ENUMCLAW, WA - On October 8th and 9th ten teams entered to play in the Washington ISA men’s ‘D’ Championship which was held at the Boise Creek Park in Enumclaw, Washington. All-Star Ford came out of the loser’s bracket to take the championship by beating team XXX 11-10.

In this double elimination tournament All-Star Ford first faced off against the Roughnecks and won 25-1. In their second game on Saturday they went up against Poppas Hitman and just as the game was ending the sky opened up and the rains came, but not before All-Star Ford won the game 23-12.

When Sunday morning arrived the weather was perfect and the grounds crew was able to get most of the fields in playing condition, even though game times had to be pushed back because of the rain outs on Saturday. Most of the teams were happy just to play. With All-Star Ford already 2-0 they were ready to face the other undefeated team, XXX, who beat Island Boyz 17-13 and Jail Break 15-8. Both teams had played good ball all weekend and they hoped it would continue because the winner would advance to the championship game and the loser would have to fight their way back through the loser’s bracket. When the game got underway it looked like it would be a low scoring game as the infielders for both teams made some great plays to keep runs from scoring. Then all of a sudden players from both teams started hitting the ball. Inning after inning neither team was able to get more than a one run lead but XXX was able to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the seventh and they were able to hold All-Star Ford scoreless to win the game and advance to the title game. All-Star Ford dropped to the loser’s bracket to face Clearview Glass in a loser’s out game. The All-Star Ford players shrugged off their loss to XXX and were able to win a tough game against Clearview Glass 18-15 and a chance to face XXX in the championship game. All-Star Ford needed to beat XXX twice to take the title. XXX came out and put up five runs in the first inning, but their opponents were not fazed by it, scoring three runs of their own. Both teams looked like they were able to score runs at will but All-Star Ford was able to finally take the lead and hold on to a 18-15 win and force the ‘If’ game; they were on a roll and the players knew that. All-Star Ford was able to get on the board first with four runs but XXX scored three runs of their own. By the third inning both teams had reached the home run limit and all the players knew they had to keep the ball in the park or it would be an inning ending out. With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh All-Star Ford was able to score the winning run to take the championship. Both teams deserve a lot of credit; they played three tough games against one another but on this day All-Star Ford was crowned state champs. Clearview Glass and Northwest Lining came in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Steve McCormick of All-Star Ford was named tournament MVP. Andy Ashlock, Bob Close and Danny Connell also of All-Star Ford made the all-tournament team. Other all-tournament honors went to Kenny Jackson, Jason Mayes and Todd Biddell from XXX. Chris Androscko and Matt Dolan of Clearview Glass also made the all-tournament team.