Miller Toyota Takes 2000 Best of The West Fastpitch Crown

(Palmdale, CA - August 5, 2000) The Larry H. Miller Toyota Fastpitch Team of Salt Lake City claimed the annual title of the Best in the West Tournament with a 9-4 victory over Team Lyons of Clovis California in the Championship game.  Toyota pitcher Pete Meredith and hitting Dynamo Kyle Magnuson both showed why they were members of the 15-man USA National Team that recently returned from the ISF World Championship in South Africa.

Meredith who pitched both of Miller's games against Team Lyons, was named Most Valuable Pitcher and finished with a  2-0 record in 13 innings pitched. Pete allowed 4 runs on 9 hits while averaging 2 Ks per inning for a total of 26.  Kyle Magnuson, Miller Toyota's versatile defensive specialist played 4 different positions in the 4 games he played, and  had a perfect 4 for 4 effort at the plate in the Championship game. His 3 singles and a double knocked in 2 runs and allowed him to score 3 times in the final game. Overall, Kyle tallied 9 hits  in 14 official at bats, for a sizzling .642 batting average. His 6 singles, 2 Triples, and a Double produced 7 RBIs and gave him  7 Runs Scored. In leading Miller to the title offensively, Magnuson earned the Tournament Most Valuable Player award.

Dewey Dyck also pitched very well for Miller recording two shutout victories, giving up 8 hits in 14 innings, while striking out 24, and allowing only 2 walks. Brandon Burt, Miller's hard hitting 1B / DP was a close runner-up for the MVP award as he posted 9 hits in 15 official at bats for a .600 batting average. With a Home Run, a Tiple and 7 base hits, he was able to score 6 runs and record 5 RBIs.

Championship Game stat Leaders

Larry Miller Toyota 9

Team Lyons 4

LMT WP Pete Meredith 7 IP, 8 H, 14 K, 1 W

TL LP Tony Peoples 4 IP, 12 H, 1 K, 2 W

TL Dude Ybarra 2 IP, 6 H, 3 K, 0 W

LMT Kyle Magnuson 4/4, Double, 3 Runs Scored, 2 RBIs

LMT Dave Paetkau 2/2, Triple, 2 Runs Scored

LMT Mitch Munthe 1/3, Double, 2 RBIs

TL Troy Morrison 2/3, Double, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

TL Jason Porto 1/3, Home Run, RBI, Run Scored

Final Tournament Standings

1st Larry H. Miller Toyota, Salt Lake City, Utah

2nd Team Lyons, Clovis California

Tie 3rd Merchants, Phoenix Arizona

Tie 3rd The Quest, Lakewood California

5th Verner Construction, Stockton

6th The Bucks, San Luis Obispo, California

7th Team Rainey, Orange County California

8th Savala's Masters, Long Beach California

Game Results 

Larry H. Miller Toyota 5

Phoenix Merchants 0

WP Dewey Dyck 7IP, 5H, 11K, 1W

LP Lonnie Brooks 7IP, 11H, 8K, 1W

LMT Kyle Magnuson 3/4, 2 Triples, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

LMT Dave Paetkau 2/2, 1 Double, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

PM Andy Guerrero 2/3, 1 Double

With 2-Run First inning, and a 3-Run Third Inning,

Miller Toyota jumped comfortably ahead early against

The Phoenix Merchants, and didn't look back. Toyota

was lead offensively by Dave Paetkau and Kyle

Magnuson to ride the 11 strikeout, 5 hit pitching

performance of Dewey Dyck.

Team Rainey 9

The Quest 5

TR WP Stan Grebeck, Jr. 7 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 0W

TQ LP Dennis Webb 3.6 IP, 8 H, 4 K, 3 W

TQ Hank Scheid 3.3IP, 6 H, 3 K, 1 W

TR Rod Rainey 4/4, RBI, 2 Runs Scored

TQ Dwayne Fowler 2/4, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

Dwayne Fowler's first inning 2 Run, Home Run for

The Quest got them out to an early lead, but

Team Rainey answered with 3 Runs in the both the

second and 4th innings to run away with this game.

Shortstop Rod Rainey's perfect 4 for 4 day at the plate,

and Stan Grebeck's steady pitching guided the improving

Orange County based Team Rainey to Victory over the

Quest of Lakewood.

The Bucks 6

Team Lyons 3

TB WP Mark Bennett 7IP, 9 H, 8 K, 1 W

TL LP Tony Peoples 7IP, 14 H, 7 K, 2 W

TB Roger Carter 2/2, Triple, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TB Clayte Robinson 2/3, 2 RBIs

TL Billy Eccles 3/4, 2 Triples, 2 Runs Scored

TL Sabino Mendez 2/4, Double, RBI, Run Scored

The Bucks broke open a 3-3 tie with a 3-Run, 6-Hit,

explosion in the top of the 6th inning to win going away.

This game matched up two of California's best fastpitch

softball teams.

Verner Construction 6

Savala's Masters 4

VC WP Bobby Dugo 7 IP, 11 H, 5 K, 1 W, 1 HBP

SM LP Dennis Stillwell 7 IP, 8 H, 7 K, 2 W

VC Mike Abernethy, 2/3, Home Run, RBI, Runs Scored

VC Aaron Misasi, 2/4, Double, 3 RBIs, Run Scored

SM Hice Stiles, 2/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

Leadoff hitter and Second Baseman Aaron Misasi of Verner Construction

broke up a 2-2 Tie game in the top of the fifth with a double that produced

two runs. Verner pitcher Bobby Dugo, scattered 11 hits to take the victory.

With Verner leading 5-2 in the bottom of the 6th, Hice Stiles 2-Run

Home Run for the Savala Painters Masters, closed the gap to 5-4. Verner

Construction added an insurance run in the top of the 7th for the 6-4 final

score. Verner was the 1999 ASA B National Champions, and play out

of Stockton, California.

Larry H. Miller Toyota 8

The Bucks 2

LMT WP Chad Boom 7 IP, 7 H, 8K, 3W

TB LP Mark Bennett 6 IP, 10 H, 4K, 0W

LMT Brandon Burt 3/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

LMT Curtis Martin 1/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 1 Run Scored

LMT Mitch Munthe 2/3, Double, Triple, 2 Runs Scored

TB Gregg Oliver 2/3, Run Scored

Miller Toyota powered past the Bucks With 2-Run Home Runs by

Brandon Burt in the 3rd Inning, and Curtis Martin in the 5th Inning.

Back-to-Back triples in the 4th inning by Mitch Munthe and Brett

Alvey produced two more runs off Bucks losing pitcher Mark Bennett.

Chad Boom held the Bucks bats to 2 Runs on 7 hits to record the victory.

Team Rainey 6

Savala's Masters 3

TR WP Jack Van Voorst 7 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 0 W

SM LP Russ Snow 7 IP, 10 H, 4 K, 1 W

TR Dee Nichols 3/3, Double, Run Scored

TR Gary Reynolds 2/3, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TR Val Douglas 2/3, 2 Runs Scored

SM Mike Nevin, 1/3, RBI, Run Scored

Team Rainey scored 4 runs on 5 hits in the top of the 4th inning to

jump out to a 6-0 lead. Savala Masters of Long Beach used 4 hits

in the bottom of the 4th inning to plate 3 runs, but that was the end

of scoring in this game. Veteran hurler Jack Van Voorst, the oldest

player in the Tournament got the pitching Victory for Team Rainey.

Phoenix Merchants 14

Team Lyons 13

PM WP Lonnie Brooks 5.3 IP, 11 H, 9 K, 0 W (Relief Top of 2)

PM Bob Rockwood 1.2 IP, 7 H, 2 K, 0 W (Starter)

TL LP Ed Gasper 7 IP, 15 H, 3 K, 3 W

PM Nick Dorick 3/3, Home Run, Triple, 3 RBIs, 3 Runs Scored

PM Richie Pesquieri 3/4, Grand Slam, Double, 4 RBIs, 3 Runs Scored

PM Jeff Coughran 3/4, Home Run, Triple, 4 RBIs, 3 Runs Scored

TL Troy Morrison 3/4, Home Run, Double, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs scored

TL Phil Hiromerides 1/4, Home Run, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TL Jason Porto 2/4, Home Run, Double, 4 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

Team Lyons scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, but

missed the two point conversion with no time left on the clock, dropping a

14-13 decision to the Phoenix Merchants. Actually, this was one of those

wild game where both teams pounded out a total of 6 Home Runs over the

280 fot fences at McAdam Park in Palmdale. Heavy winds of 25-40 mph

that whipped up at the start of this game added to the hitting carnage.

Verner Construction 18

The Quest 1

VC WP Terry Weiler 5 IP, 5 H, 0 K, 0 W

TQ LP Randy Clay 4 IP, 8 H, 3 K, 5 W (Starter)

TQ Dennis Webb 1 IP, 6 H, 3 K, 3 W (Relief in the top of the 5th inning)

VC Brian Deaton 1/2, Home Run, 3 RBIs, 3 Runs Scored

VC Greg Glaser 3/3, Triple, 2 RBIs, 4 Runs Scored

VC Mike Abernathy 2/5, Home Run, RBI, 2 Runs Scored

TQ Chris Minogue 2/2, Run Scored

This one got ugly early as 3 Quest defensive errors in the 3rd Inning

lead to 7 unearned Runs for Verner Construction.

Larry H. Miller Toyota 8

Team Lyons 0

LMT WP Peter Meredith 6 IP, 2 H, 12 K, 1 W

TL LP Tony Peoples 4 IP, 6 H, 5 K, 0 W (Starter)

TL Dude Ybarra 1.1 IP, 9 H, 1 K, 2 W (Relief Top of the 5th)

LMT Chad Boom 3/3, RBI, Run Scored

LMT Tommy Gray 2/4. RBI, 2 Runs Scored

LMT Brandon Burt 2/3, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

LMT Mitch Munthe 2/3, Double, 3 RBIs

TL Phil Hiromerides 1/2

TL Chris Mooneyham 1/2

Larry Miller Toyota rode a 4-Run, 5 Hit attack in the first inning

to spot pitcher Peter Meredith with all the runs he needed. Meredith

gave up 2 harmless base hits to Phil Hiromerides in the 2nd Inning

and Chris Mooneyham in the 6th Inning, while notching a dozen

strikeouts. This one ended early as Brandon Burt's base hit drove

in Tommy Gray with the eighth and final run of the game. This gave

Miller Toyota a 3-0 Round Robin record, and Team Lyons ended 0-3.

Verner Construction 9

Team Rainey 0

VC WP Bobby Dugo 5 IP, 4 H, 3 K, 1 W

TR LP Joe Salcedo 4 IP, 4 H, 3 K, 1 W

TR Jack Van Voorst 1 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 0 W

VC Greg Glaser, 2/3, Home Run, 2 RBis, Run Scored

VC Josh Tisdale 2/3, Home Run, Double, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

VC Aaron Misasi 2/3, Double, 2 Runs Scored

TR Tony Acedo 1/2, Double

TR Roy Guinaldo 1/2, Triple

5 Consecutive hits to start the top of the 5th inning pushed

Verner Construction's 3-0 lead to 9-0, and ended this one early.

Bobby Dugo got his second pitching win of the day for Verner.

Home Runs by Greg Glaser and Josh Tisdale powered the

Verner offensive attack in this game, and gave them a 3-0 record

in the Round Robin portion. Team Rainey finished with a 2-1

Round Robin record

The Bucks 12

Phoenix Merchants 7

TB WP Mark Bennett 7 IP, 11 H, 5 K, 1 W

PM LP Mark Higgins 6 IP, 16 H, 6 K, 2 W

TB Jerry Leavitt 2/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

TB Ron Mizener 2/4, 2 Doubles, Run Scored

TB Larry Ybarra 2/4, Double, 3 RBIs, Run Scored

PM Albert Mendibles 3/4, RBI, Run Scored

PM Jimmy Pesquieri 3/3, Double, Triple, RBI, Run Scored

The Bucks sent 14 batters to the plate in the second Inning

and hit 3 doubles and 6 base hits to drop 8 runs early on the

Phoenix Merchants and pitcher Mark Higgins. Down 8-2 in the 6th,

Phoenix scored 4 runs, primarily on Jeff Coughran's three run blast

that made the score 8-6. The Bucks offense got all 4 runs back

in the bottom of the 6th to wipe out any further Phoenix threat.

A lone Phoenix run in the top of the 7th ended in a 12-7 Bucks win.

This put the Bucks in second place in their division with a 2-1 record

and put the Phoenix Merchants in third place in the division with a

1-2 record.

The Quest 12

Savala's Masters 4

TQ WP Hank Scheid 5 IP, 7 H, 2 K, 2 W

SM LP Cary Weiler 4 IP, 9 H, 1 K, 3 W (Started, Exited B4, Re-entered B5)

SM Russ Snow 1 IP, 4 H, 0 K, 0 W (Entered B4, Exited B5)

TQ Dwayne Fowler 1/1, Home Run, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TQ Brian Fowler 3/3, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

TQ Jason Aceves 2/4, Double, 4 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

SM Rawley Ramirez 2/2, Triple, 2 RBIs

SM Ed Fletcher 1/1, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 1 Run Scored

The Quest popped for 7 runs on 8 hits in the bottom of the 4th

inning to erase a 4-2 deficit and put away the Savala Masters

in a run-rule shortened 5 inning game. With a 1-2 record, The

Quest ended up in third place in their division, and Savala's

Masters ended up in 4th place with an 0-3 record.

Sunday's Single Elimination Playoff Games

Group B 3rd Place The Quest 7

Group A 2nd Place The Bucks 6

TQ WP Hank Scheid 8 IP, 13 H, 3 K, 5 W

TB LP Mark Bennett 7.3 IP, 15 H, 6 K, 1 W

TQ Darin Garland 3/4, Double, Home Run, 3 RBIs, Run Scored

TQ Jason Aceves 3/4, Triple, RBI, 2 Runs Scored

TQ Chris Minogue 2/4, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TB Ron Mizener 2/4, 2 Home Runs, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

TB Billy Pilgrim 3/4, Double, Triple, 2 Runs Scored

The Bucks lead 6-3 with one out in the bottom of the 7th inning,

but Darin Garland's 3 Run Home Run tied the game. In the top of

the eighth inning Tie Breaker, with a runner on second, The

Quest relief pitcher Hank Scheid managed to hold the Bucks

scoreless. Things looked bad for The Quest as the bottom of the

8th inning started when Bucks catcher Jerry Leavitt immediately

picked off the runner on second for the first out. But after a walk

to Frank Minogue, Dewey Thompson hit a shot in the gap to score

Minogue with the game winner. The Bucks exit the Tournament with

a 2-2 record with Mark Bennett pitching all 27.3 innings they played.

Group A 3rd Place Phoenix Merchants 4

Group B 2nd Place Team Rainey 2

PM WP Lonnie Brooks 3 IP, 4 H, 5 K, 0 W

PM Bob Rockwood 4 IP, 2 H, 4 K, 0 W

TB LP Stan Grebeck, Jr. 7 IP, 8 H, 6 K, 3 W

PM Nick Dorick 1/2, Double, RBI, Run Scored

PM Albert Mendibles 2/3 RBI, Run Scored

PM Bob Rockwood 2/3, Run Scored

TR Ralph Salcedo 2/3, Triple, Run Scored

Team Rainey broke up a scoreless game with 2 runs

in the bottom of the 4th inning. After shutting down

the Phoenix Merchants offense for the first 5 innings,

Team Rainey pitcher Stan Grebeck Jr was touched

for 3 runs in the top of the 6th inning. An insurance run

for Phoenix in the top of the 7th finished the scoring at 4-2.

Team Rainey exits the tournament with a 2-2 record.

Group A 1st Place Larry Miller Toyota 4

Group B 4th Place Savala's Masters 3

LMT WP Chad Boom 7 IP, 5 H, 11 K, 0 W

SM LP Cary Weiler 6 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 1 W

LMT Brandon Burt 2/3, Triple, RBI, Run Scored

LMT Mitch Munthe 1/3, Double, RBI, Run Scored

SM Rawley Ramirez, 1/2, Double, 2 RBIs

SM Jerry Hoffman, 1/3, Run Scored

This game was the closest that any team came to

knocking off Miller Toyota in the tournament. Miller's

lead-off hitter, Shawn Taylor scored in the top of the

1st, but Savala's Masters answered with two of their

own in the bottom of the 2nd. It stayed 2-1 Masters

until Miller tied the game when Tommy Gray scored

in the bottom of the 5th. The Masters answered and

got the run back in the top of the 6th to take the 3-2

lead. Brandon Burt's Triple followed by Mitch Munthe's

double produced 2 more Miller runs in the Bottom of

the 6 to seal the Masters fate in a 4-3 heartbreaker.

50+ year old Cary Weiler pitched an excellent game

against a potent Miller offense, proving why he is one

of America's premier pitching talents still playing at the

Masters Level. Savala's Masters bows out of the

Tournament with an 0-4 record, but they will still be

one of the favorites at the ASA 40-Over and 45-Over

Masters National Tournaments held later this summer.

Group A 4th Place Team Lyons 6

Group B 1st Place Verner Construction 4

TL WP Tony Peoples 7 IP, 7 H, 11 K, 2 W

VC LP Bob Dugo 6 IP, 8 H, 3 K, 2 W

TL Jeff Coleman 2/3, Double, Triple, 3 RBIs, Run Scored

TL Phil Hiromerides 2/3, Double, Run Scored

TL Billy Eccles 2/3, RBI, Run Scored

VC Eddie Brooks 3/4, Home Run, RBI, Run Scored

VC Josh Tisdale 1/3, Triple, Run Scored

Tony Peoples held Verner Construction scoreless on only 1 hit

through 5 complete innings as his Team Lyons offense

banged out a 4-0 lead. With a 6-1 Lyons lead in the top of the 7th,

Verner scored 3 to make it close at 6-4. With two on, two out, and the

go ahead run at the plate, Peoples struck out Verner Right Fielder

Greg Glaser to end a great match-up, and preserving the 6-4 win

for Team Lyons. Verner Construction ends the tournament with a

3-1 record.

Miller Toyota 4

The Quest 0

LMT WP Dewey Dyck 7 IP, 3 H, 13 K, 1 W

TQ LP Hank Scheid 6 IP, 7 H, 5 K, 0 W

LMT Dave Paetkau 3/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

LMT Mitch Munthe 1/3, Double, RBI, Run Scored

LMT Curtis Martin 1/3, RBI

TQ Chris Minogue 1/3 Triple

TQ Darin Garland 1/3 Double

Dewey Dyck's 13 Strikeout, 3 hit shutout performance

was too much for the Quest hitters to overcome. Hank

Scheid threw well for the Quest, starting the game with

three straight shutout innings,. An RBI Double by Mitch

Munthe followed by an RBI base hit by Curtis Martin put

Miller up 2-0 in the Bottom of the 4th inning. Dave Paetkau's

2-run Home Run in the 6th finished the scoring at 4-0.

The Quest leaves the Tournament with a 2-3 record.

Miller advances to the Championship game.

Team Lyons 11

Phoenix Merchants 10

TL WP Tony Peoples 1 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 0 W (Relieved B7, 0 out)

TL Ed Gasper 1.3 IP, 5 H, 0 K, 1 W, 1 HBP (Starter, exited B2, 1 out)

TL Dude Ybarra 4.6 IP, 6 H, 4 K, 3 W (Relieved B2, 1 out, exited B7, 0 out)

PM LP Lonnie Brooks

PM Bob Rockwood

PM Mark Higgins

TL Troy Morrison 1/2, Home Run, RBI, 3 Runs Scored

TL Phil Hiromerides 2/4, Home Run, Double, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

TL Chris Mooneyham 2/3, Home Run, 2 RBIs, Run Scored

TL Jason Porto 2/4, Home Run, Double, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

PM Pancho Jerequi 2/4, Home Run, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs Scored

PM Richie Pesquieri 3/4, Triple, Double, RBI, 2 Runs Scored

PM Albert Mendibles, 2/4, Double, Run Scored

PM Bob Rockwood, 2/4, Double, Run Scored

This was another wild double digit hitting extravaganza between

Lyons and Phoenix. Phoenix took a 9-6 lead into the top of the

7th inning, but Lyons refused to face elimination. Phil Hiromerides

and Jason Porto blasted a pair of 2-run Home Runs, and Lyons added

another run as they shocked the Phoenix Team and take a 11-9

edge into the bottom of the 7th. Tony Peoples finished the game as

the third Lyons pitcher, entering the game in the bottom of the 7th

after Richie Pasquieri Tripled to lead off the inning for Phoenix. Pesquieri

scored the lone 7th Inning run, to pull Phoenix within one run, but

that would be as close as they would get. Phoenix leaves the Tournament

with a 2-3 record. Lyons moves on to play Miller Toyota in the Championship.

Miller Toyota

See story and statistics above.

Many thanks to Umpire and Chief Roy Stout. His crew did an excellent job calling the 19 ball games,

and I can not recall a single incident where there was any kind of verbal skirmishes between players and umps. Also many thanks to Steve Gfellers and his staff from the city of Palmdale Department of Parks and Rec. They watered, raked, and re-lined both fields after every game, and provided ice water, sunflower seeds and Big League Gum in the dugouts. They really came through in the clutch by providing excellent official scorekeepers that tracked every pitch, of every tournament game.  Special thanks to Al Rueggsegger of AIS, former ISC Area Commissioner for California. Al always supplies good advise and guidance, and this year he also supplied, and donated, individual embroidered travel bags, to each member of the

winning team.  And finally, thanks to all of the team sponsors, managers and  players on the 8 participating teams, for proving that Men's fastpitch is far from dead in the Golden State.

Dave Blackburn

daveb@virtvent.com

Best of The West Tournament Director

California Area ISC Commissioner