Softball fans,
The season is finally coming to a close. It’s been one crazy year, and seems like only yesterday we were kicking things off in Las Vegas.
In 2012, the Conference USSSA season did not disappoint. It was full of comebacks, upsets and the immer¬gence of some real good teams that had flown under the radar for most of the year. It was quite an exciting year when you consider the competition level and parody that made this season one to remember.
The 2012 Worth teams all had a pretty successful year. First, I would like to congratulate Travis Resmondo and his fine organization for another solid year. The Sod boys’ had a remarkable run in 2012, winning a conference-high seven events. Resmondo had 10 players with a .700 OBP or higher to finish out the year. This is quite remarkable considering the level of competition and great pitchers they face each weekend.
It was also a great year for a veteran player who had spent a year away from the game. Resmondo’s Jeff Hall finished second-overall in regular season OBP, hitting .805 just behind Tyja’s Dennis Rulli.
The Resmondo team made a strong run during the regular season and came into the postseason hitting full-stride. It was a bittersweet end as the number-one seed finished second in this year’s USSSA Men’s Major, fighting hard out of the loser’s bracket and finally succumbing to a veteran squad from Laser Vision in the championship round.
Andy Purcell had a great tournament, and was the event’s co-MVP. Purcell was locked in at the Men’s Major, blasting 15 home runs to lead the tournament in that category. Pretty impressive considering the veteran pitcher from Kissimmee, Florida, also had to pitch eight games in the heat and humidity to keep his team’s march to the finals alive. Resmondo’s slick-fielding shortstop Don DeDonatis III was the tournament’s defensive MVP.
Worth’s top “A” class squad Team 454/Worth also had a pretty solid year. Bill Rhew and his crew won two conference events and took third at the Smoky Mountain Classic as the highest-finishing A class team in this prestigious event. 454’s Chad Durick had one heck of a year, finishing in the top ten of total OBP for the conference, and winning the Men’s Major Home Run Derby held on Friday night that was televised for the first time on ESPN3.
D2E/Worth also had a great finish to the 2012 season. Drew Dubberly and his crew from Baxley, Georgia, won the USSSA “B” class world, defeating a scrappy group from Buzini/BWW/ Worth. The championship game came down to one swing off the bat of Geno Burdick as the big man from Minnesota blasted a 3-run walkoff to win the game and the title for D2E.
Worth teams taking first and second in what is considered as one of the toughest tournaments of the year was quite a tribute to these two squads.
Overall it was another strong year for the Worth teams. I would like to thank all the sponsors, coaches and players that represented our brand in 2012. It was a great summer and I am already looking forward to fall. This is my favorite time of year. College foot¬ball is in full swing, and Worth has a new line up of bats on the way. There’s nothing better than going to play in a local fall tournament playing some soft¬ball and then getting to hang out with your buddies at a sports bar watching football. Thanks to all you softball geeks out there for an eventful 2012. I hope all of you have a great winter and we will talk again next spring!
Corny
