A never-say-die team from California went undefeated to win the championship of the 71-team men’s fastpitch national tournament in Hastings.

Energy Link used late-inning, come-from-behind wins over a team from Grand Island and one from Missouri to advance to the championship game of the five-day tournament at the Nebraska ASA Softball Complex.  Energy Link first outlasted Grand Island Foot Clinic, 6-5, in a marathon, 10-inning game and then beat the Roadrunners from Missouri 4-2 by scoring all four runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.  The Roadrunners later won their way back into the championship bracket and a rematch Sunday night with Energy Link in a game played in the wind with temperatures that dropped to 62 degrees. Energy Link won the title game by a score of 3-1.

It was a pitcher’s game, as the swirling wind was blowing mostly from left field into the face of hitters.  Energy Link scored one run in the first inning, and that was all the scoring there would be until the sixth inning.

Energy Link pitcher Harlan Chapman threw a complete game, giving up the one run and striking out 12 Roadrunner batters.

Two errors in the game were costly for the Roadrunners as they both resulted in runs for Energy Link.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Roadrunners lost an opportunity to score a couple of runs when Energy Link second baseman Jeremy Rooney lunged to his left to make a tough out that resulted in two base runners being stranded on base.

Grand Island Foot Clinic finished fourth in the tournament. Grand Island was one of four teams left in the winner’s bracket heading into Sunday’s competition, losing to Energy Link in 10 innings.  Immediately following that loss, Grand Island switched fields to play the Edge of California. Grand Island won that game 12-6 and advanced to another elimination game against Raymar of California. The fatigue from playing 17 consecutive innings and a controversial play took its toll on Grand Island against Raymar.

Grand Island allowed two runs on four walks to open the game, putting the team in a tough spot right away.  Grand Island had a chance to get back into the game in its half of the first inning.  With bases loaded, a  run scored and one out, a shallow pop-up in the infield was not ruled an infield fly. The play caught Grand Island off guard and resulted in an inning-ending double play.  From that point on, Raymar was in control of the game and eventually won 6-2, knocking Grand Island out of the tournament.