Seco 2006 Illinois USSSA Class E State Champs

Sixty-four Teams Participate In Northern Illinois State Tournament

2006 Northern Illinois USSSA Men's Class E State Champions Seco from Aurora

JOLIET: Seco (7-1) from Aurora came back in the 'if necessary game' to edge Joliet's Collins Street Auto Part's / 3rd Base (7-2) 10-9 to win the 2006 Illinois USSSA Men's Class E Northern State Tournament played at the Inwood Sports complex in Joliet on August 11 through 13th with a field of sixty-four teams entered. Chaos (7-2) from Aurora finished in third place with Booze Brothers / Meridian Implement (6-2) from Winnebago took home fourth place. Rounding out the top eight finishing teams at this year state tournament were Ambrosia Bar & Grill (4-2) from Joliet and Michlig Ag (4-2) from Manlius tying for fifth place with both The Beavers (4-2) from Lombard and Alfa's (4-2) from Joliet finishing in a tie for 7th place at this years state tournament.
Seco was led by the play of Ken Winthers who was named as the tournament's 'Most Valuable Player' for his outstanding play throughout the tournament. Winthers was joined on the 2006 Illinois USSSA Men's Class E All-State Tournament Team by his Seco teammates Ryan Banks, Mark Bracket, Randy Fitzgerald, Ron Linstrom, Mark Nilles, Bob Reed and Mark Bracket was also named as the manager of the 2006 All-State Tournament Team.
Seco opened play on Friday night with a with an 11-5 win over Peanut Butter Jelly Time from Bolingbrook. In their second game on Friday night Seco met and defeated Miles Construction from Lockport 21-11 to advance into Saturday afternoon's third round of tournament play. Miles Construction received a forfeit win over J. J.'s Pub from Ottawa who were not present at game time on Friday evening.
On Saturday afternoon Seco met Sharp Softball from Romeoville and came away with an 6-4 win to advance into Sunday mornings Quarterfinals in the winner's bracket.. Sharp Softball had also won two games on Friday evening as they first defeated Aurora Athletic Club 9-3 before sending Coldwell banker into the loser's bracket by beating them 7-2 to advance into this Saturday afternoon game against Seco.
On Sunday morning with only eight teams still undefeated Seco took the field to play Alfa's and came away with their fourth win in a row as they sent Alfa's into the loser's bracket after beating them 16-6. Alfa's made it to the quarterfinal unbeaten by opening play on Saturday morning with a 7-0 forfeit win over Mill Tavern / McDowell from Aurora who no showed at this tournament. Alfa's than met and defeated Stateline Motors from Rockford later on Saturday morning 10-4 to advance into the afternoon round of the winner's bracket. Here Alfa's improved to 3-0 with a 14-6 win over Jolt N Joe's / Balls Deep from Sauk Village. This win earned them the right to play in Sunday morning's quarterfinal round of the 2006 Illinois USSSA Men's Class E Northern Illinois State Tournament against Seco.
Later on Sunday morning it was Seco and Ambrosia Bar & Grill meeting to play in one of the semifinal game of the winner's bracket as Seco continued to roll along winning 6-2 to advance into the winner's bracket undefeated game of the state tournament. Ambrosia made it to this game by recording two wins on Saturday evening as they opened play with a 13-5 win over 3rd Generation Drywall from Geneva in the first round before pounding out an impressive 15-0 win over Who's Drivin' from Romeoville later on Friday evening. On Saturday it was Ambrosia Bar & Grill over Seek & Destroy from New Lenox 13-8. On Sunday morning in their opening game of the day Ambrosia Bar & Grill met and defeated Chaos from Aurora 9-5 to advance into a semifinal game of the winner's bracket against Seco.
In the winner's bracket undefeated game Seco met Collins Street Auto Parts / 3rd Base and in a close ball game Seco came from behind to win 11-8 to become the only unbeaten team left in this tournament. Now Seco need e to sit and watch as the loser's bracket was played out before they would know which of the remaining teams would earn the right by winning the loser's bracket to be their opponent in the championship game. After all play had been competed in the loser's bracket a rematch with Collins Street Auto Parts / 3rd Base was on tap for the Aurora based ball club in the state championship game.
Collin Street Auto Parts / 3rd base made their present known to Seco by evening the tournament at one loss each after beating Seco in a one run ball game 7-6 to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two ball clubs in order to decide who the 2006 USSSA Men's Class E Northern Illinois State champion would be. In that extra game it all came down to the last inning as Seco managed to hang on and win by one run 10-9 to claim their state title over Collins Street Auto Parts / 3rd Base.
Collins Street Auto Parts / 3rd Base was led in this tournament by the play of their shortstop Louis Purkart who was named as the 2006 Illinois USSSA Men's Class E Northern Illinois State Tournament Defensive MVP for his outstanding glove work plugging the middle for his ball club. Purkart was joined on the All-Tournament team by his Collins Street Auto Parts / 3rd Base teammates Jim Gardner, Mike Geist, George Lopez and Kurt Noon.

Continue: