Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout Champions Of USSSA Class E

Eleven Team Participate At Inwood Sports Complex On July 23rd

Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout Champions Of USSSA Class E In Joliet

JOLIET: Jerry's kids/Joe Dugout from Elwood won the eleven team USSSA Men's Class E Great Lakes National Qualifier played at the Inwood Sports Complex in Joliet on July 23rd with a perfect 4-0 record. The champions passed the national tournament berth down to tournament runner up Village Pub (4-2) from Kankakee, Sharp Softball (2-2) from Romeoville took home third place with Capers Bar & Grill (3-2) from Joliet finishing fourth and a fifth place tie went to Collins Street Auto Parts (3-2) from Joliet and Sneaky Pete's (1-2) from Davenport, Iowa.
Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout received a first round bye in this twelve team event before taking on Heroes & Legends Booze Hounds from Joliet in the second round of play and jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead after two innings of play. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout continued to build on this lead winning 7-1 as Jeremy Poch (RF), Matt Narducci (LF), and Aaron Hinchliffe (LC) all had two hits each with Joe Ballantine (3B) chipping in with 3 RBI and Scott Santerelli (P) had a hit and with an RBI. Heroes & Legends/Booze Hounds won their first round game over Nasty Naybors 11-4 to advance into this second round game against Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout.
In their second game Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout squared off with Village Inn from Kankakee in another low scoring game. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout came out on top 6-1 thanks in part to a devastating homerun for an out every time hit by Village Inn. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout was lead in this game by the hitting of Santerelli' s 2 hits with 2 RBI, Ken Affrunti (C) with 3 hits, Fred Gestel (RF) with 4 hits and 2 RBI, John Hopkins (SS) with 2 hits, Frank Dragisic (RC) with hits and 2 RBI and Joe Ballantine (3B) with 2 hits.
This win put Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout into the winner's bracket undefeated game where they played Sharp Softball from Romeoville. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout trailed early in this one 2-1 and 4-3 before a five run fourth inning put them in front to stay. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout continued to build on that lead pulling away for a 13-4 victory. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout was lead at the plate during this win by the hitting of Jeremy Poch (2B) with 2 hits and 3 RBI, Hopkins had 4 hits, Ken Affrunti (AH) had 2 hits Gestel with 2 hits and 2 RBI, Matt Narducci (LF) with 3 hits, Hinchliffe with 3 hits, and Pat Walker (1B) with 3 hits and 3 RBI. Sharp Softball made it to the winner's bracket finals by opening tournament play with a first round bye before stopping the One Timers/Buck 30 from Joliet 9-5 in the second round of tournament action Sharp Softball than stopped Sneaky Pete's 9-6 in a semifinal game of the winner's bracket to advance into the winner's bracket finals match up with Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout.
Now Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout had to wait until the loser's bracket was played out before knowing who their opponent would be in the championship game and when the loser's bracket was finally over a rematch with Village Inn awaited Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout in the finals.
Village Inn came out determined to make a statement to the Elwood based Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout. In the third inning Village Inn plated five runs to take a 5-1 lead over Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout. But Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout answered in the bottom of the third inning with a five spot of their on being placed upon the scoreboard to regain the lead 6-5. In the top of the fourth inning Village Inn regained the lead by scoring twice to take a 7-6 lead. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout with two outs in their half of the fourth inning exploded to score six runs to retake the lead 12-7 lead which they stretched out to 14-7 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. After a double play leaving Village Inn only one out to work with they got hot and managed to score five runs to narrow the lead to 14-12 with runners on first and second and the winning run at bat. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout managed to get the final out they needed to win the game 14-12 and the title along with this game. Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout top hitters in this win were Walker with 3 hits and 4 RBI including a 2 run in the park homerun in the sixth inning, Ballantine added 3 hits, Santerelli with 2 RBI, Dragisic with 2 hits and 3 RBI, Narducci with 3 hits and 3 RBI, as Hinchliffe, Gestel, and Affrunti all chipped in with 2 hits each during this win.
Manager Scott Santerelli said, "This was another well run tournament by Jerry Henry with a lot of very good teams including Village Inn who is an excellent team! As a team, we hit only average but played excellent defense with clutch hits to get us this tournament win.
For the tournament Jerry's Kids/Joes Dugout offensive leaders were Fred Gestel .643, with 4 RBI, Matt Narducci .600 with 3 RBI, Pat Walker .538 with 7 RBI, Ken Affrunti .533, Aaron Hinchliffe .533, Joe Ballantine .537 with 6 RBI, Scott Santerelli .456 with 6 RBI.
The Village Pub took the long road to the finals as they came out of the loser's bracket to play for the tournament title. Village pub opened play with a first round bye before squaring off with and beating Capers Bar & Grill in the second round of tournament play 9-6. Capers Bar & Grill had won their first round game over Miller Lite Heroes & Ledgends from Joliet 6-2 to move into the second round against the Village Inn ball club.
Village Inn than tasted defeat as Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout defeated them 6-1 in a semifinal game of this tournament.
Now playing in the loser's bracket the Village Inn started with a game against Collins Street Auto Parts and quickly posted a 13-3 win to advance in the bracket.
Next up was another contest with Capers Bar & Grill with Village Inn winning again by a final score of 21-3.
Now playing in the loser's bracket championship game against Sharp Softball Village Inn won again to earn the right to play Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout after the 11-2 win over Sharp Softball was posted onto the bracket board.
The championship game was a close game with Jerry's Kids/Joe's Dugout edging out Village Inn 14-12 to win this tournament.
Village Inn did not supply Illinois Softball report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to finish second at this tournament.