CTS Wins USSSA Women's Class C/D/E In Rockford

Twelve Teams Participate In Equalizer Tournament At Forest Hills Diamonds

ROCKFORD: CTS (5-1) reached down inside in the 'if necessary game' to defeat Cook's Grading (4-2) from Wisconsin -3 to win the twelve team USSSA Women's Class C/D/E Equalizer Tournament held at Forest Hills Diamonds in Rockford on June 11th & 12th. Neighbors Bar & Grill (3-2) took home third place from this tournament with Ispen International (3-2) finishing in fourth place.
CTS opened tournament play by making a load noise as they pounded their first round opponent Whiffle Tree/Croc's Pub by a final score of 29-8.
Next up was a contest with PCC Power and again CTS was up to the challenge at hand as they defeated them 14-12 to advance into the semifinal of the winner's bracket in this tournament. PCC Power had received a first round bye in this tournament to advance into this second round contest with CTS.
In their semifinal game of the winner's bracket CTS was paired against Neighbors Bar & Grill with CTS posting a 7-3 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the final round of the winner's bracket. Neighbors Bar & Grill made it to this semifinal game by receiving a first round bye in this twelve team tournament and than defeating 3WD ladies 5-4 in the second round of tournament play.
In the game between the tournaments last two unbeaten teams it was CTS taking the field against Cook's Grading and coming away with their fourth straight win by a final score of 7-1 to become the only unbeaten team left in this tournament.
Now CTS had to sit back and wait as the loser's bracket was played out to it's conclusion before knowing who would be their opponent in the championship game. At the completion of the loser's bracket a rematch with Cook's Grading was in store for CTS.
Cook's Grading needing to win two straight games over unbeaten CTS with CTS only needing to win one of two ball games to claim the title. The first championship game went to Cook's Grading by a final score of 8-5 to force the need to have the extra game played between these two ball clubs to determine which of the would be the champion of this tournament.
In the 'if necessary game' it was CTS over Cook's Grading 5-3 as the ladies from CTS took home the tournament title with this win over cook's Grading.
CTS did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any team information, highlights, stats, or quotes on how they were able to win this tournament.
Tournament runner up Cook's Grading opened play with first round bye before taking on and defeating Rosati's Of Wheaton 8-0 in the second round of play. Rosati's Of Wheaton had advance to this second round contest by defeating Primetime 9-2 in the first round of tournament action.
In their semifinal game of the winner's bracket Cook's Grading squared off with Ispen International and came away with a narrow 5-4 win to move into the game, between the tournament's last two unbeaten teams. Ispen International made it to this semifinal game by opening tournament play with a first round 5-2 win over High Voltage and than defeating Northern Diamonds/Worth 7-6 in the second round of play to advance into their game against Cook's Grading in the semifinals of the winner's bracket of this tournament.
In the battle between the tournaments last two remaining unbeaten teams Cook's Grading came up on the short end of a 7-1 final score as they lost to CTS dropping them into the loser's bracket championship game where they needed to win to earn a second chance at CTS and the tournament title.
Cook's Grading met Neighbors Bar & Grill in the loser's bracket title game and defeated them 7-5 to earn a second shot at CTS and the tournament title.
Cook's Grading took a measure of revenge on CYS by defeating them 8-5 in the first championship to force the need to have the second and deciding game played between these ladies two ball clubs. But as fate would have it the extra game went to CTS as Cook's Grading was forced to accept second place after dropping the deciding game to them 5-3.
Cook's Grading did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to achieve their second place finish at this tournament.

(L) 2nd Place Cook's Grading & (R) 3rd Place Neighbors Bar & Grill