Elkvillle's Nationals Finish its Best Ever

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the first time since the Murphysboro-based Southern Illinois Masters won

the 50-plus national title, a Soutehrn Illinois men's fastpitch team has

placed among the top three in Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National

Championship competition.

Elkville Fastpitch won three of five games this past weekend, earning the

third place trophy at the 2009 ASA Class C Nationals. The event was held at

Rotary Sports COmplex in Decatur and marked Elkville's first trip into

national ASA tournament play since 2005.

After winning its first three games in the 29-team affair- which featured

entries from a dozen different states- Elkville fell 12-0 against eventual

champion Adamstown, Pa. (Blue Lake Builders) late Saturday night.

A 10-0 loss to Montgomery, Al. (Travelers) followed Sunday afternoon in the

finals of the elimination round.

Blue Lake blitzed Montgomery in the finals, 7-0, notching its fifth

consecutive run-rule decision.

"Everyone's a little disappointed with how the final two games went,"

Elkville player-manager Aaron Hunter said. "But that won't last long. We had

a great tournament and finishing third in the entire country is something to

be very proud of."

Against Blue Lake, Elkville managed just one hit as Nathan Hunter reached on

a first inning bunt single.

The Pennsylvania squad held a 2-0 lead in the third inning before touching

reliever Bryant Hale for 10 tallies over the final two frames. Elkville

pitching ace Les Wood, who tossed every inning of the first three games,

left after the first two innings.

Sunday, doubles from Shawn Hunter and Drew Porter were the lone Elkville

hits versus Montgomery, which led 4-0 by the third inning. Wood and Hale

again handled the pitching chores.

Elkville's run to the final three began early Friday morning with a

thrilling 2-1 win over Reading, Pa. (Hoffman Elite Garage/Coaches). Wood was

dominant, scattering six hits and striking out 12 batters.

Home runs by A. Hunter and Justin Jackson accounted for the Elkville runs.

Friday night, in one of the tournament's best- and longest games- Elkville

needed Tim Herring's sacrifice fly to ensure a

6-5 victory over Pepsi SLAM of Jefferson City, Mo. Wood tossed the entire

game, giving eight hits but whiffing a tournament-high 16 batters.

Lance Bedar had four hits to lead the offense.

In the first game of Saturday's rainy afternoon session, Elkville scored

four times in the first inning and never looked bac en route to an 8-2 win

over Teutopolis, Il. (Wessels Coors Light). Key hits included home runs by

Jackson and Chad Reams.

S. Hunter added a two-run triple. Wood won his third game, giving six hits

with seven more strikeouts.

Following the tournament, Wood was one of three pitchers named first team

ASA All-American. Herring was selected second team shortstop and Bedar was

honorable mention as a utility player.

Elkville finished its season with a 32-16 record. They won the Terry Deering

Memorial Tournament and were second in the ASA State Tournament. The squad

also made the top six at the prestigious Kelso, Mo. Klassic while winning

the Southern Illinois Fastpitch League (SIFL) post season tourney.

The entire ASA Nationals roster included: Aaron Hunter, Barry Maynor, Tim

Herring, Justin Jackson, Chad Reams, Drew Porter, Nathan Hunter, Les Wood,

Bryar Funk, Lance Bedar, Don Malawy, Bryant Hale, Zach McClanahan, Chris

Bauza, Ryan Ruggles and Shawn Hunter.