2004 Nationals

Men's Major

South Bend, IN -- Pitcher Dean Holoien (Moose Jaw, Sasketchewan) of The Farm Tavern made his first appearance in an ASA National Championship Final one to remember.  On August 8 at the Belleville Softball Complex, he hurled a no-hitter to beat Broken Bow Spirit (Broken Bow, NE), 6-0, in the championship game of the 2004 ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship.

The 35-year-old Holoien fanned 14 of the 22 batters he faced in winning his fourth game, allowing only one runner to reach base when he walked Ray Reinagel to open the third inning.

Holoien finished with a tourney-high 65 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (earned) and eight hits to give The Farm Tavern its 10th consecutive win in ASA national championship play. Holoien, who also batted .267, walked only three batters and finished with an ERA of 0.52.

Last year Paul Algar (1-0 in this national) and Todd Martin hurled The Farm to its first ASA national title, but a groin injury sidelined Martin, giving Holoien his long-awaited opportunity.

“I’ve always wanted to play in an ASA national championship,” Holoien said, “but because of the foreign player import rule I didn’t get the chance until this year.”

Besides hurling a no-hitter in the final, Holoien, winner of the Herb Dudley (outstanding pitcher) and most valuable player awards, set a record for most strikeouts in a seven inning game with 21 earlier in the tourney, leaving sponsor Rod Peterson smiling from ear to ear.

In his 38th year of sponsoring a men’s fast pitch, Peterson was asked if winning his second ASA national title was sweeter than the first, which came last year in Midland, MI.

“Yes, it is,” Peterson said.” But it took a long time to get the first one (national championship).”

Four times Peterson’s team had advanced to the championship game, only to come up short until last year in Midland when it blanked Circle Tap of Denmark, WI, 4-0 in the championship game. Circle Tap finished third this year (3-2) with The Bull/Townline of DePere, WI finishing fourth (5-2).

The Farm Tavern didn’t waste any time taking the lead and added to it against Broken Bow, which finished with a 6-2 record became the first team from the state of Nebraska to advance to the finals of a ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch National Championship.

After one out in the first, The Farm Tavern loaded the bases on a pair of singles and an error by the Bow shortstop Jason Smith. The first run scored when R.G. Moraga couldn’t handle Holoien’s grounder, bringing home Rob Gray. Middleton fanned Todd Garcia for the second out, but Dan Smet singled up the middle, scoring Todd Budke for the second run. Boomer Brush also tried to score on Smet’s single but was tagged out by catcher Ray Reinagel on center fielder Diego Rico’s throw. Both of the runs were unearned.

The Farm expanded its lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning after two outs when Rob Gray walked, stole second and scored on a wild pitch by Middleton. After Gray scored, Todd Budke walked and came home on Boomer Brush’s triple to right field. Both runs were earned.

Frank Cox replaced Doug Middleton in the circle to start the fifth inning for Broken Bow. Middleton walked two and fanned seven in four innings.

Cox hurled two innings, giving up four hits including a two-run homer by Budke (3-for-3) in the sixth inning. It was Budke’s third homer, which led the tournament in that category. Six other players had two homers apiece.

Gerald Muizelaar replaced Cox and hurled the last inning for Broken Bow. Muizelaar, who was named as a first-team ASA All-American, was unbeaten (4-0) and didn’t allow any earned runs in 26 innings while striking out 49 batters. He allowed one unearned run and walked four.

The tourney batting champ was Tim Hatten of the Blackhawk Athletic Club who had eight hits in 12 at-bats (.667).

Men's Class A

 

Men's Class B

Kreider and Flick Painting capture Men’s B National Championship Finals

Garland, TX --- A 6-1 overall record, Kreider and Flick Painting’s (East Petersburg, PA) journey to Texas was fruitful as they captured the ASA Men’s B National Championship title. An uphill battle ending in a three game series with runner-up Memphis Posse (Memphis, TN), Kreider and Flick’s Mike Ohl was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher while Jimmy Lawrence garnered MVP accolades.

A 4-0 early win against Captain Dan’s (Long Beach, CA) moved Kreider and Flick along in the winner’s bracket to a tight 1-0 win against the Springfield Parrots (Rogersville, MO).  At 2-0 they continued to slip by with another one run decision in a 1-0 victory over the River City Rockets (Citrus Heights, CA).  Sailing along with a 2-0 positive outcome against the Castlewood Jesters (Pleasant Grove, UT) moved Kreider to the winner’s bracket final where the first of what would lead to three games against Memphis Rose (Memphis, TN) began. 

A 6-1 defeat continued the win streak to five before a 5-4 Memphis Rose upset forced the ‘if’ game.  Expecting a close run for the title, Kreider and Flick denied the pressure closing the tournament with a solid 5-0 shutout to earn the championship bragging rights.

Men's Class C

Energy Link battles to Men’s Class ‘C’ Fast Pitch title 

Hastings, NE --- A field of 71 teams, Energy Link (Bakersfield, CA) captured the Men’s Class ‘C’ Fast Pitch title with a flawless 8-0 record outscoring its opponents 53-21.  After an 8-0 opening game shutout against Franny Old Irish Pub (Springfield, MO), Energy Link cruised through its next five contests with triumphs over Kenny’s Worth (Roslyn, PA) 5-2, John’s Plumbing (Lincoln, NE) 10-3, Trexeltown Thunder (Emmaus, PA) 9-1, and Texas Roadhouse (Elkhart, IN) 6-5. 

Most Valuable Player Jerry Melson (pitcher) and All-Americans Brian Teeters (outfield), Jeff Ansel (Utility), and Mark Toliver (Utility) continued to lead Energy Link through the bracket as they recorded back-to-back victories over Roadrunners (Maryville, MO) 4-2 and 3-1 to take home the title back to California.

Men's 23-Under

Men's Masters 40-Over
Maryland Masters sweep Men's Masters 40-Over National Championship

San Antonio, TX  --- Most Valuable Player and 2004 USA Softball Men's World Championship team member Michael White led the Maryland Masters (Waldorf, MD) to the ASA Masters 40-Over Fast Pitch crown.  A perfect 5-0 record, the Masters traveled through the 13 team tournament to setup a rematch of the 2003 championship final against Harold's Supermarket (Lexington, MO).

In the final game, Harold's took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning before Maryland responded with a 2-1 advantage scoring runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  They took a commanding lead in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring two runs on three hits to take a 4-1 lead for the eventual tournament title.

The Maryland Masters have now won three of the last four ASA National Championship Finals in the Men's Masters 40-Over division including back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004.

Joining the top ranks of first team All-American with MVP White were teammates Mike Hineline (first base), Al Panaro (second base), Steve Spalt (shortstop), Keith Baker (outfield), Ray Simmons (utility), and Rex Campbell (catcher).  Avon Meacham (Member of USA Softball Men's National Team Selection Committee) was also selected as a second team honoree along with Steve Spalt who took home the tournament Batting Champion Award.

Men's Masters 45-Over

Munthe leads Savala Painters to ASA Men’s 45-Over Fast Pitch title 

Oklahoma City, OK---Savala Painters of Stockton, CA had to battle out of the loser’s bracket and win the ‘if’ game after being defeated by Planngers Furniture, 8-0, in the third round of the winner’s bracket. After winning three games in the loser’s bracket, Savala got revenge on Planngers with a 7-0 victory in the finals to force the ‘if” game. 

In the final game, Savala held on for a 3-2 win and the ASA National Championship title. Mitch Munthe, who served as an assistant coach for the 2004 Men’s World Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand, earned the batting title with an astounding .700 average and was also named as a first team ASA All-American. Pete Turner, who was the head coach of the 2004 Men’s World Team, was also named as a first team All-American along with teammates Cary Weiler, Terry Canale, Ski Angle and Bill Newell.

Men's Masters 50-0ver

 

Po-Men win five straight to take Men’s Master’s 50 & Over Fast Pitch title

Killeen, TX --- After a second (1999) and a third place (2003) finish in the Men's 50 & Over National Championship Final, the Memphis Po-Men finally put all the pieces together to take them to the top in 2004.

The Po-Men won its second one run game of the tournament with 6-5 victory in the championship game to take home the 2004 ASA Men’s Master’s 50 & Over Fast Pitch title.  A 5-0 perfect run to the championship crown, the team from Tennessee began the weekend with a 9-3 win over the DC Raiders (Mt. Horeb, WI) before a tight 7-6 decision against the CA Legends (Riverside, CA) extended play in the winner’s bracket. 

The Po-Men overpowered the Tulsa Graysox (Tulsa, OK), 7-4, to move into the quarterfinals where they captured a 4-1 victory against Nohren Farms (Champion, IL).  Taking the field against the Texas Stars (Houston, TX) in the final game, the Po-Men came out on top with a 6-5 championship victory.

Four Po-Men players received ASA First Team All-America honors including Gary Nilsen (outfield), Danny Setchfield (outfield), Larry Hunsucker (utility), and Leroy Jolstad (pitcher).