Sonny’s Softball Club of Casper, Wy. captured the ASA Men’s Class A National title on Sunday afternoon having won three consecutive games while defeating 3rd Street Financial/Team Cincinnati 19-18 in the “if necessary” game. With a 6-1 record, Sonny’s put together quite the run on Sunday despite entering the loser’s bracket late Saturday night by none other than 3rd Street.
Recording a batting average of .743 going 26-for-35, Sonny’s shortstop Jonathan Lenz was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Teammate Chris Greinert recorded a remarkable 42 RBI over the weekend and earned the home run title with 14.
“This is unbelievable,” said MVP Lenz. “Great experience, awesome fields, great players all over the place and the best sponsor out there and the best teammates out there. We just all put it together and won! It was a wonderful weekend.”
After forcing the “if” game, both teams came out strong in the finale putting up strong pitching and defensive efforts. 3rd Street had an 16-10 lead through four innings, before the bats of Sonny’s charged back posting seven runs in the top of the sixth. The highlight of the inning was home runs from Greinert and Kevin Ballard.
Sonny’s pitchers Carl Blank and Daniel Lopez stifled the 3rd Street bats in the bottom of the sixth and seventh as 3rd Street failed to muster a run giving Sonny’s the one-run victory.
Nine of the Sonny’s hitters finished with multiple-hit outings while 3rd Street was led by a four RBI effort of Jon Jamison.
In the championship game, the momentum of Sonny’s earlier win over Annihilation carried them through with a 20 to 15 victory over winner’s bracket finalist 3rd Street Financial. With the rain finally clearing, the teams opened the game neck and neck with Sonny’s having a small 10-7 lead through three innings.
In the fourth, the defense of Sonny’s blanked 3rd Street as they came up with zero runs before Sonny’s took over with seven runs scored in the bottom half. With a 20-9 lead going into the seventh, 3rd Street put together a six-run rally in the top half but couldn’t muster enough as Sonny’s forced the “if necessary” game with a 20-15 victory.
Greinert from Sonny’s was perfect again going 4-for-4 with eight RBI. For 3rd Street, three players contributed four RBI a piece from David Kessler, Roger Drake, and Tommy Stevens, Jr.
In the loser’s bracket final 8:30 a.m. game it was a tight match-up between defending champions Annihilation/Easton and Sonny’s Softball Club. Annihilation opened the game strong putting up seven runs in the first and held a solid 19-7 lead into the bottom of the fourth. Sonny’s then unloaded for 12 runs on 10 hits in the fourth thanks to four home runs used that tied the game at 19-all.
Sonny’s added 11 more through the fifth and sixth innings heading into the top of the seventh with a 30- to 23 lead. Annihilation mounted a small comeback of three runs and had momentum with runners on and no outs; but a base running mistake and the defense of Sonny’s completed a triple play to end the game and advance Sonny’s with a 30-26 final.
Sonny’s catcher Greinert led all hitters in the game with 12 RBI going 4-for-4.
2012 ASA Men’s Class FIRST Team All- American Team
Infield: Jonathan Lenz- Sonny’s
Infield: Brad Reckhart - Annihilation
Infield: Kyle Moyer – Desert Falls
Infield: Larry Wert – 3rd Street Financial
Infield: Lexi Ramirez – Sonny’s
Outfield: Brian Zirkle - Nordkap
Outfield: Mike Rogers – 3rd Street Financial
Outfield: Nick Santana – Desert Falls
Outfield: West Guill – Sonny’s
Utility: Reggie Schulte - Annihilation
Utility: Jeremy Yates - Annihilation
Utility: Chris Greinert – Sonny’s
Utility: Jayson Scott – 3rs Street Financial
Utility: Manny Liriano – Sonny’s
Pitcher: Roger Drake – 3rd Street Financial
Batting Champion: Brian Zirkle- Nordkap – hitting .875
HR Champion: Chris Greinert – Sonny’s – 14 home runs
Most Valuable Player: Jonathan Lenz – Sonny’s
2012 ASA Men’s Class SECOND Team All- American Team
Infield: Adam Peterson – BBS/Miken
Infield: Brett McCollum - Nordkap
Infield: Kyle Decker – BBS/Miken
Infield: Kevin Bazat - Annihilation
Infield: Bryson Baker - Annihilation
Outfield: Jeremy Isenhower – BBS/Miken
Outfield: Brian Wegman - Annihilation
Outfield: Scott Zacienski – Nordkap
Outfield: Brandon Dillion - Nordkap
Utility: Chris Larsen – Desert Falls
Utility: Geno Buck – Annihilation
Utility: Brett Helmer - Annihilation
Utility: JD Genter – Desert Falls
Utility: Kevin Filby - Nordkap
Pitcher: Tyson Steel – Desert Falls