1993 held at Zenoff Park in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Champion – Watanabe/Sarlato’s/Easton, Cincinnati, Ohio
Runner Up – Newell Concrete, Bloomington, Minnesota
The 1992 ASA Class A National Tournament was something Watanabe/Easton would just as soon forget.
Watanabe/Easton, however, probably won’t soon forget their most recent appearance in the national tournament.
The Cincinnati, Ohio-based men’s softball team captured the 1993 Class A title with a dramatic 26-25 victory over Newell Concrete of Bloomington, Minn. at Zenoff Park on Monday afternoon.
Mitch Kroell’s 2-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning capped a thrilling seven-run rally to send Watanabe home with the championship trophy.
“This is a dream come true,” said an elated Kroell, a native of Jacksonville, Fla. “I was just looking to drive the ball somewhere, either to the outfield or a fly ball to move the runners up. But I’ll take it the way I got it.”
It was the most recent chapter in the worst-to-first phenomenon in the world of sports, starting with the success stories of the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins in 1991.
Watanabe/Easton is the latest addition to that storybook ending after going from being the first team eliminated in last year’s tournament to national champions this year.
To finish the tournament unbeaten (7-0) and claim the title in such a thrilling fashion made it all the sweeter for Watanabe/Easton.
“We averaged 19 runs a game last year, but went 0-2,” said Watanabe/Easton manager Dave Watanabe. “We were hoping to have a little better luck with the draw this year. To win something like this, you need a break here and there.
“This definitely makes it feel better. Our players really came through and pulled together. I’m sure they (Newell Concrete) probably felt they had the game won.” Newell Concrete, which finished the tourney 10-2, had every reason to think that might be the case.
After all, Newell appeared to have things well in hand after sending 15 batters to the plate and exploding for 11 runs in the top of the fifth inning, featuring back-to-back home runs by Dave Pertl and Greg Oslund.
Pertl was a virtual one-man wrecking crew for Newell, belting three home runs and a double among his five hits and driving in 10 runs in the title game.
But even that wasn’t enough against a Watanabe/Easton team that simply would not be denied.
The turning point came in the top of the seventh inning when Newell failed to improve upon a 25-19 lead.
Watanabe/Easton jumped on the opening as the first three hitters singled to close the gap to 25-20. Randy Lewis followed with a three-run home run to close the gap to 25-23.
Newell replaced starting pitcher Mark Dreier with Pat Barrett but not even that move could stop Watanabe/Easton.
The first three batters Barrett faced singled to load the bases. Terry Wolf then walked, forcing home one run, before Kroell delivered the game-winning hit. “This is what you play the game for,” Kroell said.
- MVP – Dave Pertl, Newell Concrete
- MVP – Tom White, Tri-Gem Builders (21-27, .778. 13 HR, 43 RBI)
- HR Leader – Greg Oslund, Newell Concrete – 15
- Batting Leader – Paul Seymour, Backstop (15-18) – .833
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Gary Nelson, Watanabe/Scarlato’s/Easton (18-24, .750, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
C – Dave Pertl Newell Concrete
1B – Tom White, Tri-Gem Builders
2B – Glen Lisinski, Ray’s Softball
3B – Mike Sullivan, Watanabe/Scarlato’s/Easton (17-23, .739, 11 RBI)
SS – Steve Skladany, Twohig
OF – Paul Hellquist, Miller/Steele’s
OF – Mike Kinnett, Watanabe/Scarlato’s/Easton (23-29, .793, 3 HR, 10 RBI)
OF – Doug Lieder, Kings/Easton
OF – Joe Picariello, Armed Forces
EP – Lou Gaudio, Bank of New York
UT – Sal Romano, QT Sports
UT – Carlton Wenz, QT Sports
UT – Greg Oslund, Newell Concrete
UT – Paul Seymour, Backstop (.833)
SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Mark Dreier, Newell Concrete
C – John Kramer, Power Hite
1B – Walt Reaves, Armed Forces
2B – Jude Spalding, Washington County Merchants
3B – Todd Hinsch, Newell Conrete
SS – Mike Miller, MSI/Big Smitty’s
OF – Richard Wood, Thomas Oil
OF – Larry Goodwin, Thohig
OF – John Watlington, Stone Cold
OF – Jeff Higgins, Tri-Gem Builders
EP – Keith Hill, Stone Cold
UT – Willie Fillard, Seltman, Cobb, Bryant
UT – Scott Campbell, Power Flat
UT – Steve Ryder, Bank of New York
UT – Danny Hensley, Thomas Oil
THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
P – Dave Mattingly, Tri-Gem Builders
C – Randy Lewis, Watanabe/Scartalo’s/Easton (19-29, .655, 10 HR, 22 RBI)
1B – Fred Alvarado, Stone Cow,
2B – Randy Holsopple, WSBA Sports Talk
3B – Murphy Sua, Power Flite
SS – Mitch Kroell, Watanabe/Scartalo’s/Easton (15-24, .625, 11 RBI)
OF – Brian Callahan, Thomas Oil
OF – Bruce Heglund, Newell Concrete
OF – John DiGiamo, Q-T Sports
OF – Terry Wolf, Watanabe/Scartalo’s/Easton (17-25, .680, 5 RBI)
EP – Dave Mitchell, B-C/Papa John’s
UT – Van Hook, B-C/Papa John’s
UT – Kurt Larson, Old Style Whips
UT – John Earls, Watanabe/Scartalo’s/Easton (18-26, .692, 6 HR, 24 RBI)
UT – Craig Wendt, Newell Concrete
OTHERS
Rick Hoffman, Watanabe (20-29, .690, 1 HR, 16 RBI)
Dave Shively, Watanabe (17-27, .630, 4 HR, 11 RBI)
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Watanabe/Scarlato’s/Easton, Cincinnati, OH (7-0)
2. Newell Concrete, Bloomington, MN (10-2)
3. Q-T Sports, West Babylon, NY (5-2)
4. Thomas Oil/Worth, Benton, AR (7-2)
5t. Power Flite, San Diego, CA (4-2)
5t. B-C/Papa John’s/TPS Evansville, IN (4-2)
7t. The Backstop Aurora, IN (4-2)
7t. Seltman, Cobb, Bryant/NPC, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY (4-2)
9t. Armed Forces, Washington, D.C. 6-2)
9t. MSI/Big Smitty’s, Rice Lake, WI (3-2)
9t. Old Style Whips, Waukesha, WI (3-2)
9t. Bank of New York, Tarrytown, NY (3-2)
13t. Tri-Gem Builders, Levittown, PA (5-2)
13t. Hooters-Worth, Crystal, MN (5-2)
13t. Coffee Cup, St. Paul, MN (3-2)
13t. Miller/Steele’s, Bloomington, MN (3-2)
17t. Stone Cold, El Reno, OK (4-2)
17t. Rey’s Softball, Bridgeport, CT (4-2)
17t. Twohig Athletic Club, Cleveland, OH (4-2)
17t. Tharaldson’s, Fargo, ND (3-2)
17t. Washington County Merchants, Springfield, KY (2-2)
17t. Davault Softball, Cape Girardeau, MO (2-2)
17t. Four Star Machine/Worth, Maple Heights, OH (2-2)
17t. Roberts Trans/Steele’s, Orlando, FL (2-2)
25t. Aldo’s, Stevens Point, WI (3-2)
25t. CMA/AFLAC, Jefferson City, MO (3-2)
25t. Techniques, Oceanport, NJ (2-2)
25t. Trysting Place, Menomonee Falls, WI (2-2)
25t. deBeer/Miller Lite, Crystal Lake, MN (2-2)
25t. Caddy Shack, Altoona, WI (2-2)
25t. Viessman Trucking, Dawson, MN (2-2)
25t. Kings/Easton, Chicago, IL (2-2)
33t. McDonald’s/Steele’s, Washington Courthouse, OH (2-2)
33t. Wood Toters, Pensacola, FL (2-2)
33t. Carmichael’s, Manchester, NH (2-2)
33t. Pete’s Mobil, Poughkeepsie, NY (2-2)
33t. P.J.’s/Coors Light/Worth, Cedar Rapids, IA (2-2)
33t. WSBA Sports Talk, York, PA (2-2)
33t. The Performance Shop, Bloomington, MN (1-2)
33t. Hi Ho, Great Falls, MT (1-2)
33t. Maples Motel, Wisconsin Rapids, WI (1-2)
33t. Joose, Lawrenceburg, KY (1-2)
33t. Bender Plumbing Supplies, New Haven, CT (1-2)
33t. Livingston’s, Potomac, MD (1-2)
33t. Hippodrome/Bass Tire, Nashville, TN (1-2)
33t. TPS, Little Rock, AR (1-2)
33t. Archer Softball, Des Moines, IA (1-2)
33t. Diggers, Dubuque, IA (1-2)
49t. Ella’s, Stevens Point, WI (1-2)
49t. Fenton Homes/Mike’s, Davison, MI (0-2)
49t. Express Mart, Midland, MI (0-2)
49t. Mainliner, Des Moines, IA (0-2)
49t. Martin Electric, Seymour, IN (0-2)
49t. Budweiser/Pepsi, Lawton, OK (0-2)
49t. O’Brady’s, Anchorage, AK (0-2)
49t. Solid Gold/Steel, Dayton, OH (0-2)
49t. Craft Cochran/BJ’s, Waterloo, IA (0-2)
49t. Milford/Fibber’s, Milford, CT (0-2)
49t. Bud Light, Duluth, MN (0-2)
49t. Budweiser Clydesdales, Superior, WI (0-2)
49t. Thomas Engineering/Worth, Manassas, VA (0-2)
49t. T’s 13, Omaha, NE (0-2)
49t. Sadie’s/Hiawatha Junction City, WI (0-2)
49t. Wahl Optical, Council Bluffs, IA (0-2)
65t. T-Juan’s, Brainerd, MN (0-2)
65t. Cramer’s, Middletown, OH (0-2)
65t. Brien Oil, Haverhill, MA (0-2)
65t. Budweiser/Oxygen Service, St. Paul, MN (0-2)
65t. Pepsi Pacific/TPS, Seattle, WA (0-2)
65t. South Dixie/TPS, Elizabethtown, KY (0-2)
65t. PFQ/Banker’s Cafe, Eau Claire, WI (0-2)
No show – Key Sport, Springfield, MO