1987 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1987 held at Waterloo, Iowa.

Champion – Smythe Sox, Houston, Texas
Runner Up – Steele’s Sports, Grafton, Ohio

The Smythe Sox defeated Steele’s 38-34 in the winners bracket final. Steeles beat a tough Marlton Trucking team 16-9 in the losers bracket final to gain a rematch with Smythe. The Men of Steele’s won the first final 24-20 behind Craig Elliott (4-5, 4 HRs, 6 RBIs) and Ron Parnell (4-4, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs) and appeared to gain the edge going into the winner take all deciding game. Leading 22-9 after three innings, Steele’s was on the verge on winning their first USSSA World Series. It was then, in the cold and rain that Steele’s met their “Waterloo”. Smythe scored 21 runs in the fifth inning and then scored another 17 more runs in the final two innings to come out on top of a 50-31 final. Ricky Huggins (5-5, 2 HRs), Doug Roberson (4-5, 3 HRs), Craig Elliott (4-6, 3 HRs), Mike Bolen (4-5, 2 HRs) and Jeff Stamps (4-5, 1 HR) led the Steele’s attack in the final game. Those were impressive stats, but Smythe Sox had some mind boggling numbers: Bill Gatti (8-8, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs), Cecil Whitehead (7-8, 5 RBIs), Bruce Meade (7-8, 6 HRs, 9 RBIs), Bill Blake and Doug Brown combined for 10 hits and 14 RBIs. Rick Wheeler and Mark Heirlmeier were both 5-7. Heirlmeier had 4 HRs and 7 RBIs. They out homered the men of Steel’s in the game 20-17. For the tournament, Steele’s smashed 140 total HRs as a team and batted .650. Smythe batted .641 and hit 85 HRs, but won when it counted. A word of note; Cecil Whitehead of Smythe, who is considered one of the best clutch performers of all time, played three games against Steele’s, all pressure packed games and all he did was go 15-18 (.833) with 5 HRs and 15 RBIs. Whitehead and teammate Bill have now won four USSSA World Series in a row (Elite; 1984-1985 and now Smythe 1986-1987).

  • MVP – Bill Blake, Smythe Sox – (23-31, .742, 18 HRs, 37 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Home Run Leader – Doug Roberson, Steele’s (25-33, .758, 27 RBIs, 30 Runs) – 19
  • Home Run Leader – Craig Elliott, Steele’s (26-38, .684, 26 RBIs, 24 Runs) – 19
  • Batting Leader – (based on 18 ABs) Jim Fuller, Marlton Trucking (26-32, 18 HRs, 29 RBIs, 26 Runs) – .813
  • Defensive MVP – Ron Parnell, Steele’s Sports

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Craig Elliott – Steele’s Sports (26-38, .684, 19 HRs, 26 RBIs, 24 Runs)
  • Catcher – Bill Blake – Smythe Sox (23-31, .742, 18 HRs, 37 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Catcher – Dave Steffen – Marlton Trucking (23-34, .676, 15 HRs, 21 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • First Base – Mike Bolen – Steele’s Sports (21-31, .677, 8 HRs, 10 RBIs, 21 Runs)
  • First Base – Rich Plante – Marlton Trucking (23-33, ..697, 10 HRs, 22 RBIs, 20 Runs)
  • First Base – Rick Scherr – Howard’s/Western Steer (18-28, .643, 14 HRs, 27 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Second Base – Bill Gatti – Smythe Sox (20-27, .741, 7 HRs, 19 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Third Base – Doug Brown – Smythe Sox (21-31, .677, 9 HRs, 23 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Third Base – Jim Fuller – Marlton Trucking (26-32, .813, 18 HRs, 29 RBIs, 26 Runs)
  • Third Base – Tim White – Howard’s/Western Steer (17-25, .680, 10 HRs, 22 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Shortstop – Ron Parnell – Steele’s Sports (23-36, .583, 13 HRS, 21 RBIs, 23 Runs)
  • Outfield – Bruce Meade – Smythe Sox (21-27, .778, 14 HRs, 22 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Outfield – Ricky Huggins – Steele’s Sports (21-28, .750, 9 HRs, 18 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Outfield – Doug Roberson – Steele’s Sports (25-33, .758, 19 HRs, 27 RBIs, 30 Runs)
  • Outfield – Dan Schuck – Marlton Trucking (21-32, .656, 15 HRs, 25 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Outfield – Rick Wheeler – Smythe Sox (15-25, .600, 10 HRs, 16 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Outfield – Cecil Whitehead – Smythe Sox (23-31, .742, 8 HRs, 18 RBIs, 23 Runs)
  • Utility – Stan Harvey – Howard’s/Western Steer (18-29, .621, 17 HRs, 23 RBIs, 20 Runs)
  • Utility – Buddy Slater – Smythe Sox (8-18, .444, 1 RBI, 10 Runs)

OTHERS

  • Mike Nye, Marlton (14-18, .778, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Kelly Stanley, Kirk’s Glass (14-18, .778, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Ken Dain, Steele’s (15-20, .750, 12 HRs, 20 RBIs, 15 Runs)
  • Ed Berg, Superior Bombat (14-19, .737, 8 HRs, 14 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Danny Robichaux, Athletic Shop (11-15, .733, 5 HRs, 9 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Larry Magee, Capitol (11-15, .733, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Greg Fuhrman, Superior Bombat (13-18, .722, 5 HRs, 8 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Mike Wagner, Ritch’s Salvage (13-18, .722, 6 HRs, 11 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Hal Harlan, Athletic Shop (10-14, .714, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Jeff Stamps, Steele’s (21-30, .700, 11 HRs, 20 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Joey Raby, Howard’s (14-20, .700, 5 HRs, 8 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Dan Griffin, Marlton (19-28, .679, 9 HRs, 18 RBIs, 22 Runs)
  • Rick Weiterman, Steele’s (4-6, .667, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 3 Runs)
  • Scott Vikus, Steele’s (19-29, .655, 12 HRs, 15 RBIs, 20 Runs)
  • Braxton Speller, Hammond Glass (7-11, .636, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Don Clatterbaugh, Kirk’s Glass (13-21, .619, 4 HRs, 6 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Danny Williams, Athletic Shop (8-13, .615, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • Darrell Misenheimer, Ritch’s Salvage (11-18, .611, 5 HRs, 10 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Mike Cellura, Capitol (11-18, .611, 5 HRs, 15 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Monty Tucker, Steele’s (20-33, .606, 12 HRs, 24 RBIs, 19 Runs)
  • Scott McManis, Howard’s (18-30, .600, 10 HRs, 15 RBIs, 16 Runs)
  • Richard Wilborn, Howard’s (15-25, .600, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Clyde Guy, Howard’s (16-27, .593, 13 HRs, 17 RBIs, 23 Runs)
  • Fred Stahman, Superior Bombat (10-17, .588, 5 HRs, 8 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Ron Dorsey, Superior Bombat (11-19, .579, 6 HRs, 11 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Mark Heirlmeier, Smythe Sox (12-21, .571, 10 HRs, 19 RBIs, 15 Runs)
  • Dennis Graser, Steele’s (12-21, .571, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Larry Neff, Marlton (17-30, .567, 7 HRs, 12 RBIs, 16 Runs)
  • Steve Williams, Howard’s (14-25, .560, 5 HRs, 11 RBIs, 14 RBIs)
  • Mike Macenko, Steele’s (21-38, .553, 18 HRs, 29 RBIs, 24 Runs)
  • Greg Whitlock, Smythe Sox (12-22, .545, 2 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Curtis Williams, Howard’s (13-24, .542, 7 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Greg Cannedy, RTS (7-13, .538, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Darrell Beeler, Athletic Shop (8-15, .533, 4 HRs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Britt Hightower, Smythe Sox (15-30, .500, 9 HRs, 13 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Greg Schulte, Athletic Shop (8-16, .500, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Ken Loeri, Marlton (14-30, .467, 10 HRs, 14 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Larry Fredieu, Athletic Shop (6-15, .400, 4 HRs, 6 RBIs, 5 Runs)
  • Elby Bushong, RTS (3-8, .375, 4 RBIs, 1 Run)
  • Paul Drilling, Athletic Shop (4-11, .364, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs)
  • Bob Louria, Hammond Glass (3-9, .333, 2 Runs)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Smythe Sox, Houston, TX (4-1)
2. Steele’s Sports, Grafton, OH (4-2)
3. Marlton Trucking, Portland, OR (4-2)
4. Howard’s/Western Steer, Denver, NC (4-2)
5t. Kirk’s Glass, Newport News, VA (2-2)
5t. Athletic Shop/Eaton Sports, Hammond, LA (2-2)
7t. Ritch’s Auto Salvage, Harrisburg, NC (2-2)
7t. Superior Bombat, Wildsor Locks, CT (2-2)
9t. Non-Ferrous Metal Fab, Cleveland, OH (1-2)
9t. RTS Enterprises, Phoenix, AZ (1-2)
9t. Capitol Softball Club, Northridge, CA (1-2)
9t. Starpath Softball, Lexington, KY (0-2)
13t. Budweiser Merchants, (0-2)
13t. Hammond Glass, Hammond, IN (0-2)

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