{"id":4202,"date":"2013-08-19T16:55:29","date_gmt":"2013-08-19T16:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/?p=4202"},"modified":"2013-10-15T23:41:12","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T23:41:12","slug":"long-beach-wolfpack%e2%80%99s-hitting-comes-alive-to-take-nafa-championshi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/?p=4202","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach Wolfpack\u2019s hitting comes alive to take &#8220;A&#8221; championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><small>Written by Bob on August 19th, 2013<\/small><\/p>\n<div id=\"awppost_10035\">\n<div id=\"awppage_2_10035\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.celebrate.254web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.celebrate.254web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.celebrate.254web\" width=\"386\" height=\"216\" \/><\/a> <em>The  Long Beach Wolfpack celebrate their 7-3 NAFA A World Series victory  over the Kansas City Outlaws, Sunday, at Urbandale\u2019s Walker-Johnstoton  Softball Complex.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>URBANDALE, IOWA<\/strong> \u2013 Getting shutout doesn\u2019t sit so  well with the Long Beach, California Wolfpack. Especially after  averaging nearly nine runs in reaching the championship game of the NAFA  A World Series with a 5-0 record.<\/p>\n<p>But then they ran into a wall. An 18-year-old wall named Ethan Johnston pitching for the Kansas City Outlaws.<\/p>\n<p>The right-hander from New Zealand who turned 18 in the World Series,  saddled the Wolfpack with a three-hit, 6-0 loss in Sunday\u2019s first  meeting. Now with one loss a piece in the double-knockout tournament,  the two ball clubs played a second game to decide who would wear the  crown of \u201cWorld Series champions.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul><strong>SECOND TIME A CHARM<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>This time around though, Long Beach prevailed as their bats came  alive. The Wolfpack pounded out 12 hits in defeating Johnston and the  Outlaws 7-3 late Sunday at Urbandale\u2019s Walker-Johnston Softball Complex.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think we were pressing in the first game,\u201d said  Wolfpack manager and catcher, Jesse Mullen. \u201cWe were a little too  excited and not relaxed. In the second game, we went in loose and I  think we got to (Johnston\u2019s) rise ball. He had to throw other pitches,  and when he did we were able to hit the ball.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.team_.photo_.286web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.team_.photo_.286web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.team.photo.286web\" width=\"360\" height=\"217\" \/><\/a> <em>The 2013 NAFA A World Series champions, the Wolfpack from Long Beach, California.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack got off to a fast start by plating two runs in the top  of the first. Dave Hess and Steve Parks led off by stroking back-to-back  hits, and then Aaron Breslow and Dave Waco each drove in a run with a  pair of singles.<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack tacked on two more runs in the second on Parks\u2019 RBI double and Joe Janicke\u2019s run-scoring single.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>YSAIS RETURNS TO VICTORY<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Meanwhile, Andrew Ysais went the distance for the Wolfpack, allowing  12 hits. But the Outlaws could manage only a single run in the third and  two in the fifth off the right-hander, who showed good command with a  mix of rise balls, drops and an occasional change-up.<\/p>\n<p>For Ysais, 31, he was just happy to be back playing fastpitch. Health  reasons had forced him from the game for 2 \u00bd years, but he was finally  able to return in early spring.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cIt has been a long road and four months of hard work to  get back,\u201d Ysais said, who once pitched for the USA Junior National  Softball team. \u201cWhen I saw the last out made, it meant a lot to me and I  was super emotional.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As were his teammates.<\/p>\n<p>After the final out, they rushed the mound encircling Ysais in a  group hug, high-fiving and back-slapping each other in grand  celebration.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI\u2019ve never won a national championship,\u201d Mullen said.  \u201cThis was a relief. The Outlaws are a good young ball club and played us  tough in every game.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul><strong>PEREZ HITS GAME-WINNER<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>The two teams met three times in the tournament. In the winners  bracket final, the Wolfpack won 5-4 on third baseman Luis Perez\u2019s  walk-off home run that rocketed 300\u2019 feet over the slow pitch fence in  dead centerfield.<\/p>\n<p>For Perez, this was his second consecutive NAFA championship. He  helped Liberty Fastpitch of California win a title last year, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis was a tougher battle after losing that first game,\u201d Perez said.  \u201cThis is a great feeling and hopefully we can do it again next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul><strong>OUTLAWS FIGHT BACK<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Down 4-0 in the third, the Outlaws got on the board on Tommy  Fernandez\u2019s run-scoring single. And they plated their final two runs in  the fifth. Clay Bowen, Bobby Fisher, Steve Roach and Kyle Newhouse all  singled, with Bowen scoring on an infield out, and Newhouse driving in a  run with a hit to right field.<\/p>\n<p>But the Outlaws could have had three more, except for the greatest  defensive play of the World Series. Tyler Carlton belted a deep fly ball  that appeared to be headed over the centerfield fence for a three-run  homer.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>WILLIE MAYS TYPE CATCH<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>But centerfielder, Aaron Breslow had other ideas. Breslow raced over,  leaped and caught the ball as he crashed into and over the fence,  robbing Carlton of a three-run homer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/outlaws.team_.photo_.299web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/outlaws.team_.photo_.299web.jpg\" alt=\"outlaws.team.photo.299web\" width=\"360\" height=\"241\" \/><\/a> <em>The 2013 NAFA A World Series, runner-up Outlaws from Kansas City, Missouri.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack finished off the Outlaws with two runs in the fourth,  highlighted by Joe Janicke\u2019s two-run homer, with Tom McDougall aboard,  who laid down a perfect bunt that hugged the third base line. And in the  seventh, Breslow scored the final run after getting hit by a pitch,  stealing second and scoring on an error.<\/p>\n<p>Though they lost, player \/ coach Michael Borjas was proud of his  team. A team assembled with former slowpitch players who took some lumps  before jelling as a legitimate NAFA A Division power.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe started off as the worst team in Kansas last year,\u201d he said. \u201cOur record was 15-40 and this year we are 37-12.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul><strong>THE WORKHORSE<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Much of the credit for this dramatic turnaround goes to Johnston, who  pitched all eight of the Outlaws games in finishing 6-2. For his  outstanding performance, he was selected the tournament\u2019s Co-Most  Valuable Pitcher with the Wolfpack\u2019s Debby Day.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.johnston.177web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.johnston.177web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.johnston.177web\" width=\"245\" height=\"350\" \/><\/a> <em>18-year-old Ethan Johnston of New Zealand pitched every inning of the Outlaws eight games in the NAFA A World Series.<\/em>. Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cEthan is a machine,\u201d Borjas said. \u201cIf not for him, we wouldn\u2019t be where we are.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>After the Kansas City was dropped into the losers bracket by Long  Beach in the winners bracket final, they beat Northern Michigan  Fastpitch, 5-2, Sunday morning for return crack at the Wolfpack.<\/p>\n<p>Johnston allowed one earned run on eight hits with seven strikeouts,  while Fisher, Fernandez and Mark Whitworth each drove in a run.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>MOVING\u2019 ON UP<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Because both teams finished at the top of the NAFA A Division, they  are sure to be moved up to at least the A-Major Division for the 2014  World Series. But that\u2019s OK with Borjas.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe beat some good A-Major teams this year, so next year  we will be ready to move up,\u201d he said, adding that Johnston is expected  to return, and hopefully with his older brother Clay, who also pitches,  to give the Outlaws a solid, one-two Kiwi punch in the circle.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul><strong>MVP\u2019s AND ALL-WORLDS<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>Both teams placed several players on the All-World team, with  Johnston sharing the Most Valuable Pitcher award with the Wolfpack\u2019s  Debby Day.<\/p>\n<p>Johnston finished with a 7-1 record in 56 innings, allowing 41 hits  and 13 earned runs for a 1.63 ERA, while walking 13 and striking out 76  batters.<\/p>\n<p>The Wolfpack\u2019s Mullen could only tip his hat to the youngster for his World Series performance.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHe shut down (some) great hitting teams,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s good and he\u2019s going places.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Day, who took the 6-0 loss in Sunday\u2019s first game, had a 4-1 record,  pitched 30 innings, giving up 22 hits and 11 earned runs for a 2.56  ERA, while walking nine and striking out 14.<\/p>\n<p>From the Wolfpack, Dave Waco, Luis Perez and Jesse Mullen were  selected All-World. While the Outlaws\u2019 Bobby Fisher, Tyler Carlton and  Kyle Newhouse were chosen.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.2.trophy.280web.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/ottoinfocus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/wolfpack.2.trophy.280web.jpg\" alt=\"wolfpack.2.trophy.280web\" width=\"216\" height=\"295\" \/><\/a> <em>Wolfpack second baseman Steve Parks admires the 2013 NAFA A World Series Championship trophy.<\/em> Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n<p>And from Northern Michigan Fastpitch who finished third, Guy  Thurston, Randy Wheelock, Tom Tryban and Lee Wyckoff made the team.<\/p>\n<p>Honorable mention went to Clay Bowen of the Outlaw\u2019s, along with Tom McDougall and Dave Hess of the Wolfpack.<\/p>\n<p>And the Most Valuable Player was the Wolfpack shortstop Joe Janicke.<\/p>\n<ul><strong>FINAL-FOUR FINISHERS<\/strong><\/ul>\n<p>1.      Long Beach Wolfpack, 6-1<br \/>\n2.\tKansas City Outlaws, 6-2<br \/>\n3.\tNorthern Michigan Fastpitch, 5-2<br \/>\n4.\tIllinois Stock, 5-2<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Bob on August 19th, 2013 The Long Beach Wolfpack celebrate their 7-3 NAFA A World Series victory over the Kansas City Outlaws, Sunday, at Urbandale\u2019s Walker-Johnstoton Softball Complex. Photo By BOB OTTO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4202"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4336,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4202\/revisions\/4336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nafafastpitch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}