A 2-out, 2-run 7th inning home run by Dan Stuhr gave Wilber Lime of Galesville a 7-5 victory over the host Rice Lake Orangemen in the championship game of the 35th Rice Lake Aquafest Men’s Invitational Fastpitch Tournament. The Orangemen had led 5-2 after 5 innings before a 3-run Wilber 6th tied the game at 5 runs each.
It was the second Aquafest title in a row for Wilber Lime and the 8th overall.
With 92 year old former manager John Salsman in attendance, the team from Galesville opened play with a 6-2 win over Tin Cup of St. Paul and followed with a 6-1 victory over Ostrander, Minnesota. They followed by shutting out the Orangemen 3-0 in the winners’ bracket final, setting up their championship game win.
The Orangemen opened tournament play with a 20-1 win over Farmington, a late tournament substitute entry lacking many players from their regular roster. The Orange followed with a 6-3 triumph over the Liberty Mutual Mudhens of St. Paul and a 3-1 victory over PBI of West Saint Paul before bowing to Wilber Lime in the winners’ finale.
Rice Lake rebounded to defeat Sawdust City of Eau Claire 6-4 to earn another shot, albeit unsuccessful, against the eventual champions. It was the highest finish ever for the local Orangemen, the only team to have competed in all 35 previous tourneys.
Sawdust City finished in 3rd in the meet whose 10 team field, in addition to the squads previously mentioned, included the Athletics of La Crosse and Dugout Bar and Grill of Cushing.
ORDER OF FINISH
1. Wilber Lime, Galesville WI……………………….4-0
2. Orangemen, Rice Lake WI……………………….4-2
3. Sawdust City, Eau Claire WI…………………….4-2
4. Tin Cup, St. Paul MN………………………………..4-2
5. Ostrander, Ostrander MN………………………..1-2
PBI, West St. Paul MN……………………………..1-2
7. Dugout Bar and Grill, Cushing WI…………….2-2
Liberty Mutual Mudhens, St. Paul MN……..1-3
9. La Crosse Athletics, La Crosse WI…………..0-3
Farmington, Farmington WI……………………0-3
GAME BY GAME RESULTS
1. Orangemen 20, Farmington 1
2. Tin Cup 2, Dugout Bar and Grill 0
3. PBI 8, Sawdust City 4
4. Ostrander 7, La Crosse Athletics 2
5. Orangemen 6, Liberty Mutual Mudhens 3
6. Wilber Lime 6, Tin Cup 2
5. The Bar of Appleton Athletics 8, La Crosse Athletics 7
6. Orangemen 3, Dugout Bar and Grill 1
7. Tin Cup 9, Farmington 0
8. Dugout Bar and Grill 8, La Crosse Athletics 6
9. Sawdust City 14, Liberty Mutual Mudhens 9
10. Dugout Bar and Grill 9, Farmington 6
11. Liberty Mutual Mudhens 10, La Crosse Athletics 7
12. Orangemen 3, PBI 1
13. Wilber Lime 6, Ostrander 2
14. Tin Cup 6, Liberty Mutual Mudhens 2
15. Sawdust City 11, Dugout Bar and Grill 2
16. Tin Cup 1, PBI 0
17. Sawdust City 13, Ostrander 6
18. Wilber Lime 3, Orangemen 0
19. Sawdust City 6, Tin Cup 4
20. Orangemen 4, Sawdust City 4
21. Wilber Lime 7, Orangemen 5
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
PITCHER – Travis Stram, Wilber Lime
PITCHER – Bryan Lathrop, Orangemen
PITCHER – Joel Cooley, Tin Cup
CATCHER – Tyler Bouley, Orangemen
CATCHER – Drew Anderson, Sawdust City
INFIELD – Scott Gilitzer, Wilber Lime
INFIELD – Josh Calleja, Orangemen
INFIELD – Dain Wold, Sawdust City
INFIELD – Grady Wold, Sawdust City
INFIELD – Sam Nieman, Tin Cup
OUTFIELD – Zach Lopez, Tin Cup
OUTFIELD – Steve Mack, Sawdust City
OUTFIELD – Les Dietmeier, Dugout Bar and Grill
OUTFIELD – Pete Kelly, Dugout Bar and Grill
DESIGNATED BATTER – Dave Marchio, Tin Cup
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Dan Stuhr (third baseman) Wilber Lime
Ronn Kopp
ronnkopp@charter.net