Players, Inc. Wins USSSA Class C Elite State

Edges Souse's Lounge 21-18 In 'If Necessary Game' To Win State Title

Sportsmanship & Elite C State Champs & Players, Inc. & Ray Roger Family Memebers

ROSCOE: Players, Inc. (3-1) from Chicago won the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C Elite state tournament at the Harlem Community Center North Complex in Roscoe on August 27 by edging past Souse's Lounge (4-2) from Rockford 21-18 in the 'if necessary game' 21-18. Souse's Lounge forced the 'if necessary game' to be played by pounding out a 15-5 win in the first championship game between these two ball clubs. The Rope Club (1-2) from Arlington Height finished in third place with the Hooded Frogs/Bridgeview Sports Dome (1-2) from Bridgeview taking home fourth place from this tournament. Players, Inc. was also awarded the 'Ray Rogers Team Sportsmanship Award' that goes to the team that best exhibits sportsmanship as a team throughout the state tournament.
Chad Doerre from Players Inc was named as the MVP of this state tournament. He was joined on the All-State Tournament Team by his teammates Jim Jorgenson, Eric Mau, Pete Digioia, and Brad Jorgenson
Players Inc. opened play with a with a big 11-2 win over Souse's Lounge in the first round of tournament play as James Chellson led the attack going 2-3 with a home run as his teammates Jim Jorgenson went 3-3 and Kevin Sak added a 2-3 effort at the plate during this victory by Players, Inc.
The Chicago based ball club than defeated the Hooded Frogs 8-0 in the undefeated game of this five team state tournament to win the winner's bracket. Again it was Chellson leading the way as he went 3-4 with 2 HR in this win. Other top hitters for the Players, Inc. ball club in this win were Gary Lofton 2-3 and Eric Mau 2-3.
Now Players Inc. needed to sit and wait before they would find out at the conclusion of the loser's bracket which team that they would be playing in the championship game. When the loser's bracket was complete a rematch with their first round opponent Souse's Lounge awaited Players, Inc. in the championship game.
Souse's Lounge came out smoking and never let up on Players Inc as they posted an impressive 15-5 win up onto the bracket board to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two ball clubs in order to determine which of them would be the champion. Players, Inc. was lead during this loss by the hitting of Jorgenson 3-3, Chad Doerre 2-3 and Adam Orozco 2-3
In the extra game were it was winner take all Players, Inc. and Souse's Lounge went at one another with everything that they had left in their tanks and when the final out had been recorded into the scorers book the scoreboard read Players, Inc. 21 and Souse's Lounge 18 giving the Chicago based ball club the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class C Elite State title. Players, Inc. top hitters in this win were Brad Jorgenson 4-4 (2 triples), Doerre 4-5 and Eric Parsill 4-4 (HR)
Souse's Lounge took the long hard road to the championship game but they got there just the same as they lost their very first game in this tournament before rallying to win four straight times to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' fore being edged out in that last game to finish in second place.
Souse's Lounge opened tournament play on a flat note losing to Players, Inc. 11-2 to send them into the loser's bracket from the get go of this state tournament. Souse's found that missing incre4dient as they clubbed Coors Light from Dixon 19-0 to advance in the bracket.
In their next game it was Souse's Lounge over the Rope Club by a final score of 10-7 to put them into the loser's bracket championship game where they met and defeated the Hooded Frogs/Bridgeview Sports Dome by a final score of 20-2.
This win earned them the right to have a rematch with Players, Inc. in the championship game and Souse's Lounge took advantage of this by evening the tournament at one loss each by handing Players, Inc. a 15-5 loss. This win forced the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two ball club before knowing which of them would be the champions.
In a close and back and forth game Souse's Lounge and Players Inc went at one another and when the game was over it was Souse's Lounge on the short end of a 21-18 score to finish in second place.
Souse Lounge did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information, state, highlights or quotes about how they finished in second place at this state tournament.

(L) MVP Chad Doerre & (R) Defensive MVP Curt Head