Truckers Champions At USSSA D/E In Oregon

Twelve Teams Participate In D/E Equalizer At Park West Complex

OREGON: The Truckers (5-1) from Channahon won the twelve team Illinois USSSA Men's Class D National Tournament Qualifier played at the Park West softball Complex in Oregon on Saturday June 30th with a 5-1 record. The champions came storming back after dropping the winner's bracket undefeated game to Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's (3-2) from Rockford to run of three straight wins including two victories over Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's to put the ribbon on their second tournament championship of the 2007 season. The Brewmasters (5-2) from Henry took home third place with Arvis Construction (5-2) from Schaumburg taking home fourth place from this tournament. The tuckers had previously won a 2007 Illinois USSSA Qualifying tournament so they passed the national berth down and converted the paid berth portion into sponsor travel expense money.
The Truckers opened play with a first round bye before taking on and defeating Arvis Construction in the second round by a final score of 12-10 to advance into the semifinal round of the winner's bracket. Arvis Construction had previously defeated Blackhawk Athletic Club from Rockford 9-2 in the first round of play to earn the right to play the Truckers in the second round of this tournament.
In their second contest the Truckers met and defeated Swilligan's The Pub from Rockford by a final score of 10-5 to earn the right to play for the title to the winner's bracket of this tournament. Swilligan's The Pub made it to this semifinal game of the winner's bracket by opening play with an 8-4 win over Messie's Bar & Grill from Oregon in the first round of tournament action. In their second game Swilligan's The Pub met and defeated Wheels By R.T. / LT's bar & Grill from Rockford 10-4 to advance into the semifinal round of the winner's bracket and a game with the Truckers.
In the tournament's undefeated game the Trucker came out on the short end of a 6-2 score as the fell to Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's and fell into the loser's bracket where they met the Brewmasters. The Channahon based ball club got their ship righted and posted a 9-8 win over the Brewmasters to earn a second shot at unbeaten Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's and the tournament title.
The Truckers made good on their second chance as they evened the tournament at one loss each after defeating Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's 3-0 to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two squad in order to determine which of them would be crowned the champion of this tournament. In that extra game the Truckers were the dominant team winning 12-2 to claim the top prize from this event.
Tournament runner-up Rigid Construction Little Anthony's opened play with a first round bye before taking on and defeating Damaged Goods from Sugar Grove 10-2 in the second round of tournament action. Damaged Goods had beaten Peanut Butter & Jelly Time from Bolingbrook 10-2 in the first round of tournament play to advance into this second round contest t with Rigid Construction / Little Anthony's.
In their semifinal contest of the winner's bracket it was Rigid Construction Little Anthony's posting a 12-5 win onto the bracket board over Ogle County Physical Therapy from Byron. Ogle County Physical Therapy had defeated the Brewmasters 11-8 in the first round of tournament play before stopping PRP from Bourbonnais 13-9 in the second round of play to advance into this semifinal game against Rigid Construction Little Anthony's.
Rigid Construction Little Anthony's became the only unbeaten team left in this tournament when they upended the Truckers 6-2 in the winner's bracket undefeated game. Now Rigid Construction Little Anthony's needed to sit and wait until one team emerged from the loser's bracket to be their challenger in the finals and when play in the losers' bracket was complete a rematch with the Truckers awaited Rigid Construction Little Anthony's in the championship game.
Rigid Construction Little Anthony's came out flat in the first championship game getting shut out as they lost to the Truckers 3-0 before losing to them a second time 12-2 in the deciding game. This loss forces Rigid Construction Little Anthony's to accept second place from this tournament.