Lovell's Champions AT USSSA D In Sugar Grove

Eight Team, One Day Tournament On April 9th

SUGAR GROVE: Eight teams took part in the season opening USSSA Men's Class D National Qualifying Tournament held at the Sugar Grove Softball Complex in Sugar Grove on April 2nd with Lovell's (6-1) from De Kalb leaving with the paid berth to play at the 2005 USSSA Men's Class D Great Lakes National Tournament in Blaine, MN over Labor Day Weekend. Lovell's did things the hard way by dropping their opening contest to Fubars from Elgin 14-6 before rallying to runoff six straight wins to claim the title. Misfits (3-2) from Carol Stream finishing in second place, Squeeze (2-2) from Joliet was third with Fubars (2-2) finishing in fourth place.
Lovell's after dropping their opening game of this tournament seemed to get their bats heated up as they exploded for 31 huge runs in their second game to send After Hours packing for home after beating them 31-18 in their first game of the loser's bracket.
The next team to exit the tournament at the hands of Lovell's was Shamrock Mortgage from Oswego in a close game with Lovell's edging the Oswego based ball club 20-19.
Fubars was excused from the rest of the tournament taking home fourth place with them as they dropped a 19-4 run rule decision to Lovell's.
Lovell's now squared off with Squeeze and the winner would earn the right to challenge the Misfits in the tournament championship game. Lovell's kept up the offensive barrage as they won yet another 'short game' stopping Squeeze 16-1.
The first championship game looked like a repeat of Lovell's previous two game as they romped to a impressive 22-7 win to force the need to play the 'if necessary game' between Lovell's and the Misfits in order to determine which of these two team would be the champion of this tournament.
In a game fitting of a 'f necessary game' both teams went at each other toe to toe and when the dist finally settled down as the teams shook hands Lovell's proved to be one run better this day winning 18-17 to claim the title and the paid berth to the USSSA Men's Class D National Tournament in Minnesota over Labor Day Weekend.
Lovell's did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information, Stats or quotes on how they were able to win this tournament.
Runner-up Misfits opened play with a 12-8 win over After Hours in the first round of tournament competition. The Carol Stream based ball cub won their second game when they stopped Fubars 20-11 to advance into the winner's bracket championship game.
In the game between the tournaments last two unbeaten teams the Misfits found themselves down early in the game to Squeeze before mounting a major comeback to pull out a 22-19 win as they earned their spot into the tournament's championship game against whichever team would emerge from the loser's bracket to challenge them in the title game.
Lovell's proved to be that team and the De Kalb based ball club came into the championship game as a team on a roll. They continued that roll evening the tournament at one loss each when they defeated the Misfits 22-7 to force the need to play that extra game to decide which of these two team would be the champion.
The Misfits came up one run short and were forced to settle for second place losing to Lovell's 18-17 in the deciding final game of this tournament.
For this tournament the Misfits were led at the plate by the hitting of left fielder Jason Dworak .950 (18-19) with 12 RBI, right-center fielder Phil Gorrill .710 (12-17) and second baseman John Diechel .667 (12-18) with 10 RBI.
Misfits manager Michael Testa said, "This is the first time we played together as a team in a competitive tourney with these players. It was fun and we enjoyed it."