Rainbow Separations Champions Of Worth/USSSA NIT

Seven Teams Participate At H.C.C. & Forest Hills Diamonds

Rainbow Separations Champions of 23rd Annual Worth/USSSA Women's Class D NIT

ROCKFORD: Rainbow Separations (4-0) from Belvidere won the 23rd Annual Worth/USSSA Women's Class D National Invitational Tournament held at Harlem Community Center and Forest Hills Diamonds in Rockford on August 13th & 14th. The champions were led by the play of Lori Miles who was names as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for her outstanding play. Miles was joined on the 23rd Annual Worth/USSSA Women's Class D All-Tournament Team by her teammates Pat Patterson, Deb Jarvis, Ann Beksel and Jean Dennis. Hammertime (5-2) from Frankfort Square took home second place behind the outstanding glove work of Susan Carlson who was named as the defensive MVP of this tournament. Three other Hammertime players joined Carlson on the All-Tournament team and they were; Danette Ball, Kay Novak and Johnna Franklin. O'Brady's/ABP (2-2) from Crystal Lake finished in third place with 3WD (1-3) from Villa Park taking home fourth place from this tournament.
Rainbow Separations opened tournament play with a first round contest with The Groove/Sarges from Urbana and he ladies from Belvidere posted an impressive 12-3 win up onto the bracket board to advance into the second round of tournament action with a win under their belt. In the second round Rainbow Separations and Hammer time met with Rainbow Separations posting a 7-3 win over Hammertime onto the bracket board as they advanced into the winner's bracket finals.
Rainbow Separations and O'Brady's/ABP went at each other in the battle between the last two remaining unbeaten teams left in this tournament with Rainbow Separations edging out their Crystal Lake opponent by a final score of 5-4 to give them the title to the winner's bracket and more importantly assuring them of a spot the tournaments championship game against whichever team that would mange to win the loser's bracket to earn the right to oppose the in the championship game on Sunday.
On Sunday when the loser's brackets final game had been completed Rainbow Separations knew that they faced a rematch with Hammertime in the championship game. With both teams knowing what was at stake they went at with everything that they had and when the final out had been recorded into the scorer's book the score board read 9-8 in favor of Rainbow Separations as the ladies from Belvidere completed their undefeated run to the NIT title.
Rainbow Separations did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any team information, highlights, stats or quotes on how they were able to win the 23rd Annual Worth/USSSA Women's Class D N.I.T.
Tournament runner-up Hammertime opened play with a first round 3-1 win over CTS from Rockford before dropping their second round contest to Rainbow Separations by the score of 7-3. This loss sent the ladies from Frankfort Square into the loser's bracket where they now needed to put together a six game winning streak to win this tournament.
Hammertime knowing what was needed of them went to work as they eliminated the Groove/Sarges first by the final score of 8-7.
Next they excused CTS from this tournament after beating them for a second time by the final score of 11-1.
On Sunday morning Hammertime and 3WD met on the field with Hammertime emerging as the victor after posting a 12-7 win onto the bracket board to advance again in the loser's bracket.
Next Hammertime and O'Brady's/ABP met in the loser's bracket championship game with the winner earning the right to play unbeaten Rainbow Separations in the championship game. Hammertime again won another game as they eliminated O'Brady's/ABP by the score of 16-6 to earn the right to oppose Rainbow Separations in the title contest.
Hammertime left nothing back as they challenged Rainbow Separations in the championship game but fell one run short losing 9-8 to finish in second place at the 23rd Annual Worth/USSSA Women's Class D NIT.

Continued: