2016 Nationwide Conference USSSA
48th Annual Smoky Mountain Classic
Maryville, TN
July 8-10
Backman hits against a stingy Resmondo defense in the championship game Sunday
Backman tries to rally against Resmondo in the winner's final Saturday night
The 48th Annual Smoky Mountain Classic featured unlimited home runs and 80-foot base lengths. The 34 teams did not disappoint in the home run department as the 66 games produced 1,575 home runs even though most of the loser's bracket was played as 5 inning games. That comes out to 23.8 per game or 11.9 HR per team. The tournament began on Friday morning with 4 of the local teams playing the two "play in" games where Solway and Jeff Gordon Bonding each won by the run rule. Then the 34 Conference teams took to the field until a rain storm with some hail postponed the tournament on Friday night around 7 PM. In that first round all 16 higher seeded Conference teams won their games with the only close games being a comeback win by 3rd Street (OH-AA) over Primetime (GA-A) 30-28, TG/Red's Astros (IN/OH-AA) beating Steel (TX-B) 19-18 after being down 11-0 early with the wind blowing in hard from left field on Sandy Springs #4, and Smash It Sports (NY-Major) squeaking out a victory over All In (PA-B) 47-44 on the show field when All In scored 10 in the 7th.
The second round started Friday night under the lights for most teams after the rain delay and all the games did get finished with the last one finishing up at 1:30 AM. This time most of the higher seeds advanced except BHR/CopperMine (TX-A) upset Team Racks (WY-AA) 41-37, and Newbreed (WA-AA) knocked off 3rd Street 42-36 in a wild game over at Everett Park field #1. Also OC Swats had #1 Backman on the ropes as Swats catcher Dustin Roberts hit 6 homers but Swats bats went cold in the 6th and 7th innings as Backman pulled out a 47-39 win. So 8 teams punched their ticket to the show field (Sandy Springs #3) on Saturday – #6 seeded TG/Red's (IN/OH-AA) vs #3 Scene/Albicocco (NY-Major), #2 Resmondo (FL-Major) vs #10 BHR/Coppermine (TX-A), #9 Newbreed (WA-AA) vs #1 Backman (IN-Major, and #5 Team Combat (WA-Major) vs #4 Smash It Sports (NY-Major). Smash It Sports having scored 99 runs combined in their first two games. In the first game at 9:30 AM TG/Red's Astros jumped out to a 13-6 lead on The Scene in the first inning and held a narrow 24-23 lead after 4 complete innings. Both teams put up zeros back to back in the bottom of the 4th and top of the 5th, but it was all TG/Red's the rest of the way as they outscored Scene just 6-4 for the upset win. In the 10:30 AM game Resmondo trailed BHR 6-4 after one inning as BHR shortstop Marcus Thornton made a diving play and their second baseman Cooper Vittitow made a nice running grab on a blooper in shallow right field to hold Resmondo in check. In the top of the 5th inning BHR's Jason Ferguson hit a 3 run homer to bring them within 3 runs 25-28 but Resmondo had a huge offensive inning and run ruled BHR 40-25 to advance to the final 4. In the noon game Backman held a 31-25 lead on a fired up Newbreed team after 5 innings. But Newbreed plated 13 runs in the top of the 6th and left fielder Donald Hollingsworth made a great catch on the fence in the bottom of the 6th but it wasn't enough as Backmans Neil Haglund hit a 3 run homer to give them a 40-38 lead and they never looked back topping Newbreed 50-41. In the 1:30 PM game Smash It Sports scored 14 runs in the top of the 1st on Combat. Combat would score 7 in the bottom of the 1st inning – 4 on a Billy Maggard grand slam. Smash It also had an 11 run lead going to the bottom of the 6th, led 39-30 after 6 complete, and held Combat down in the 7th winning 46-35.
The final 4 of the winner's bracket started with Resmondo and TG/Red's. Red's came out on fire with a 17-3 lead after one and a half innings of play. But Resmondo scored a tournament high (for one inning) 26 runs in the bottom of the second and a shell shocked a Red's team never recovered in a 40-25 loss. In the other semifinal it was the best game of the tournament as Smash It Sports the visiting team led 15-3 after one and a half innings even though Backman right fielder Neil Haglund made a terrific diving catch in the gap. Backman then scored 22 runs in a very long 3rd inning to take a 25-23 lead. Smash It would come back to grab leads of 35-31 in the 4th and 41-32 in the 5th and led by 11 runs going into the bottom of the 7th. Early in the bottom of the 7th Smash It Sports center fielder Westy Guill made a spectacular full speed diving catch in the right center field gap that garnered some cheers from the home run watching crowd and it appeared Smash It would finish Backman off. But home runs by Ryan Harvey, Orlando Castillo pulled Backman within striking distance and Steven Lloyd singled with two outs to put the winning run on base. Then Ryan Stovall hit a ball into right field that Smash It didn't handle cleanly and Lloyd advanced to third and Stovall took second. The throw went to second base and nearly got Stovall but was dropped and Lloyd who has great speed stole home for the winning run. Backman had scored 12 runs to the dismay of a shocked Smash It team and beat them 49-48.
The winner's bracket final then started with Resmondo and Backman. The two heavyweights ready to slug it out in front of a small crowd by Smoky standards. Resmondo got off to a nice 12 run top of the 1st inning although the general feeling was the home team would probably be victorious. The game was relatively close with some great crowd pleasing BOMBS but Resmondo grabbed control in the top of the 5th inning with a 21 run outburst and Backman failed to answer and lost by the run rule 41-26.
Meanwhile in the loser's bracket the games were changed to 5 inning or 1 hour and 15 minute time limit because overnight rain wiped out Field #5 at the Denso Manufacturing plant and they had to play without that field. JBL/Tailgaters won 3 big games in the loser's bracket before losing to The Scene. 3rd Street also won 3 in the loser's bracket before The Scene beat them as well giving 3rd Street a nice tied for 7th place finish. Team Combat knocked off Newbreed 19-12 with the wind blowing in on F4 to finish tied for 5th. And The Scene 20 run ruled a dazed Smash It team late Saturday night to advance to Sunday and play TG/Reds who beat Combat 32-21.
On Sunday morning in the loser's semifinal Scene led just 4-0 after 2 innings as both team's sleep walked through the early part of the 8 am game. Then Red's grabbed a lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning scoring 7 runs. In the top of the 4th Scene infielder Steve Whaley homered to give them an 8-7 lead and Brandon Dillons 3 run homer pushed the lead to 14-7. The Scene wasn't done as they scored 17 in the inning and led 21-7. TG/Red's answered with their third zero of the game in the bottom of the 4th and Scene answered with homers by Dillon, Laski, and Brungardt to start the top of the 5th, and a Bill Pinkham grand slam made it 28-7 and they won the game 33-11 getting some revenge on Red's for knocking them into the loser's bracket the previous day.
The Scene then took on Backman to see who would play Resmondo in the championship. It was 3-3 after one inning and 10-4 Backman after 2.5 innings as Scenes Erik Kanaby at second base, Davis Bilardello in right field with a nice sliding catch, and shortstop Keith Laski all made great plays to keep it close. Then Scene got a 3 run homer from their vocal leader Jason Branch in a 9 run bottom of the 3rd to take a 13-10 lead. In the 4th Backmans Jeremy Yates who led the tournament in home runs (24) hit a two out 3 run homer to give Backman a 14-13 lead and they scored 7 runs on 2 outs to take a 17-13 advantage. In the bottom of the 4th Scene got a Dillon 2 run homer, a Laski solo, a Brungardt solo, and a Chris Costantino homer for an 18-17 lead. Backmans Andy Vitcak threw a strikeout to end the inning and had a couple of Scene hitters off balance throughout the game. In the top of the 6th Backmans Lee Powers hit a 2 run homer and Jeremy Yates hit his 5th homer of the game to give them a 27-23 lead going into the bottom of the inning. Scene was not done however as pinch hitter Kyler Kirkland hit a 2 run homer, and Kanaby, Bilardello, and Brungardt all hit solos to give Scene a 30-27 lead. In the top of the 7th Backman who had come back in just about every game they played (except games against Resmondo) tied the game at 30-30 on a Steven Lloyd homer to right center field, took a 3 run lead on an Andy Vitcak 3 run homer, and the flood gates opened up when Scene made 3 crucial infield errors. With the extra outs given to Backman, Lee Powers, Kevin Kennington, Yates (6th of the game), Ryan Harvey, and Terry Baggs all homered and Backman scored 12 in the inning to take a 39-30 lead. Scene would not give up and scored 3 runs but Brian Logan in center for Backman made a nice diving catch in the gap and Backman preserved a 39-33 win to advance to the championship.
The championship wasn't much to see, it was a bit anticlimactic as Resmondo grabbed a 7-3 lead and superior pitching and defense held Backman to zero runs with the bases loaded in the top of the 2nd. An interesting note in a tournament where home team meant so much all weekend, Backman apparently agreed to be the visitors in this championship game… Resmondo would score steadily the rest of the game as MVP pitcher Andy Purcell pushed his home run total to 23 and left fielder Andrew Collins pushed his to 20 for the tournament and Resmondo had a 26-9 lead going into the bottom of the 4th and won the game 26-10 as Backman mustered just 1 run in the top of the 5th and lost by the 15 run rule.
The tournament win gave Resmondo their 11th Smoky Mountain Classic title and pulled the team to within 130 points out of first place in the Nationwide Conference USSSA standings. The tournament was officiated by a large contingent of Conference umpires and the Stadium ZN ball was used on the show field which is a high school baseball field but the Classic M ball was used on the other 5 fields which were softball sized fields in and around the city of Maryville and Alcoa Tennessee.
News articles:
Blount County gearing up for 48th Smoky
Team Breakdown:
34 Teams Overall
30 Nationwide Conference USSSA Teams
5 Major Teams
12 'AA' Teams
8 'A' Teams
5 'B' Teams
2 'C' Teams
2 'D' Teams
Backmans Steven Lloyd ties the game at 30-30 in the top of the 7th vs Scene
Lloyd scores the game winning run against Smash It Sports in the winner's semi final
Field 4 late Saturday night Scene putting a hurtin on Smash It
A "pano" of Everett Fields #2 (left) and #1 (right)
The tall right field fence on F4 Sandy Springs Park. It is only 270 down the line though.
Crowds were the smallest in Smoky history in my opinion
The crowds were the smalles I have seen at the Smoky
Bombers of the Week
Backman left fielder Jeremy Yates hit a tournament high 24 home runs
Backmans Neil Haglund hit one that eye witnesses claim went over the second tennis court fence at the net.
That would be a minimum of 462 feet. Of course its easier to guesstimate left hand shots at the Smoky's main field.
Smoky Major Awards and Final Standings
| Player Tournament Awards | Players Name | Plays For |
| Tournament MVP | Andy Purcell | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| Defensive Tournament MVP | Don DeDonatis III | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Daniel Sanchez | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Greg Connell | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Andrew Collins | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Luis Reyna | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Nicolas Santana | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| All Tournament Team | Ronald Mack III | Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth |
| Place | State | Team | Team Class |
Wins | Losses | Ties | Runs Scored |
Runs Allow |
Avg Runs |
Avg Allow |
Avg Diff |
Max Runs |
USSSA Points |
| 1 | FLS – Winter Haven | resmondo specialty tank worth | USSSA-SPMensMajor | 6 | 0 | 0 | 235 | 99 | 39.1 | 16.5 | 22.6 | 47 | 300 |
| 2 | IN – Aurora | backman louisville slugger | USSSA-SPMensMajor | 5 | 2 | 0 | 269 | 240 | 38.4 | 34.2 | 4.14 | 50 | 225 |
| 3 | NY – Commack | scene/albicocco/worth/miken/monsta | USSSA-SPMensMajor | 6 | 2 | 0 | 242 | 133 | 30.2 | 16.6 | 13.6 | 38 | 200 |
| 4 | OH – Cincinnati OH & /Indianapolis IN | tg/red's astros/headlines/k&g/worth | USSSA-Mens-AA | 4 | 2 | 0 | 142 | 162 | 23.6 | 27 | -3.3 | 32 | 175 |
| 5 | WA – Kent | TEAM COMBAT/BAUGHFORD.COM | USSSA-SPMensMajor | 4 | 2 | 0 | 170 | 151 | 28.3 | 25.1 | 3.16 | 43 | 155 |
| 5 | NY – Cicero | smash it sports/asp/h.auto/mr.wiggl | USSSA-SPMensMajor | 3 | 2 | 0 | 202 | 187 | 40.4 | 37.4 | 3 | 52 | 155 |
| 7 | OH – West Chester | 3rd street/louisville slugger | USSSA-Mens-AA | 4 | 2 | 0 | 153 | 132 | 25.5 | 22 | 3.5 | 36 | 130 |
| 7 | WA – Bothell | newbreed/gts/beus excavation/dirtys | USSSA-Mens-AA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 151 | 127 | 30.2 | 25.4 | 4.8 | 42 | 130 |
| 9 | IL – Chicago | Precision | USSSA-Mens-AA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 128 | 94 | 25.6 | 18.8 | 6.8 | 42 | 110 |
| 9 | OH – Kent | JBL/Tailgaters/B&E/Worth | USSSA-Mens-A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 83 | 18.8 | 16.6 | 2.2 | 29 | 110 |
| 9 | WY – Casper | Team Racks/Miken/Sonny's | USSSA-Mens-AA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 133 | 125 | 26.6 | 25 | 1.6 | 48 | 110 |
| 9 | TXN – Gladewater | bhr/coppermine lodge/asp/worth | USSSA-Mens-A | 2 | 2 | 0 | 104 | 111 | 26 | 27.7 | -1.7 | 41 | 110 |
| 13 | MO – Branson | Nightmare/Miken | USSSA-Mens-A | 3 | 2 | 0 | 114 | 91 | 22.8 | 18.2 | 4.6 | 43 | 70 |
| 13 | CAS – Yorba Linda | oc swats doerflinger / miken | USSSA-Mens-AA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 110 | 113 | 27.5 | 28.2 | -0.7 | 39 | 70 |
| 13 | MN – Medina | Xtreme/Miken | USSSA-Mens-AA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 106 | 95 | 26.5 | 23.7 | 2.75 | 38 | 70 |
| 13 | NC – Wilmington | TM Sports/Mizuno | USSSA-Mens-AA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 67 | 17.5 | 16.7 | 0.75 | 25 | 70 |
| 17 | TXS – Houston | allout/powerhousesportz/izzysports | USSSA-Mens-A | 2 | 2 | 0 | 80 | 61 | 20 | 15.2 | 4.75 | 43 | 40 |
| 17 | TXS – Corpus Christi | steel athletics/miken/powerhouse | USSSA-Mens-B | 1 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 68 | 30 | 22.6 | 7.33 | 41 | 140 |
| 17 | TXN – Frisco | Vivid/Worth/Klutch | USSSA-Mens-AA | 1 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 101 | 25.3 | 33.6 | -8.3 | 29 | 40 |
| 17 | FLP – Pace | team adiktiv/energy system/worth | USSSA-Mens-B | 1 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 69 | 13.6 | 23 | -9.3 | 22 | 140 |
| 17 | FLS – Port Saint Lucie | shirt doctors/bomb squad/combat | USSSA-Mens-A | 1 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 89 | 17 | 29.6 | -12. | 20 | 40 |
| 17 | MN – Minneapolis | eurotech-elite media design-easton | USSSA-Mens-AA | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 64 | 15.6 | 21.3 | -5.6 | 23 | 40 |
| 17 | NC – Greenville | Bad Draw/Broughton/Worth | USSSA-Mens-AA | 1 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 53 | 18.6 | 17.6 | 1 | 23 | 40 |
| 17 | MI – Warren | Line Drive Sportz/Easton | USSSA-Mens-AA | 1 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 60 | 16.3 | 20 | -3.6 | 25 | 40 |
| 25 | TNE – CLEVELAND | Jeff Gordon Bonding | USSSA-Mens-C | 1 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 71 | 12.3 | 23.6 | -11. | 24 | 0 |
| 25 | TNE – Knoxville | Solway | USSSA-Mens-C | 1 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 70 | 14 | 23.3 | -9.3 | 28 | 0 |
| 25 | IN – Indianapolis | STL/Mizuno/Sportsmanshop | USSSA-Mens-B | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 55 | 9.5 | 27.5 | -18 | 18 | 140 |
| 25 | MI – Dearborn | rebel sports/ hang rite / miken | USSSA-Mens-B | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 44 | 8.5 | 22 | -13. | 15 | 140 |
| 25 | GA – Macon | Primetime/Easton/Storm | USSSA-Mens-A | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 58 | 16 | 29 | -13 | 28 | 40 |
| 25 | KY – London | Buffalo wings and rings | USSSA-Mens-A | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 51 | 17 | 25.5 | -8.5 | 22 | 40 |
| 25 | DC – Washington | semper/demarini/klutch/timbuktu | USSSA-Mens-A | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 73 | 14 | 36.5 | -22. | 27 | 40 |
| 25 | PAW – Pittsburgh | all in/psb/wiggles sports/elite | USSSA-Mens-B | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 70 | 26 | 35 | -9 | 44 | 140 |
| 33 | TNE – Maryville | Garner's Gun Shop | USSSA-Mens-D | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 1.5 | 35.5 | -34 | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | TNE – Maryville | JG Mullins/Dead End BBQ | USSSA-Mens-D | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 67 | 14 | 33.5 | -19. | 21 | 0 |
Resmondos Andy Purcell shown with tournament directors Chris Clark and Joe Huff won the MVP.
He shut down the opposition with his pitching and also managed a .909 onbase average with 23 home runs.
