1988 held in Fargo, North Dakota.
Champion – Stewart-Taylor Printing, Duluth, Minnesota (65-25)
Runner Up – Metros, Columbus, Ohio
With the horror of the 1985 nationals facing them the Stewart-Taylor Printing team of Duluth, MN stood facing the Metros of Columbus, Ohio in the championship game at the 1988 nationals in Fargo, ND. This time they were coming from the loser’s bracket and each game was do or die.
In the first of the championship games each team started with a run in the first inning. Then in the top of the third, Metros batters, Tony Hamp and Mike Wood each hit a a home run, putting the Metros ahead 3-1. In the sixth Clayton Kerr hit a two run home run to tie the game for Stewart-Taylor Printing. The game went into extra innings and in the bottom of the 11th, Clayton Kerr hit his second home run of the game to win it 4-3 for Stewart-Taylor Printing. Brian Langeland took the win and Ed Cable the loss. This put them into the “if” game.
They were again facing the Columbus Metros and Ed Cable, the iron man, who pitch 57 innings, all but three innings of their seven games. But coming off the 11 inning loss, the Metros pitcher was tired.
In the top of the first inning Metros batters came out after pitcher Brian Langeland who had pitched the Championship game and beat them. Tony Hamp walked, Jerry Bucilla sacrificed him to second and Bill Chaffin singled Hamp home. Then Mike Wood singled Chaffin home for the second run. Those two runs were all Metro could score until a couple of errors brought home another in the fifth.
Stewart Taylor jumped on Cable for 3 runs on 5 hits in the first inning and then came up with 6 more runs on 5 hits to chase him with two out in the 4th. Mike Thomas relieved Cable and gave up
another 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 errors and Stewart Taylor became the National Class Champions by a score of 13-3.
The Duluth team started their run for the gold by Yakima. WA, 12-5. with Paul Friessen taking the win and Dean Crow the loss.
They had a harder time with Ithaса, NY. but came up with 3 runs on 8 hits to win 3-1. Brian Langeland took the win and Bill Morse the loss.
In their third game they beat Jolly Moily of Lebanon. PA. Jolly Molly was the defending champion from the 87 tourney in Redding, CA. Langeland shutdown Jolly Molly’s bats and pitched a 2-0 shut-out, allowing just 3 hits. Bob Rhoades took the loss that sent Jolly Molly reeling into the loser’s bracket.
Their next game pitted them against Marshal, MO. This time it took 10 innings to put the scrappy Outlaws away and it was an error that brought in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Langeland gave up 2 hits and claimed the 1-0 victory. Kyle Wardlow took the loss.
In their fifth game they met Grand Junction. CO. and won 4-1. Langeland again was the winner while the loser was Discher.
In the winner’s bracket final they met the Columbus Metros for the first of what turned out to be 3 games. Paul Freissen went to te rubber for Stewart Taylor and Ed Cable for the Metros.
Stewart Taylor went out in front by 2 in the top of the first. They added a run in the third but Metro came back with a run in the ist and 2 in the third to go ahead. Greg Lanning’s homer chased
starter Paul Friessen in the 4th. He took the 4-3 l0ss and Ed Cable recorded his sixth win.
In the loser’s bracket final Stewart Taylor met Lynden. WA and Langeland pitched another strong game, taking the 6-3 win. Neil Kamphouse took the loss. This put Duluth in the championship
game.
Columbus came into the tournament with only 10 players. Twice they brought in their back-up pitcher. the 3rd baseman. Greg Lanning, who pitched 6 innings. Ed Cable pitched 60 2/3 innings in their 8 games in Fargo.
They began with a 7-0 win over Minot, ND. Cable was the winner and Pete Rice was the loser. Against Boulder, CO Cable was removed in the fourth with a 4-0 lead and Lanning allowed one run in
the save for a 4-1 victory. Les Archuleta was the loser.
The Lansing. MI Raiders proved somewhat of a problem as Cable went head to head with Al Hector. Metros jumped out ahead with 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings. The Raiders came back with one in the 5th and one in the bottom of the 7th to tie. In the top of the 12th Columbus came up with the game winner to win 3-2.
Next they met CSE Insurance of Sacramento. CA. This time it took 9 innings before Mike Woods won the game for Metro with a 2 run homer. Ed Cable scattered 6 hits to take the win while Randy Roeder took the loss.
This put Columbus in the winner’s bracket final against Duluth-Stewart Taylor.
With 54 teams in this tournament this reporter could not even begin to see them ail. A few kept the crowd interested. however, here are a few of them.
Rustic Bar from Duluth. MN — Here is a scrappy team with a great catcher. Scott Lord. Their second baseman. Denny Davis made 2nd team All-American.
The Minutemen Brewers of Lakewood. CA. This was their first time in National play. Their coach. Rich Apadoca. was a great player with the Long Beach Nitehawks. He hasn’t played in 5 years but when 2 of the players didn’t show on the first night he came in and played first base. In the bottom of the seventh. with 2 outs. he brought in the winning run with a single. Their young pitcher. Kevin Tantlinger. won 3 and lost 1 with an ERA of 0.95. He pitched a gem against the Jolly Molly team of Lebanon, PA. allowing just 4 hits and striking out 11 in 9 innings. Both Tantlinger and his teammate Charlie Munoz made 3rd Team All-American. (Wisconsin fast ballers will remember another player on the Lakewood Brewers. Rich Thompson. who at one time pitched for Bill Brandt’s teams out of La Crosse. WI).
Snitko Hearing of Flint, MI had 54 year-old Jim Doyle Jr. pitching and Jim Doyle III playing centerfield. They have a good hitting club and ended up with a 3-2 record.
The Knights of Columbus of Fargo, ND continues to get better every year. Led by outfielder, Scott Radloff and Kent Karlstrom. Their hitting brought them back time and time again to finish with a 5-2 record. Karlstrom and Radloff both made first team All-American.
The Lynden Herchants of Lynden. WA is another scrappy team whose bats and great plays gave them third place. Outfielder Dave Johnson and catcher Monte Mayberry made first team All-American. Third baseman, Greg DeBaan made 2nd team while pitcher. Rod Bierlink made 3rd team.
O’ Donnel’s Fastpitch of Hannibal, MO another homegrown team, had 2 pitchers who ended up with the same 1-1 record. Outfielder. Carlos Buckner made 2nd team All-American and third baseman Jim Haskins made the third team.
The Modesto Oilers of Modesto, CA has a famous name on it. Ray VanHiewhieyzen is a pitcher and so was his father when he helped Joaquin Construction win the ASA A title in Stockton. CA in 1979.
Wilber Lime of Galesville. WI is a team that sports a famous name as well. Jeff Hoore is the son of Bob Hoore who pitches for Stroh s/Gatsby’s out of St. Paul in the major division. Jeff is on his vay to making a name for himself in fastpitch circles on his own.
As for pitchers. Brian Langeland deserves a lot of the mention. Everyone was awestruck by the performance of Ed Cable, as they should have been. but they overlooked the young man who pitched Stewart Taylor to the Mational Championship. This young man reached back and gave it his all as he pitched and won 3 games on the final day of the tourney.
Fargo is a great place for a tournament, the fans and the tournament committee are great.
Just a final note in closing-there were 23 extra inning games and 46 one-run games. The fans loved the short fences as there were 108 homers in 107 games.
- MVP – Brian Langeland, Stewart-Taylor Printing
- Batting Champion – Tim McCamey, Houston, TX (.588)
- Pitching Leader – N/A
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Brian Langeland, Stewart-Taylor Printing
P – Tony Rice, Rustic Bar
P – Ed Cable, Metros
C – Kasey Frank, Stewart-Taylor Printing
C – Monte Mayberry, Lynden Merchants
1B – Mike Woods, Metros
2B – Dave Duckworth, Metros
3B – Jim Olson, Stewart-Taylor Printing
SS – Bill Chaffin, Metros
OF – Tom Olson, Stewart-Taylor Printing
OF – Mark Gonce, Metros
OF – Scott Radloff, Knights of Columbus
DP – Kent Karlstrom, Knights of Columbus
UT – Carmen Rivas, Louisville
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Mike Discher, Grand Junction
P – Terry Luster, Marshall
P – Steve McFadden, Louisville
C – Darren Starr, Grand Junction
C – Ben Guana, Louisville
1B – Ken Anderson, CSE Insurance
2B – Denny Davis, Rustic Bar
3B – Greg DeHaan, Lynden Merchants
SS – Mike Morrissey, Rustic Bar
OF – Mike Jackson, Petaluma, CA
OF – Steve Skolnicki, Lorraine
OF – Kevin Henderson, Rustic Bar
OF – Carlos Buckner, O’Donnel’s
DP – Clayton Kerr, Stewart-Taylor Printing
OF – Ed Mort, Grand Junction
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Stewart-Taylor, Duluth, MN
2. Metros, Columbus, OH
3. Lynden Merchants, Lynden, WA
4.
5t.
5t.
7t. Rustic Bar, Duluth, MN (5-2)
7t.
54 teams participated.
