Aero Softball Mixed Wins USSSA Mixed D State

Six Teams Participate At Klatt Field In Plano On Sept. 10 & 11

PLANO: Aero Softball Mixed (5-1) won the six team USSSA Northern Illinois Mixed Class D at Klatt Field in Plano on September 10th by double dipping Crossroads (3-2) from Deerfield 19-18 and 10-8. Crossroads had stopped Aero Softball Mixed 13-12 earlier in the day when the last two unbeaten teams left went head to head in this tournament. Izzy's 2 (2-2) from Joliet took home third place with Kraft Foods (1-2) finishing in fourth place.
Aero Softball Mixed was led to their state championship by the play of Brenda Morris (Female MVP) and Dan Arendt (Male MVP). Other Aero Mixed Softball team members that were named to the All-State Tournament team were Tracey Stoneberg, Dean Foster, Jodi Gehrke, Kelly Kramer, Jeff Demoss and manager Dave Harmes.
Aero Softball Mixedl opened tournament play with a big 15-3 win over Flemings Tap from DeKalb as Morris (LCF) 2-4, Arendt (LF) 3-4, Gehrke (1B) 3-4, Dave Harmes (EH) 2-4, Stoneberg (3B) 3-4, Mark Johnson (RCF) 3-4, Foster (SS) 3-4, and Demoss (P) 2-3 led the attack for the victorious Aero Mixed Softball in this game.
In their second contest of the this state tournament it was Aero Softball Mixed and the Sluggers tangling with one another as Aero Softball Mixed put on a clinic winning 17-1. The offensive leaders for Aero Aero Softball Mixed in this win were Morris 2-3, Arendt 3-3, Gehrke 2-3, Harmes 2-3, Johnson 3-3, Kramer (RF) 2-3, Foster 3-3, Cindy Cunz (C) 2-3 and Demoss P 2-2.
On Sunday morning Aero Softball Mixed played Crossroads from Deerfield in the battle between the tournament's last two remaining unbeaten teams with Aero Softball Mixed coming up one run short as they lost to their Deerfield opponent by a single run losing 13-12. Aero Softball Mixed was led in this game by the hitting of Arendt 3-4, and Kim Groom (EH) 2-2.
Now Aero Softball Mixed found itself with its back against they wall facing elimination in every game as the needed to Post a victory over Izzy's 2 from Joliet in order to earn a second chance at the unbeaten Cross ball club in the tournament's championship game. Aero Softball Mixed got it done as they sent Izzy's home with third place after beating them 11-1 in five innings to earn a second shot at the unbeaten Crossroads ball club in the finals. Aero Softball Mixed was led at the plate during this win by the hitting of Arendt 2-2, Harmes 2-3, Foster 2-2, Scott Anderson (RCF) 2-2, Demoss 2-2, Kramer 1-2 and Stoneberg 1-2.
Aero Softball Mixed and Crossroads took the field to play one another in the finals and they gave it everything that they had as the game went eight innings before Aero Softball Mixed found a way to come back as they were down 15-4 going into the bottom of the fifth inning before rallying sneak past Crossroads by a single run winning 19-18 in eight innings. The leading offensive players for the Aero Softball Mixed ball club in this game were Morris 2-3, Arendt 5-5, Gehrke 2-3, Harmes 3-4, Stoneberg 3-5, Groom 2-4, and Eric Petre (2B) 2-3.
Crossroads and Aero Softball Mixed had now played two games against each other and they each owned one win with both teams winning by a single run as they took the field to play the 'if necessary ' ballgame to determine which of these two team would be the 2005 Illinois USSSA Mixed State Champion. Aero set the tome early using the momentum that they had going with their come from behind win in the first championship game to jump out in front early by a score of 7-0. Cross Roads would not lie down as they battled back but in the end they ran out of innings to play with the scoreboard reading Aero Softball Mixed 10 and Crossroads 8. Aero Softball Mixed top hitters in this win were Morris 2-4, Arendt 2-2, Harmes 2-3, Foster 2-3, Groom 2-3, Kramer 2-3, Tammi Latham (EH) 2-3 and Petre 2-3.
Aero Softball Mixed manager Dave Harmes said, "This was a great State Championship run for a 2nd year team, everyone played there hearts out to come back in the losers bracket & double dip Crossroads which was a very good team. The tournament director Greg Gould & Dee Dee did a great job running their first state tournament in Plano & they should get future opportunities to do it again, they deserve it." Harmes closed by saying, "Winning the state title fells great and we look forward to playing at the Great Lakes Mixed N.I.T. in Rockford on October 8th & 9th."
Crossroads were led to the state championship game by the play of Barry Bravo, Debbie Robbins, Alyceson Kudla and Lance Browne who were all named to the 2005 Illinois USSSA All- Mixed State Tournament Team for their play during this event.
Cross Roads opened play with a first round game against Kraft Foods from De Kalb and they posted an 18-6 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the second rounds of play.
Crossroads and Izzy's played a wild high scoring game with big innings being put up by both ball clubs but when it was over the scoreboard read Crossroads 25 and Izzy's 2 23 to advance Crossroads into the winner's bracket championship game to be played on Sunday morning.
In the battle between the last two remaining unbeaten teams it was Crossroad defeating Aero Softball Mixed in a close game 13-12. This win assured Crossroad of a spot in the state championship game against whichever team that wins the loser's bracket to earn the right to play them in the championship game. That team turned out to be Aero Softball Mixed as those two teams took the field for a second time to play one another.
In another close game that was decided (like the first game also was) by one run Aero Softball Mixed handed Crossroads a 19-18 loss to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two ball clubs so that a champion could to determined.
The extra game looked to be a blowout as Aero Softball Mixed broke on top with a huge seven run first inning but the Crossroads ball club showed everyone why they were in the title game as they reached down and kept chipping away at that big lead as they whittled it down to just two runs when they ran out of innings to play losing to Aero Softball Mixed 10-8 in the state championship game.
Crossroad softball club did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to achieve their second place finish at this state tournament.

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