SOFTBALL: Falcons wrap up successful season at NAFA World Series
The Falcons scored a pair of big wins in the first two rounds of the 2015 North American Fastpitch Association "A-Major" World Series last week, but fell on hard times in back-to-back losses - including one to the eventual champions - to eliminate Pinckneyville from the tournament with a ninth place tie among the 30 teams in Moline, Ill.
"This was the first time we had won our first two games at NAFA and also our highest finish," said Falcons player-coach Eric Saunders. "It's a very well run tournament with some outstanding teams."
The Falcons got started with a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Astros - who later won the consolation "Gold" Bracket - on Thursday afternoon, taking advantage of nine walks issued and seven wild pitches by the opposition. Troy Downen got the win for Pinckneyville, scattering nine hits in the circle.
John Schweighart (1-3), Daniel Eisenhauer (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), John Kiselewski (1-2), Steve Linton (1-4) and Adam Barczewski (3-3, RBI) had hits for the Falcons in their opening round victory.
On Friday morning, Pinckneyville slipped past the Wizards of Oz (Silver Lake, KS) 7-6 in eight innings, escaping with a tie in the bottom of the seventh when Downen was able to strand a lead-off triple and two intentional walks by getting a line drive double play and a ground-out. The Falcons picked up two runs in the top of the eighth, and the Wizards stranded the tying run at third in the bottom half.
Downen went all eight innings and gave up ten hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Schweighart (2-5, RBI), Eisenhauer (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Kiselewski (1-3), Linton (2-4), Barczewski (1-4), Bryant Shute (3-4, RBI), Hayden Hicks (3-5, 2 RBI) and Garrick Hale (1-3) hit safely for Pinckneyville.
Things got ugly later Friday evening for the Falcons, as the Calahoo Chiefs (Calahoo, Alberta, Canada) dominated both Pinckneyville pitchers Downen and Kiselewski in a 14-1, four-inning thrashing. The Chiefs would later be crowned NAFA World Series Champions. Shute (2-2, HR, RBI), G. Hale (1-1), Kiselewski (1-2), Linton (1-1) and Saunders (1-2) had the Falcons' hits.
Saturday's loser's bracket game with Sawdust City Fastpitch (Eau Claire, WI) didn't go much better, as Pinckneyville fell 8-1 in five frames with Bryant Hale taking the loss. Shute (1-3, HR, RBI) and Linton (1-1) had the only hits for the Falcons.
"We got off to a good start but then ran into a couple hot hitting teams and our bats cooled off," said Saunders. "Calahoo was probably the best team we played all year and the first team we played ended up winning the consolation bracket, so we played some very solid competition."
Pinckneyville later defeated the Élanco Blackhawks (Lancaster, PA) 5-2 in a non-tournament game after being eliminated. Downen gave up three hits and struck out six for the win. Barczewski (1-4), Eisenhauer (2-4, 2 RBI), Saunders (1-2, RBI), Taylor Beninati (2-4, RBI), C.J. Opp (1-3) and Alan Engelhardt (1-3) had the Falcons' hits.
Pinckneyville finishes off the 2015 mens fastpitch season with a record of 25-15.
"We had another solid year," Saunders said. "We played very well the last month or so winning two tournaments with a second place and tied for 9th up here. I think almost everyone is coming back for next year and hopefully we can keep up what we've done the past few years."