Yep! Wins 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class D Northern State Tournament

2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class D - 2nd Place - Paradise Motors/Young Guns From Joliet

Now needing to win only one more game with two chanced to win it in Yep! had to sit and wait until the loser's bracket was complete before knowing who they would play in the state championship game and when the dust settled back down onto the infield after the last out had been recorded into the official scorer's book it was a date with the Paradise Motors/Young Guns that awaited Yep! in the state championship game.
In a game that was played close to the vest with team defense being the number one ingredient, Paradise Motors/Young Guns upended Yep! by a final score of 4-3 to force the need to have the 'if necessary game' played between these two teams in order to determine which of them would be the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's class D Northern State Champion.
Now one game only with the winner being crowned as this year's state champion Yep! and Paradise Motors/Young Guns took the field one last time. In another close game it was Yep! slipping past Paradise Motors/Young Guns 9-7 in that extra game to win the state title.
Yep! did not provide Illinois Softball Report with any team information, stats, highlights or quotes on how they were able to win the Illinois USSSA 2005 Northern Illinois State championship in Men's Class D.
Tournament runner-up Paradise Motors/Young Guns made a strong charge out of the loser's bracket to force the playing of the 'if necessary game' before succumbing to their second place finish at this forty-eight team event. Paradise Motors/Young Guns was led in this tournament by the defensive play of Matt Joiner who was names as the 'Defensive MVP' of the tournament for his outstanding glove work. Joiner was joined on the 2005 Illinois USSSA Men's Class D Northern State Tournament All-Tournament team by his teammates; Terry Feeney, Scott Malone, Jason Malsky, and Scott Hodgen.
The Paradise Motors/Young Guns opened play with a first round game against the Tri-Pods and the won handily by a final score of 12-0 on Saturday morning.
In their next game Paradise Motors/Young Guns met and defeated Plano Legion/Vineyard Liquors from Plano in a close game 13-12 to advance in the bracket. Plano Legion/Vineyard Liquors had received a first round bye to advance into this second round contest with Paradise Motors/Young Guns.
Paradise Motors/Young Guns met and defeated the Locos from Waukegan 20-10 in the third round of play on Saturday afternoon putting them into Saturday evening's quarterfinal games. Locos made it to this game by opening play with a first round bye before stopping Fubars 6-4 in the second round to advance into this game with Paradise Motors/Young Guns.
On Saturday night Paradise Motors/Young Guns stubbed their toe as they were defeated by the Hot Shots from Warrenville. The Hot shots made it into this contest with Paradise Motors/Young Guns by opening with a first round bye before stopping Neighbors Bar & Grill/Winter Construction from Rockford 11-9 in the second round and than defeating the Ballers from New Lenox 7-6 in the third round of play to qualify to play Paradise Motors/Young Guns in this quarterfinal game of the winner's bracket.
On Sunday morning Paradise Motors/Young Guns started their way back though the loser's bracket by meeting and defeating the Posse Softball Club/Sage from Crystal Lake 13-4 to move forward in the bracket.
In a wild game Paradise Motors/Young Guns on the strength of a two out three run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning slipped past Marchelloni Pizza/Pagoda House from Lockport 12-11.
Next they sent K.G.B./Paradise Bat to the parking lot to pack their cars for the trip back home to Lockport when they defeated them 14-2 to continue their advancement through the loser's bracket.
Now with only four teams left in the tournament the finals were played at Forest Hills Diamonds and Paradise Motors/Young Guns and Locos went at each other and again the Joliet based ball club hung another win onto the bracket board with a final score of 12-4.
Now Paradise Motors/Young Guns and Players Only squared off with each other with the winner getting a shot at unbeaten Yep! and the 2005 state title. Paradise Motors/Young Guns won again to move into the championship game still needing two morewins to achieve their dream of winning the 2005 state title.

(L) 3rd Place - Players Only From Rockford & (R) 4th Place Locos From Waukegan

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