Guerilla Graffix Wins USSSA Class E In Rockford

Sixteen Teams Participate At Forest Hills Diamonds On 7/23 & 24

ROCKFORD: Guerilla Graffix (5-0) ran the table on the field of sixteen teams at the USSSA Men's Class E Great Lakes National Qualifying Tournament held at Forest Hills Diamonds in Rockford on July 23rd & 24th. The champions earned a berth to play at the 2005 Great Lakes Men's Class E National Tournament to be held over Labor Day Weekend in Waterloo, Iowa. Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales (6-2) from Rockford finished in second place, Crush (3-2) from Rockford took home third place, and Northwest Pallet/Logo Kings/Boombah (3-2) from Crystal Lake was fourth with both Stateline Motors (4-2) from Beloit and Marchelloni Pizza (2-2) from Mendota tying for fifth place at this tournament.
Guerilla Graffix opened tournament play with a first round contest against Nimlock and promptly posted a 9-3 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the second round of play. In the second round Guerilla Graffix met and defeated Carpetland USA by a final score of 15-9 to move them into the semifinal of the winner's bracket on Sunday morning. Carpetland USA had advanced to this second round game by defeating TB's Venetian III 2-1 in the opening round of tournament play.
ON Sunday morning it was Guerilla Graffix slipping past Marchelloni Pizza in a close game 4-3 to put them into the undefeated game of this tournament. Marchelloni Pizza made it to the semifinals without a loss by opening tournament play with a first round 16-6 over Triple Play Sports before they stopped Harlem Road Automotive 11-0 in the second round of tournament action.
In the game between the last two remaining unbeaten teams it was Guerilla Graffix defeating Crush 12-2 to give them the title to the winner's bracket and assure them of a spot in the tournament's championship game against whichever team that emerges from the loser's bracket to challenge them in the title contest. Crush made it to the winner's bracket championship game by opening tournament play with a 10-0 win over Rock River Siding in the first round of play. Crush than defeated Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales 10-6 on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning Crush defeated Northwest Pallet/Logo Kings/Boombah 11-1 to earn their way into the winner's bracket championship game.
That team turned out to be Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales with Guerilla Graffix winning 7-3 to claim the title at this sixteen team national qualifying event.
Guerilla Graffix did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to win this tournament.
Runner-up Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales made it to the championship game by opening the tournament with a first round contest against Northern Illinois Optical/Ken Z Roofing from Rockford and posted a 6-5 win up onto the bracket board to move them into the second round of tournament action.
In the second round Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales tasted defeat as Crush sent them to the loser's bracket by a final score of 10-6.
O n Sunday morning Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales started their long trek back to the championship game by defeating Second String 5-4 to advance into the next round of loser's bracket games. TB's/Venetian III fell to Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales by the final score of 4-3.
Next it was a date with Marchelloni Pizza for the Rockford ball club and again they won sending Marchelloni Pizza home after beating them 6-3.
Northwest Pallet/Logo Kings/Boombah was excused next from the tournament by Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales after they posted a 12-10 win onto the bracket board to move them into the loser's bracket championship game.
Crush was shown the door next leaving with third place after being beaten by Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales 8-1. This win put Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales into the championship game but this was as close as they were going to get as Guerilla Graffix defeated them 7-3 sending Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales home with second place from this tournament.
Neighbors Bar & Grill/Windsor Auto Sales 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 tournament.

(L) 2nd Place Neighbors Bar & Grill / Windsor Auto Sales & (R) 3rd Place Crush