J & B Painting was the lone unbeaten team by the time the late afternoon games started at press time Saturday. Scores and Standings through 3:30 p.m. are posted below, with the scores from the last set of games expected on Sunday. We’ll post the final results of today’s elimination round as they become available.
J & B Painting’s tournament roster was a veritable All Star team, adding the likes of pitcher Sonny Perkins and Team USA infielder Marcus Tan to their regular roster.
The game of the day Saturday was the 10-8 barn-burner between J & B Painting and Maccabi USA. J & B staked starter Sonny Perkins to a 7-0 lead, but Maccabi chipped away against reliever Gerald Pyle. Maccabi was down to their final out with two on and two outs in the 7th, but tied the game on an infield single when the throw went past first base. Pyle was nursing an injured heel, but managed to bear down and get the final outs after J & B retook the lead in the top of the extra frame.
The inaugural Breeder Rupp tournament was played last year, in honor of Dave Blackburn (“Breeder”), and Ronnie Rupp (“Rupp”), who were badly injured in a car accident in Arizona in August. This year’s tournament saw both Dave and Ronnie in attendance, enjoying a star-studded field of teams, with players flying in for the event, played at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, California.
Raymar Fastpitch returned to the So Cal fastpitch scene after a year’s hiatus, a welcome addition, as they begin preparations for what we hear will be a one-and-done comeback run in 2012.
One of those traveling a good distance to compete in the tournament was Team USA’s Marcus Tan who boarded a 6am flight from Northern California, only to suffer the indignity of a “smash and grab” car burglary, in which thieves smashed a side window and ran off with his luggage. El Dorado Park is located in a good neighborhood, but the thieves apparently took advantage of an outfield fence covered by tarps that obscured a view of their dastardly deeds. (Sorry Marcus, you deserved better from our town)
Players on hand Saturday invited the thieves to return on Sunday, to share an up-close view of the latest in the Easton, De Marini and Louiville bat lines for 2012.
