Beavers Wins USSSA Class E In Aurora

Twelve Teams Participate At Turner Club On July 16th & 17th

Beavers Champions At USSSA Class E In Aurora

AURORA: The Beavers (5-1) from Glen Ellen came back through the loser's bracket to upend Kro-Hop (3-2) from St Charles twice to win the twelve team USSSA Men's Class E Great Lakes Invitational Qualifying Tournament held at the Turner Club Field in Aurora on July 16th & 17th. The Oswego Inn (3-2) from Oswego took home third place with Collins Street Auto Parts (3-2) from Joliet finishing in fourth place and both Fox Valley Truck Accessories (3-2) and That Perennial Place (2-2) from Aurora finishing in a tie for fifth place at this tournament.
The Beavers opened tournament play with a first round bye before taking on and defeating I.B.E.W. from Aurora 14-7 in the second round of tournament action. I.B.E.W. had advanced into this game by defeating Collins Street Auto Parts 8-1 in the first round of tournament play.
Now the Beavers and Oswego Inn met up in a semifinal contest of the winner's bracket with the Beavers winning 17-5 to put them into the last game between unbeaten teams at this tournament. The Oswego Inn made it into this semifinal game by opening the tournament with a first round bye before stopping Seco from Aurora 8-4 in the second round of play.
The Beavers did not fare well in their next game as they were beaten by Kro-Hop 19-12 to drop them into the loser's bracket finals where they needed to win in order to earn a second shot at the Kro-Hop ball club.
And win they did do as they slipped past the Oswego Inn 13-12 to earn a second shot at Kro-Hop and the tournament championship.
Now needed to win two more straight game the Beavers went to work and handed Kro-Hop a clear message that they meant business by whipping them 13-3 to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played in order to determine which of these two ball clubs would be the champion of this tournament.
That extra game was as close as any game can be and it was decided by one single run with the Beavers edging out Kro-Hop 4-3 to claim the title to this tournament.
The Beavers did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to win this tournament.
Kro-Hop made it to the championship game by opening play with a first round bye before taking on and defeating the Fox Valley Truck Accessory 10-8 in the second round of tournament play. The Fox Valley Truck Accessory made it to this second round contest by defeating the Aurora Athletic Club 10-2 in the first round of tournament action.
In their semifinal game of the winner's bracket it was Kro-Hop over That Perennial Place 24-1 to send them into the winner's bracket finals. That Perennial Place made it to this semifinal game by opening play with a first round an 11-8 win over Jiffy Lube/Culver's Goats from Woodstock in the first round of action and than defeating Shala Farms from Naperville 18-12 in the second round of tournament play.
In the game between the tournaments last two remaining unbeaten teams it was Kro-Hop winning the winners bracket over the Beavers by a final score of 19-12.
Now Kro-Hop need to sit back and wait as the loser's bracket needed to be complete before they would know who their opponent would be in the championship game. When the dust from the loser's bracket resettled back down on the field of play a rematch with the Beavers await Kro-Hop in the finals.
The Beaver came out and made a statement to Kro-Hop by defeating them 13-3 in the first game forcing the need to play that extra game to decide the championship to this tournament.
In the extra game runs were at a premium with Kro-Hop holding the Beavers to only four runs but they Kro-Hop ball club was only able to plate three runs themselves as the lost to the Beavers by that single run in the deciding game of this tournament.
The Kro-Hop ball club did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any information on how they were able to finish in second place at this tournament.

(L) 2nd Place Kro-Hop From St Charles & (R) 3rd place Oswego Inn From Oswego