Players/Mizuno Wins ISA Fall State

Twenty-one Teams Participate At Recreational Fall State in Urbana

Players/Mizuno 2005 ISA Fall Recreational Fall State Champions

URBANA: Players/Mizuno from Canton went a perfect 5-0 to capture the title at the twenty-one team ISA Men's Recreational State Tournament held at the Brickhouse Sports Complex in Urbana on October 8th & 9th. The Champions defeated Team Sportsbook (4-2) from Peoria 17-7 in the title game. Third Place went to Balls Deep (5-2) from Champaign, Lakota (3-2) finished in fourth place with both the Bombers (3-2) and Head 1st ((3-2) finishing in tie for fifth place at this tournament.
Players/Mizuno was led by the play of Eric Abernathy who was named as the MVP of this tournament for his overall outstanding play during this event. Abernathy was joined on the 2005 ISA Men's Recreational Fall State All-Tournament Team by his teammates Jay Mullens, Brett Caulkins, Dax Hedden, Chris Dewitt, and Tracy Pratt.
Players/Mizuno opened tournament play with a first round game against O'Charley's and quickly posted a 22-7 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the second round of tournament play.
Players/Mizuno stopped Skeeters Boys in high scoring wild game 36-22 to move into the semifinal round on Saturday evening. Skeeters Boys made it to this second round contest by defeating Cold Beer from Champaign in a high scoring game 22-21 to earn the right to play Players/Mizuno in the second round of this tournament.
On Saturday evening Players/Mizuno continued to score runs in bunches as they sent Head 1st to the loser's bracket after defeating them 23-12 to put the boys from Canton into the winner's bracket championship game on Sunday.
Head 1st made it to this semifinal game by opening play with a pigtail game against Miller Lite and slipping past them 12-11 to move into the first round of tournament play. Head 1st then met Kelly Glass and they won for the second time on this day as they defeated the Peoria based Kelly Glass 16-11 to move into the second round of tournament play with a perfect 2-0 record. Head 1st showed the Bombers how to use the bats in their second round contest scoring thirty one run as they won easily 31-14 to put them into the semifinal on Saturday night where they where to meet Players/Mizuno.
On Sunday at high noon Players/Mizuno and Team Sportsbook took the filed to play one another with the title to the winner's bracket and the spot in the tournament's championship game on the line for the winning team. In a close game Players/Mizuno came out on top by the final score of 17-13 to assure them of that spot in the tournament's championship game against whichever team that would win the loser's bracket to earn the right to oppose them in the title game.
A rematch with Team Sportsbook awaited Players/Mizuno after the conclusion of the loser's bracket with Players/Mizuno getting the better of it for the second straight time on this day winning 17-7 to put the bow on the title to the 2005 ISA Men's Recreational Fall State Tournament.
Players/Mizuno did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information. Stats, highlights or quotes as to how they were able to win this 2005 ISA Men's Recreational Fall State Tournament.
Tournament runner-up Team Sportsbook was led by the defensive play of Trevor Thacker who was named as the tournaments 'Gold Glove' award winner for this outstanding glove work during this tournament. Thacker was joined on the 2005 ISA Men's Recreational Fall State All-Tournament team by his teammates Scott Donahue, Ryan Alexander, Tim Donahue, and Eric Janasov.
In the opening round Team Sportsbook met and defeated Rocks 20-9 to advance into the second round of action where they met Slick Rick's from Bloomington. Team Sportsbook came out of the gate smoking and never let up as they piled up twenty-one runs in five innings to win by the run rule 21-10 to move into Saturday night's semifinal round of this fall state tournament. Slick Ricks made it to this second round contest by defeating Collins & Aikman 18-2 in a pigtail game to get into the bracket and than stopping Dave's Pizza from Bartonville 16-11 in the first round of tournament action to move into their second round contest against Team Sportsbook.
Again Team Sportsbook came out of the gate at full throttle as they jumped out to an impressive 10-0 lead to put the Lakota ball club back on their heals. Defense was the key to this game as Team Sportsbook never let the Lakota squad get going on offense I as they won another game in five innings by a final score of 15-5. This win put Team Sportsbook into Sunday's undefeated game against Players/Mizuno. Lakota had stopped Area Glass 7-0 in the first round of play before beating Balls Deep 16-13 in the second round to earn the right to play Team Sportsbook in a semifinal game of this fall state tournament.

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