Long & Hard Champions Of ISA Men's Class E

Thirteen Teams Participate At Brickhouse Complex On July 22nd & 23rd

URBANA: Long and Hard won the thirteen teams, I.S.A. Men's Class E qualifier played at the Brickhouse Sports Complex On July 22nd & 23 with a perfect 5-0 record. The champions earned a berth to play at the 2006 I.S.A. Men's Class E world Tournament to be held in August. Earps (5-2) took home second place with CIC (3-2) finishing in third place and Pia's (3-2) taking home fourth place honors from this tournament.
Long and Hard started their day off with a contest against the Dawghouse and won by the final score of 16-1 to advance in the bracket. In their second round game they were paired up with Floyd Daley and produced another big win as they rolled over Floyd Daley by a final score of 12-2 to move into the semifinal of the winner's bracket in this tournament. Floyd Daley had received a first round bye in this tournament to advance into this second round game with Long & Hard.
In their semifinal contest it was Long & Hard and In Your Face going at one another with Long & Hard squeaking out a one run victory winning 17-16 to mover into the winner's bracket finals. IN Your Face had defeated Hooters 11-1 in the first round of f play before stopping Adams Apple 14-4 in the second round to earn their way into this semifinal game of the winner's bracket against Long & Hard. In the game that featured the last two remaining unbeaten teams left in this tournament it was Long & Hard against CIC. Long & Hard came out hitting and piled the runs up as they won easily 20-5 to capture the winner's bracket of this tournament and also assuring them of a spot in the tournament's championship game against whichever team that wins the loser's bracket to earn the right to oppose them in the finals.
That team turned out to be Earp's and these last two teams took the field to play for the championship with long & Hard continuing to score runs in bunches as the won going away 15-5 to claim the title to this ISA Men's Class E World Tournament Qualifier.
Earp's made it to the championship game by starting off with a first round bye in this tournament. In the second round they stubbed their toe as they were upended by Pia's in a high scoring game 20-19 to drop into the loser's bracket. It was a long way back but Earp's was a determined ball club as they started on their path back to the championship game with a contest against Emaniski winning 19-3. In their next game it was Earp's against Underdogs with Earp's continuing to score lots of runs winning a close game 14-13. Next up for Earp's was a contest with In Your Face and Earp's rose to the occasion winning 8-4 to continue their advancement in the loser's bracket. Now a chance at getting some revenge was on tap for the Earp's ball club as they were set to Pia's in their next game. Pia's had defeated Earp's in their opening game of this tournament and the Earp's squad turned the table on Pia's sending them home after beating them 15-4 to move into the loser's bracket championship game. Earp's took that last step need to reach the championship game of this tournament when they defeated CIC 7-2 to earn the right to oppose unbeaten Long & Hard for the tournament title. Earp's could not climb that last hill set in front of them as they lost to Long & Hard 15-5 to finish in second place after making that long run through the entire loser's bracket to achieve this second place finish at this event.