2018 held at Prairie Island Athletic Complex in Prairie Island, MN on August 25-16.
Prairie Island was the host for the 2018 ASA Men’s B Slow Pitch National in 2018 as the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium would begin the second round of construction to assemble the press box and second deck. The pre-tournament chatter was about conference A or better teams and the defending champion, L&S Glass, were allowed to play in the tournament.
The semifinals featured four area teams while the winner’s bracket was wrecked by unseeded teams. Heartland Investors of Mandan, ND came out on top with local star and former Team USA pitcher Geno Buck would lead the way. Heartland Investors won ASA B Nationals the last time it was in Minnesota (Andover’s Sunshine Park) in 2013.
Heartland won the ASA B crown the last time it was held in Minnesota which was 2002 in Andover at Sunshine Park.
Champion: Heartland Investors, Mandan, ND Runner Up: All American Restoration/Monsta, Blaine, MN
HR Champion – Dan Cayton, All American Restoration/Monsta – 8 HR
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Dan Cayton, All American Restoration/Monsta
Artie Barcelo, All American Restoration/Monsta
Jeff Renno, All American Restoration/Monsta
Losson White, All American Restoration/Monsta
Damon Wegner, Comatose/S2N/Monsta
Austin Andrews, Comatose/S2N/Monsta
Tony Mueller, Dugout 47/Airstack/Bud Light
Drew Knutson, Dugout 47/Airstack/Bud Light
Scott Novak, Eurotech/First Source Financial/Norm’s Tire
Brandon Patzig, Evolution/Primetime/Easton/Kluth
Mike Feldman, Heartland Investors
Chris Dahl, Heartland Investors
Blaine Horsager, Heartland Investors
Geno Buck, Heartland Investors
Scott Huffman, Heartland Investors
Champion: Smash-It/Derby Girls/Easton, Kent, Washington Runner Up: USA Armed Forces, Pensacola, Florida
Derby Girls lost their very first game 6-5 to SN/Thunder/Respect/EA and then had to come through the losers bracket to win 7 straight games by the combined score of 114-59. They got even with the SN/Thunder squad by eliminating them 6-5 in the losers bracket final. Then they won 1st Final 18-14 as Fiana Finau 4-4, HR and 6 RBI, Rose Gressley 4-4, Christan Dowling 3-3 and Tara Salcedo 3-5 all had 3 hits. Kasey Castor 4-5 and Jess Kallander 4-4 with 4 RBI led the Armed Forces. In the final Championship game, it was no contest as the Derby Girls walzted to a 16-1 win. Christan Dowling and Fiana Finau both had Home Runs and combined for 7 RBI. Kristen Shifflett was 3-3. Val Proulx and Carmen Fowler both had 2 hits as Pitcher Sara Salcedo allowed only 5 hits in the game.
Oklahoma softball is the national champion for the second straight season and third time in five years.
Even as defending champions, it seemed for most of the season that Oklahoma was unlikely to repeat.
The Sooners earned just a No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament. They lost their NCAA opener to North Dakota State before rallying, then had to go to Auburn and win a super regional.
Even when they recovered at the Women’s College World Series and reached the championship round, they faced No. 1 seed Florida and its two All-American pitchers.
The Sooners defeated No. 1 Florida 5-4 Tuesday night in Game 2 to clinch the two-game sweep of the Gators in Oklahoma City. Following Monday night’s 17-inning marathon that was won on a three-run home run from Shay Knighten, it was Knighten again who came up clutch in the second game. The first baseman’s three-run double in the second inning closed out a four-run frame and put the Sooners ahead for good at 5-3.
The Oklahoma Sooners two-game sweep of the Florida Gators in the Women’s College World Series Finals (June 5-6 on ESPN) averaged a total live audience (TV + streaming) of 1,720,000 viewers, the most-watched sweep in Women’s College World Series Finals history. The Sooner-Gators’ two games in the best-of-three format was up 33% from 2014, the last time the WCWS Finals failed to go to a decisive third game. This year’s two-game average was also up 33% over last season’s WCWS Finals first two games (June 6-7, 2016) featuring Oklahoma and Auburn. The Sooners won the series in three games.
Most Outstanding Player – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma
Batting Leader – Alexis Mack, Oregon – .545
RBI Leader – Kivstad, Florida – 5
Home Run Leader – Kivstad, Florida – 2
Home Run Leader – Ali Aguilar, Washington – 2
ERA Leader – N/A
Strikeout Leader – Rachel Garcia, UCLA 16
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill, Florida
P – Delanie Gourley, Florida
P – Paige Lowary, Oklahoma
P – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
IF – Alexis Mack, Oregon
IF – Mia Camuso, Oregon
IF – Ali Aguilar, Washington
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
OF – Justine McLean, Florida
UTIL – Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma
UTIL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida
Honda Sports Award – Kelly Barnhill, Florida (26-4, 0.61 ERA, 359 K)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Kelly Barnhill, Florida (26-4, 0.61 ERA, 359 K)
NFCA National Player of the Year – Megan Good, James Madison (38-3, 0.63 ERA, 271 K, .383, 12 HR, 58 RBI)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill, Florida Gators
P – Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota Golden Gophers
P – Danielle O’Toole, Arizona Wildcats
C – Kendyl Lindaman, Minnesota Golden Gophers
1B – Jessie Harper, Arizona Wildcats
2B – Hannah Flippen, Utah Utes
3B – Jessica Warren, FSU Seminoles
SS – DJ Sanders, ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
OF – Bailey Landry, LSU Tigers
OF – Aleah Craighton, ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida Gators
UTIL – Megan Good, James Madison Dukes
UTIL – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU Tigers
AL – Meghan Gregg, Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida Gators
AL – Jessica Burroughs, FSU Seminoles
AL – Delanie Gourley, Florida Gators
AL – Nikki Udria, Oregon Ducks
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Megan Kleist, Oregon Ducks
P – Megan Betsa, Michigan Wolverines
P – Randi Rupp, Texas State Bobcats
C – Jenavee Peres, San Diego State Aztecs
1B – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma Sooners
2B – Caleigh Clifton, Oklahoma Sooners
3B – Katiyana Mauga, Arizona Wildcats
SS – Morgan Zerkle, Marshall Thundering Herd
OF – Lea Foerster, Michigan State Spartans
OF – Morgan Klaevemann, FSU Seminoles
OF – Kelly Christner, Michigan Wolverines
UTIL – Sierra Hyland, Cal Poly Mustangs
UTIL – Kendra Lynch, North Carolina Tar Heels
AL – Rachel Garcia, UCLA Bruins
AL – Paige Parker, Oklahoma Sooners
AL – Mo Mercado, Arizona Wildcats
AL – Lindsey Cargill, Baylor Bears
AL – Emily Watson, Tulsa Hurricanes
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Allie Walljasper, LSU Tigers
P – Kaylee Carlson, Auburn Tigers
P – McKenna Bull, BYU Cougars
P – Jordan Dixon, Marshall Thundering Herd
C – Chloe Miller, Wisconsin Badgers
1B – Alex Powers, FSU Seminoles
2B – Faith Canfield, Michigan Wolverines
3B – Riley Sartain, Texas A&M Aggies
SS – Lili Piper, Ohio State Buckeyes
OF – Cortni Emanuel, Georgia Bulldogs
OF – Nicole Evans, Illinois Fighting Illini
OF – Danica Mercado, Oregon Ducks
UTIL – Sydney O’Hara, Syracuse Orange
UTIL – Vanessa Shippy, Oklahoma State Cowgirls
AL – Emily Lochten, FAU Owls
AL – Kayli Kvistad, Florida Gators
AL – Katie Reed, Kentucky Wildcats
AL – Jessica Twaddle, Murray State Racers
AL – Ali Aguilar, Washington Huskies
The 2017 ‘AA’ Worlds were moved unexpectedly to the Osceola Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Florida after the traditional venue at Fortune Road was closed due to unassessed damage from Hurricane Irma. This changed the complexion of the tournament a little bit as teams had to adjust to the 300 foot fields with 5 foot home fences instead of the Fortune Road fields that are 8 feet high and 325 feet in distance. But the teams seemed to adjust pretty well for the most part and most of the games played went 7 innings.
Xtreme beat most of the top ‘AA’ teams to win the worlds. They played 4 full 7 inning games from 9 AM Sunday morning until 5 PM Sunday evening. Dan Evans was a warrior on the mound getting some big outs and hits. Brandon Newman, Colin Baartman, Seth Brown, Lyf Nimmo, and Joe Skyles had some huge home runs. The team competed early in those 4 games and closed out late against the top teams. The managing was superb going with hot sticks and role players when needed and each player on the team seemed to elevate their game and rise to the moment in front of them. And it took every one of those defensive and offensive plays to beat Astros and then Precision twice.
MVP – Shannon Smith, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
MVP – Brandon Newman, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
USSSA AA ALL WORLD TEAM
Keith Martin, Worth Astros/K&G/Klutch
Cooper Vittitow, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Daniel Evans, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Chris Larsen, Classic Glass/Easton
Matt McGowan, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Colin Baartman, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Toby Letak, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Patrick Ellwanger, Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon
Robert Roop, Worth Astros/K&G/Klutch
DJ Hollingsworth, Classic Glass/Easton
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon Medina, MN (6-1)
2. Precision/3rd St./GBrand/Easton Chicago, IL (3-2)
3. Worth Astros/K&G/Klutch Indianapolis, IN (2-2)
4. Classic Glass/Easton San Jose, CA (3-2)
5t. Primetime/Easton Macon, GA (2-2)
5t. Nightmare/Miken Branson, MO (1-2)
7t. The Scene/HDLNS/BHR/Easton Hamilton, OH (1-2)
7t. TDB/TMSports/MidWestWhiteTailAdv/Miken Charlotte, NC (1-2)
9t. OA Apparel/Broughton/KBI/Easton Gladewater, TX (0-2)
9t. Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken Peachtree City, GA (0-2)
2017 held in Rockford, Michigan, at Art Van Sports Complex, on August 10-18.
Champion – Hill United Chiefs, Six Nationals, Ontario Runner Up – J&B Bombers, Aquora Hills, California
Cleo Goyette Memorial MVP Award – Nicolas Carril, Hill United Chiefs
Leroy Zimmerman Memorial Pitching Award – Adam Folkard, Hill United Chiefs
Newcomer of the Year – N/A
Leading Hitter – N/A
Most RBI – N/A
2017 ISC FIRST TEAM ALL WORLD
P – Adam Folkard, Hill United
P – Caleb Keeshig, Toronto Batmen
P – Devon McCullough, J&B Bombers
C – Fred Carmona, J&B Bombers
C – Jason Sanford, Hill United Chiefs
IF – Nick Shailes, Hill United Chiefs
IF – James Toddhunter, Hill United Chiefs
IF – Manuel Godoy, Circle Tap
IF – Cam Schiller, J&B Bombers
IF – Scott Leblanc, Waterdown Hammer
OF – Brad Ezekiel, Hill United Chiefs
OF – Zenon Winters, NY Gremlins
OF – Blake Hunter, J&B Bombers
OF – Nicolas Carril, Hill United Chiefs
DH – Mark Johnson, Hill United Chiefs
2017 ISC SECOND TEAM ALL WORLD
P – Jorge Segura, A1 Power
P – Sean Cleary, CanAm Twins
P – Duane Weiler, Bear Bottom Haymakers
C – Kallan Compain, KW Cubs
C – Bryden Arcand, Grande Prairie
IF – Travis Jones, Toronto Batmen
IF – Ladislao Malarczuk, NY Gremlins
IF – Tyler Dudley, J&B Bombers
IF – Tyson Bartorillo, Bloomington Stix
IF – Juan Cruz Zara, CanAm Twins
OF – Riely Makea, Bloomington Stix
OF – Matt Ratliff, A1 Power
OF – Justin Krulick, Toronto Batmen
OF – Ben Wideman, Hill United Chiefs
DH – Andrew Kirkpatrick, NY Gremlins
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Hill United Chiefs, Six Nations, ON
2. J&B Bombers, Aquora Hills, CA
3. New York Gremlins, Clifton Park, NY
4. Toronto Batmen, Toronto, ON
5t. Can Am Twins, Kitchener, ON
5t. A-1 Power, Grand Rapids, MI
7t. Circle Tap Dukes, Denmark WI
7t. Bloomington Stix, Bloomington, IL
9t. Hallman Cubs, Kitchener, ON
9t. Topeka Toros, Topeka, KS
9t. Bear Bottom Lodge Haymakers, Ephrata, PA
9t. Grande Prairie Pirates, Grande Prairie, AB
13t. Tin Cup Bar, St. Paul, MN
13t. Ostrander Norsemen, Ostrander, MN
13t. The Bar on the Avenue Buzz, Appleton, WI
13t. Elmira Expos, Elmira, ON
17t. Waterdown First Ontario Hammer, Waterdown, ON
17t. Glaworth Gators, Glanworth, ON
17t. Kegel Black Knights, Fargo, ND
17t. Nith River Monsters, New Hamburg, ON
17t. Kingston Axemen, Kingston, ON
17t. Wiarton Nationals, Wiarton ON
17t. Dolan & Murphy, Aurora, IL
17t. Twin City Grey Sox, Sawyer, MI
25t. Reece A’s, Reece, MI
25t. Page Brake, Salt Lake City, UT
25t. Pueblo Bandits, Pueblo, CO
25t. Oetman Excavating, Moline, MI
25t. Rice Lake Orangemen, Rice Lake, WI
25t. Ashland A’s, Ashland, OH
25t. St. Paul’s Generals, St. Paul, ON
25t. da Hoggs, Ohsweken, ON
33t. Shakespeare Falcons, Shakespeare, ON
33t. Frankenmuth Brewery, Frankenmuth, MI
33t. Durham Diamondbacks, Durham, ON
33t. Shaffer & Bierlein Wranglers/Lightning, Frankenmuth, MI
Dennis Rulli – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
Chris Greinert – Dan Smith/Menosse
Brian Zirkle – Dan Smith/Menosse
Brian Wegman – Resmondo/OA Apparel/H.Auto/SPTank
Chad Durick – Dan Smith/Menosse
Bryson Baker – Resmondo/OA Apparel/H.Auto/SPTank
Andy Purcell – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
Kevin Bazat – Resmondo/OA Apparel/H.Auto/SPTank
Travis Clark – Resmondo/OA Apparel/H.Auto/SPTank
Scott Kirby – Resmondo/OA Apparel/H.Auto/SPTank
Cory Boothe – The Scene/HDLNS/BHR/Easton
Ryan Disbennett – The Scene/HDLNS/BHR/Easton
Cory Briggs – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
Stuart Snell – Racks/Sonny’s/Athlon/Easton/Cutler
CJ Jacinto – Bad Draw/B&B/Broughton/BAF/Worth
Ryan Harvey – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
Nick Santana – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
Manager – John Rector – Smash It/Scene/TDB/Miken/Worth
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Smash It/Scene/TDG/Miken/Worth Rochester, NY (5-0)
2. Resmondo/OA/H.Auto/Specialty Tank Winter Haven, FL (4-2)
3. Dan Smith/Menosse San Joes, CA (4-2)
4. The Scene/HDLNS/BHR/Easton Hamilton, OH (6-2)
5t. Racks/Sonny’s/Athlon/Easton/Cutter Casper, WY (3-2)
5t. Bad Draw/B&B/Broughton/BAF/Worth Greenville, NC (2-2)
7t. SIS/Thunder/Miken/Worth/Louisville Wading River, NY (2-2)
7t. Precision/3rd St./GBrand/Easton Chicago, IL (2-2)
9t. Nightmare/Miken Branson, MO (1-2)
9t. Bay Area Legends/Miken San Francisco, CA (1-2)
9t. Worth Astros/K&G/Klutch Indianapolis, IN (1-2)
9t. Baugh Ford/Adiktiv/Worth/Miken Peachtree City, GA (1-2)
13t. Klutch/Bull Dawg Trucking/Semper San Antonio, TX (1-2)
13t. Xtreme/Miken/ASP/Athlon Medina, MN (0-2)
13t. OA Apparel/Broughton/KBI/Easton Gladewater, TX (0-2)
13t. Newbreed/GTS/Demarini Tukwila, WA (0-2)
17t. Steel Sports/Powerhousesportz/Miken Corpus Christi, TX (1-2)
17t. TDB/TMsports/Midwestwhitetailadv Charlotte, NC (0-2)
Champion – Derby Girls/OA/Legacy/Easton, Kent, Washington (44-3) Runner Up – Enough Said/Easton, Tallahassee, Florida (22-13)
Enough Said decided to make a comeback to USSSA. They gave the powerful Derby Girls all they could handle as they were sent to the loser bracket by the Derby Girls by a 21-6 score. They won two games to get back to the undefeated Derby Girls and actually beat them in the first final 24-4. The Derby Girls came back and won the Major World series soundly with a 30-19 decision. The Derby Girls finished 5-1 and Enough Said was 6-2. Bryant Express finished third.
2017 held at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 28-29.
Champion – WC Monsta, Calimesa, California Runner Up – H. Auto/Resmondo/OA Apparel/Specialty Tank, Winter Haven, Florida
It was a rematch championship game rematch between WC Monsta and H. Auto/Resmondo/OA Apparel/Specialty Tank as the former earned a spot in the finals with a decisive 27-5 (four inning) win.
H. Auto would then post a 49-42 win over T’s 13/Monsta for another chance as the undefeated WC Monsta. H. Auto would carry on their momentum from the previous game as the team scored six runs in the top of the first inning to take an early lead over WC Monsta. That lead would be cut to one run after WC Monsta plated five in the bottom of the frame. Keeping H. Auto from plating any runs in the top of the second, WC Monsta would score six runs to take an 11-5 lead.
The game would remain closely contested through the top of the seventh inning with WC Monsta holding a 43-37 lead and H. Auto down to their final at-bat. H. Auto would manage to push across one run in the top of the seventh but would be unable to overcome the deficit as WC Monsta walked away with the Super Slow Pitch Championship, 43-38.
For H. Auto, Bubba Mack (8 HR, 17 RBI) and Mike Umscheid (7 HR, 15 RBI) led the offense.
MVP – Dale Brungardt, WC Monsta
HR Champion – Chaun DeMars, T’s 13/Monsta – 9
HR Champion – Kyle Person, H. Auto/Resmondo/OA Apparel/Specialty Tank – 9
