MST pitcher takes the throw at second as the Turbulance runner slides in safe. Smedes photo.

SPARKS, NV - The third annual DSS Bats tournament, sanctioned by ASA of Nevada, played host to eight teams in the men’s ‘D’ and ten teams in the men’s ‘E’ divisions at the Don Mello Sports Complex in Sparks on May 13th under beautiful blue skies and hot temperatures. The action on the field was as hot as the weather as some of Northern Nevada’s best battled for the championship hardware in this increasingly popular event.

The ‘E’ division action had one team that was able to post a perfect tournament record. The Reno Dirty Birds recorded an unblemished 5-0 mark and included a wild back and forth championship final over runner up Here Comes the Boom. The Dirty Birds were able to hold off a valiant HCTB squad and post a dramatic 19-18 victory that saw HCTB score 13 runs in the last two innings, including eight in the seventh inning. HCTB was within a single hit of tying the ’Birds when their furious rally fell one run short. HCTB finished with a 4-2 tournament record. Third place went to BFC-2 who posted a 3-2 record. The Dirty Birds’ Neil Horning garnered MVP honors as teammates Steve Fuzfa, Chris Beaver, Brian Dugon and Josh Damon were awarded all tourney selections. HCTB all tournament selections went to Eric Dalberg, Travis Simpson, Nick Crawford and John Phillips. The all tournament team also included Curt Aberlee and Riley Killingsworth from Team BFC-2.

In the ‘D’ division, two of Northern Nevada’s heavyweights found their way to the championship round and played two to settle the score. MST and Arsenal played a fantastic championship game that MST would have to win to force an ‘if’ game. MST jumped out to an early 8-2 lead after two innings. Arsenal pushed across three in the third and four more in the fifth to take a 9-8 lead. The Arsenal defense that kept MST off the scoreboard since the second inning was unable to hold off a MST rally that saw them score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 10-9 lead. Arsenal was not able to generate any offense in the seventh and their championship hopes were dashed by the game MST squad.

The ‘if’ game was anti-climatic as MST bolted to a 16-0 lead after three turns at bat and pounded out a 28-5 five inning demolishing over the boys from Gardnerville. MST scored in every inning of the ‘if’ game including nine runs in the fifth to seal the title for the local Sparks favorites.

The MVP award went to Derek Cordell from MST and all tournament selections for MST were given to Matt Sign, Tony McNeal, Keith Girardot and Matt McHenry. Arsenal’s Eddie Zinda, Kenney Nicoll, Billy Nickerson and Timmy Davis placed on the all tourney team while Randy Loff and Phill Morelli from Turbulance round out the all tournament team.