Category: USSSA Major Slow Pitch

2004 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

2004 held at Champion Stadium, Osceola, Florida.


Champion – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton, San Jose, California
Runner Up – US Vinyl/Meridan/Subway, Lafayette, Louisiana


  • MVP – Don Dedonatis III, Dan Smith (14-20, .700, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • HR Leader – Brett Helmer, Dan Smith (16-24, .667, 25 RBI, 14 Runs) – 12
  • Batting Leader – Travis Matthews, Benfield (18-20, 10 RBI, 13 Runs) – .900
  • Defensive MVP – Scott Striebel, Resmondo/Taylor Bros. (16-21, .762, 6 HR, 9 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Offensive MVP – Hank Garris, Dan Smith (17-25, .740, 6 HR, 8 RBI, 13 Runs)

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

Pitcher – Andy Purcell – Resmondo/Taylor Brothers (12-18, .667, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 11 Runs)
Pitcher – Johnny Dykes – Team Synergy by Easton (9-12, .750, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 7 Runs)
Catcher – Hank Garris – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (17-23, .739, 6 HR, 8 RBI, 11 Runs)
Catcher – R.J. Howerton – US Vinyl Softball (22-30, .767, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 14 Runs)
Infield – Jeff Hall – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (19-24, .792, 8 HR, 16 RBI, 18 Runs)
Infield – Brett Helmer – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (16-24, .667, 12 HR, 25 RBI, 14 Runs)
Infield – John Glidewell – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (15-20, .750, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 13 Runs)
Infield – Bob Woldyk – US Vinyl Softball (21-30, .700, 7 HR, 15 RBI, 19 Runs)
Infield – Jeff Wallace – Resmondo/Taylor Brothers (18-23, .783, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 14 Runs)
Infield – Shane Hatfield – Alpine/Diamond/AH/Easton (10-16, .625, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 10 Runs)
Infield – Alex Lavorico – Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton (16-21, .762, 9 HR, 24 RBI, 13 Runs)
Outfield – Jason Kendrick – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (12-19, .632, 7 HR, 14 RBI, 14 Runs)
Outfield – Rick Baker – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (13-20, .650, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 13 Runs)
Outfield – Andre Newhouse – US Vinyl Softball (21-30, .700, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 21 Runs)
Outfield – John McCraw – US Vinyl Softball (24-30, .800, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 18 Runs)
Outfield – Bryson Baker – Resmondo/Taylor Brothers (16-22, .727, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 Runs)
Outfield – Chad Durick – Team Synergy by Easton (8-11, .727, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 6 Runs)
Outfield – Travis Matthews – Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton (18-20, .900, 10 RBI, 13 Runs)
Utility – Randall Boone – Resmondo/Taylor Brothers (15-21, .714, 8 HR, 16 RBI, 13 Runs)
Utility – Kevin Birkofer – Alpine/Diamond/AH/Easton (12-16, 750, 8 RBI, 10 Runs)
Manager – Gary Jost – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton


OTHERS

Tim Cocco, Bell Corp/Docs/Easton (12-15, .800, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 8 Runs)
JC Phelps, B&J Logging/Snap-on/Mizuno (13-19, .684, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 11 Runs)
BJ Fulk, Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton (14-21, .667, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 13 Runs)
Scott Kirby, Uniflora/Higgs/Worth (9-14, .643, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 9 Runs)
JD Genter, US Vinyl Softball (20-31, .645, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 18 Runs)
Todd Joerling, Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (13-21, .619, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 13 Runs)
Brian Wegman, Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton (12-20, .600, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 11 Runs)
Scott Brown, Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton (13-22, .591, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 11 Runs)
Wendall Rickard, B&J Logging/Snap-on/Mizuno (11-20, .550, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 10 Runs)
Rusty Bumgardner, Resmondo/Taylor Brothers (12-22, .545, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 Runs)


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse, San Jose, CA (5-0)
2. US Vinyl Softball, Houston, TX (4-2)
3. Resmondo/Taylor Bros, Winter Haven, FL (3-2)
4. Benfield/Alesium/Reece/Easton, Fairfax, VA (4-2)
5t. Team Synergy By Easton, Orlando, FL (1-2)
5t. Bell Corp./Doc’s/Easton, Tampa, FL (2-2)
7t. Sunnyvale/New Freedom, Grants Pass, CA (2-2)
7t. Alpine/Diamond/AH/Easton, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
9t. Kluever Snap-On, Metamora, IL (2-2)
9t. Mountain Top/Worth, Brighton, MI (2-2)
9t. Uniflora/Higgsproperties/Worth, Jacksonville, FL (1-2)
9t. Chappel & Son’s/Worth, Clinton, MI (1-2)
13t. Pace/TPS Softball Club, Rochester, NY (0-2)
13t. Tacoma Dodge/Easton, Puyallup, WA (0-2)
13t. Gulf Coast/Easton, Sarasota, FL (0-2)
13t. Aubrey’s/TPS, Savannah, GA (0-2)
17t. Gatorline/Dobbs & Fox/NW Climate Co, Kent, WA (0-2)
17t. O&S Cattle/Matheson/Mizuno, Savage, MN (0-2)

2003 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

2003 held at Champion Stadium, in Osceola, Florida.


Champion – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt, Columbus, Ohio
Runner Up – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton, San Jose, California


  • Co-MVP -Jeff Wallace, Resmondo/Hague (14 HR)
  • Co-MVP -Andy Purcell, Resmondo/Hague
  • HR Leader – Jeff Wallace, Resmondo/Hague – 14
  • Batting Leader – Not identified
  • Defensive MVP – Rick Baker, Dan Smith/Backman/Mennose/Easton
  • Offensive MVP – Rusty Bumgardner, Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

Pitcher – Andy Purcell – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
Catcher – Tim Cocco – Sunnyvale/Fairweather/Worth
Infield – Todd Martin – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
Infield – Rusty Bumgardner – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
Infield – Jeff Wallace – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt (14 HRs)
Infield – Todd Joerling – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton
Infield – Brett Helmer – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton
Infield – Jeff Hall – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton
Infield – David Hood – Alesium/Reece/Hinsons/Easton
Infield – John Glidewell – Alesium/Reece/Hinsons/Easton
Infield – Todd Volkers – Alesium/Reece/Hinsons/Easton
Infield – Dwayne Nevitt – Sunnyvale/Fairweather/Worth
Infield – John Adams – Benfield Electric/Worth
Outfield – Bryson Baker – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
Outfield – Brian Rainwater – Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
Outfield – Rick Baker – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton
Outfield – Bob Hughes – Alesium/Reece/Hinsons/Easton
Outfield – Shane McCullough – Sunnyvale/Fairweather/Worth
Outfield – Ronnie James – US Vinyl/Community Acess/Miken
Utility – Scott Brown – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton


FINAL STANDINGS

1. Resmondo/Hague/Taylor, Columbus, OH (8-1)
2. Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton, Spokane, CA (4-2)
3. Alesium/Reece/Hinsons/Easton, Las Vegas, NV (3-2)
4. Sunnyvale/Fairweather/Worth, Kent, WA (4-2)
5t. US Vinyl/Community Acess/Miken, Chattanooga, TN (4-2)
5t. Benfield Electric/Worth, Fairfax, VA (2-2)
7t. Northwest Pipe/Bud Light/3N2/Easton, Westland, MI (2-2)
7t. Doc’s/Easton, Sioux City, NE (2-2)
9t. Pov’s/O&S Cattle/Easton, Savage, MN (2-2)
9t. Black Dog Softball/Easton, New Castle, WA (2-2)
9t. Mountain Top/USA Cash/Tps, Brighton, MI (1-2)
9t. MLR Stucco/Easton, Polk, FL (1-2)
13t. Aftershock/TPS, Concord, CA (0-2)
13t. Perkins Roofing, Cincinnati OH (0-2)
13t. J&D Contractors/Mizuno, Melvindale, MI (0-2)
13t. TPS NW/WA/TX, Marysville, WA (0-2)
17t. KVB Sidewinders/Mizuno, Eudora, KS (0-2)
17t. Bay’s/Creative Stucco/TPS, Grove City, OH (0-2)

2002 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

2002 held at Champion Stadium, in Osceola, Florida on September 18-22.


Champion – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton, Wilmington, North Carolina
Runner Up – Backman/Dan Smith/Menosse/Easton, San Jose, California


  • MVP -Tim Cocco, Chase/Reece (16-25, .640, 10 HR)
  • HR Leader – Tim Cocco, Chase/Reece – 10
  • Batting Leader – Jason Kendrick, Backman (15-19, 6 HR, 15 RBI) – .789
  • Defensive MVP– Dennis Rulli, Chase/Reece’s/Roosters/Easton
  • Offensive MVP – Jason Kendrick, Backman/Dan Smith/Menosse/Easton (15-19, .789, 6 HR, 15 RBI)

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Jim Burbrink – Hague/Resmondo/Walser/Worth (3-12, .250)
  • Pitcher – Billy Messina – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton (14-23, .609)
  • Catcher – Scott Alley – Team Mizuno
  • Catcher – Hank Garris – Long Haul/Taylor Brothers/Shen Corp/TPS (19-26, .731, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • Catcher – Randy Kortokrax – Hague/Resmondo/Walser/Worth (17-25, .680, 8 HR)
  • Extra Hitter – Derek Oliver – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton (18-26, .692, 2 HR)
  • Infield – Dal Beggs – Hague/Resmondo/Walser/Worth (17-27, .630, 2 HR)
  • Infield – Tim Cocco – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton (16-25, .640, 10 HR)
  • Infield – Don DeDonatis – Mountain Top/Advanced/TPS (11-21, .524)
  • Infield – John Glidewell – Mountain Top/Advanced/TPS (12-19, .632)
  • Infield – Jeff Hall – Backman/Smith/Menosse/Easton
  • Infield – Brett Helmer – Backman/Smith/Menosse/Easton
  • Infield – Todd Joerling – Backman/Smith/Menosse/Easton
  • Infield – Dennis Rulli – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Walser/Worth (20-27, .741, 1 HR)
  • Outfield – Dewayne Frizzell – Hague/Resmondo/Walser/Worth (13-23, .565, 2 HR)
  • Outfield – Bobby Hughes – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton
  • Outfield – Brian Justice – Chase/Reece/Roosters/Easton (14-24, .583, 4 HR)
  • Outfield – Jason Kendrick – Backman/Smith/Menosse/Easton
  • Outfield – Johnny McCraw – Backman/Smith/Menosse/Easton
  • Outfield – Don Sikora – Mountain Top/Advanced/TPS (9-15, .600)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Chase/Reece/Roosters, Wilmington, NC (6-0)
2. Backman/Smith/Menosse, San Jose, CA (5-2)
3. Hague/Resmondo, Columbus, OH (4-2)
4. Mountain Top/Advanced/TPS, Brighton, MI (3-2)
5t. Team Mizuno FL (4-2)
5t. Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/TPS Albertville, MN (4-2)
7t. Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton, San Jose, CA (2-2)
7t. Hooters/B&B/REW/Golds/Mizuno Kansas City, KS (2-2)
9t. Creative Stucco/Easton, Columbus, OH (1-2)
9t. Budweiser/Worth, College Station, TX (1-2)
9t. Fl Heat/Nave Plumbing/Joe Black/Worth, Fort Myers, FL (1-2)
9t. Doc’s/Mizuno, Dallas, TX (1-2)
13t. NW Pipe/LDJ/Varsity/Bud/Easton, Canton, MI (0-2)
13t. Metro Glass/Wartrom, Melvindale, MI (0-2)
13t. Team AH, OH (0-2)
13t. Twin States/Worth, Jackson, MS (0-2)
17t. RPS/DTS/TPS, CA (0-2)
17t. Pov’s/TPS/Reebok, Andover, MN (0-2)


SCORES

Hague/Resmondo 21 Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/TPS 7
Chase/Reece/Roosters 16 Team Mizuno 9
Mountain Top/Advanced/Tps 13 Povs/Tps/Reebok 12
Fl Heat/Nave Plbg/Joe Blach/Worth 12 Metro Glass/Wartrom 2
Hooters/B&B;/Rew/Golds/Mizuno 17 Team Ah 11
Creative Stucco/Easton 19 Budweiser / Worth 18
Doc’S Mizuno 7 Rpm/Dts/Tps 4
Backman/Smith/Menosse 31 Nw Pipe/Ldj/Varsity/Bud/Easton 2
Hague/Resmondo 29 Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton 13
Chase/Reece/Roosters 29 Twin States/Worth 14
Team Mizuno 47 Povs/Tps/Reebok 15
Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/Tps 29 Rpm/Dts/Tps 3
Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton 9 Team Ah 6
Budweiser / Worth 17 Twin States/Worth 4
Team Mizuno 13 Metro Glass/Wartrom 8
Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/Tps 23 Nw Pipe/Ldj/Varsity/Bud/Easton 6
Mountain Top/Advanced/Tps 13 Fl Heat/Nave Plbg/Joe Blach/Worth 9
Hague/Resmondo 8 Hooters/B&B;/Rew/Golds/Mizuno 4
Chase/Reece/Roosters 23 Creative Stucco/Easton 4
Backman/Smith/Menosse 26 Doc’S Mizuno 8
Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/Tps 20 Fl Heat/Nave Plbg/Joe Blach/Worth 4
Hooters/B&B;/Rew/Golds/Mizuno 19 Budweiser / Worth 7
Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton 26 Creative Stucco/Easton 19
Team Mizuno 9 Doc’S Mizuno 8
Hague/Resmondo 27 Mountain Top/Advanced/Tps 7
Chase/Reece/Roosters 26 Backman/Smith/Menosse 6
Team Mizuno 22 Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton 7
Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/Tps 17 Hooters/B&B;/Rew/Golds/Mizuno 16
Mountain Top/Advanced/Tps 15 Team Mizuno 14
Backman/Smith/Menosse 27 Longhaul/Taylorbros/Shencorp/Tps 25
Chase/Reece/Roosters 13 Hague/Resmondo 12
Backman/Smith/Menosse 28 Mountain Top/Advanced/Tps 10
Backman/Smith/Menosse 17 Hague/Resmondo 16
Chase/Reece/Roosters 24 Backman/Smith/Menosse 4

2001 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

2001 held at Kissimmee, Florida.


Champion – Long Haul/Taylor Brothers/Shen Corp/TPS, Albertville, Minnesota
Runner Up – Hague/Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS, Columbus, Ohio


  • MVP -Jason Kendrick, Long Haul/TPS (16-19, .842, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 Runs)
  • HR Leader – Larry Carter, Hague/Resmondo – 11
  • Batting Leader – Jason Kendrick, Long Haul/TPS (16-19, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 Runs) – .842
  • Defensive MVP – Demond Thomas, Hague/Resmodo
  • Offensive MVP – Steve Dickinson, Maroadi/Frank-n-Stein

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Scott Nastally – Maroadi Transfer/Frank n Stein/TPS
  • Pitcher – Paul Sheppard – Quick Roofing/Advanced/Nike
  • Pitcher – Andy Purcell – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (6-15, .400, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Catcher – Hank Garris – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (13-22, .591, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Infield – Jeff Wallace – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (13-20, .650, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 12 Runs)
  • Infield – Alex Lavorico – POV’s/Walser/Reebok/TPS
  • Infield – Brett Helmer – Dan Smith/Menosse/Backman/Easton
  • Infield – Todd Martin – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (11-21, .524, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Infield – Jeff Hall – Dan Smith/Menosse/Backman/Easton
  • Infield – Robbie Ergle – Hague Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS
  • Infield – Steve Dickinson – Maroadi Transfer/Frank n Stein/TPS
  • Infield – Todd Joerling – Dan Smith/Menosse/Backman/Easton
  • Infield – Demond Thomas – Hague Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS
  • Outfield – Jason Kendrick – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (16-19, .842, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 13 Runs)
  • Outfield – Larry Carter – Hague Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS
  • Outfield – Scott Janack – Maroadi Transfer/Frank n Stein/TPS
  • Outfield – Scott Striebel – Hague Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS
  • Outfield – John Simpson – Maroadi Transfer/Frank n Stein/TPS
  • Utility – Randy Kortokrax – Hague Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS
  • Utility – Jimmy Powers – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS (11-17, .647, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Manager – Gary Jost – Long Haul/Taylor Bros./Shen Corp./TPS

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Long Haul/Taylor Bros/Shen Corp/TPS, Albertville, MN (5-0)
2. Hague/Resmondo/Specialty Tank/TPS, Columbus, OH (5-2)
3. Maroadi Transfer/Frank n Stein, Jeannete, PA (3-2)
4. Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Easton, San Jose, CA (3-2)
5t. Pov’s/Walser Chevy/Reebock/TPS, St. Paul, MN (3-2)
5t. Quick Roofing/Advanced Softball/Nike, Texarkana, TX (3-2)
7t. Doc’s/Easton, Sioux City, IA (2-2)
7t. Mountain Top/TPS, Northville, MI (2-2)
9t. LDJ/Varsity/Easton, Detroit, MI (1-2)
9t. Hooters/B&B/Easton, Overland Park, KS (1-2)
9t. RPM/TPS, Concord, CA (1-2)
9t. Budweiser/Summerlein/MG/Easton, College Station, TX (1-2)
13t. Creative Stucco/Easton, Columbus, OH (0-2)
13t. Mississippi/Worth, Jackson, MS (0-2)
13t. Aftershock/Easton, Alameda, CA (0-2)
13t. KCS/BEP/JDS/TPS, Pasadena, TX (0-2)

2000 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

2000 held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Osceola, Florida.


Champion – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth, San Jose, California
Runner Up – Long Haul/TPS, Albertville, Minnesota


This was the first year the Major World Series was held at Disney. Dan Smith handed Long Haul its first loss in the winner’s bracket final by a 38-12 score. Wendell Rickard hit a home run over 400 foot deep, 50 foot high scoreboard. Team TPS than took on Long Haul in the loser’s bracket game. Long Haul prevailed and got another shot at Dan Smith. Long Haul led through the first five innings before lightening struck and the game was delayed for safety reasons. The momentum of the game changed and Dan Smith pulled out the game with a 13-10 score to win the Championship. Rod Hughes hit 3 HRs and drove in 6 Runs for Long Haul. MVP Jeff Hall was 4-4 with a HR, triple and two singles, driving in 3 runs. Mark Creson accounted for three hits, one being a HR and 3 RBIs. Doug Kissane, David Hood and Albert Davis all had 2 RBIs each for Dan Smith.


  • MVP – Jeff Hall, Dan Smith/Worth (16-19, .842, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs)
  • Home Run Leader – Howie Krause, Hague (14-24, .583, 16 RBIs, 17 Runs) – 9
  • Batting Leader – Jeff Hall, Dan Smith/Worth (16-19) – .842
  • Defensive MVP – Dennis Rulli, Long Haul/TPS
  • Offensive MVP – Hank Garris, Team TPS (16-22, .727, 8 HRs, 17 RBIs, 18 Runs)

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Paul Drilling – Long Haul/TPS (13-20, .650, 9 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Catcher – Jeff Hall – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (16-19, .842, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs)
  • Catcher – Hank Garris – Team TPS (16-22, .727, 8 HRs, 17 RBIs, 18 Runs)
  • First Base – Robbie Ergle – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (13-23, .565, 3 HRs, 12 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • First Base – Randall Boone – Team TPS (16-23, .696, 6 HRs, 15 RBIs, 18 Runs)
  • Second Base – Alex Lavorico – Long Haul/TPS (10-18, .556, 4 HRs, 17 RBIs, 13 Runs)
  • Second Base – Paul Brannon – Hague Resmondo/TPS (18-28, 643, 3 HRs, 20 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Third Base – Albert Davis – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (13-17, .765, 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, 13 Runs)
  • Third Base – Mike Shenk – Team TPS (15-23, .652, 8 HRs, 19 RBIs, 15 Runs)
  • Shortstop – Dennis Rulli – Long Haul/TPS (15-25, .600, 6 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Outfield – Doug Kissane – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (8-19, .421, 3 HRs, 12 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Outfield – Todd Martin – Team TPS (16-26, .615, 5 HRs, 20 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Outfield – Mark Creson – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (10-16, .625, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 13 Runs)
  • Outfield – Dennis Turner – Hague Resmondo/TPS (18-22, .818, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 16 Runs)
  • Outfield – Larry Fredieu – Sunbelt Softball Club (8-14, .571, 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Utility – Wendell Rickard – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth (9-17, .529, 6 HRs, 10 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Utility – Todd Volkers – Long Haul/TPS (14-23, .609, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Utility – Bob Fisher – Long Haul/TPS (11-17, .647, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Utility – Howie Krause – Hague/Resmondo/TPS (14-24, .583, ( HRs, 16 RBIs, 17 Runs)
  • Utility – Larry Carter – Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton (10-16, .625, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Manager – Jim Wessel – Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth

OTHERS

  • John Heller, Sunnyvale (12-15, .800, 9 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Don Dedonatis, RPM/TPS (9-12, .750, 2 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Steve Hall, AJA/TPS (11-15, .733, 4 RBIs, 2 Runs)
  • Steve Dickinson, Maroadi (5-7, .714, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 4 Runs)
  • Brett Helmer, Bell Corp (12-17, .706, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Scott Striebel, Dan Smith (12-18, .667, 10 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Demond Thomas, TEam TPS (10-15, .667, 1 HR, 7 RBIS, 7 Runs)
  • Sterlin Ibrom, AJA/TPS (11-17, .647 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Derrick Williams, Sunnyvale (9-14, .643, 4 HRs, 9 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Todd Joerling, Bell Corp (11-18, .611, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Jacques Miller, Sunnyvale (9-15, .600, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Andy Purcell, Sunnyvale (10-17, .588, 8 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Dewayne Frizzel, Sunbelt (11-19, .579, 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Tim Linson, Hague/Resmondo (15-26, .577, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Doug Roberson, Hague/Resmondo (8-14, .571, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Jason Kendrick, Team TPS (14-25, .560, 5 HRs, 11 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Dan Schuck, Bell Corp (7-13, .538, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Bryson Baker, Long Haul (9-17, .529, 9 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • Brad Stiles, Team TPS (10-19, .526, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Ron Parnell, Hague/Resmondo (12-23, .522, 2 HRs, 17 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Britt Hightower, Sunbelt (9-18, .500, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Rusty Bumgardner, Team TPS (14-28, .500, 7 HRs, 9 RBIs, 14 Runs)
  • Robin Higginbotham, Team TPS (11-22, .500, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 12 Runs)
  • Dewayne Nevitt, Bell Corp (8-16, .500, 3 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Ronnie James, Sunnyvale (8-16, .500 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Tot Powers, Sunbelt (8-17, .471, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 3 Runs)
  • Dale Sensineg, Hague/Resmondo (9-20, .450, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • Carl Rose, Dan Smith (8-18, .444, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Steve Craven, Sunbelt (7-16, .438, 1 HR, 5 RBIS, 4 Runs)
  • Tim Cocco, Bell Corp (7-16, .438, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • John McCraw, Sunbelt (8-20, .400, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Jeff Wallace, Team TPS (4-10, .400, 1 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • John Keigley, Hague/Resmondo (4-10, .400, 1 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Jimmy Powers, Sunbelt (2-5, .400, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs)
  • Kenny Carver, Sunbelt (6-17, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
  • Dal Beggs, Dan Smith (5-15, .333, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs, 5 Runs)
  • Curtis Williams, Sunbelt (4-14, .286, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs)
  • Scott Brown, Kevitt/J&H (2-7, .286, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs)
  • Scott Virkus, Sunbelt (0-0)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Dan Smith/Backman/Menosse/Worth, San Jose, CA (5-0)
2. Long Haul/TPS, Albertville, MN (4-2)
3. Team TPS, Louisville, KY (4-2)
4. Hague/Resmondo/TPS, Columbus, OH (4-2)
5t. Sunbelt Softball Club, Centerville, GA (3-2)
5t. Sunnyvale Valve & Fitting/Easton, Sunnyvale, CA (3-2)
7t. Bell Corp./Easton, Tampa, FL (3-2)
7t. AJA/TPS, Houston, TX (3-2)
9t. RSH/Worth, Jackson, MS (1-2)
9t. RMP/TPS, Lafayette, CA (1-2)
9t. Suncoast Dudley, Sarasota, FL (1-2)
9t. POV’s/Walser/Reebok/TPS, Spring Lake Park, MN (1-2)
13t. Sea Lane Express, Wilmington, NC (0-2)
13t. Maroadi/Frank-n-Stein/Nike, Jeanette, PA (0-2)
13t. Kevitt/J&H/Easton, St. Paul, MN (0-2)
13t. Hooters/B&B/Easton, Overland, Park, KS (0-2)

1999 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1999 held at Cocoa, Florida.


Champion – R&D/Easton, Lima, Ohio
Runner Up – Dan Smith/Wessell/Backstop/Worth, San Jose, California


Dan Smith defeated R&D/Easton in the first final 13-8 to force the winner take all “if” Championship Game. R&D, led by Randy Kortokrax, who launched a pair of Home Runs, the Easton squad won 20-16. Dan Smith was led by Tournament MVP Wendell Rickard, who kept the game close for Dan Smith as he hit 3 Homers in the game. He led the tournament in HRs (9) and RBIs (25). Dan Smith lost early and made its way back to the final by defeating Team Easton 19-16, and then Hague/Resmondo 9-7 to gain the loser’s bracket finals against Hendu/Long Haul/TPS. Dan Smith’s Scott Striebel went 4-4 with 8 RBIs as they eliminated Hendu’s to earn a shot at R&D/Easton in the finals. R&D previously defeated top seeded Team TPS 19-18 to put them in the loser’s bracket. The TPS men never recovered as they were eliminated by Hendu’s 30-21. Rob Schleede of R&D was the Defensive MVP as he backed pitcher Scott Nastally in helping to hold down the big bats of the Dan Smith squad. The games were played in a steady rain.


  • MVP – Wendell Rickard, Dan Smith/Worth (21-31, .677, 9 HRs, 25 RBIs)
  • HR Leader – Wendell Rickard, Dan Smith– 9
  • Batting Leader – Shane Dubose, Hague/Resmondo – .800
  • Defensive MVP – Rob Schleede, R&D/Easton
  • Offensive MVP – Shane Dubose, Hague/Resmondo/TPS (16-20, .800, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 11 Runs)

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Scott Nastally – R&D Easton (6-13, .462, 4 RBIs, 2 Runs)
  • Pitcher – Phil Jobe – Team TPS (9-13, .692, 8 RBIs, 5 Runs)
  • Pitcher – Ted Larson – Hendu’s/Long Haul/TPS (4-8, .500, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs)
  • Catcher – Wendell Rickard – Dan Smith/Backstop/Wessel/Worth (21-31, .677, 9 HRs, 25 RBIs)
  • Catcher – Shane DuBose – Hague/Resmondo/TPS (16-20, .800, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Catcher – Jeff Hall – Team Easton (12-22, .545, 6 HRs)
  • Catcher – Keith Brockman – R&D Easton (12-16, .750, 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • First Base – Robbie Ergle – Dan Smith/Backstop/Wessel/Worth (16-29, .552, 3 HRs)
  • Second Base – Dennis Mendoza – Dan Smith/Backstop/Wessel/Worth (16-28, .571, 2 HRs)
  • Second Base – Tim Cocco – Hague/Resmondo/TPS (14-21, .667, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Second Base – Scott Brown – Hendu’s/Long Haul/TPS (12-20, .600, 1 HR, 8 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Second Base – Rod Hughes – R&D Easton (15-19, .789, 3 HRs, 3 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Third Base – Mike Shenk – Team Easton (11-16, .688, 3 HRs)
  • Third Base – Rusty Bumgardner – Team TPS (9-15, .600, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Short Stop – Dale Beggs – Dan Smith/Backstop/Wessel/Worth (13-23, .565)
  • Short Stop – Howie Krause – Hague/Resmondo/TPS (12-23, .478, 5 HRs, 11 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Outfield – Jason Kendrick – Team TPS (10-14, .714, 2 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Outfield – Kenny Briggs – Hendu’s/Long Haul/TPS (12-20, .600, 3 HRs, 9 RBIs, 4 Runs)
  • Outfield – Rob Schleede – R&D Easton (10-19, .526, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs)
  • Outfield – Lonnie Fox – R&D Easton (7-18, .389, 5 RBIs, 4 Runs)
  • Manager – Cobbie Harrison – R&D Easton

OTHERS

  • Hank Garris, Team TPS (4-5, .800, 4 RBIs, 3 Runs)
  • Todd Martin, Team TPS (10-15, .667, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Ron Parnell, Team Easton (12-19, .632)
  • Greg Cannedy, Dan Smith/Worth (14-24, .583, 1 HR)
  • Brett Helmer, Team Easton (11-19, .579, 1 HR)
  • Alex Lavorico, Long Haul/Hendu (8-14, .571, 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Todd Joerling, Team Easton (12-21, .571, 3 HRs)
  • Tim Linson, Hague/Resmondo (10-18, .556, 1 HR, 14 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Paul Drilling, Dan Smith/Worth (13-24, .542)
  • Chaun Demars, Hendu/Long Haul (10-19, .526, 4 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Jeff Arnold, Hague/Resmond (11-21, .524, 7 RBIs, 11 Runs)
  • Carl Rose, Dan Smith/Worth (16-31, .516, 1 HR)
  • Scott Striebel, Dan Smith/Worth 12-24, .500)
  • Albert Davis, Dan Smith/Worth (12-24, .500, 1 HR)
  • Randy Kortokrax, R&D/Eason (10-21, .476, 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, 10 Runs)
  • Britt Hightower, R&D/Easton (9-19, .474, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Paul Drilling, Dan Smith/Worth (9-19, .474)
  • Paul Brannon, Hague/Resmondo (9-19, .474, 3 HRs, 6 RBIs, 6 Runs
  • Dennis Turner, Hague/Resmondo (8-17, .471, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 9 Runs)
  • Carl Rose, Dan Smith/Worth (13-28, .464, 4 HRs)
  • John Mello, Team TPS (6-13, .462, 1 RBI, 5 Runs)
  • Mark Creson, Dan Smith/Worth (13-29, .448, 1 HR)
  • Jeff Wallace, Team TPS (8-18, .444, 4 HRs, 14 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Dewayne Frizzell, Dan Smith/Worth (9-21, .429, 2 HRs)
  • David Hood, R&D/Easton ((8-19, .421, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs)
  • Dewayne Nevitt, Team TPS (8-19, .421, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, 6 Runs)
  • Randall Boone, Team TPS (5-16, .313, 2 HRS, 8 RBIs, 3 Runs)
  • Doug Kissane, Team TPS (5-16, .313, 1 RBI, 2 Runs)
  • Jimmy Devine, R&D/Easton (7-24, .292, 7 HRs, 7 RBIs, 6 Runs)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. R&D Easton, Louisville, KY (5-1)
2. Dan Smith/Backstop/Wessel/Worth, San Jose, CA (6-2)
3. Hendu’s/Long Haul/TPS, Albertville, MN (3-2)
4. Hague/Resmondo/TPS, Columbus, OH (4-2)
5t. Team Easton, East Windsor, CT (3-2)
5t. Team TPS, Louisville, KY (2-2)
7t. P&D Tigers/Tri-Gem/Easton, Sommers, CT (2-2)
7t. Paramount Builders/TPS, Virginia Beach, VA (2-2)
9t. Charlie Rose/Easton, San Diego, CA (1-2)
9t. JWM/Herb’s Master Graphics/TPS, San Diego, CA (1-2)
9t. RPM/TPS, Lafayette, CA (1-2)
9t. Sunnyvale Value & Fitting/TPS, Saratoga, CA (1-2)
13t. Calvert/Miken, Dearborn Heights, MI (1-2)
13t. Long Pest/Tacoma Dodge/TPS, Seattle, WA (0-2)
13t. Maroadi Transfer/Easton, Pittsburgh, PA (0-2)
13t. Worth/SEG, Alexandria, VA (0-2)

1998 USSSA Major World Series Report

Mike Schenk 1998 USSSA Major World Series MVP.

Team TPS won the USSSA World Series the hard way, winning five consecutive games on Sunday (Sept. 20) at Daytona Beach, Fla., including overcoming a 20-5 deficit in the finals for a 22-21 win over Sunbelt/Dan Smith. The last team to come out of the losers bracket and win the USSSA World Series was Bell Corp./Easton in 1993, and that team won five games on the final day. Sunbelt finished runner-up in a third straight Grand Slam event, while Team TPS closed out the season with two titles in a row, including the NSA World Series the weekend before in Burlington, N.C. Team TPS was the preseason No. 1 after the merger of the Ritch’s-Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli and Shen Valley/Taylor teams from last season. Team TPS won six tournaments during the first half of the season, but a tailspin started in losses to Sunbelt and Sierra/TPS in the Minnesota Classic and the Smoky Mountain Classic the late June and early July. Team TPS suffered an 0-2 fate in the ISA, then placed third in the ASA. Sunbelt drew three blanks in a row, then managed only one run in the top of the seventh. Team TPS trailed by 21-19 going into the bottom of the seventh. John Mello got on via an error and Brad Stiles turned a single into a double. After a sac fly by Todd Martin, Jeff Wallace was intentionally walked. Rusty Bumgardner came through with an RBI single before an intentional walk to Doug Kissane. With the bases loaded, the winning run came on a walk to Doug Roberson. Bumgardner’s grand slam home run started the Team TPS comeback in the fifth inning and Dewayne Nevitt had a solo in the sixth. Nevitt had an earlier home run and MVP Mike Shenk had two HRs. Team TPS forced an extra game with a 29-19 win, jumping out to a 23-5 bulge with a 10-run top of the third. Bumgardner and Kissane had homers in the inning. Wallace had two homers and pitcher Phil Jobe one. Wallace had four hits, Martin, Bumgardner, Nevitt, Shenk, Jobe, Randell Boone and shortstop John Mello three each. Shenk at third and Kissane in left were impressive on defense throughout the tournament, while Martin from his middle infielder position and Stiles from his center field spot turned in spectacular plays in a 23-22 win over Sierra in the losers bracket finals. Bumgardner’s 375-foot-plus solo ho me run gave Team TPS a one-run lead in the top of the seventh and Sierra did not score in the bottom half of the inning. Veteran Rick Weiterman came in to pitch that inning. Then he came in to put out an 8-run fire by Sunbelt in the sixth inning of the first game of the finals. He stayed in to pitch a scoreless seventh. And guess who was pitching in the finale when Sunbelt went 0-0-0-1 over the last four innings? You guessed it, Weiterman. Wallace had three home runs and six RBI, while Shenk had two homers for five RBI in the win over Sierra. Team TPS and Sierra each finished the season with 70-17 records. Sunbelt was 59-23, Lighthouse 56-20. With a 7-0 record vs. Sunbelt, Sierra, Lighthouse and Steele’s in the final two outings, Team TPS finished 16-12 in “Big Five” competition, compared to 21-13 for Sierra, 16-18 for Sunbelt, 12-14 for Lighthouse and 11-17 for Steele’s. Team TPS was 7-5 vs. Sunbelt, 4-3 vs. Sierra, 1-2 vs. Lighthouse and 4-2 vs. Steele’s. Sierra was 4-6 vs. Sunbelt, 7-2 vs. Lighthouse and 5-1 vs. Steele’s. Lighthouse was 3-2 vs. Sunbelt and 5-4 vs. Steele’s. Steele’s was 4-3 vs. Sunbelt. Wallace managed only 2-for-11 in the first two games after coming in leading the on-base percentage at .805. He led the tournament in home runs with 10 (in nine games) and but finished with a .77601 mark, slightly behind the .77624 of Wendell Rickard of Lighthouse, who sat out this final tournament with an elbow injury. Hank Garris of Sierra won the home run trophy with 196, 10 ahead of teammate Larry Fredieu. Lighthouse’s Carl Rose, who had nine home runs in five games, topped the home run frequency chart at 2.122. Teammate Rickard, the pace-setter the last two years, was second at 2.192. Robin Higginbotham of Lighthouse was the Offensive MVP with 22-for-26 for an .846 batting average. The Defensive MVP award went to Todd Martin, who played infield and outfield for Team TPS. Lighthouse, winner of the first two legs of the Grand Slam and the winner of the 1997 USSSA World Series, suffered a stunning 30-25 upset at the hands of Brandon’s in the first round, then won three games before losing to Brandon’s again — 23-22. Lighthouse scored 11 runs in the last inning to make it close. The surprising Brandon’s team wound up fourth in the 16-team tournament. Rain played havoc. The teams had to play through the night on Friday (and Saturday). The first loss for Team TPS was inflicted by Wessel/Hague/SoJern/TPS (23-18). One of the Team TPS victims in the losers bracket was Wessel (26-20). One of the wins for Team TPS was 16-15 over Long Haul/Grover/Mizuno when Dewayne Nevitt hit a solo home run against the wind over the 375 mark. The other Team TPS wins in the losers bracket came over Brandon’s 24-17. Team TPS had to go an extra inning to turn back Reece/SportsWorld/Chip’s/TPS 29-24 in the opening round. Sunbelt had dropped Brandon’s into the losers bracket (28-7), while Wessel was knocked into the losers bracket by Sierra 30-14. Sunbelt then outlasted Sierra 35-33 in the finals of the winners bracket. Herb’s nipped Reece 10-9 in an extra inning, then was bumped by Long Haul 11-7. Steele’s managed only a 1-2 record, losing to JWM 27-19, beating Gil’s and losing to O&S 35-24. Lighthouse wins in the losers bracket came over RPM 30-12, JWM 35-26 and O&S 37-14. Brent Rodes, one of the Team TPS coaches, said, “The team showed a lot of character. Our players responded well. Our defense was outstanding. I couldn’t believe some of the plays, especially with our players being so tired.” Rodes added: “We salvaged the season. It was a great season, although not spectacular. If we had won Minnesota and Maryville and at least one of the first two Grand Slam events, it would have been a spectacular season.” Rodes pointed out that pitcher Phil Jobe and shortstop John Mello were overlooked by the all-tournament voters in the last two tournaments — the NSA and the USSSA. “They are out there doing the job for us, but they never get recognized,” he said. Wallace had two low on-base tournaments — .412 at Kettering, Md., back in May and the .522 at the USSSA World Series. His other tournaments read: .952, .960, .720, .742, .857, .793, .816, .903, .816, .762, .853, .714, .765 and .818. The home runs for Garris added up like this: 9, 21, 14, 9, 2, 13, 15, 18, 11, 13, 26, 13, 12, 8, 6, 6. The 26 came in nine games in the Smoky Mountain Classic. Garris saw his three-year-in-a-row home run derby domination come to an end as he lost an overtime tussle with Scott Elliott in the semifinal round. Last year, Garris beat Elliott in a marathon OT round. This year, Doug Kissane was the winner, outlasting Larry Carter in the semifinal round and Elliott in the final round. Wallace and Tom White, teammates along with Brett Helmer with SoJern last year, tied for the best “true” batting average — .753. Rickard was at .749, Garris .744, Jason Kendrick .736, Shenk .729, Helmer .728, J.C. Phelps .726, Rusty Bumgardner .725 and Jason Fleming .722, Rose .717, Dewayne Frizzell .713, Doug Roberson .711, Jeff Hall .710, Todd Martin and Jimmy Powers .708, Phil Jobe .703 and Chris Lashley .702, Kerry Everett and Robbie Ergle .699, Tot Powers .698, Albert Davis .695 and Dennis Mendoza .696. A 380-foot-plus home run by Larry Fredieu with the bases loaded capped a 9-run third in Sierra’s opening 25-16 win over Adams/RSH/Worth. Sierra hit four consecutive HRs in the third inning and Fredieu added a 375-foot-plus 2-runner in the next inning. Mike Rodriquez had homers in the fourth and fifth. Garris had a 3-runner in the second inning. Pitcher Paul Drilling had three homers while going 4-for-4. The Reno-based club had 11 homers. The Mississippi team cut into the final deficit with six runs in the top of the seventh. Lamar Echols, an added player from Xtreme/Hinson/Worth, had a double, triple and 3-run HR for Adams, while Chris Gambrill had a single, double and homer. Sunbelt had 10 homers in a 30-24 win over Gil’s Arizona Heat, which saved face with eight runs in the top of the seventh. Big Curt Gleaton, a recruit from Georgia, had two homers for Gil’s, while Raith Adair had a 5-for-5 game. It was 8-0 after one. Jimmy Powers had Sunbelt’s only HR in the first inning. Jeff Hall wound up 3-for-3, plus a walk. He had two homers and a triple totaling six RBI. Britt Hightower had two homers, including the first . . . and only one of the tournament . . . over the 24-foot green screen at the 400-foot mark in dead center field. The other two-thirds of Sunbelt’s Texas connection — Shane Dubose and Bobby Gilbert — combined for nine hits. Long Haul dropped Backstop/Easton 13-8, moving out to an 8-0 lead in the first three innings. Backstop scored 2 in the fourth and 6 in the fifth for a shortlived 8-0 tie, but did not score in the last two innings. A double off the 30-foot screen in left field by Tim Magner and a double off the top of the screen by pinch-hitter Jason Fleming, an added player from Chase (he played for Long Haul in 1997), plus triples by Chaun Demars and Tom Maslowski, in the Minnesota team’s last two at-bats produced five runs and the win. That big screen, which stretched over 60 feet, saved many, many home runs. Demars had two home runs, including an inside-the-parker. Rob Darhower had an IP and two other hits. Jeff Franks led off a 4-run first with a triple and little shortstop Richie Aliotti had two hits that led to runs. Melvin Mallernee connected for Backstop’s only home run. He had three hits along with David Crawley. Wessel, the USSSA Class AA champion, bombed Herb’s/KCS/TPS, the NSA AA champ, by a 29-9 score. Tom White went 5-for-5, with two home runs. Wessel had nine homers, with Howie Krause hitting two too. Tim Linson had a triple, homer and single. Pitcher Jim Burbrink had three hits, shortstop Randy Vollmer a triple and single for three RBI. Dale Sensenig, Chris Lashley and Mike Much homered in succession. Jon Meyers, Ed Starcher and Danny Zenovka had homers for Herb’s. JWM’s upset of Steele’s saw a 9-run top of the third open up a 16-9 lead. Andy Alvis had a 3-runner, Larry Carter a 2-runner. Carter finished with three homers, Alvis and Brian Greer two each. Carter and Tim Jones each had five hits, Ed Martin, shortstop Brian King and pitcher Bill Messina four each for the California team. Steele’s, which did not score in the last two innings, had Rod Hughes go 4-for-4 with three homers. Big Randy Kortokrax had four hits, including a homer, while Jim Devine had a double, triple and homer. Minnesota’s O&S/TPS trailed California’s RPM/TPS most of the game before scoring six in the sixth on homers by Doug Berfeldt and Derrick Williams. Then when RPM did not score in the top of the seventh when Chad Prybil made a nice catch against the wall, O&S won it 14-13 on a 375-foot homer by Scott Logan, who started the season with Herb’s. Berfeldt had another homer. R.J. Olson and John Whaley also homered. Veteran pitcher Gary Yost had three singles. RPM did not have a home run. Team TPS scored 10 runs (on only one home run) in the top of the first, but Reece had an 8-run second on homers by Steve Dickey and Keith Brady. Big Ron Wilson had a 3-runner in the first. Team TPS had a 1-1-2 stretch and Derek Oliver had a 3-runner and a 2-runner, and it was 24-24 when Brady homered again in the seventh. Team TPS had a 1-2-3 top half of the inning, but big Rusty Bumgardner capped a 5-run top of the eighth with a home run to win it 29-24. Team TPS managed only four homers, including two by Todd Martin, who was 5-for-6. Brad Stiles had two triples, a double and two singles. Mike Shenk had four hits, including a 2-run triple in a 6-run sixth. Pitcher Phil Jobe had three hits, plus 2 walks. Veteran shortstop Larry Sauceman had four hits, plus a walk, for Reece. Brady and Kinny Hooper each had four hits. One of Hooper’s was a homer. Oliver added a double off the top of the screen to his two homers for a total of seven RBI. Brady had six RBI. Brandon’s stunned Lighthouse with a 12-run second and when Lighthouse did not answer the scoreboard read: 16-2. Seven of the 12 runs came after two outs, and all but three were unearned. Chris Graves had a 3-runner and Eddie Foust a 2-runner. And Jerold Smith was robbed of a homer by Robin Higginbotham. Jerold’s twin brother, Jeff, played for Herb’s; one bats righthanded and throws lefthanded, the other bats lefty and throws righty. Smith made a nice play at first to help curtail a 13-run Lighthouse uprising in the fifth inning. That pulled Lighthouse within 29-22, but the No. 1 team coming into the final event of the season drew a blank in the seventh and ended up on the short end of a 30-25 score. Little Chris Beck had a 5-for-5 game for Brandon’s, which was ranked 22nd before jumping to 15th with a tie for fifth in the NSA. Chris Absher also went 5-for-5, including three triples and an inside-the-park homer. Foust had four hits, including another homer that capped a seven-run top of the fifth for a mind-boggling (Lighthouse’s) 27-9 command. Brandon’s totaled a whopping eight triples. Beck, Slim Bryant, pitcher Andy Cook, Keith Roberts and Smith each added one to Absher’s three. Lighthouse hit 10 homers, including three by Carl Rose and two each by Dewayne Frizzell and Higginbotham. New grandfather Ricky Huggins had five hits. Frizzell also had five hits, two of them triples. The second round saw JWM succumb to Sunbelt 21-12, Long Haul roll over for Sierra 17-3, Wessel surprise Team TPS and Brandon’s keep on charging . . . past O&S 33-12. Sunbelt hit for 11 runs in the top of the first as Jimmy Powers had two homers for five RBI and owned a 17-1 margin after three and a half innings. Pitcher Greg Harding had a 6-for-6 game, including a home run. Bobby Gilbert had four hits, giving him eight in two games. JWM did not have a homer. It was 5-2 after four innings before Sierra scored fifth in the fifth and seven in the seventh. Mike Rodriguez had the only HR of the game. Hank Garris had a 1-for-5 game. Ron Parnell, who went on to top the 100 mark in World Series hits, had three hits along with Jason Kendrick and pitcher Paul Drilling. Long Haul had nine hits, with Jeff Franks accounting for three of them. Wessel’s upset of Team TPS saw the Ohio outfit explode for nine runs in the top of the third for a 13-0 lead. It was 16-5, 21-7. Team TPS scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to get within 23-18. Tim Linson went 5-for-5, including a 2-run HR in the top of the seventh for a 23-13 margin. Dale Sensenig had two doubles, a triple and two walks. Mike Much had two homers, Tom White and Chris Lashley one each. Lashley’s was a 3-run in the 9-run third. Brett Helmer had four hits, including three doubles. Pitcher Jim Burbrink made a dandy play in the seventh. So did Joe Foley, who made a grab after a long run. Veteran Doug Roberson’s had two of the four TPS HRs. Brandon’s broke loose for eight runs after an O&S zip in the top of the first. The North Carolina club did not have a home run, but there were three triples — by Eddie Foust, Chris Calcutt and Slim Bryant. In fact, Brandon’s only home run was a 375-foot-plus 3-runner by Foust in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Calcutt had five hits and his brother, Randy, had two hits and two walks. Chris Graves had four hits. So did Tracy Logan, Bryant and pitcher Andy Cook. However, Brandon’s came back to earth against Sunbelt in one of the winners bracket semifinals. Sunbelt led 6-0 after one, 14-2 after four and 17-3 after five en route to a 28-7 rout. Brandon’s bright spot was a diving grab by left fielder Keith Roberts when Sunbelt failed to score in the third. Sunbelt had eight homers (Jimmy Powers, Greg Harding, Britt Hightower, Hightower again, JP again, Johnny McCraw and Jeff Hall) and two triples (Hall, Harding). Bobby Gilbert had four hits, giving up 13 in three games. Harding had two more hits, plus a walk. Brandon’s had three triples (by Chris Calcutt, Chris Graves and Tracy Logan) in one inning — a 4-run sixth. The other semifinal saw a runaway too — Sierra 30-14 over Wessel. A 12-run bottom of the sixth made it 30-11. Sierra had five homers (Mark Creson, Kerry Everett, Hank Garris, Greg Cannedy and Creson again . . . a slammer in the big sixth) and four triples (Garris, Everett and two by Dale Walters). Creson, Jason Kendrick and Everett each had four hits. Howie Krause homered three times for Wessel. Brett Helmer had four hits, including a homer. Sierra scored 10 runs in the first, 5 in the second and 11 in the third, but mustered only 8 runs in the last four innings. Sunbelt turned a 30-18 deficit into a 35-33 win. Sunbelt scored 10 runs in the fifth and seven in the bottom of the sixth for a 35-32 lead. Sunbelt sizzled with 12 homers, including two IPs, and six triples. Tot Powers socked four homers, Greg Harding three and Shane Dubose two. Harding, Jimmy Powers and Johnny McCraw each had five hits, Jeff Hall and Dubose four each. JP had two triples, Hall, McCraw, Bobby Gilbert and Curtis Williams one each. Britt Hightower and Todd Volkers had the inside HRs. For Sierra, Larry Fredieu was 6-for-6 with a double, triple and two homers. Jason Kendrick had five hits, including a double, triple, IP homer and 3-run homer. Hank Garris had four hits, including 2 HRs, and Mark Creson had four hits, including a long homer. The slender, swift Creson, who catches everything in the middle of a 3-man outfield, had a string of eight consecutive extra base hits, including three homers. Backstop opened losers bracket play with a 28-8 drubbing of Adams. It was 15-7 until Backstop broke loose for 13 runs in the top of the seventh. Judson Jackson had the only home run for Backstop. Kenny Pruitt, an added player from Xtreme, had an inside-the-parker. Jackson had four hits, Pruitt three. Chris Gambrill homered twice for Adams. Lighthouse had an easy time with RPM . . . after it was 12-12 after three. The final score: 30-12. Higginbotham, moved to the leadoff spot, went 6-for-6, including two doubles, two triples and a homer. Carl Rose and Scott Elliott each had two homers. Dennis Mendoza had five hits, Scott Striebel four. Rose and Dewayne Frizzell also had four hits. Playing manager Tim Millette had four hits for RPM. Bob Newman had two homers for five RBI. Herb’s 10-9 win over Reece came on Jeff Smith’s 2-run double in the bottom of the eighth. Jon Meyers had led off with a two-bagger. A leadoff home run by Ron Wilson gave Reece a shortlived lead in the top of the eighth. The teams combined for two runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Smith had two homers for Herb’s, Steve Ellis two for Reece. Steele’s sent Gil’s home in a 23-20 game that was decided by shortstop Dal Beggs’ bases-loaded home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Jim Devine, Rod Hughes, Jason McRae, Randy Kortokrax and Dennis Pierce homered earlier, while McRae homered again in the bottom of the seventh. David Hood had four hits. Steele’s had to play without center fielder Rob Schleede, who went out with a bad back. Big Curt Gleaton had four homers and nine RBI for Gil’s. He had six homers in his team’s two games. Ruben Gonzales, an added player from Hendu’s, had four hits. Herb’s meager scoring continued vs. Long Haul. Herb’s went scoreless over the first four innings, giving the California club three runs over an 8-inning stretch. Long Haul won 11-7 as Doug Johnson and Chaun Demars homered and Butch Smith had an IP. Jeff Franks again had three hits. George Sampson’s 375-foot-plus HR was Herb’s only thing to cheer about. Lighthouse piled up a 15-3 lead lead in the first four innings, then had to keep scoring as JWM came alive with 23 runs in the last three innings. The final score was 35-26 as Lighthouse scored 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth only to see JWM score 10 in the top of the seventh. Higginbotham, Rose, Striebel, Albert Davis and Robbie Ergle each had four hits for the LH crew. Rose failed to homer. Higginbotham had a double, triple and homer. Frizzell, Ergle, Huggins, Steve Craven and Kirk Stafford homered. Stafford’s was a grand slam in the sixth. Carter and Ed Martin homered for JWM. Little Dennis Rulli had five hits. So did big Andy Alvis. Shortstop Brian King had four. This game ended at 7:35 a.m. The regularly scheduled program was to start at 8. O&S pulled the other surprise on Steele’s, scoring nine runs in the top of the fourth for a 27-6 bulge. R.J. Olson’s 3-runner was the big blow. In fact, it was his second 3-runner of the game. Scott Brown and Lance Peterson earlier homered, and Tdd Lindgren had an IP. Final: 35-24. Peterson had another homer, Brown another also (this one inside the park). Lindgren had four hits, plus two walks; Peterson, Scott Logan and Derrick Williams four hits each, plus a walk. Rod Hughes doubled, tripled and homered for Steele’s. Jim Devine had four hits, including a triple. Jason McRae had three hits, including a long drive to right center that the speedy former linebacker turned into an easy inside-the-parker. Billy Byrd, who sat out most of the season with a knee injury, had a triple and a long homer. Pierce, Hood and Jeff Ott also homered. Team TPS jumped out 8-0, but slowed down and had to have another 8-run inning for a 20-6 lead after four and a half innings vs. Backstop. A 9-run top of the seventh led to the final of 35-12. Todd Martin, Rusty Bumgardner, Doug Kissane, Dewayne Nevitt and Mike Shenk each had four hits, with Martin getting an IP, Bumgardner a homer and two triples, one off the 375 mark in center, Kissane a homer and Shenk two. Jeff Wallace also had two homers. Judson Jackson and David Burch, the two former W.W. Gay players from Florida, each had two homers for the Indiana-based team. Lighthouse hit O&S for 15 runs in the first inning on four home runs, including a pair of 2-runners by Dewayne Frizzell. Higginbotham had a double and 3-run HR in the inning, Rose two doubles, Scott Elliott two hits, Albert Davis a triple and walk and Dennis Mendoza a single and walk. Huggins had a homer and Kirk Stafford a triple. Higginbotham went 5-for-5, plus a walk; Rose 6-for-6, including a slammer in the sixth. Frizzell added three hits to his two HRs. Lance Peterson had all three of the O&S homers. Long Haul was down 7-0 after one vs. Team TPS, but Team TPS went 0-3-0 and Long Haul edged back 4-1-5-4 for a 14-13 lead in the top of the sixth. Jason Fleming had two homers and a single and John Keigley and Jeff Franks had inside-the-park homers. Franks added two more hits and Chaun Demars had a homer and double. Rob Darhower had three hits, including a triple. Long Haul gained a 15-15 tie on pinch-hit double by Mike Brodzinski and an opposite field triple by Butch Smith in the top of the seventh . . . but Team TPS won it on Nevitt’s awesome homer. The inning before Wallace and Bumgardner had back-to-back homers. Randell Boone had two HRs, plus a single. Nevitt had two other hits, plus a walk. Chris Graves had a single, triple and homer, Jerold Smith a double and homer and Eddie Foust a single, double and triple in Brandon’s 23-22 elimination of Lighthouse. Andy Cook added a triple, while Chris Calcutt, Tracy Logan and Keith Roberts three hits each as 10-5 after two, 18-10 after five and 23-11 going into the top of the seventh. Rose had four hits, including three homers, and Frizzell had three homers for Lighthouse. Higginbotham continued his hot tournament with 3-for-4, including a homer. Wessel had an 8-0 lead after one and half innings vs. Team TPS as Brett Helmer homered twice and Howie Krause and Tim Linson once each. Linson wound up with four hits. But Team TPS exploded for 12 runs on four homers in the bottom of the second. Doug Roberson had a solo and 3-runner. Doug Kissane and Dewayne Nevitt each had two hits, including a homer, in the inning. Roberson had four hits, including another homer, and Nevitt had four hits, including two doubles and a triple. Mike Shenk had a double, triple and homer and John Mello a single, triple and homer. Kissane added another homer, single and walk. A 2-runner by Todd Martin gave Team TPS a 26-20 lead in the bottom of the sixth, and it stayed that way when Wessel drew a blank in the top of the seventh. Team TPS built up an 18-9 lead in the first five innings vs. Brandon’s, then made it 22-12 in the sixth. Team TPS had eight homers. Wallace had two, including a grand slam, plus a triple, while Kissane had two homers and a double and Shenk two homers and two singles. Nevitt was 4-for-4, including a triple and homer. Jobe had a triple and two doubles and Roberson a homer and double. Andy Cook homered for Brandon’s, while Chris Calcutt and Chris Graves had back-to-back IPs. Calcutt, Keith Roberts, Chris Absher and Gene Lewis each had three hits as Brandon’s cut the final deficit to 24-17. The 23-22 Team TPS elimination of Sierra, producing a 4-3 season edge, saw three homers by Wallace, two by Shenk and one each by Martin, Boone and Jobe before Bumgardner’s long tie-breaker leading off the top of the seventh. Sierra had a 6-3 lead after one. Dale Walters, Mike Rodriguez and Mark Creson homered in the first, Hank Garris in the second, Darrell Beeler in the fourth and Jason Kendrick (IP) and Garris in the sixth. But Sierra drew a blank in the bottom of the seventh . . . after a leadoff walk. Creson was robbed of a hit with two on in the fourth and Parnell was robbed of an extra base hit with the bases loaded in the fifth. The catches were made by middle infielder Todd Martin and center fielder Brad Stiles. The 29-19 Team TPS win over Sunbelt in the first game of the finals saw Team TPS jump out 11-1 in the first inning and a half and led 23-5 after 12 runs in the top of the third. Wallace, Bumgardner and Kissane had the only homers. Wallace and Bumgardner each had two other hits, while Roberson, Nevitt, Shenk, Mello, Stiles, Boone, Jobe and Martin each had two hits. Jobe and Martin had triples. Wallace added another homer. Jobe also homered. Sunbelt had an 8-run sixth to get back within 27-19, but went scoreless in the seventh. Each team drew a blank midway in the game. Hall and McCraw each had two homers for Sunbelt, while McCraw had two other hits. But Sunbelt managed only one more homer (by Harding). Team TPS had seven homers in the finale, including two long ones by Nevitt over the left center field wall. “One of them must have gone 475 feet,” pointed out Rodes. Shenk had two, one over the 375 mark and another inside the park. Martin, Bumgardner (a long slammer) and Kissane (another over the 375 mark) had the other homers. Martin added a triple with two on and Wallace, who was walked twice, had a 3-run double up on the screen. He finished one behind Rose in the RBI department (28-27). Sunbelt had only three homers, and one of them was an IP by Curtis Williams. Still, Sunbelt was enjoying a stunning 20-5 lead going into the bottom of the third. That’s went Sunbelt drew three successive blanks, with the lead melting to 20-11, 20-14, 20-18. Shenk’s diving grab of a hot line drive off the bat of Harding was the big play. Hightower singled and scored all the way from first in the top of the seventh for a 21-19 lead. He earlier made a diving grab after a long run to the left field corner against the left-handed hitting Weiterman. Sunbelt built its big lead on the strength of two hits each by Hall, JP, Harding (one a triple), TP (one a 3-run HR) and Dubose. Gilbert had a homer and walk. Steve Toth had a triple. The 43-year-old Williams had two singles before his IP. He batted .560 after batting well over .600 when Sunbelt was runner-up to Team TPS in the NSA. Team TPS had 59 homers in nine games. Following Wallace’s 10 was Shenk with nine, Kissane with eight, Martin with seven and Roberson and Bumgardner with six each. While Shenk was the team’s leading hitter for average at .684, Nevitt was at .649 and Bumgardner at .600. Stiles had 11 doubles, Nevitt 10. Stiles was fourth on the batting list at .581, followed by Martin at .579, Jobe at .552 and Roberson and Kissane each at .550. Sunbelt had 42 homers in six games. Lighthouse had the best batting average (.640) and 37 homers in five games. Sierra had 32 homers in five games. Lighthouse had 49 doubles, 14 triples (including 4 by Higginbotham; he also had 6 homers). The surprising Brandon’s team had 35 doubles, 19 triples. Team TPS had 75 doubles, 20 triples.

1998 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch Worlds

1998 held at Daytona Beach, Florida.


Champion – Team TPS, Louisville, Kentucky
Runner Up – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton, Centerville, Georgia


Pre-Tournament favorite Team TPS lost early in the tournament to Wessell/Hague/SoJern and worked their way through the losers bracket even though the tournament was plagued by numerous rain delays. They reached the loser’s bracket final game. They dug down deep and eliminated Sierra/TPS 23-22 in a great game. Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton had been sitting around for a while to see who they would play in the championship. The first final was a blowout at first as Team TPS jumped out to a 23-5 lead, only to see Sunbelt come back and make it close, but the clutch hitting of Mike Shenk carried them to a 30-20 victory. The skies were threatening again and many wondered whether they would get the final Championship game in. Sunbelt woke up and took a 20-5 lead early on. Pitcher Rick Weiterman made an emotional speech to his team and whatever he said worked. Slowly, Team TPS battled back and Weiterman baffled Sunbelt with his array of pitches. Home Runs by Doug Kissane, Mike Shenk, Rusty Bumgardner’s grand slam and then Dewaynw Nevitt’s homer made it 20-19. In the top of the 7th, Britt Hightower singled and then some daring base running after a Shane Dubose base hit, Hightower came home on a head first slide to make it 21-19 in favor of Sunbelt. Sunbelt had scored just one run and just 3 hits in its last four at bats against Weiterman. In the bottom of the 7th, TPS scored two runs to tie the score. With one out and two runners on base, Sunbelt elected to intentionally walk Doug Kissane and take their chances with Doug Roberson. Sunbelt pitcher Jimmy Powers pitching carefully to Roberson, ended up walking him and that what is, the winning run came trotting home with the 22-21 championship.


  • MVP – Mike Shenk, Team TPS (29-35, .829, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 21 Runs)
  • HR Leader – Jeff Wallace, Team TPS (20-41, .488, 27 RBI, 20 Runs) – 10
  • Batting Leader – Robin Higinbotham, Lighthouse – .846
  • Defensive MVP – Todd Martin, Team TPS
  • Offensive MVP – Robin Higinbotham, Lighthouse/Worth (22-26, .846, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 20 Runs)

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • P – Greg Harding – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton (20-27, .741, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 20 Runs)
  • 1B – Jimmy Powers – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton (18-27, .667, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 19 Runs)
  • 1B – Jeff Wallace – Team TPS (23-46, .500, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 20 Runs)
  • 2B – Bobby Gilbert – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton (17-26, .654, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 13 Runs)
  • 2B – Carl Rose – Lighthouse/Worth (21-29, .724, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 19 Runs)
  • 2B – Jeff Hall – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton (17-29, .586, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 17 Runs)
  • 2B – Rusty Bumgardner – Team TPS (24-41, .585, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 22 Runs)
  • 3B – Howie Krause – Wessel/Hague/So-Jern/TPS (11-17, .647, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • 3B – Mike Shenk – Team TPS (26-38, .684, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 21 Runs)
  • SS – Ron Pamell – Sierra/TPS (13-20, .650, 9 RBI, 13 Runs)
  • OF – Robin Higginbotham – Lighthouse/Worth (22-26, .846, 6 HRS, 22 RBI, 20 Runs)
  • OF – Jason Kendrick – Sierra/TPS (15-20, .750, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • OF – Doug Kissane – Team TPS (22-40, .550, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 19 Runs)
  • OF – Shane Dubose – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton (15-26, .577, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 17 Runs)
  • OF – Hank Garris – Sierra/TPS 13-21, .619, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • OF – Dewayne Nevitt – Team TPS (24-36, .667, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 21 Runs)
  • UTIL – Paul Drilling – Sierra/TPS (14-20, .700, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • UTIL – Slim Brant – Brandon’s Trucking (13-17, .765, 13 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • UTIL – Todd Martin – Team TPS (21-37, .568, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 22 Runs)
  • UTIL – Chris Absner – Brandon’s Trucking (14-20, .700, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • MGR – Mike Glasscock – Team TPS

OTHERS

  • Dennis Mendoza, Lighthouse (16-21, .762, 10 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • Dewayne Frizzel, Lighthouse (20-28, .714, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 17 Runs)
  • Jimmy Devine, Steele’s/R&D (10-14, .714, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Larry Carter, JWM (10-14, .714, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Billy Messina, JWM (10-14, .714, 5 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Bryan King, JWM (10-14, .714, 8 RBI, 6 Runs)
  • Jeff Franks, Long Haul (10-14, .714, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Kurt Gleeton, Gil’s Arizona Heat (7-10, .700, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • David Hood, Steele’s/R&D (9-13, .692, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 Runs)
  • Brett Helmer, Wessell/Hague (11-16, .688, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Lance Peterson, O&S Cattle, (11-16, .688, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 5 Runs)
  • Kerry Everett, Sierra/TPS (11-16, .688, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Rod Hughes, Steele’s/R&D (8-12, .667, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 8 Runs)
  • Derek Oliver, Reece/Sports World (6-9, .667, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Scott Striebel, Lighthouse (15-23, .652, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • Keith Roberts, Brandons (13-20, .650, 5 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Randy Kortokrax, Steele’s/R&D (9-14, .643, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Albert Davis, Lighthouse (14-22, .636, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • Mark Creson, Sierra/TPS (13-21, .619, 5 HR, 14 RBI, 14 Runs_
  • Tim Linson, Wessell/Hague (11-18, .611, 3 HRS, 13 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • John Mello, Team TPS (21-35, .600, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 15 Runs)
  • Ricky Huggins, Lighthouse (15-25, .600, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Curtis Williams, Sunbelt/Dan Smith (15-25, .600, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 16 Runs)
  • Greg Cannedy, Sierra/TPS (12-20, .600, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Dennis Rulli, JWM (9-15, .600, 9 RBI, 5 Runs)
  • Brad Stiles, Team TPS (18-30, .600, 12 RBI, 19 Runs)
  • Steve Craven, Lighthouse (13-23, .565, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 13 Runs)
  • Phil Jobe, Team TPS (16-29, .552, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 20 Runs)
  • Doug Roberson, Team TPS (22-40, .550, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 19 Runs)
  • John McCraw, Sunbelt/Dan Smith (16-30, .533, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 12 Runs)
  • Scott Brown, O&S Cattle (8-15, .533, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 7 Runs)
  • Doug Berfeldt, O&S Cattle (8-15, .533, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Randall Boone, Team TPS (15-30, .500, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 16 Runs)
  • Tim Cocco, Wessell/Hague (9-18, .500, 2 RBI, 9 Runs)
  • Chaun Demars, Long Haul (6-12, .500, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 6 Runs)
  • Tot Powers, Sunbelt/Dan Smith (14-28, .500, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 14 Runs)
  • Britt Hightower, Sunbelt/Dan Smith (13-27, .481, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 11 Runs)
  • Darrell Beeler, Sierra/TPS (10-21, .476, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Larry Fredieu, Sierra/TPS (10-21, .476, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 10 Runs)
  • Dal Beggs, Steele’s/R&D (5-14, .357, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 Runs)
  • Rick Weiterman, Team TPS (3-12, .250, 3 RBI, 3 Runs)

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Team TPS, Louisville, KY (8-1)
2. Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton, Centerville, GA (4-2)
3. Sierra/TPS, Reno, NV (3-2)
4. Brandon’s, Wilmington, NC (3-2)
5t. Lighthouse/Worth, Stone Mountain, GA (3-2)
5t. Wessel/Hague/SoJern/TPS, Cincinnati, OH (2-2)
7t. Long Haul/Grover/Mizuno, Albertville, MN (2-2)
7t. O&S/TPS, South St. Paul, MN (2-2)
9t. Backstop/Easton, Aurora, IN (1-2)
9t. Herb’s/KCS/TPS, San Diego, CA (1-2)
9t. Steele’s/R&D/Reda, Brook Park, OH (1-2)
9t. JWM/Easton, Riverside, CA (1-2)
13t. RPM/TPS, Concord, CA (0-2)
13t. Gil’s Arizona Heat/Easton, Phoenix, AZ (0-2)
13t. Reece/SportsWorld/Chip’s/TPS, Lebanon, TN (0-2)
13t. Adams/RSH/Worth, Ridgeland, MS (0-2)

1997 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1997 held at Daytona Beach, Florida.


Champion – Lighthouse/Worth, Stone Mountain, Georgia
Runner Up – Ritch’s-Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/TPS, Windsor Locks, Connecticut


  • MVP – Carl Rose, Lighthouse (22-28, .786, 10 HRs, 26 RBIs)
  • Home Run Leader – Hank Garris, Ritch’s (18-27, .667, 24 RBIs) – 14
  • Batting Leader – Jeff Hall, Sunbelt (20-24, 3 HRs, 13 RBIs) – .833
  • Defensive MVP – Larry Sauceman, Lighthouse/Worth

USSSA WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Robbie Ergle – LighthouselWorth
  • Pitcher – Greg Cannedy – Ritch’s Superior/TPS
  • Catcher – Scott Elliott – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton
  • Catcher – Steve Craven – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Extra Hitter – Randy Kortokrax – R&D Grover
  • Extra Hitter – J.C. Phelps – Shen Valley/TPS
  • Extra Hitter – Wendell Rickard – Lighthouse/Worth
  • First Base – Dirk Androff – Ritch’s Superior/TPS
  • Second Base – Carl Rose – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Second Base – Bob Gilbert – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton
  • Short Stop – Larry Sauceman – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Short Stop – Todd Joerling – Sunbeltl/Dan Smith/Easton
  • Short Stop – Ron Pamell – Ritch’s Superior/TPS
  • Third Base – Dennis Mendoza – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Outfield – Hank Garris – Ritch’s Superior/TPS
  • Outfield – Jeff Hall – Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton
  • Outfield – Todd Martin – Shen Valley/TPS
  • Outfield – Britt Hightower – Ritch’s Superior/TPS
  • Outfield – Randall Boone – Shen Valley/TPS
  • Outfield – Dewayne Frizzell – Shen Valley/TPS
  • Manager – Cecil Alford – Lighthouse/Worth

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Lighthouse/Worth, Stone Mountain, GA (5-0)
2. Ritch’s Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/TPS, Windsor Locks, CT (4-2)
3. Shen Valley/TPS, Bridgewater, VA (4-2)
4. Sunbelt/Dan Smith/Easton, Centerville, GA (3-2)
5t. Sierra/TPS, Reno, NV (3-2)
5t. R&D Grover, Lima, OH (3-2)
7t. Spectrum/Pov’s/Easton, Plymouth, MN (2-2)
7t. Long Haul/TPS, Albertville, MN (2-2)
9t. So Jern/Specialty Tank/TPS, Levittown, PA (1-2)
9t. Hague/Ohio Transport/Wessel/Belcher, Columbus, OH (1-2)
9t. Steele’s, Grafton, OH (1-2)
9t. Gil’s Arizona Heat/Easton, Phoenix, AZ (1-2)
13t. D’s Alliance, Valley Center, CA (0-2)
13t. Adams/Worth, Jackson, MS (0-2)
13t. O&S Cattle/Worth, Crystal, MN (0-2)
13t. Joe Black’s/Land of Chevrolet/TPS, Elgin, IL (0-2)

1996 USSSA Men’s Major Slow Pitch World Series

1996 held at Frederick, Maryland.


Champion – Shen Valley/Superor/Taylor Brothers/TPS, Bridgewater, Virginia
Runner Up – Dan Smith Plastering/Easton, San Jose, California


  • MVP – Dewayne Frizzell, Shen Valley (21-28, .750, 13 HRs, 20 RBIs)
  • Home Run Leader – Ricky Huggins, Lighthouse (20-25, .800, 33 RBIs) – 14
  • Batting Leader – Doug Kissane, Steele’s (13-14, 6 HRs, 15 RBIs) – .929
  • Defensive MVP – Shane Dubose, Dan Smith Plastering/Easton

USSSA MAJOR WORLD SERIES ALL WORLD TEAM

  • Pitcher – Phil Jobe – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • Pitcher – Greg Cannedy – Dan Smith Plastering/Easton
  • Pitcher – Robbie Ergle – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Catcher – Jimmy Powers – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • Extra Hitter – Wendell Rickard – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Extra Hitter – J.C. Phelps – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • First Base – Jeff Hall – Sunbelt/Eastern
  • First Base – Derek Jones – Lighthouse/Worth
  • First Base – Dirk Androff – Ritch’s Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/TPS
  • First Base – Tot Powers – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • Second Base – Tom Haden – Spectrum/POVS/Eastem
  • Second Base – Doug Kissane – Steele’s Silver Bullets/Hitmen
  • Third Base – Ricky Huggins – Lighthouse/Worth
  • Third Base – Andy Alvis – Dan Smith Plastering/Eastern
  • Short Stop – John Mello – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • Short Stop – Ron Pamell – Ritch’s Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/ TPS
  • Outfield – Cory Snyder – Dan Smith Plastering/Easton
  • Outfield – Dewayne Frizzell – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS
  • Outfield – Doug Roberson – Ritch’s Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/ TPS
  • Outfield – Shane Dubose – Dan Smith Plastering/Easton
  • Manager – Mike Glasscock – Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Shen Valley/Superior/Taylor/TPS, Bridgewater, VA (5-0)
2. Dan Smith Plastering, San Jose, CA (5-2)
3. Lighthouse/Worth, Stone Mountain, GA (3-2)
4. Ritch’s Superior/Tri-Gems/Beloli/TPS, Windsor Locks, CT (4-2)
5t. Spectrum/POVS/Easton, Plymouth, MN (3-2)
5t. Sunbelt/Easton, Centerville, GA (2-2)
7t. Grover/Franklin, Los Angeles, CA (2-2)
7t. Hague/Ohio Tansport/Wessel/TPS, Columbus, OH (2-2)
9t. Bell Corp II/Roberts/Easton, Orlando, FL (1-2)
9t. Steele’s Silver Bullets/Hitmen, Cleveland, OH (1-2)
9t. AJA/TPS, S. Houston, TX (1-2)
9t. Herrin/Dudley, Savannah, GA (1-2)
13t. Worth/Sports/Hooters, Richmond, VA (0-2)
13t. Harrison’s, Portsmouth, VA (0-2)
13t. Instant Landscape Whips/TPS, Milwaukee, WI (0-2)
13t. Herb’s/TPS, San Diego, CA (0-2)