Roundin' Third Wins ISA Class D

Eleven Teams Participate At Melas Fields In Arlington Heights On April 9th

By David Yuen

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS: Roundin' Third from Chicago came charging out of the loser's bracket to capture the eleven team I.S.A. Men's Class D World Qualifier played at Melas Field in Arlington Heights on April 9th with a 7-1. To achieve their success they needed to double dip Posse Softball from Crystal Lake 13-8 & 23-5 in the finals. The champions earned a berth to play at the 2005 ISA Men's Class D World Tournament to be held at Lexington, South Carolina on August 26th through 28th. The Lakota Tribe (3-2) from Urbana finished in third place with Women's Touch Painting (3-2) from Kenosha, WI finishing in fourth place, with Throwing Leather (2-2) and Assassins (1-2) finishing in a tie for fifth place.
The champions to be Roundin' Third opened play with a loss to Lakota Tribe 11-9 to start the day off on the wrong note.
But champions to persevere as they got back on track by pounding out an impressive 20-10 win over Southside Connection in the loser's bracket as Scott Barlev scored 4 runs, and Jason Adair hit a three run homer to fuel Roundin' Third thirteen run fifth inning that put the game away.
This win lit the fire under Roundin' Third and the Blackouts got in their way only to be run over 22-4 as the Chicago ball club started to open people eyes with their play. Jim Casey, Torry Caniglia and Dave Yuen led the attack with three hits each during this victory.
The Assassins were sent packing their cars for the trip home next as Roundin' Third continued to play tough defense to go with their high octane offense winning 13-1. Barlev and Shannon Rollins led the way by stroking three hits each to pace their club in this win.
Women's Touch Painting was Roundin' Third's next opponent as the Chicago squad continued to shine hanging an impressive 20-4 win up onto the bracket board to continue their advance toward the title.
Now playing in the loser's bracket championship game with the right to play for the tournament title going to the victor Roundin' Third put another twenty run on the scoreboard as they sent Lakota Tribe packing after beating them 20-10. Roundin' Third was led in this game by the hitting of Adair who went 4-4 with his teammates Matt Goumas, Yuknis, Kyle Kimme, Jim Watson and Casey all collecting three hits each in this win.
Now there were only two team left, the red hot Roundin' Third and the unbeaten Posse Softball as these teams square off in the championship game with Roundin' Third coming out on top 13-5 to force the playing of the 'if necessary game' in order to determine which of these two teams would be the champion and earn the berth to play at the 2005 ISA Men's Class D World Tournament in South Caroline in August.
In the winner takes the prize ball game Roundin' Third left no doubt as to who was the better team this day winning going away by a final score of 23-4. Roundin' Third was led at the plate in these two final wins by the hitting of Goumas went 8-9 in the two games and Caniglia and Watson had 5 hits apiece
Team spokesman Dave Yuen pointed out that Roundin' Third leading hitters for this tournament were; Jason Adair .708, 6 HR & 19 RBI, Matt Goumas .655, with 16 RBI, Jeff Streul .636, Shannon Rollins .615, with 16 RBI, and Dave Yuknis .607, with 19 RBI. Yuen also praised Yuknis who pitched a great tournament, only walking one batter in the last five games. Leadoff hitter, Torry Caniglia, who had 3 stolen bases while scoring 15 runs and the defense of Scott Barlev and Kyle Kimme on the left side of the infield.
The Posse Softball ball club opened play with a first round bye before taking on and defeating Southside Connection 26-25 in the second round of tournament play. Southside Connection had advance to this game by defeating Controversy 20-7 in the first round of play.
In their semifinal game of the winner's bracket Posse Softball won another one run ball game using their defense this time to make the difference as they edged Throwin' Leather 7-6 to move into the winner's bracket championship game.
IN the game between the last two unbeaten team left in this tournament Posse Softball met and defeated Lakota Tribe 17-5 to earn their spot in the tournament's championship game.
Maybe it was the waiting or maybe it was not their day after all but either way Posse Softball ran into a hot Roundin' Third squad and were double dipped 13-5 and 23-5 to force them to settle for second place from this tournament.
Posse Softball did not supply Illinois Softball Report with any information; team highlights stats or quotes on how they were able to accomplish their second place finish at this tournament.