2014 USSSA ‘B’ World Tournament
Kissimmee, FL
September 12-14
Precision/Easton is your 2014 ‘B’ World champs!
Link to the Softballcenter.com picture album of the B World
USSSA B World tournament info and bracket link
Xtreme/Miken’s Kyle Decker leads things off in the championship vs Precision/Easton
The 2014 USSSA ‘B’ World Series played out as expected as the #1 seeded Precision/Easton based out of Chicago, Illinois rolled through the field of 31 teams almost without breaking a sweat in the 85 degree heat and humidity.
The tournament began on Friday afternoon at 3 PM and the games were hotly contested with very few run rules and except for the night games and a few games where the wind was blowing out, the scores were very low. Some of the Friday games of note were Pure Romance from Ohio knocking off Sonny’s 11-4 in the first round matchup between two of the favored teams to win the event. Pure Romance then turned around and knocked off OC Swats from California 24-14. H Auto from Minnesota smashed Vivid from Texas by the run rule 30-10 with the wind blowing out on field #1. A highly talented ‘C’ team from Georgia called New Era knocked off one of the favorites 3rd Street from Ohio 16-14 and then turned around and knocked off H. Auto 14-13. In both games the New Era team led most of the way. Highly seeded TG Brand out of Michigan was impressive in wins over a local C team and then beating New Breed 33-15 to advance to the final 8. Non-Conference ‘B’ team T’s 13 from Nebraska beat B&B Drywall from Missouri 8-7 and Broughton from Georgia 27-24 with great defense and timely hitting. On Saturday morning P&P 333 from Michigan shocked Classic Glass to advance to the final 8, Above All Landscape continued to play well in beating a roster depleted B&B Diamond & Ice team, and Xtreme upset #2 seeded OI Livingston 19-8 to advance to the final 8.
The final 8 was played out on Saturday afternoon with the temperature rising and runs hard to come by. Precision squeaked by Pure Romance 16-14 for what would be their only close game. TG Brand held on in an ugly win over upstart New Era 15-14. T’s 13 held off P&P 333 21-18, and Xtreme/Miken continued to play well with a big win over Above All Landscape 15-9.
That set up the final 4 which USSSA had livestreaming on ESPN3.com! At 5 PM the favored #1 seeded Precision/Easton came out with a 12 spot in the first inning on TG Brand and used their pitching and defense the rest of the way to win 14-6. And in the other semi-final Xtreme/Miken completely shut down T’s 13/Demarini 10-3. Xtreme center fielder Dan Skelly made a couple of incredible diving catches which were sent to ESPN to see if they would make the Top 10 plays of the day. In the winner’s bracket final Precision and Xtreme exchanged 3 run homers early on with Xtreme taking an early lead on big homers by Dustin Palm, Mike Rhines, and left fielder Matt McGowan but Precision pulled away in the 5th when they batted around the order. Leadoff man Matt Rear, 2 man and power hitter Chris Geron, 3 hitter Keith Laski, and 4 hitter Seth Burgmeier were lacing line drives and home runs all over the park. And whatever they left on the bases seemed to be cleared off by Denis Fisher. The defense held steady even when the air started to cool off and the ball started to fly and Precision won the game 29-19.
On Sunday morning Sonnys took on Pure Romance in the loser’s bracket semi-final. The two teams traded great defensive plays in a low scoring start. Sonny’s right fielder Alexis Ramirez made a nice diving catch in the 2nd inning. Pure Romance 2nd baseman Steve Edwards returned the favor by making a nice diving stop in the 3rd. And Pure Romance led 7-6 after 5 complete innings. But in the top of the 7th Sonnys Alexis Ramirez, Kevin Ballard, and Dan Bean hit big homers in a 15 run 6th inning where Sonnys scored 13 runs before the first out to take a 21-7 lead. Pure Romance third baseman Jason Ferguson sparked a comeback in the bottom of the 6th to cut the lead to 21-14 but Sonnys Ramirez made a nice sliding catch to end the inning. Sonny’s would add a 4 runs in the top of the 7th to advance 25-15.
Sonny’s then took on Xtreme/Miken in the loser’s bracket championship. Xtreme jumped on Sonny’s early and often with homers by Mike Rhines, Chris Bauer, and Alex Bremer. They mixed in some great hockey goalie type defense from pitcher Aaron Lewicki, and some more diving catches by center fielder Dan Skelly. Sonny’s tried to hang tough but Xtreme finished them with more home runs from Kyle Decker, Dustin Palm, and Mike Rhines 25-8.
In the championship game a fresh and confident Precision team dominated Xtreme/Miken from start to finish and the game was over as quickly as it began with Precision winning 17-2 by the run rule in 5 innings.
Precision/Easton finishes celebrates their ‘B’ World Title
TG Brand defends against Precision on ESPN3.com in the winner’s bracket semi-final
The best game of the tournament was the Pure Romance 26-25 win over Classic Glass on Saturday night
Sonny’s takes on Pure Romance in the first round on Friday.
PRI would win but Sonny’s would fight all the way back through the loser’s bracket
and send PRI home on Sunday morning.
Checking takes on B&B Drywall on Saturday morning
USSSA ‘B’ World Awards and Final Standings
Co-MVP’s were Keith Laski and Bryan Porter of Precision/Easton
Defensive MVP was Andy Vitcak of Precision/Easton
I don’t see the offensive mvp listed from Xtreme yet
| Player Tournament Awards | Players Name | Plays For |
| All Tournament Team | Jason Kreider | Sonny’s |
| All Tournament Team | Jonathan Wheeler | Sonny’s |
| All Tournament Team | Kyle Decker | Xtreme/Miken |
| All Tournament Team | Michael Rhines | Xtreme/Miken |
| All Tournament Team | Denis Fisher | Precision/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Henry Castor | Pure Romance/Chics/Headlines/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Matt McGowan | Xtreme/Miken |
| All Tournament Team | Dan Skelly | Xtreme/Miken |
| All Tournament Team | RYAN THIEDE | Precision/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Alex Bremer | Xtreme/Miken |
| All Tournament Team | Jeff Keske | Precision/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Jimmy Carter | Pure Romance/Chics/Headlines/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Seth Burgmeier | Precision/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Matthew Rear | Precision/Easton |
| All Tournament Team | Samuel Christensen | Sonny’s |
| Place | State | Team | Team Class |
Wins | Loses | Ties | Runs Scored |
Runs Allow |
Avg Runs |
Avg Allow |
Avg Diff |
Max Runs |
USSSA Points |
| 1 | IL – Chicago | Precision/Easton | SPMensB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 42 | 18.6 | 8.4 | 10.2 | 29 | 650 |
| 2 | MN – Brooklyn Center | Xtreme/Miken | SPMensB | 5 | 2 | 0 | 113 | 82 | 16.1 | 11.7 | 4.42 | 25 | 350 |
| 3 | WY – Casper | Sonny’s berth | SPMensB | 7 | 2 | 0 | 181 | 122 | 20.1 | 13.5 | 6.55 | 31 | 325 |
| 4 | OHO – Cincinnati | pure romance/chics/headlines/easton | SPMensB | 5 | 2 | 0 | 124 | 103 | 17.7 | 14.7 | 3 | 26 | 250 |
| 5 | NE – Omaha | T’s13/DeMarini | SPMensB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 81 | 14 | 16.2 | -2.2 | 27 | 225 |
| 5 | MI – Flint | TG Brand | SPMensB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 63 | 12.8 | 12.6 | 0.20 | 33 | 200 |
| 7 | CAN – San Jose | Classic Glass/Easton | SPMensB | 4 | 2 | 0 | 131 | 93 | 21.8 | 15.5 | 6.33 | 31 | 150 |
| 7 | NJ – rahway | Above All Landscaping/GWS | SPMensB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 65 | 15.6 | 13 | 2.6 | 19 | 150 |
| 9 | MO – Branson | nightmare/louisville slugger | SPMensB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 42 | 10.4 | 8.4 | 2 | 14 | 110 |
| 9 | GA – FAYETTEVILLE | oi livingston/scott’s lawn care/mwa | SPMensB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 66 | 64 | 13.2 | 12.8 | 0.39 | 23 | 110 |
| 9 | MI – Lansing | p&p333/suburban/clutch/lt/combat | SPMensB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 68 | 15.2 | 17 | -1.7 | 18 | 110 |
| 9 | GA – Blackshear | New Era | SPMensC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 57 | 11.7 | 14.2 | -2.5 | 16 | 110 |
| 13 | OHS – Huber Heights | Cooper/Yuengling/Easton | SPMensB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 45 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 2 | 22 | 70 |
| 13 | OHO – West Chester | 3rd street/louisville slugger/mojo | SPMensB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 48 | 12.7 | 12 | 0.75 | 21 | 70 |
| 13 | GA – Macon | broughton/nls/turk auto/br/easton | SPMensB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 72 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 70 |
| 13 | NC – Greenville | Bad Draw | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 49 | 8.33 | 16.3 | -8 | 11 | 70 |
| 17 | MN – Le Sueur | h. auto llc/easton/hooters moa | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 41 | 19.3 | 13.6 | 5.66 | 30 | 40 |
| 17 | OHN – Mentor | CashHouse/ Nager Law | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 35 | 6.66 | 11.6 | -5 | 9 | 40 |
| 17 | WA – Bothell | West Coast Newbreed/Worth | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 51 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 15 | 40 |
| 17 | CT – New Haven | ChecKing/Worth | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 61 | 19.6 | 20.3 | -0.6 | 30 | 40 |
| 17 | CAS – Yorba Linda | oc swats/miken/premier athletics | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 60 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 18 | 40 |
| 17 | GA – Macon | Primetime/Easton | SPMensB | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 49 | 15.6 | 16.3 | -0.6 | 32 | 40 |
| 17 | WA – Tacoma | Team Monarch Qualified | SPMensB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 46 | 8 | 23 | -15 | 12 | 65 |
| 17 | NC – Clayton | B&B/Diamond & Ice/BMW | SPMensB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 30 | 7.5 | 15 | -7.5 | 11 | 40 |
| 25 | OR – CLACKAMAS | all american athletics / demarini Qualified | SPMensB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 41 | 12.5 | 20.5 | -8 | 15 | 45 |
| 25 | FL – Tampa | Doom | SPMensC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 53 | 16.5 | 26.5 | -10 | 18 | 20 |
| 25 | FL – Melbourne | API Plumbing | SPMensC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 10.5 | -8.5 | 3 | 20 |
| 25 | AZ – mesa | azm/3n2/easton/classick sports | SPMensB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 25 | MO – Belton | B&B DRYWALL/Easton | SPMensB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 38 | 13.5 | 19 | -5.5 | 20 | 20 |
| 25 | TXN – Frisco | Vivid/Worth/Shirt Doctors | SPMensB | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 42 | 10 | 21 | -11 | 10 | 20 |
| 25 | FL – palm city | Demarini Headbangers | SPMensC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 53 | 18.5 | 26.5 | -8 | 20 | 20 |
Precision SS Keith Laski and CF Bryan Porter won the co-MVP
Precision pitcher Andy Vitcak was Defensive MVP
Team by team notes
1st Place – Precision/Easton
Conf ‘B’ from IL 5-0 Record
Precision came to ‘B’ Worlds expecting to win and their incredible focus as a team and management staff got the job done in impressive fashion. The offense took the opposition out early and often with big innings in the 1st and 2nd innings. Then the defense would take over led by the teams true MVP and leader pitcher Andy Vitcak and the middle of the defense. A true team effort much like the Buzini ‘B’ World champs from a year ago.
Congratulations to Precision on playing hard, clean, and great softball! Manager/Sponsor Bill Wax and manager Todd Ankney pulled all the right strings in this one and really for the entire season!
3B Matt Rear
C Chris Geron
SS Keith Laski
2B Seth Burgmeier
1B Denis Fisher
EH Ryan Thiede
LF Dan Kirkwood
RF Frank Fracek
P Andy Vitcak
CF Bryan Porter
MI Jeff Keske
Bryan Porter
Matt Rear led off lacing hits all over the park and Chris Geron cleaned them off with linedrive homers
2nd Place – Xtreme/Miken
‘B’ from MN 5-2 Record
Xtreme/Miken came in as a mid seed for the ‘B’ World and is this years surprise runner up. They play a solid brand of softball and do so with most of the players from in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota. As mentioned before the highlite reel catches of center fielder Dan Skelly laying out for divers, and that incredible home run robbing catch in the championship game was awesome to see. The pitcher Lewicki brings that hockey mentality to the team and then Harvanko who is known for his outfield play did a great job at first base. Palm, Rhines, and Newton were providing the power (Newton the triples 
).
This is another team, where the managers were pushing the right buttons and the bench pitched in when called up. A true team effort and a great accomplishment for a team that struggled most of the year in Conference play.
C Kyle Decker
1B Mark Harvanko
EH Dustin Palm
3B Mike Rhines
LF Matt McGowan
C Todd Newton
SS Chris Bauer
CF Dan Skelly
2B Eric O’Connell
MI Andrew Lehman
RF Alex Bremer
P Aaron Lewicki
Xtreme celebrates a homer by Mike Rhines
CF Dan Skelly was making highlite reel catches all weekend long
Mike Rhines at third and Chris Bauer at shortstop
The managers that pulled all the right strings
3rd Place – Sonny’s
Conf ‘B’ from WY 7-2 Record
Sonny’s is a national all star team with great talent and very entertaining to watch play softball. Because they were a non-conference team they didn’t earn a lot of points and were seeded very low. Because of that they drew a tough Pure Romance team in the first round where Sonny’s managed just 4 runs and lost? They then came back on Saturday morning to knock off All American and H Auto in the loser’s bracket. Then at 5 PM they came back again and basically stayed on the field the remainder of the tournament as they sent home Bad Draw, P&P 333, Above All Landscape, TG Brand, and got a revenge win over Pure Romance to finish 3rd.
Sonny’s picked up Nick Robertson the 2011 ‘A’ World Offensive MVP to play center field and former Line Drive infielder Richard “Flaco” Salazar for regular middle infielder Brian Faria who is expecting a baby. Both players contributed immensely to Sonny’s success. They also played without Julio Salazar who is also expecting the birth of his child.
SS Aaron Martinez
MI Richard Salazar
C Jason Kreider
CF Nick Robertson
2B Chris Terry
LF Nick Price
3B Sammy Christensen
RF Alexis Ramirez
1B Dan Bean
P Jonathan Wheeler / Carl Blank
Sonnys picked up Nick Robertson to play center field
4th Place – Pure Romance/Chics/Headlines/Easton
Conf ‘B’ from OH 5-2 Record
Precision almost dug themselves out of the toughest part of the bracket as they beat Sonny’s and OC Swats on Friday night convincingly. Then on Saturday in their quarterfinal showdown with Precision they let up 12 runs in the first inning but came all the way back to lose just 14-12. The slow start cost them a chance to be ‘B’ World Champs. They made the most of the losers bracket as they knocked off some of the top ‘B’ teams in the tournament – OI Livingston, a huge double digit deficit comeback against Classic Glass where Jimmy Carter hit the walk off single to win 26-25 with two outs, and a late Saturday win over a very good T’s 13 team. On Sunday morning they were beating Sonny’s 7-6 when they let up 15 runs in one inning and lost 25-15. Edwards, Castor, Jamison, and Carter had the offense humming.
2B Steve Edwards
RF Butch Castor
C Jon Jamison
1B Jimmy Carter
3B Jason Ferguson
CF Jason Gardner
SS Brandon Bellamy
P Paul Winnner / Roger Drake
MI Rocky Staton
LF Ben Cosgrove
OF Mike Rogers also played a lot
Steve Edwards was clutch and provided some big homers
Jason Gardner had a quiet but solid season for PRI
Jimmy “The President” Carter was working on an offensive MVP if PRI had advanced
