Dirtbags Win USSSA Men's Class C State Title

Six Teams, One Day Tournament, At Harlem Community Center North

2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C State Champions - Dirtbags From Aurora

ROSCOE: The Dirtbags (4-1) from Aurora looked to have the game in hand leading Hennessy's Softball (3-2) from Crystal Lake 9-0 in the third inning of the 'if necessary game' of the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C State Tournament when a Hennessy player threw his bat into the backstop after making an out and was ejected from the game. The Crystal Lake ball club did not have an eligible substitute available so the game ended at this point with a forfeit win going to the Dirtbags. Paul Davis Restoration (2-2) from Rockford finished in third place with Players (1-2) from Canton taking home fourth place.
The Dirtbags opened tournament play with a 7-0 forfeit win over E.C. Pages/The Barn from Yorkville who failed to have enough players to field a team at game time.
In their second game the Dirtbags met and defeated Paul Davis Restoration from Rockford 10-3 to put them into the winner's bracket finals. Paul Davis Restoration had received a first round bye to move into this second round contest with the Dirtbags.
The Dirtbags won the winner's bracket when they stopped Hennessy's Softball 14-4 in the undefeated game of the winner's bracket.
Now the Dirtbags had to sit back and wait until the loser's bracket was played out to its conclusion before they would know which team that they would be playing in the title game.
A rematch with Hennessey Softball awaited the Dirtbags in the finals and the Crystal Lake ball club extracted some revenge by handing the Dirtbags a loss by the final score of 13-8 to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' between these two ball clubs in order to determine which of them would be the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C State champions.
The Dirtbags came out focused on winning and built an early lead that they stretched that lead out to 9-0 in the third inning when the game ended after an ejection of a player who threw his bat into the backstop after making an out and his team did not have an eligible substitute to put into the game to continue playing.
The Dirtbags did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to win this state tournament.,
Hennessy's Softball made it top the championship game by receiving a first round bye before taking on and defeating Players from Canton 18-13 in the second round of tournament play. Players had advanced to play this game by defeating Fusion from Elgin 16-6 in the first round of tournament play.
Hennessy's Softball came out on the short end of a 14-4 score in the game between the last two unbeaten teams left in this tournament as they lost to the Dirtbags sending them into the loser's bracket where they met and defeated Paul Davis Restoration 15-5 to put them into the state finals and earning them a rematch with the Dirtbags.
Hennessy's Softball took advantage of their second chance at the Dirtbags by defeating them 13-8 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 the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C State Champion.
In that extra the Dirtbags were leading 9-0 when a Hennessey Player was ejected and because the Crystal Lake ball club did not have an eligible substitute player available to put into the game the game ended at this point with Hennessy's finishing in second place.
Hennessy's Softball did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, or quotes as to how they were able to achieve their second place finish at this state tournament.

(L) Defensive MVP - Steve Lane & (R) Tournament MVP - Jason Richardson