Hara’s pulls off improbable comeback at the Men’s Class C West
Slow Pitch National Championship

Oklahoma City---When it comes to double-elimination tournaments, a loss in the first round usually spells the beginning of the end for most teams hopes of a title but Hara’s/Casa Group/Worth of Salem, Ore., bucked that theory by winning 11 consecutive games after a first-round loss to capture the 2007 ASA Men’s Class C West Slow Pitch National Championship and a spot in the Hooters Championship Series.

Hara’s dropped into the loser’s bracket after suffering a 17-11 loss to TAI/Elite/Easton of Anaheim, Calif., in its opener on Friday. After pondering the loss overnight, Hara’s began their remarkable run at 8 a.m. through the loser’s bracket where they averaged 20 runs a game.

A 22-8 win over Rallytime RnR of Spokane, Wash., got the Hara train rolling through the competition. Wins over Met Fab of Vancouver, Wash. (15-7), Gametime of Windsor Heights, Iowa (21-6), IRG of Vancouver, Wash. (25-13) and Bucks Softball of Reno, Nev. (21-3), sent Hara’s to Sunday where it would need to win six consecutive games without a break in order to capture the title.

Hara’s looked just as strong on Sunday as it had the previous day. It eliminated Team Imua of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, by posting a 23-11 victory in its first game of the day. Showing no mercy, Hara’s shutout Bend Knights of Bend, Ore., 23-0, before collecting wins over KTI of Seattle, Wash. (24-19) and PAS/APS of Redding, Calif. (24-20), to complete its run through the loser’s bracket.

TAI/Elite/Easton had breezed through the winner’s bracket with a 5-0 record to reach the championship game but would have never guessed Hara’s would be its opponent after knocking them off in the opening game. Hara’s had a much different route and had played twice as many games to just earn a rematch with its nemesis.

In a game filled with emotion and drama, Hara’s kept its hopes alive by holding on for an 11-10 win over TAI/Elite in the first championship game. With the win, Hara’s, who had already played five games on Sunday, got the opportunity at the title by forcing the “if” necessary game.

With adrenaline overriding the exhaustion, Hara’s completed their improbable comeback with an 11-7 win over TAI to earn the right to be called ASA National Champion.

Five of Hara’s players were selected to the All-Tournament first-team including second baseman Ryan Goodman, outfielder Mark Cain, utility player Chris Larsen, utility player Dennis Caldwell and catcher Rick Muranaka. Hara third baseman Chris Bailey was chosen for second team honors.

Hara’s will try to become the first team from the west since SC Rocks of Santa Clarita, Calif., in 2004 to capture the Men’s Class C Hooters Championship Series when it takes on Team Logo from Commerce, Ga., in a best three out of five series. The teams will open the Hooters Championship Series on Friday, September 28 at 9 a.m. CST.