“The Dower Report” from Northern California:
FAIRFIELD CA — The new look Santa Rosa Fastpitch team (formerly the Santa Rosa Storm) rallied from early deficits in three consecutive games here Sunday to win the Class C Fairfield Tournament behind the pitching of workhorse Jeff Want. Santa Rosa, which went 2-1 on Saturday to finish second in its bracket behind Country Club Villa in the round-robin portion of the tourhament, opened Sunday’s play by overcoming a 6-3 deficit to defeat Dry Creek (also of Santa Rosa) 10-7, with Want getting the win after pitching the final four innings and allowing only thee hits and one run.
(Scores and more after the jump)
Brian Osborn hit three triples to lead a 15-hit attack for the winners, while Jewells Valesi got three hits, and Rick Kane, Al Valladaras and Mark Young each had two hits. In the second game, Santa Rosa squared off against Elk Grove, which won the other bracket, and after falling behind 5-0, came back to win 8-6 as Osborn drove in three runs and young Danny Macler added two rbi and scored twice. After his rough start, Want allowed only three hits and one run over the final four innings to get his second win of the day.In the championship game, Santa Rosa faced Blood Line of Nevada, which earlier defeated Country Club Villa to reach the finals. Blood Line jumped on Want for seven hits and five runs in the first two innings, but Santa Rosa erupted for seven hits and eight runs in the third and went on to win 12-6 as Want again warmed to the task and allowed only four hits and one run over the final five innings for his third win of the day and fourth of the tournament.
Osborn again had three hits and two rbi, Valladaras also drove in two runs with three hits, and Danny Macler and Tom Dower each had two hits.Santa Rosa went 5-1 overall to claim the title, losing only to Country Club Villa 3-2 in nine innings on Saturday when Want and Jose Calderon hooked up in a great pitching duel. Calderon struck out 15 to get the win, while Want allowed only three hits and had seven strikeouts, at one point retiring 21 out of 22 hitters.
Earlier Saturday, Want pitched Santa Rosa to a 9-2 win over 707 of Vallejo and Santa Rosa then edged Fat City (formerly Mission II) 4-2 on a five-hitter by Villadaras.
Tournament results
Bracket One–Country Club Villa 3-0, Santa Rosa 2-1, Vallejo 1-2, Fat City 0-3.
Bracket Two–Elk Grove 3-0, Blood Line 2-2, Dry Creek 1-2, Wally’s Bail Bonds 0-3.
Sunday’s Playoffs
Country Club def. Wally’s Bail Bonds
Elk Grove def. Fat City
Santa Rosa def. Dry Creek
Blood Line def. Vallejo by forfeit.
Semifinals
Santa Rosa def. Elk Grove
Blood Line def. Country Club Villa
Championship
Santa Rosa 12, Blood Line 6(Thanks to Herb Dower for this information)