2015 Nationwide Conference USSSA

 

“Circle City” Classic

 

Indianapolis, IN

 

June 27-28

Precision pitches to Brendt Newbill of Red’s Astros in the “if” game of the championship

Link to the picture album of the Indy Major

USSSA Indy tournament info and bracket link

The “Circle City” Classic survived some nasty rain storms Friday night and started on time Saturday morning at 9 AM with cool breezy temperatures and a solid field of teams led by favorite and defending Indy Major champion Precision/Easton/DO based out of Illinois.  The tournament followed a true “pecking” order as the top teams in each division pretty much handled the teams below them when they played.  After the two “play in” games and the 8 first round games it was all conference teams in the winner’s bracket.  Pure Romance beat Cincinnati peer 3rd Street in extra innings 14-13.  TG Brand beat Compound Athletics with their new CA Sports “pickups” 24-11.  Both those games were on fields where the wind blew in for the most part.  Over on the two main fields with the wind blowing out, Precision smoked KG/Slayer 31-6 and hometown Red’s Astros 20 run ruled Precision/Recovery ‘C’ team 26-6.

In the semi-finals on Saturday evening Red’s Astros outlasted Pure Romance 23-18 after using all of their home runs early on, and Precision/Easton held on to beat TG Brand 21-18 after jumping out to a big lead.  The winner’s final late on Saturday night had Red’s Astros using their home runs poorly again and Precision kept it close and “let the game come to them” with better home run management.  Red’s never gave up though and had the sticks in their hands at the end of the game but could not score well with no homers left and lost 21-19.

Late Saturday in the loser’s semi-final PRI advanced past ‘B’ rival TG Brand 24-8.  On Sunday morning a short handed PRI team played 7 innings and never gave up, but Red’s Astros offense was too much and Red’s won 40-27 setting up the rematch with Precision in the finals (same as 2014).  In the first game Red’s Astros separated in the bottom of the 5th inning on a 3 run homer by Cory Boothe that made the score 19-11 and Precision was never able to get their offense going for that big inning that they needed like they were able to do early on in the tournament.  In the final game of the tournament which was basically the conclusion of the “best of 3” between the two teams, it was a high scoring affair and Precisions Matt Rear hit a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 3rd to give them a 20-12 lead.  Precision’s Brett McCollum and Keith Laski added 3 run homer’s in the bottom of the 5th to give them a 26-18 lead and they out base hit Red’s Astros enough the rest of the way to win the tournament (their first of the year) 32-25.

There was some incredible line drive and grounder stabs by pitchers in this tournament.  Precisions Andy Vitcak, PRI’s Brandon Jonas, and TG Brands Danny Evans.  Also some great diving plays by TG Brand shortstop Josh Madsen, Red’s shortstop John Sullivan, among many others.  The tournament had 3 conference umpires.  The park did a solid job of getting fields swamped with recent rains ready, and all the games or most should be in the USSSA Livestream archive for future viewing soon.  The fences although 300 feet played very very short and it was tough to keep the ball in the park with the cool temperatures on the fields with the wind blowing out.

Team Breakdown –  18 Teams Total (11 Conference)
2 ‘A’
5 ‘B’
7 ‘C’
4 ‘D/E’

Frank Fracek hits a big homer for Precision in the championship against Red’s Astros

Jason Branch of Red’s Astros takes on Rocky Staton and Pure Romance in the loser’s finals Sunday morning.

TG Brand shortstop Josh Masden makes a great diving play and throw out at home vs Precision in the semis

Check it out in the video highlites!

Pure Romance Brock Morrison hits against Danny Evans and TG Brand

The 6’8 pitcher for Seamless makes a great play on Compound Athletics Williams up the middle!

KG pitcher reacts slowly to McCollums shot up the middle.  Get a helmet on.

 

Outfields were very very wet but the players were glad the tournament got played in full and ontime.

Almost a great catch by Street Kids left fielder

Midwest Sports Park is fairly fan friendly.  Not a bad place to watch a tournament.

Red’s Astros Cory Boothe mashed a long distance homer against Pure Romance (not pictured) that still hasn’t landed.

Pure Romance slugger Jimmy Carter again with a bomb that a fan insists went into the basketball court behind field #2.

444 feet to the basketball courts.  Regardless of if it went into the court or not, it was a bomb!

3rd baseman Ty Goads for Street Kids was also given the long bomb of the week.

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Indy Major Awards and Final Standings

Note: Awards have not been listed yet

1	IL – Chicago	Precision/Easton/DO	USSSA-Mens-A	5	1	0	160	95	26.6	15.8	10.8	36	300
2	IN – Indianapolis	red’s astros/louisville slugger	USSSA-Mens-A	5	2	0	186	134	26.5	19.1	7.42	40	225
3	OH – Cincinnati	pure romance/foulks adjusting/headl	USSSA-Mens-B	4	2	0	145	115	24.1	19.1	5	35	200
4	MI – Flint	TG Brand	USSSA-Mens-B	3	2	0	108	87	21.6	17.4	4.2	36	175
5	OH – West Chester	3rd street/hubs pub/louisville slug	USSSA-Mens-B	3	2	0	110	82	22	16.4	5.6	38	155
5	IL – CHICAGO	COMPOUND ATHLETICS/EASTON	USSSA-Mens-B	3	2	0	96	91	19.2	18.2	1	30	155
7	MO – St. Louis	precision recovery/hooters	USSSA-Mens-C	2	2	0	84	84	21	21	0	31	130
7	IN – Lanesville	kg/slayer/wilson/louisvilleslugger	USSSA-Mens-B	2	2	0	57	76	14.2	19	-4.7	26	130
9	IN – Indianapolis	Westpoint Softball	USSSA-Mens-D	2	2	0	78	85	19.5	21.2	-1.7	34	110
9	IN – South Bend	StreetKidsSoftball.com	USSSA-Mens-C	2	2	0	57	77	14.2	19.2	-5	22	110
9	IN – Fort Wayne	Seamless Flooring/Wildman	USSSA-Mens-C	1	2	0	78	81	26	27	-1	36	110
9	WI – Eau Claire	The Sportsman Shop	USSSA-Mens-C	1	2	0	51	69	17	23	-6	29	110
13	OH – Middletown	rsc/tom wood honda/ combat	USSSA-Mens-C	1	2	0	44	72	14.6	24	-9.3	26	70
13	IN – Beech Grove	Circle City Tint	USSSA-Mens-E	1	2	0	43	85	14.3	28.3	-14	25	70
13	IN – Bloomington	bloomington moose #1081 / classic t	USSSA-Mens-C	0	2	0	28	35	14	17.5	-3.5	16	70
13	MI – Dearborn	rebel sports/linedrive sportz	USSSA-Mens-C	0	2	0	24	46	12	23	-11	15	70
17	IN – Columbus	Got Beef?/OSOK Softball Qualified	USSSA-Mens-E	0	2	0	39	51	19.5	25.5	-6	20	40
17	IN – Indianapolis	Game On	USSSA-Mens-E	0	2	0	33	56	16.5	28	-11.	19	40