2023 Chattahoochee Major tournament report!

2023 Chattahoochee Major

Columbus, Georgia

June 16-17

Rumors of Monsta’s demise were wrong as they bat here against Resmondo in Georgia!

Chattahoochee Hot Links

Chattahoochee Bracket and Results link

Chattahoochee Picture Album link

Chattahoochee Video Clips link (when ready)

Monsta vs Resmondo condensed game link

Chick-fil-a vs Resmondo condensed game link

MPT vs Chick-fil-a condensed game link

S&E vs MPT Rentals condensed game link

Competitive Edge vs S&E condensed game link

Monsta vs MPT condensed game link

Final 4 to Friday video highlights link

MPT vs Chick-fil-a condensed game link

Sports Reach vs Competitive Edge condensed game link

Conference batting leader Kyle Pearson video link

Friday to Final 4 video highlights link

MPT vs Resmondo condensed game link

2023 Chattahoochee archived games link

Chattahoochee Stats link (Updating throughout the week)

Chattahoochee Team List

Friday Night Recap

Dirty Vegas took it to Resmondo in the “Round of 16”

The Chattahoochee Major began on Friday night at 5:30 PM after rain canceled the men’s Conference Cares BSC vs Conference All Star game on Thursday night. The infields were mushy in the base paths and the outfields were very wet. The tournament was played at the South Commons 8 field complex and each field was 300 feet and they used the Dudley Pro-M ball with 240 bat compression testing. There were 21 teams on hand and 19 of them were from Conference USSSA so the winner received 180 + (19 x 4) = 256 points. There were 5 “play in” games where LSR/TG/BAF/Nitro Circus (IN-A) run ruled GNATS/Quad D Electic (AR-B) 30-15 in 5 innings. TRU/Riot/Timeless (MD-A) knocked off Taylormade/Midstate (TN-A) 30-27 scoring 13 in the top of the 1st inning and even though Taylormade scored the last 8 runs of the game. TRU’s Steven Hathaway was on base 5-5. Str8Play/MyAutoJack (CA-A) run ruled one of only two non-conference teams in the tournament (GA-C) team Eagle Paint 30-12. Str8play scored at least 3 runs in all 6 innings as Ike Worlow, Misael Tavarez, and Kevin Corrigan were all on base 4-5 and Tavarez had 3 HR and 8 RBI. Aristotle/FBI (AR-A) beat Kansas non-conference ‘B’ team Bombers Row/1931 Sports 18-4. I am not sure how Bombers Row was allowed to play as they don’t even have a roster online? And Dirty Vegas/Steel/Envy (TX-A) beat Van Wert Frickers (OH-B) 23-16 scoring 9 runs in the bottom of the 6th. Veteran Billy Maggard was 5-5 and Andrew Filoteo who played with Competitive Edge last year was 5-5 in the win. Dirty Vegas hit just 6 HR in the game.

The “Round of 16” was also played early Friday evening and it was 82 degrees and humid. Chick-fil-a/Slugger/BAF/Shore Irrig (VA-AA) beat Epic/Haymak/Kilmans (SC-A) 33-18 scoring 10 in the bottom of the 2nd and leaving them on the field in the bottom of the 5th. Almost the entire Chick-fil-a lineup was 4-5 or 5-5 and lead off hitter Patrick Center had 3 HR and 7 RBI. MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics (NJ-Major) struggled with LSR trailing 18-11 going into the bottom of the 6th where they scored 11 runs to take a 22-18 lead and shut out LSR in the top of the 7th. Ryan Harvey and Josh Kirsten were each 4-4 in the win. Competitive Edge/Suncoast/FBI/Olmito (FL-Major) run ruled TRU 34-17 scoring 11 runs in the bottom of the 2nd and left them on the field in the 5th. CE hit all 14 HR and Mitchell Lendenski, Ryan Honeycutt, and Kyle Pearson were all on base 4-5 while Tyler Ervine was 5-5. Sports Reach/Demarini (KY-AA) held Primetime/Easton (GA-A) scoreless in the 1st and 7th innings to win 35-23. Tommy Melton at lead off for Sports Reach was 6-6 with 4 HR and 10 RBI. In the lower half of the winner’s bracket Monsta/Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete (NC-Major) who was rumored to have folded earlier in the week beat an upset minded Str8play 33-26 scoring 15 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. Both teams used all of their homer’s and Monsta still had the hammer if they needed it in the 7th. Jeremy Yates was 5-5 and Jason Matusik had 10 RBI in the win. Nitro Circus/Candy Shop/Ataraxis (MD-AA) run ruled Aristotle 36-16. Resmondo/SIS/All-American/Menosse (FL-Major), the #1 seed in the stadium 300 foot field had their hands full with Dirty Vegas after Dirty Vegas scored 11 in the bottom of the 1st and led 15-1 after 2 innings. The Resmondo bats came alive though in the top of the 3rd scoring 10 runs on 4 HR including a grand slam by Tyler Marshburn. And then they added 17 in the top of the 4th on 6 HR to go up 28-18. But Dirty Vegas fought their way back into the game with 6 runs in the 5th and 6 more in the 6th to close the lead to 2 runs 35-33. But Resmondo scratched across 2 runs on tough but playable infield hits in the top of the 7th. And Dirty Vegas out of home runs in the bottom of the 7th could muster just 2 runs and Resmondo “survived and advanced” 37-35. Josh Riley, Kyle Pearson, Bradley Jones, Buddy Wolf, Brad Reckart, and Kyle Overstreet were all 5-6 in the win and 11 of their 13 hitters hit at least 1 homer. James Rachal was 6-6 in the loss for Dirty Vegas who had 24 extra base hits to Resmondo’s 16. And in the premier matchup of the night S&E (NC-AA) vs Smashit/Bay Area (CA-AA), Smashit scored 10 in the bottom of the 2nd and 13 in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 30-19 lead. But S&E scored 10 in the top of the 3rd and 15 in the top of the 4th. Both teams then struggled with the home runs gone (14) and S&E actually led 36-32 going into the bottom of the 7th where shortstop Joel Sanchez made an incredible pick and throw from the 5-6 hole for out number one and then middle infielder Matt Mosel made a great stop and flipped to Joel to turn a double play to end the game with S&E winning. Mosel, Dustin Burris, and Hunter Oliver were 5-6 in the win and Rich Racobaldo had 9 RBI. S&E and SIS combined for 78 hits, 28 homer’s, and 44 extra base hits in the game.

MPT vs Chick-fil-a

The “Final 8” played out late Friday evening where Chick-fil-a scored at least 3 runs in every inning and shut out MPT Rentals in the bottom of the 6th to hang onto a 35-28 upset win. Both teams hit all 14 HR and Jacob Clifton and Matt Brady were each on base 5-6 in the win with Brady hitting 3 HR and knocking in 10 RBI.

Sports Reach vs Competitive Edge

Competitive Edge put up the biggest score of the tournament thus far beating Sports Reach 44-32. After both teams scored 15+ run innings in the 2nd Sports Reach scored just 1 run in each of the last 4 innings and Competitive Edge methodically separated and won. Sports Reach was on the losing end of some close calls in that game. Mitch Lendenski, Logan Rogers, and Mason Farmer were all perfect hitting in the game and Tyler Ervine had 7 RBI.

Nitro Circus vs Monsta

In the lower half of the bracket Monsta scored the first 25 runs of the game against Nitro Circus who kept grounding into double plays and Monsta won 29-4 in 4 innings. The first 10 batters in the Monsta order all homered.

Resmondo vs S&E

And in the final game of the night in the stadium Resmondo beat S&E again 35-18 in 5 innings scoring 11 runs in the top of the 1st and a soul crushing 21 runs in the top of the 2nd. Kyle Pearson, Greg Connell, and Chad Mullins were each 5-5 on base.

Final 4 Recap

Resmondo vs Monsta. I have a compilation of Kyle Pearson’s Laser shots coming out soon.

He is also leading the league in on base percentage at .829

On Saturday the two semifinal games were played simultaneously at 11 am in the heat and humidity. On the back field Chick-fil-a scored 13 in the top of the 1st and 11 in the top of the 4th to run rule and upset Competitive Edge 39-15. Jacob Clifton, Cody Collins, Tanai Alston, and Jarod Kashner were all perfect on base as Chick-fil-a had an 8-0 walk advantage in the game and out hit CE 35-16.

Meanwhile in the stadium it was a heavyweight battle between Monsta and Resmondo. Monsta got out to an 8 run lead as Jason Magnum and Jon Nelson hit long home runs. But infield defense by Resmondo kept the Monsta offense in check and at one point Resmondo had 4 consecutive doubles in the bottom of the 1st and scored 27 runs on 10 of their allowed 16 home runs! Monsta scored 6 or 8 runs in every inning but Resmondo left them on the field in the bottom of the 4th 48-28. Riley and Pearson were each 6-6, Resmondo only used 15 HR, and they out walked Monsta 8-0. The batted ball speeds in this game were at all time highs with a really good batch of Dudley Pro-M balls.

Winner’s Final Recap

This shot actually clipped Travis Clark’s helmet I believe in the winner’s final.

The winner’s final played right after the semifinals around 2 pm Saturday afternoon. Chick-fil-a scored 6 on 3 HR in the top of the 1st but Resmondo answered with 5 on 0. Then Resmondo opened up scoring 12 in the bottom of the 2nd and 11 in the bottom of the 3rd and Chick-fil-a had to play catchup the rest of the game which they did forcing 7 innings but lost 37-33. Phil Matte, Travis Clark, Chad Mullins, Buddy Wolf, Cory Briggs, and Kevin Bazat were all on base 4-5 and Connell had 6 RBI.

Loser’s Bracket Recap

TRU takes on PrimeTime on field #8 Saturday

Andy Highbaugh homer’s for Taylormade as they upset Smash It Sports.

The loser’s bracket played all day Saturday starting at 8 am. In the top half of the loser’s bracket LSR and Primetime won 2 straight before S&E and Nitro Circus dropped down and beat them. Then S&E beat Nitro Circus and Competitive Edge before losing to MPT Rentals 37-11 to finish 4th. In the bottom half of the bracket Taylormade upset Smash It 46-23 then beat Dirty Vegas 36-27 before MPT Rentals dropped down and beat Taylormade, Str8play, Monsta 50-35, S&E 37-11, and Chick-fil-a 42-24 to make it to the championship game!

Harvey hits Patrick Center with about a 110+ mph grounder

Championship Recap

Middle was open all weekend long.

In the championship game late Saturday night Resmondo scored 17 runs on 8 homers early in the game and MPT scored 11 on 5 in the first two innings and then the middle shots began! But Resmondo leading 24-15 after MPT zeroed in the top of the 4th came in and needing 12 on 7 to win it did just that using all 7 of their remaining home runs to win by the 20 run rule 36-15 on a Tyler Marshburn 3 run homer. It was Resmondo’s dominating 5th tournament win of the season as they continue to put up numbers showing they are the best offensive team in Conference history.

Small crowd for the finals.

The ball this year is too good for 300 foot fields. Players had to take chop swings and swings at bad pitches just to try and keep the ball in the park. The tournament was good overall with plenty of upsets. The conference has a week off then they head to KC and the Smoky on back to back weekends. Then a week off and the Seattle dual, then two weeks off and the Evansville dual. Then the conference finishes up the regular season in Hemet, California at the end of August, then the Conference Championships in September, and the USSSA Worlds in October.

Long Bomber of the Week!

All of the big name players had their moments where they hit some “creatures” which you will see in the highlight video later this week, but lets give the Long Bomber of the Week to Justin Lutheran from Chick-fil-a!

Chattahoochee Results and Awards

MVP was Resmondo pitcher Travis Clark – .783, 3 HR, 15 RBI

Defensive MVP was Resmondo middle infielder Kevin Bazat (pictured hitting)

Offensive MVP was MPT’s Ryan Harvey .829, 13 HR, 25 RBI (and I think they are missing a game from the stats)

Team by Team Notes

1st Place – Resmondo/SIS/All-American/Menosse

FL-Major Record 5-0

Resmondo continues to roll through the regular season not having lost since April. Josh Riley, Kyle Pearson, and Chad Mullins were all over .800. Riley hit 12 HR and Marshburn and Wolf led with 23 RBI. The infield defense did a nice job and the defense and pitching overall seems to be improving. The bench (Overstreet and Reckart) chipped in at over .800 as well. They are playing the game the right way and are the only team performing at a Major level consistently this season. Everett Williams is still out with a knee injury.

3B Phil Matte, SS Tyler Marshburn, MI Kyle Overstreet

It was announced that Greg Connell will go into the USSSA Hall of Fame this year!

2nd Place – MPT Rentals / Juno Athletics

NJ-Major Record 6-2

MPT really fought nicely through the loser’s bracket sending home Monsta and the top two ‘AA’ teams in the tournament S&E and Chick-fil-a. Harvey, Kirsten, and Cayton were over .800, Harvey led in HR at 13, and Cayton had 31 RBI. Joe Joe Bennett was .771 12 HR, 7 doubles, and 30 RBI while playing a nice shortstop as well. They are still without Dodds and Filip Washington.

Joe Joe Bennett made one of the better diving catches of the tournament from his SS position.

3rd Place – Chick-fil-a/Slugger/BAF/Shore Irrig

VA-AA Record 3-2

Chick-fil-a was best in class. Ricky Moyers and Zach Sanford were over .800. Center was rock solid on the mound. And the team chemistry seemed to be back after tough games in Chicago a few weeks ago. John Natolly the sponsor couldn’t make the trip and Durso and Engles were missing as well. They are 7th in the Conference points.

Ricky Moyers was over .800 for the weekend. 36 players were over .800 and that’s just so far from the stats that have been turned in.

SS Matt Brady and P Patrick Kyle Center

4th Place – S&E

NC-AA Record 4-2

S&E had that nice win over SIS a tough draw to start the tournament when their defense shut down SIS in the bottom of the 7th. Then they ran into Resmondo again in the round of 8. In the loser’s bracket they pulled big wins over LSR, a walk off over Nitro Circus, and a 2 run win over Competitive Edge to finish 4th. S&E is up to 8th in the points and picked up Tommie Baugh to help with pitching and sponsorship after he left LSR after Georgia. Hunter Oliver the 1st baseman led the team in on base .885, 11 HR, 24 RBI. And lead off hitter and middle man and rookie of the year candidate Matt Mosel was .793 with 10 HR and 19 RBI.

Hoskins hits a walk off homer to beat Nitro Circus.

Tied 5th – Monsta/Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete

NC-Major Record 2-2

Monsta did not fold as internet trolls claimed on TheOldScout. But instead they had an impressive Friday night beating Str8play and crushing Nitro Circus. On Saturday they weren’t quite as sharp losing to Major teams Resmondo and MPT. Steele Lewis, Jason Matusik, and Tyler Storey were all over .800. Austyn Dawe and Greg Hardy did the pitching.

3B Kendall Welborn, SS Heath Barnes, MI Steven Lloyd, CF Steele Lewis

Monsta LF Jason Matusik robs a homer.

Tied 5th – Competitive Edge/Suncoast/FBI/Olmito

FL-Major Record 2-2

Competitive Edge struggled losing to ‘AA’ teams Chick-fil-a and S&E. They were without pitchers Mike Thorbrogger and Faron Miller. Mason Farmer and even Brian Zirkle did the pitching. Ryan Honeycutt was over .800 and Mitch Lendenski .944 (14-15). Rumor is LC Watson may be coming back to CE and Thorbrogger is headed to Epic. Just a rumor.

Brian Zirkle pitched against S&E

More Teams

I apologize, with me covering the women’s all star game, livestream issues, and the short tournament I did not cover all teams.

Taylormade (TN-B) had two huge wins over Smash It Sports and Dirty Vegas. Clint Barnes, Josh Moore, and Darien Tubbs were all over .800. Keith Laski who was recently picked up had 18 RBI.

LSR (IN-A) went 3-2 with nice wins over GNATS, Bombers, and Epic. And they played MPT tough.

TRU messing around hitting balls into the backstop broke one of our livestream cameras. The bad karma led to lossed to CE and Primetime and a 1-2 finish.

Str8play was 3-2 beating Eagle Paint, Aristotle, and Sports Reach while also playing Monsta tough for 7 innings.

Primetime sort of playing on their home turf went 2-2 beating Van Wert and TRU.

Sports Reach went 1-2 after beating Primetime, playing CE hard, and then losing to Str8play. They played without Robert Blackburn.

Epics only win came against Eagle Paint.

Van Wert Frickers went 0-2.

Aristotle playing a little short handed beat Bombers and GNATS.

SIS/Bay went 0-2.

Eagle Paint the only non conference Georgia team went 0-2. Apparently they are back in C after winning C Worlds not long ago? Maybe different players I guess.