ORANGEMEN WIN STATE CLASS A
In the midst of a woeful 2006 campaign, Brecka’s Orangemen stayed in the winner’s bracket for the duration, reeling off five consecutive wins to capture the class A championship of the 16-team Wisconsin NAFA men’s fastpitch state tournament held this past weekend at Middleton.
The championship encounter with Schneid’s Sports Bar and Grill of Madison turned into a 13-3 Brecka’s route, as the Orangemen began the game with six straight hits, highlighted by a 3-run home run by Andy Mathews and followed by a long triple off the bat of Tatum Candler. Mathews had five total runs batted in for the contest. Jake Nelson along with Mathews turned in two for three performances, Greg Nelson and Tim Hall were two for four with a triple and double respectively, and Jeff Bader had two singles in four trips as Larry Cushman went the route for the pitching victory.
The Orangemen opened with a 3-0 shutout of Old Settler’s Inn of Kenosha, as Cushman scattered three singles and struck out 14 including eight in succession at one point. Jake Nelson provided all the offense needed with a fifth inning home run.
A five run first inning followed by a five run second lifted Brecka’s past The Bar of Wausau, 13-3. The offensive spark was a bases loaded, base clearing double off the bat of Mike Kuehl. Hall got the pitching victory in relief of Mike Newby. Turk’s BBC of Cornell jumped to an early two run lead before the Orangemen rallied to register a 6-2 win, with Cushman once again the winning hurler. Mathews and Greg Nelson each provided offensive support by tripling.
Schneid’s gained a two-run advantage in the winner’s bracket final before Brecka’s fashioned three run innings in both the fifth and sixth and went on to another 6-2 win, this one propelling the Orangemen to the championship game. The offense was led by Greg and Jake Nelson, both at two for three with one of Greg’s hits being a triple, Candler at two for four, and Hall with a sixth inning three bagger. Cushman again got the pitching win.
Pitchers Cushman and Hall finished 4-0 and respectively 1-0. Jake Nelson sported a .545 average for the weekend with a home run and double. Mathews hit an even .500 with a home run and triple and seven RBIs. Candler batted .400 with a triple and five runs batted in, Greg Nelson .385 and two triples, and Hall .357 with a double, triple, and five RBI’s.
The Merchants of Wanderoos placed third in class A competition and L-X of La Crosse fourth. New Image of Monfort won the ten team AA tournament, defeating Wilber Lime of Galesville 2-0 in the championship game. Circle Tap of Denmark was the third place class AA finisher.