Aero Softball Mixed Wins USSSA Mixed Class D Nationals

Eleven Teams Participate In Rockford On October 8th & 9th

USSSA Mixed Class D Great Lakes Champions Aero Softball Mixed From Sandwich

ROCKFORD: Aero Softball Mixed came back in the 'if necessary game to defeat Kraft Foods from Rochelle 12-7 to win the eleven team, three game guarantee USSSA Great Lakes Mixed Class D National Tournament held at the Forest Hills Diamonds Complex in Rockford on October 8th & 9th. The champions were led by the play of Brenda Morris and Dan Arendt who names as the Female and the Male MVP's of this tournament. Joining those two on the 2005 USSSA Great Lakes Mixed Class D National Tournament All-Tournament team were their team mates from Aero Softball Mixed; Dave Harmes, Kelly Kramer, Mark Johnson, Tracey Stoneberg, Jeff Demoss and Tammi Latham. Blackhawk Athletic Club II from Rockford took home third place fro this tournament with a 5-2 record as Neighbors Bar & Grill from Rockford finished in fourth place after going 5-2 in this event. A fifth place tie went to both Resource Bank (2-2) from Belvidere and Flemings Tap (1-2) from De Kalb.
Aero Softball Mixed received a first round bye in this eleven team event before taking on the Blackhawk Athletic Club II in the second round of play and making a huge come from behind rally to escape with the win 18-16. Aero Softball Mixed found itself trailing 15-4 after one and one half innings of play but clamped down defensively to limit Blackhawk Athletic Club II to only one more run over the next five at bats. Offensively Aero Softball Mixed scored eleven runs in the third and fourth inning to tie the game at sixteen runs each entering the fifth inning. Arendt (LF) led the way with the bat going 4-4 as Harmes (AH) added a 3-4 effort with Lisa Tierney (1B) going 2-4, Dean Foster (SS) 3-3 and Demoss (P) 3-3 to pace the attack for Aero Softball Mixed in this win. Blackhawk Athletic Club II had advanced into this game by defeating JD's Sports Bar from Rockford 10-3 in the first round of tournament action.
In their second contest of this tournament it was Aero Softball Mixed and Flemings Tap from De Kalb mixing it up with one another as Aero Softball Mixed jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning and kept their De Kalb opponent at bay the rest of the way winning 18-12 to advance in the bracket. Morris (LC) led the way going 3-4 as Arendt (3-3), Harmes (4-4), Foster (2-4), Kelly Kramer (RF) (2-4), Johnson (RC) (3-4), and Demoss (2-3) all added key hits to their team's victorious effort in this game. Flemings Tap had advanced to this semifinal game by defeating The Sweepers from St Charles 16-13 in the second round of tournament action after having received a first round bye in this tournament.
On Sunday it was Aero Softball Mixed and Kraft Foods going toe to toe for the first time in the battle between the last two remaining unbeaten teams left in this tournament. Aero Softball Mixed was led by the play of the tournaments Co-MVP's as Morris continued her hot hitting going 2-3 as Arendt added a 2-4 game at the plate. Other top hitters for the Aero Softball Mixed ball club in this game were, Stoneberg (3B) 3-4, Harmes 4-4, Kim Groom (RF) 2-4, Foster 3-4 Johnson 3-4 and Latham (AH) 2-3.
Now Aero Softball Mixed had to sit and wait as the loser's bracket was played out before knowing which of the remaining team would emerge as their opponent in the championship game. When it was over a rematch with Kraft Foods was on tap for Aero Softball mixed in the finals.
Perhaps it was the sitting and waiting or perhaps it was a team bent on gaining a little revenge but what ever it was Kraft Food s made a statement in the first championship game winning 12-2 in five innings to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two ball clubs in order to determine which of them would be crowned as the 2005 Great Lakes Mixed Class D champions. Morris again contributed on the offensive side of things with a big hit as her teammates Arendt, Harmes, Foster, Tierney, Johnson Kramer Demoss and Eric Petre (2B) all chip in with its during this game for Aero Softball Mixed.
In the 'if necessary game' Aero Softball Mixed broke out of the gate on top and never let Kraft Foods catch up as they went on to win 12-7 to put the ribbon on their 2005 USSSA Great lakes Mixed Class D National Championship. Arendt led the way with a 2-4 game as his teammates Stoneberg (2-4) Harmes (2-2) Scott Anderson (AH) 2-2, Groom 2-4, Johnson 2-3 and Petre 1-2 all contributed to this team victory.
Aero Softball Mixed manager Dave Harmes said, "This was a great tournament run for Aero Softball Mixed, to win the Great Lakes National Tournament after winning the Illinois state tournament a few weeks ago. What way to finish out the year, Aero Softball Mixed is looking forward to competing in the mixed winter worlds in Las Vegas in December, we will take our show on the road & see how we do!" Harmes concluded by saying, I want to mention that Brenda Paulson the USSSA state director did a great job running this tournament in Rockford. Thanks Brenda for making us feel special in the city of Rockford."
Kraft Foods receive a first round bye before taking on and defeating Neighbors Bar & Grill from Rockford 10-9 in the second round of tournament play. Neighbors bar & Grill had advanced into this game with Kraft Foods by defeating Rib City from Rockford 8-3 in the first round of tournament play.

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