ASA 18-U & 23-U National Tourneys
August 10, 2011
Mankato, MN
Teams from Minnesota and Missouri captured the titles at the ASA 18-Under and 23-Under National Championships last weekend at Caswell Park in North Mankato, MN.
The 18-Under order of finish is as follows:
1. Lake Crystal, MN Hennager Plumbing 4-0
2. Marathon, WI County Materials 4-2
3. Sioux Falls, SD Siouxland Forklifts 2-2
4. Reese, MI Reese Bulldogs 2-2
5. Maryville, MO Northwest Implement 2-2
5. Richville, MI Richville Fastpitch 2-2
7. Parnell, MO Schmitz Farms 0-3
7. Parnell, MO Schmitz Farms 16 0-3
Hennager Plumbing opened with a 9-1 win over Schmitz Farms and followed that with an 8-7 squeaker past County Materials. They defeated Siouxland Forklifts 8-6 in the winner's bracket finals. County Materials began with a 3-2 victory over Northwest Implement before being bounced into the loser's bracket by Hennager, where they rattled off three straight wins. They routed Richville Fastpitch 15-0, got by Reese Bulldogs 5-3 and blasted Siouxland Forklifts 13-2, to earn another shot at Hennager. In a great pitching duel, Michael Lewis bested Austin Tuttle by a 1-0 score to give the Minnesota team its national title.
The 23-Under order of finish is as follows:
1. Maryville, MO Northwest Implement 4-1
2. Hartford, SD Hartford Explosion 4-2
3. Onalaska, WI LX Hillbilly's 3-3
4. Frankenmuth, MI Frankenmuth Driving School 2-2
5. Hollywood, MN Hollywood Sports 2-2
5. Midland, MI The Gillies 1-2
7. Lake Crystal, MN Hennager Plumbing 1-2
7. Duluth, MN Stadium Lanes 0-3
Northwest Implement began its title quest by topping Hennager Plumbing 4-0 and Frankenmuth Driving School by an 8-1 tally. In the winner's bracket final, they defeated Hartford Explosion 5-1. Hartford Explosion started the tourney with identical 9-2 victories over Hollywood Sports and The Gillies, before the loss to Northwest Implement. In the loser's bracket finals, Hartford Explosion eliminated LX Hillbilly's 6-4. They rallied in the last inning of the first championship game for a 2-1 win over Northwest Implement, with BJ Hunhoff getting the win over Joel Harris. In the "if necessary" game, Zane Siolo shutout Hartford Explosion 4-0, with Jim Hartman absorbing the loss, to boost the Missouri club to the national title.
