2003 ASA MAJOR - Championship Game

(By Bill Plummer, ASA)
 
MIDLAND, MI -The fifth time turned out to be the charm for  Rod Peterson's Farm Tavern of Madison, WI.  After finishing runner-up four times in the ASA Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship since 1988, the Farm claimed its first ASA major title with a  4-1 six inning win over in-state rival Circle Tap (5-2) of Denmark, WI.

The win concluded an unbeaten trek through a field of 22 teams from 12 states for Farm Tavern, which was runner-up in 1988, 1997, 2000 and 2002. Todd Martin of Farm Tavern hurled the win, his third of the tourney, and allowed  two hits. He fanned 11 batters, walked six and allowed one earned run.  Paul Algar, Farm's other pitcher, was 2-0 and was named winner of the Herb Dudley Award as the Most Outstanding Pitcher. He had a 0.00 ERA and allowed only two hits in  two games. Chris Delarwelle of Circle Tap was named the Most Valuable Player  (.429 with 13 RBIs) and Dan Smet of Farm Tavern led all hitters with a .615 average (8-for-13).

Smet, who was 2-for-3 in the championship game, was named  first-team All-America at first base. Joining him are: 2B-Jason Hanson, Circle Tap; 3B-Todd Budke, Farm Tavern; SS-Chad Boom, Midland Explorers; OF-Colin Abott, Farm Tavern, Chris Delarwelle, Bill Kranz, Fred';s Interiors, Quad City, IA and Steve Schucker, Fedlock Falcons. Utility-Jess Ellestad, Circle Tap; Steve Price, Team Lyons and Steve Schott, Kelso Fast Pitch; Catcher-Todd Garcia, Team Lyons. Pitchers- Paul Algar and Todd Martin, Farm Tavern and Trevor Wardell, Circle Tap.

Named to the second team were: 1B-Gerry Kennedy, Team Lyons. 2B-Steve Horning, Midland. 3B-Marc Santillano, Team Lyons. SS-Mark Moziejko, Pueblo Bandits. Outfield-Ehren  Earleywine, Midland Explorers; Stephen Mullaley, Ashland Coors Jeremy Schaeffer, Fred's Interiors, Quad City, IA and Brad Sprau, Pueblo Bandits. Utility-Gin Barnes, Page Brake; Joe Morales, HIS Construction and Jason Porto, Team Lyons. Catcher-Ray Reinagel, Kelso Fast Pitch. Pitchers-Frank Cox, Kelso Fast Pitch;Jody Henniger, Fedlock Falcons and Jeremy Manley, Pueblo Bandits.

Hanson put Farm out ahead on a lead-off homer in the first inning and Farm expanded its margin to 4-0 on RBI singles by Todd Budke, Cliff Widsom and  Smet. All of the runs in the second were unearned off losing pitcher Rob Scheller (2-1). Circle Tap closed the gap to 4-1 when it scored its first run in the third on an RBI double by  Delarwelle, bringing across Jess Ellestad who had walked after one out.

In the fourth inning with one out, Circle Tap pitcher Rob Scheller and his catcher, Don Garvey, were both ejected from the game by home plate umpire Bryan Smith. Garvey went first and Scheller, who threw his glove after Garvey was ejected, followed.

Trevor Wardell replaced Scheller on the mound and third baseman Todd  Malnory went behind the plate. Malnory,however, didn't last long as he was ejected in his next at-bat for arguing a called third strike. Chad Huebner replaced Malnory behind the plate to start  the fifth inning and  Circle Tap coach Wayne Kruger even  inserted himself into the lineup at first. Circle Tap decided to call the game after batting in the sixth inning so it wouldn't miss their airplane flight.  Scheller was the loser, hurling 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run. Wardell hurled 2 2/3 innings and gave up one hit. He fanned two. Budke of Farm Tavern  had three hits in four at-bats.
 

Todd Martin and Todd  Twachtmann. Rob Scheller, Trevor Wardell (4) and Don Garvey, Todd Malory (4), Chad Huebner (5)
2B-Circle Tap: Bill Miller, Chris Delarwelle. HR-Farm Tavern: Jason Hanson.

Bill Plummer
bplummer@softball.org

Midland, Michigan - July 10-13, 2003. 

The Farm wins ASA Major Title, Circle Tap 2nd, Fresno Team Lyons 3d

To view brackets for the 2003 ASA Major Nationals, click the three links below:

For Bill Plummer's Recap of Title Game, click menu button at left.

Bill Plummer's Recaps of the 2003 ASA Men's Major Fast Pitch National Championship

ASA 2003 Men's Major All American Teams