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1999 Eau Claire Classic

June 25-27, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Champions, 6-0 record

Article taken from the Eau Claire Leader Telegram Online

Fargo DMS 2
W. St. Paul 0

Unheralded Knights left standing

Fargo team travels Farm-less route to championship

By Ron Buckli
Leader-Telegram staff

  Guess who won the 33rd annual Eau Claire Classic Fastpitch Tournament over the weekend at Gelein Field?

  Madison Farm Tavern, of course.

  Not even close. Try again.

  The Denmark Dukes?

  Nope.

  How about the Fargo DMS Knights in a 2-0 championship game win over PBI of West St. Paul?

  You got it.

  In a stunning development, national power and defending champion Farm, which allowed only one run in four games, was ousted in the quarterfinals of Sunday’s single-elimination championship round 1-0 by the unheralded Fargo Outlaws.

  That left the door open, and the Knights – last year’s ASA National Class A champions -- breezed in, scoring six straight victories as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

  "No one is more surprised than we are," said Farm pitcher Todd Martin, who threw two no-hitters. "We definitely planned on being there, but it’s a strange game. Anything can happen."

  Surprised. So was James Speral, who hurled four of the Knights victories and did not allow an earned run in 23 innings of work. He was honored with the Don Hagedorn Best Pitcher Award.

"  I’m surprised," Speral said. "We knew Farm was the team to beat, and we didn’t expect them to go out that early."

Speral, a right-hander who is 16-1 this season, allowed just two hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter in the win over PBI.

  The Knights, a classy outfit which is 30-2 on the season, rapped 11 singles off tiring lefty Mike Newby and got run-scoring hits by tournament MVP Scott Deutsch in the first inning and Guy Carlson in the second. That was more than enough.

  "Winning a tournament like this means a lot," Speral said. "This is something we look forward to every year."

After winning its three pool games, the Knights defeated Denmark, another former tournament champion, 2-0 and bested their city rival Outlaws 4-3 in nine innings in the semifinals after rallying to tie the game in the seventh.

  PBI (28-8) took the long road to the finals after going 3-0 in pool play. The scrappy West St. Paul team downed DC Financial of Eagan, Minn., 7-2 in a marathon 16-inning game that took 3 hours, 51 minutes.

  Then it took nine innings for PBI to defeat the Portage Classics 6-5 in the semifinals.

  "You have to look at the fatigue factor," PBI center fielder Paul Arntzen said. "When you play 16 innings, it’s the equivalent of two games. It runs you out of gas, and you lose some adrenaline."

  In the 16-inning game, PBI scored five times in the 16th to break the game open. Newby hurled the win, scattering 17 hits. Loser Andy Van Wettering struck out 25.

  "Did we exceed our expectations?" Arntzen said. "You always come into a tournament with high hopes. Sure, we’re pleased."

  The Outlaws made the tournament round on a tie-breaker after going 1-2 in pool play and found themselves up against Farm.

But they scored a run in the first on Jamie Peterson’s single, and Richard Carney made it stand up, allowing six hits and one walk while only striking out three. Loser Jody Hennigar struck out 15.

  The Outlaws almost carried their longshot hopes to the finals. They led DMS 3-2 in the seventh inning of a semifinal game, only to see the Knights rally to win in the ninth.

  Portage Classics bounced back to defeat the Outlaws 8-7 in the third-place game. Steve Gothard got the win in relief. Joe Zydowski got three hits for the winners, while Gerald Pyle bombed two long homers for the Outlaws.

  Other tournament awards went to PBI shortstop Mark Bouley for Best Defense and PBI’s Steve Kennedy for Best Hitter (10-for-25).

Mike McMahon of Hoot’s Hilltop was honored with the Steve Anderson Sportsmanship Award.