Matt's Hometown Pizza Wins USSSA Class E

Twelve Teams Participate At Taylor Park In Freeport On July 8th

FREEPORT: Matt's Hometown Pizza from Stillman Valley went a perfect 5-0 to win the twelve team USSS Men's Class E Great Lakes National Tournament qualifier played at Taylor Park in Freeport on July 8th. The champions earned a berth to play at the 20006 USSSA Men's Class E Great Lakes National Tournament to be held in Rockford over Labor Day Weekend. Harlem Road Automotive (4-2) from Rockford took home second place with Seek & Destroy (2-2) from New Lenox finishing in third [place and Booze Brothers / Meridian Implement (2-2) from Winnebago ending up in fourth place
Matt's Hometown Pizza opened play with a first round game against Tony's Oyster Bar from Freeport and posted a 12-4 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the second round of tournament action. Matt's Hometown Pizza and the Rebels from Rockford went at one another in the second round with the Stillman Valley ball club coming out on top by a final score of 7-5 to advance them into the tournament's semifinal round of the winner's bracket. The Rebel's had received a first round bye to advance into this second round match-up with Matt's Hometown Pizza.
In their semifinal game of the winner's bracket it was Matt's Hometown Pizza playing the Booze Brothers / Meridian Implement and in a close game Matt's Hometown Pizza was victorious 12-10 to move into the winner's bracket finals. Booze Brothers / Meridian Implement made it to this semifinal game by receiving a first round bye before stopping Pain Management & Rehab Center from Rockford 15-5 in the second round of tournament play.
In the game between this tournament's last two remaining unbeaten teams it was Matt's Hometown Pizza and Seek & Destroy on a collision course with the Still Valley ball club coming out and hitting in this game as they piled up the runs to win going away 21-6 to assure them of a place in the tournament's championship game against whichever team that would win the loser's bracket to earn the right to oppose matt's Hometown Pizza in the championship game. Seek & Destroy made it to the winner's bracket championship game by opening play with a first round bye before stopping Rock River Siding from Loves Park 11-1 in the second round and than defeating Harlem Road Automotive 12-11 in a semifinal game of the winner's bracket.
In the championship game Matt's Pizza was faced with a challenge from Harlem Road Automotive and the Stillman Valley based ball club was up to the task before them winning 8-2 to complete their undefeated run to the title at this qualifying tournament.
Harlem Road Automotive made it to the tournament's championship game by opening with a first round bye before taking on and defeating Guerilla Graffix 11-7 in the second round of play. Harlem Road than lost to Seek & Destroy in a semifinal game by the final score of 12-11 to drop them into the loser's bracket. Harlem Road Automotive than sent Pain Management & Rehab Center to the parking lot to pack their cars for the trip home after beating them 9-2. Booze Brothers / Meridian Implement was excused from this tournament next by Harlem Road Automotive after they squeaked by with a 11-10 win to put them into the loser's bracket finals where they had the chance to send home the team that had put them into the loser's bracket earlier in the day. Harlem Road Automotive took full advance of this opportunity and beat Seek & Destroy 12-8 to earn the right to oppose unbeaten Matt's Hometown Pizza in the championship game. Harlem Road Automotive winning streak ended in the title game as they were defeated by Matt's Hometown Pizza 8-2 to finish in second place at this event.