Davids Meet Goliaths at 2005 AAU
International Men’s Tournament
by Jim Flanagan, Editor, Fastpitchwest.com
(this story featured is featured in the
April 2005 issue of Softball Magazine - see menu button at left)
[ORLANDO, FL - 1/23/05]- The “Davids” in the world of men’s
fastpitch met the “Goliaths” at the Sixth Annual AAU Men’s
International Fastball tournament at the Disney Complex in Orlando,
Florida, January 20-23, 2005 with sometimes surprising results. At
the end of the day, it was a pair of Goliaths, The Bar/Circle Tap of
Denmark Wisconsin, USA and Los Socios of Venezuela squaring off for
the title. However, the Goliaths of the tournament met some stiff
competition from some upstart “Davids” of the tournament along the
way.
The Bar/Circle Tap’s Road to the Title
(with thanks to Tony Schaaf)
The 2005 AAU champions, was actually a combined team made up of last
year’s #4 ranked team in the ISC World, Circle Tap of Denmark,
Wisconsin, and the ISC II third place finisher, The Bar of Appelton,
Wisconsin. The Bar/Circle Tap lineup was loaded from top to bottom,
starting with Chris Miljavic, through the power part of the batting
order, Chris Delarwelle, Robbie O’Brien and Don Garvey. The
Saskatoon pitching trio of Dewey Dyck, Rob Scheller and Trevor
Ethier gave The Bar/Circle Tap one of the best pitching staffs in
the tournament. It was their first trip to Orlando, but doubtful it
will be their last.
The Bar/Circle Tap (TB/CT) was a perfect 7 and 0 enroute to the
title:
• Game 1: 6-1 win over the Memphis Posse. y behind the 4 hit
pitching of Rob Scheller. Chris Miljavac, Trevor Ethier, Don Garvey,
Chad Mix all had two hits and Chris Delarwelle hit his first home
run of the tournament. (but not his last)
• Game 2: In game two TB/CT managed to score four against the
Legendary Darren Zack and his Six Nations Team. Dewey Dyck threw a 3
hitter for the win, while getting support from Chris Delarwelle, who
hit his second home run, and Robbie O'Brien and Steve Sells who
chipped in two hits each.
• Game 3: After surrendering 4 runs to the Miami Cardinals,
TB/CT came back with seven runs for the win. Jon Zipperer had three
hits, while Chris Miljavac and Darren Derricks had two. The win
clinched first place in their pool and a first round bye in the
elimination bracket.
• Game 4: On Friday the bracket play began with the TB/CT
team facing the Texaco Pirates out of the Bahamas. In a spirited
game the level of intensity picked up. The TB/CT jumped out to a 3
to 0 lead but the Pirates answered with 3 in the third. The TB/CT
added two in the fifth but the Pirates answered with 2 in the bottom
of the fifth to tie it. Chris Miljavac then led off the 6th with a
solo homerun to take the lead for good.
• Game 5: On Saturday, TB/CT shut out the tough Bloomington
Stix, one of last year’s final four teams. TB/CT used small ball to
take a 2 to 0 lead in the bottom of the second on Darren Derricks’
bunt. TB/CT added two more in the 4th when Steve Sell scored on a
passed ball and two batters later Tony Schaaf scored on a passed
ball from second. Rob Scheller pitched his second complete game to
secure the win.
• Game 6: In a tournament semi-final, TB/CT took on the
number 1 seeded NY Gremlins and Gerard Muizelaar. While one might
have expected a low scoring affair, it turned out to be anything
but. TB/CT jumped out to a 1 to 0 lead in the bottom of the first on
Trevor Eithier's double and Robbie O'Brien's single. The Gremlins
answered with a run in the top of the third. TB/CT added one in the
fourth. Then the flood gates opened. With 1 out and a runner on
first TB/CT thought they had turned a double play, but did not get
the call. With a runner on first and two outs the Gremlins exploded
for 5 runs, highlighted by a 3 run homer by Paul Walford. A fired up
TB/CT team responded with 3 runs on homers by Chris Delarwelle and
Don Garvey to cut the lead to one, at 6-5. TB/CT added two in the
sixth to take a 7 to 6 lead on Trevor Ethier’s two run homer, but
the Gremlins rallied for one in the top of the seventh to tie the
game and send it to extra innings. The Gremlins started the 8th with
a runner on second but weree not able to advance him past third,
thanks to the pitching of Trevor Ethier, on in relief of Dewey Dyck.
TB/CT started the bottom of the 8th with Chad Mix on second. He
advanced to third on a wild pitch while the Gremlins were trying to
intentionally walk Chris Miljavac. Miljavac then walked. Ethier’s
shallow fly to center was not deep enough to score Mix. Mike
Piechnik, on in relief of Gerald Muizelaar, walked the hot hitting
Chris Delarwelle to load the bases. Then the wild finish: Mike
Piechnik struck out Robbie O'Brien, Chris Miljavac wandered off of
second base, Piechnik whirled and threw to second but Miljavac beat
the throw. Chad Mix alertly took off for home and scored the winning
run in a wild game.
To listen to this game, click the
Ballparkradio.com logo at left.
• Game 7: In the finals TB/CT faced the two time defending
Champions Los Socios from Venezuela. TB/CT jumped to a 2 to 0 lead
in the top of the first. TB/CT added 2 more in the third but Los
Socios kept fighting back adding 3 in the bottom of the third. TB/CT
added 3 more in the 5th but Los Socios notched single runs in the
5th and 6th to keep it close Chris Delarwelle hit his 6th home of
the tournament to clinch the title for
The Bar/Circle Tap
• Individual Awards: Chris Delarwelle secured MVP honors with
his .526 batting average, 10 RBIs and 6 home runs. Rob Scheller
secured Outstanding pitcher honors with two complete game victories.
• Other outstanding performances by TB/CT players were Jon Zipperer,
.500 avg., Trevor Ethier .417 avg, with 2 doubles, Darren Derricks
.364 avg, Chris Miljavac .364 avg, Don Garvey .350 avg, Brock Bisick
.333 avg., and Chad Mix .333 avg.
