June 27/28, 2009.****IV ANNUAL STAR6 FOUNDATION MEMORIAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT****RE-CAP

If someone would have told me the 4th Annual Star6 Memorial Softball Tourney Champion would have to win 13 games in two days in 108 degree weather and nearly 95% humidity, I would have told them there is no way that could happen. But it did!! The SOCAL ALLIANCE, a combo team from several Southern California Law Enforcement agencies did just that. Five games in a row on Saturday, then 8 games in a row on Sunday to win the championship against A-1 Towing Hardcore in double dip fashion.



Saturdays round robin was a unique format and called for four games in a row and a fifth game in a row to start a double elimination playoff. All 16 teams played 5 games (in a row) on saturday in extreme weather conditions. Many players said these conditions and amount of games played in a row were the worst weather conditions they had ever played in.

The SCDSA would host a great tourney in some terrible weather. The provided bat format was supplied by Easton's Armondo Acosta who assisted tourney Director Pab'Lito" Gaddis all weekend long. Over 1800 water bottles, 800 Gatorades and over 1000 LBS of ice was used over the course of two days.

After the last games were played on Saturday, there were some big showdowns set for the wnners bracket games across the board. The first game featured the Razorbacks playing a DEA team that would have to have a late rally with a 10 run inning to stave off the host team 12-9. A couple defensive lapses by the Razorbacks and 2 timely Homeruns did the R-Backs in. Sac PD beat the eventual champs, Alliance 18-8 with timely hitting and stellar defense putting them in the losers bracket and making them take the long road to the title. A-1 Towing hardcore played solid all tourney long and there 2nd round game came against the J-Cats who weren't able to pull off the
upset. Harcore would beat DEA and SAC PD Combo and wait in the heat for the Losers bracket Champion.

The losers bracket games had Concord cruising past the punchless Razorbacks 11-2 but concord OSS would be ousted by the resilient CHP ChoirBoys 15-12. Santa Cruz was the team that wouldn't die. played hard all weekend beating stanislaus by 10 then being sent home by the Alliance. Alliance had there first close game in the losers bracket beating DEA 13-8. The heat was taking its toll on the teams but mostly on defense...due to the heat the balls weren't flying out with as much regularity as normal but the homerun hitters were still able to send them out. The Alliance and Aftershock played the game for 4th place and Socal was showing signs they could be ousted with there play in the field. It was hard to watch the games in the heat and humidity let alone play in it. Alliance held on to win 16-11. Sac PD Combo was looking to beat Alliance for the 2nd time in one day. an early lead for Sac evaporated with defensive miscues and some timely hitting by Alliance. Alliance won 9-4 and would have to double dip A-1 Hardcore to win the tourney. The first game was close but won by Alliance. The heat was a huge factor and both teams played with alot of heart and mental toughness. I saw several players dry heaving between innings but continued to play hard. Alliance won game two going away and became the 4th annual Star6 memorial Champion. WELL DONE!!!!!

The 3N2 MVP went to Socal's, George Reyes...going into the championship games Reyes was hitting over .750 with 7 HR's.