reprinted from www.Fastpitchwest.com
get the complete story and complete stats at www.fargofastpitch.com and watch the championship game on video as well as many other games.
Circle Tap Dukes down Sooke Loggers for NAFA Open Holm Title. The Circle Tap Dukes from Denmark, Wis., rallied with five runs in the seventh en route to a 9-8 victory over the Sooke Loggers on Sunday in the championship game at the North American Fastpitch Association Holm Open softball tournament in Fargo.
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Dukes down Loggers for fastpitch softball title
By: Glenn Pursley, INFORUM
FARGO – If this is indeed the last fastpitch softball tournament held at Mickelson Field, it sure went out with a bang.
The Circle Tap Dukes from Denmark, Wis., rallied with five runs in the seventh en route to a 9-8 victory over the Sooke Loggers on Sunday in the championship game at the North American Fastpitch Association Holm Open softball tournament in Fargo.
Proposed permanent flood-protection levees open the possibility that the longtime softball complex could be nearing its end.
Circle Tap’s German Sack started off the seventh inning with a two-run home run after Loggers pitcher Scott Lieph walked in a run to cut the lead in half.
Back-to-back home runs hit by Josh Johnson and Chris Delorit closed the gap for the Dukes and tied the game at 8-8.
The trio of home runs set up Jim Corbet for his chance to win the game. Corbet hit an game-winning single that drove in second baseman Tom Crouch and clinch the championship for the Dukes.
“It was a crazy day,” Corbet said. “We actually had come from behind early (Sunday), so we ready to play until the last out.”
The Dukes defeated the Saskatoon Diamond Backs 4-3 after nine innings and then shut out the Kegel Black Knights 5-0 to make it to the championship.
“We knew we had the hitting,” Dukes head coach Chad Huebner said. “We made two comebacks and had a walk-off win early. (We had to) keep our heads in the game and get base hits, that’s basically it.”
The Loggers took an early 4-0 lead as Adam Schnarr starting things off with a one-out, two-run single in the first inning. An error by shortstop Kris Walushka allowed Nick Needham to score and started the landslide for the Loggers.
“We made a few errors and put some people up to bat,” Loggers head coach Len Banner said. “We could have got out of the inning with a double play … and then they hit four home runs. That was a tough one.”
With the NAFA Open victory, the Circle Tap Dukes receive a bid into the International Softball Conference World Tournament.
“We are ranked No. 9 as of right now and hopefully we can move up a couple more spots,” Huebner said.
SL 411 110 0– 8 11 2
CT 100 111 5– 9 12 2
Haldane, Lieph (7) and Banner. Manley, Johnson (4) and Peters. W–Manley. L–Lieph. HR- Corbert (2), Sacks (2), Johnson, Delorit, Banner.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Glenn Pursley at (701) 451-5549
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