after posting big numbers in the second and third innings, scoring 11 and 12 runs, respectively going on to win a decisive game 5 over Creative Stucco/Easton (Columbus, OH). Nick Sailors hit a two-run home run, double, RBI-single and two-run single, while tournament MVP Mike Irvine hit a two-run homer and added a pair of sacrifice flies. Scott Gerdes hit a solo home run, a two-run triple and an RBI-double, Nate Babbit had a three-run home run, and two RBI-singles and Brian Holmes hit a two-run blast and a double. Jeff Vercellino and Dana Wendelin each had a home run, Wendelin’s was inside-the-park. Steve Skala drove in two runs with a single and Bobby Worden and Rick Kappius each had an RBI-double.
Tony Sharkins hit a three-run home run, a solo home run and a two-run double for Creative Stucco/Easton. Doug Shanyfelt had a three-run shot, Troy Rawlins a two-run and Jeff Click a solo. Tim Linson drove in a run with a double, while Rob Luneborg and Tom Ellis each had a double.
SCORES
- Creative Stucco/Easton 21-26
- T’s 13/Nike 33-21
- Creative Stucco/Easton 22-25
- T’s 13/Nike 26-11
- T’s 13/Nike 32-13
T’s 13 down 2 games to 1, came back and won the fourth and fifth games behind the power or Mike Irvine. Irvine hit 3 home runs and drove in 9 runs to lead the way for T’s and earn series MVP honors.
- Game 1: Creative Stucco hit seven home runs, with the big blast a pinch-hit grand slam from Joe Ausec that broke an 18-18 tie in the bottom of the fifth. Tony Sharkins hit a pair of homers, while Matt Furrey had a home run and a two-run triple. Troy Rawlins hit a two-run HR and a two-run double, while Tim Linson had a three-run blast and Doug Shanyfelt added a solo shot. For T’s 13, Mike Irvine hit two home runs: a three-run and a two-run shot, and a triple. Steve Skala had a two-run HR and Dana Wendelin had a solo HR.
- Game 2: A 17-run sixth inning pushed T’s 13 to victory. Scott Gerdes had a pair of home runs and a triple while Brian Holmes hit two home runs. Nick Sailors, Mike Irvine, Jeff Vercellino and Chad Merchant all had home runs for T’s and Steve Skala added two doubles. Tim Linson had two HR for Creative Stucco, while Troy Rawlins, Jay Ross and Gene Paszke had one homer each.
- Game 3: Creative Stucco hit nine home runs, with Tony Sharkins and Doug Shanyfelt hitting two each. Troy Rawlins, Matt Furrey, Tom Ellis, Tim Linson and Gene Paszke hit one HR each. T’s 13 got home runs from Mike Irvine, Jeff Vercellino, Scott Gerdes, Bobby Worden, Brent Mogenson and Steve Skala.
- Game 4: Mike Irvine hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and had six RBI for T’s 13. Nick Sailors was 4-for-4 with a home run, Brian Holmes was 3-for-3 with a home run and Nate Babbit and Rick Kappius each had a home run and three RBI. Tony Sharkins was 3-for-3 with a solo home run for Creative Stucco, while Tim Linson also had three hits and Tom Ellis had a home run and two runs driven in.
- Game 5: T’s 13 posted big numbers in the second and third innings, scoring 11 and 12 runs, respectively. Nick Sailors hit a two-run home run, double, RBI-single and two-run single, while tournament MVP Mike Irvine hit a two-run homer and added a pair of sacrifice flys. Scott Gerdes hit a solo home run, a two-run triple and an RBI-double, Nate Babbit had a three-run HR and two RBI-singles and Brian Holmes hit a two-run blast and a double Jeff Vercellino and Dana Wendelin each had a HR, Wendelin’s was inside-the-park, Steve Skala drove in two runs with a single and Bobby Worden and Rick Kappius each had an RBI-double. Tony Sharkins hit a three-run home run, a solo home run and a two-run double for Creative Stucco/Easton. Doug Shanyfelt had a three-run shot, Troy Rawlins a two-run and Jeff Click a solo. Tim Linson had an RBI double, while Rob Luneborg and Tom Ellis each had a double.
- MVP – Mike Irvine, T’s 13/Nike (7 HRs, 17 RBI)
- HR Leader – Mike Irvine, T’s – 7
- HR Leader – Tony Sharkins, Creative Stucco (12 RBI) – 7
- Batting Leader – Mike Irvine, T’s
2001 ASA A East Men’s Slow Pitch Nationals held at Dothan, Alabama on August 31 – September 3.
Champion – Creative Stucco/Easton, Columbus, OH
Runner Up – Paramount Builders/Worth, Virginia Beach, VA
- MVP – Doug Shanyfelt, Creative Stucco/Easton
- Batting Champion – Tracy Watson (17-20) – .850
- Batting Champion – Derek Oliver, Paramount Builders (34-40, 24 HR) – .850
- HR Champion – Derek Oliver, Paramount Builders/Worth (34-40, .850) – 24
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Doug Shanyfelt, Creative Stucco/Easton
C – Derek Oliver, Paramount Builders/Worth
1B – Roy Jarman, Paramount Builders/Worth
2B – Tim Linson, Creative Stucco/Easton
3B – Gene Paszke, Creative Stucco/Easton
SS – Randy Romagna, Paramount Builders/Worth
OF – Matt Furrey, Creative Stucco/Easton
OF – Rob Luneborg, Creative Stucco/Easton
OF – Reggie Brown, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
UT – Jerry Reynolds, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
UT – Tim Smith, Paramount Builders/Worth
UT – Robert Lane, Perkins Roofing/TPS
UT – Brad Jones, Perkins Roofing/TPS
UT – Charlie Brown, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
UT – David Allen, Paramount Builders/Worth
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Bruce Matzdorf, Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS
1B – Jason Wagner, C&M Sporting Goods
2B – John Steele, Perkins Roofing/TPS
3B – Mike Miller, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
SS – Dave Soult, Perkins Roofing/TPS
OF – Shane Buteaux, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
OF – Sean Mullins, Perkins Roofing/TPS
OF – Mike Much, Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS
OF – Kevin Atwood, Perkins Roofing/TPS
UT – Tim Lee, C&M Sporting Goods
UT – Travis Matthews, Paramount Builders/Worth
UT – Larry White, Paramount Builders/Worth
UT – Rick Terrill, Berardi’s/TPS
UT – Rob Roop, Central Paving
UT – Drew Judah, C&M Sporting Goods
THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – John Kotzelnick, Central Paving
C – Shawn Brandenburg, Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS
1B – Steve Spille, Perkins Roofing/TPS
2B – Ron Vogedes, Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS
3B – Raymond Moscoe, Berardi’s/TPS
SS – Jeff Click, Creative Stucco/Easton
OF – Billow Harvey, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
OF – Brad Bennett, Central Paving
OF – Shawn Harkins, Berardi’s/TPS
OF – Steve Laney, C&M Sporting Goods
UT – Lee Trotter, Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney
UT – Tom Ellis, Creative Stucco/Easton
UT – Pete Tourek, Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS
UT – Shawn Settle, Berardi’s/TPS
UT – Rob Wagers, Central Paving
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Creative Stucco/Easton, Columbus, OH (6-0)
2. Paramount Builders/Worth, Virginia Beach, VA (8-2)
3. Suncoast/Dudley/TPS/Smith Barney, Bradenton, FL (4-2)
4. Perkins Roofing/TPS, Cincinnati, OH (4-2)
5t. C&M Sporting Goods, Dothan, AL (3-2)
5t. Sid Grinker Co/Yamaha/TPS, Milwaukee, WI (6-2)
7t. Berardi’s/TPS, Lexington, KY (3-2)
7t. Central Paving, Carmel, IN (3-2)
9t. SCB/Denelex, Lake Grove, NY (3-2)
9t. Chief Transport, Benton, AR (2-2)
9t. EMR/Worth Softball, Cincinnati, OH (3-2)
9t. Riverside/TPS, Louisville, KY (3-2)
13t. Lighthouse Baptist, Chattanooga, TN (3-2)
13t. MS/Worth, Jackson, MS (3-2)
13t. Florida Heat/Nave Plbg/Joe Blacks/Worth, Sanibel, FL (2-2)
13t. Team Mizuno, Ft. Pierce, FL (2-2)
17t. Aubrey’s TPS, Savannah, GA (1-2)
17t. Bridges Sportsbar, Griffith, IN (1-2)
17t. Elza Construction, London, KY (1-2)
17t. Las Vegas Funjet/TPS, Milwaukee, WI (1-2)
17t. Reynolds Concrete/Fish Net, Panama City, FL (1-2)
17t. L&L Painting/TPS, Prattvile, AL (1-2)
17t. Smokes/Abs/Joe Corbis/TPS, Elliott City, MD (1-2)
17t. Worth/Sports Star, Louisville, KY (1-2)
25t. Kluever’s Snap-On/Easton, Metamora, IL (0-2)
25t. Team/South Dixie, Etown, KY (0-2)
25t. Diamond Sports, Gainsville, GA (0-2)
25t. J.W. Construction, Riverdale, GA (0-2)
25t. W.W. Gay/TPS, Gainesville, FL (0-2)
25t. Team A-H, West Carolton, OH (0-2)
25t. Jonesboro/TPS, Kingsport, TN (0-2)
25t. Viggiani Plumbing, Toms River, NJ (0-2)
33t. Bradlock/Tailgaters, Hagerstown, MD (0-2)
33t. Tommy Currid Investments, Milton, FL (0-2)
2001 ASA A West Men’s Slow Pitch Nationals held at McAllen, Texas on August 31-September 2.
Champion – T’s 13/Nike, Omaha, NE
Runner Up – Quick Roofing/Advanced, Texarkana, TX
- MVP – Bobby Worden, T’s 13/Nike
- HR Leaders – Wade Casey, Quick Roofing – 9
- HR Leaders – John Glidewell, Quick Roofing – 9
- HR Leaders – Rob Gundry, Quick Roofing – 9
- Batting Leader – Frankie Kubenka, Quick Roofing/Advanced Softball – .811
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Paul Sinnett, T’s 13
C – Soctt Gerdes, T’s 13
1B – Vince Bisbee, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
2B – Jeff Vercellino, T’s 13
3B – Shawn Watson, Phonemasters/TPS
SS – Wade Casey, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
OF – Mike Irving, T’s 13
OF – Tim Kluner, Phonemasters/TPS
OF – Bobby Wordon, T’s 13
OF – Wayne Habermehl, Phonemasters/TPS
UTIL – Terry Fowler, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
UTIL – James King, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
UTIL – Kevin Rasmussen, T’s 13
UTIL – Frankie Kubenka, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
UTIL – Paul Sheppard, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Troy Summerfield, Phonemasters/TPS
C – John Glidewell, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
1B – Tuffy Martinez, McAllen Diablos/Lopez Tires
2B – Danny Eagan, Phonemasters/TPS
3B – Jeff Lutt, T’s 13
SS – Brian Arnold, Hooters/Easton/B & B
OF – Rob Gundry, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
OF – Kirk Swain, Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
OF – Matt Valenzuela, McAllen Diablos/Lopez Tires
OF – Mike Kunz, Phonemasters/TPS
UTIL – Scott Nichols, Hooters/Easton/B & B
UTIL – Dana Wendelin, T’s 13
UTIL – Brady Arview, Phonemasters/TPS
UTIL – Louie Miller, Phonemasters/TPS
UTIL – Jeff Turtle, Hooters/Easton/B & B
FINAL STANDINGS
1. T’s 13/Nike, Omaha, NE (5-0)
2. Quick Roofing/Advanced, Texarkana, TX (4-2)
3. Phonemasters/TPS, St. Louis, MO (3-2)
4. Hooters/Easton/B&B, Kansas City, KS (3-2)
5t. McAllen Diablos/Lopez Tires, McAllen, TX (2-2)
5t. Deery Bros/Gold’s/Easton, Waterloo, IA (1-2)
7t. Team RIPP, McAllen, TX (1-2)
7t. TPS NW, Everett, WA (1-2)
9t. The Mob, Angleton, TX (0-2)
9t. Reds/J&J/Fairweather/Worth, Kent, WA (0-2)
9t. Ten Bear Construction/CAI, Lawton, OK (0-2)
