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Champions - Hill United Chiefs
Summary by Fastpitchwest.com:
A pair of Ontario Canada teams, competing in the Las Vegas Tournament for the first time, squared off in the championship game in the Nevada desert, with Hill United coming away with the title win, 9-4.
Hill United and Bear Creek are well known elite team in the world, ranked among the top handful of teams each year at the ISC World Tournament. In Vegas, it was their AA squads, but showing that they are among the best, whichever roster they may field.
Both teams were unbeaten headed into Sunday’s finale. Hill United won their first game Friday by a 9-0 score, followed by a 6-0 win onj Saturday afternoon over eventual third place finisher, Team 45 Athletics, from California. In their third game, on Sunday morning, Hill United beat Bear Creek in the Winner’s Bracket final, 2-0, setting up the rematch in the final.
Bear Creek won their first game on Friday by an 8-1 score over Morongo Men’s Club from California.
Finalist
Runner-up Bear Creek Express (pictured above) opened the tournament on Friday with an 8-1 win over Morongo Men’s Club in the battle of Casino sponsors, followed on Saturday afternoon with a squeaker 1-0 win over the Kansas City Bravos. On Sunday morning, the Express suffered their first loss, a close 2-0 contest against Hill United. Bear Creek’s offense broke out in the final, scoring 4 runs against eventual champion Hill United, but could not over come the 9 runs posted by Hill.
Third place Team 45 Athletics of California posted a 5-2 win in their opener Friday night against a strong Loyalty Team. Team 45 dropped their second game to tournament champion Hill United, 6-0. In their third game, late Saturday night, Team 45 topped Morongo Men’s Club CA, 4-0, followed by a 6-1 win in the rematch with Loyalty early Sunday morning. Team 45 finished up their tournament with a solid performance, falling to eventual runner up, Bear Creek from Ontario Canada, finishing with a 3-2 record, losing only to two of the world’s best.
Summary by GameChanger:
Bear Creek Express Lose to HILL UNITED CHIEFS
Bear Creek Express could not keep pace with HILL UNITED CHIEFS 9-4 on Sunday. HILL UNITED CHIEFS got on the board in the second inning after PIPILO (EDGAR) LOPEZ doubled, scoring three runs. Bear Creek Express tied the game up in the top of the third thanks to two singles. Bear Creek Express tied the game at three on a single by Jeff Lyons. A passed ball gave Bear Creek Express the lead, 4-3, in the top of the fourth. SHANE BOLAND singled, which helped HILL UNITED CHIEFS tie the game at four in the bottom of the fourth.
HILL UNITED CHIEFS captured the lead, 8-4, in the bottom of the fifth when LENNY VILLALVAZO tripled, scoring two runs, VILLALVAZO scored after tagging up, and LOPEZ lined out, scoring one run. BRADLEY EZEKIEL hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth for the HILL UNITED CHIEFS. MARCO DIAZ earned the win for HILL UNITED CHIEFS. The reliever gave up one hit and zero runs over three and one-third innings, striking out seven and walking two. Justin Schofield took the loss for Bear Creek Express. The starting pitcher went four innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking four. MICHAL HOLOBRADEK opened the game for HILL UNITED CHIEFS. They allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) over three and two-thirds innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Mathieu Roy and Mason McKay were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Bear Creek Express while hitting back-to-back. Lyons went 1-for-4 at the plate as the infielder led the team with two runs batted in. Eric Ochoa led Bear Creek Express with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying four walks for the game. BRUNO MOTRONI and QUINTEN BRUCE were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for HILL UNITED CHIEFS while hitting back-to-back. LOPEZ led HILL UNITED CHIEFS with four runs batted in from the number nine spot in the lineup. They went 1-for-3 on the day. DIAZ threw an immaculate inning in the seventh, striking out the side on nine pitches. HILL UNITED CHIEFS worked the count all day, amassing four walks. HILL UNITED CHIEFS ran wild on the base paths, accumulating three stolen bases for the game. HILL UNITED CHIEFS were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. HOLOBRADEK made the most plays with one.