Rice Lake Aquafest Invitational
Men’s NAFA “AA” and “A” Tournament
Rice Lake, WI – USA
June 13-15, 2014

ORANGEMEN WIN FIRST EVER INVITATIONAL TITLE 

After falling to Bol’s Lanes of Baldwin 3-2 in the winners bracket final, the Rice Lake Orangemen bounced back to bounce La Crosse Athletics 10-2 and then defeated Bol’s twice in championship play 7-6 and 2-1 in 9 innings to capture the championship of the 10-team 36^th annual Rice Lake Aquafest Invitational men’s fastpitch tournament.
          It was the first Aquafest championship for the Orangemen, the only team to have played in all 36 tourneys.
          The Orangemen opened tournament play with a 6-2 victory over Sawdust City of Eau Claire, followed with a 2-0 win over Ostrander, Minnesota, and a 7-0 win over Morelli’s of St. Paul before coming up a run short in their first encounter with defending NAFA state A division champion Bol’s Lanes.
         Bol’s downed Len’s Automotive of St. Paul 3-2 in their tourney lid-lifter, then defeated pre-tournament favorite Tin Cup of the same city 7-6.  A 13-6 win over La Crosse propelled them to the winner’s bracket final.
         The La Crosse team, piloted by popular Chetek native Bud Olson, claimed third place honors.  Also competing were J.R. Sports from Arcadia and Harley Davidson of Lewiston, Minnesota.

               ORDER OF FINISH

 
  1.  Orangemen, Rice Lake WI                6-1
  2.  Bol’s Lanes, Baldwin WI                    4-2
  3.  La Crosse Athletics, La Crosse WI      3-2
  4.  Ostrander, Ostrander MN                 3-3
  5.  J.R. Sports, Arcadia WI                    2-2
       Morelli’s, St. Paul MN                       1-2
  7.  Harley Davidson, Lewiston, MN           2-2
       Sawdust City, Eau Claire WI              1-2
  9.  Len’s Automotive, St. Paul                0-3
       Tin Cup, St. Paul MN                       0-3

       GAME BY GAME RESULTS

  1.  Orangemen 6, Sawdust City 2
  2.  Bol’s Lanes 3, Len’s Automotive 2
  3.  Morelli’s 4, J.R. Sports 3
  4.  La Crosse Athletics 8, Harley Davidson 1
  5.  Orangemen 2, Ostrander 0
  6.  Bol’s Lanes 7, Tin Cup 6
  7.  Sawdust City 6, Tin Cup 5
  8.  Harley Davidson 13, Len’s Automotive 5
  9.  J.R. Sports 10, Ostrander 3
10.  Harley Davidson 7, Tin Cup 3
11.  Ostrander 6, Len’s Automotive 5
12.  Orangemen 7, Morelli’s 0
13.  Bol’s Lanes 13, La Crosse Athletics 6
14.  Ostrander 4, Sawdust City 3
15.  J.R. Sports 14, Harley Davidson 7
16.  Ostrander 6, Morelli’s 5
17.  La Crosse Athletics 4, J.R. Sports 3
18.  Bol’s Lanes 3, Orangemen 2
19.  La Crosse Athletics 10, Ostrander 4
20.  Orangemen 10, La Crosse Athletics 3
21.  Orangemen 7, Bol’s Lanes 6
22.  Orangemen 2, Bol’s Lanes 1 (9 innings)        

                      ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

PITCHER – Mike Fink, Ostrander
PITCHER – Mike Peterson, Bol’s Lanes
PITCHER – Jason Yetterness, Orangemen
CATCHER – Travis Thompson, Orangemen
INFIELD – Max Loew, La Crosse Athletics
INFIELD – Sam White, La Crosee Athletics
INFIELD – Zach Bisek, J.R. Sports
INFIELD – Brett Gamroth, J.R. Sports
OUTFIELD – Kory Mickelson, La Crosse Athletics
OUTFIELD – Nate Agard, Ostrander
OUTFIELD – J.W. Dachel, Bol’s Lanes
OUTFIELD – Sam Hall, Orangemen
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Erick Chaparro (pitcher-designated batter) Orangemen 

Ronn Kopp
ronnkopp@charter.net