Whites Lawncare/Riverdogs go undefeated to capture Men’s Class D Eastern
National Championship

Oklahoma City---The 2007 ASA Men’s Class D Eastern Slow Pitch National Championship was the largest slow pitch national of the season with 117 teams battling for one berth into the Hooters Championship Series, September 28-29, at ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City. Whites Lawncare/Riverdogs of Wake Forest, N.C., managed to maneuver through the bracket unscathed to earn the berth with a perfect 8-0 record.

In the opening round, Whites Lawncare/Riverdogs avoided disaster to hold on for a 17-16 win over Richmond East Moose of Richmond, Va. An early test and a big win may have been just what the guys needed as they cruised through the second round with a 10-4 win over the South Florida Bulls of Coconut Creek, Fla.

The win over the Bulls on Friday night provided the Riverdogs the luxury of resting the majority of the day on Saturday before meeting Santana Banana of Harrisburg, Pa. at 4 p.m. The Riverdogs continued to roll in the third round by posting a 14-10 win over Santana Banana.

Whites Lawncare/Riverdogs were tested once again in the fourth round against Gills Automotive of Manchester, N.H., but survived with a 9-8 win to move into the winner’s bracket quarterfinals. A 19-13 win over Doc’s Softball of Waltehill, Ohio, in the quarterfinals propelled the Riverdogs into the winner’s bracket semi-finals.

A defensive battle ensued in the semi-finals when the Riverdogs faced off with J. Culver Construction of Bridgeville, Del., as both teams were held to their lowest offensive output of the tournament but it was the Riverdogs who found a way to pull out a 7-6 win.

The win over J. Culver Construction advanced the Riverdogs to within two wins of achieving their goal of becoming an ASA National Champion. It was a mismatch in the winner’s bracket finals as the Riverdogs pounded J&R Trucking of Anmoore, W.Va., 22-5 to lock up a spot in the championship final.

J&R Trucking earned a rematch with the Riverdogs after defeating Marty’s Boys/Worth Softball of Plantation, Fla., 8-6, in the loser’s bracket finals. The rematch was once again a mismatch as the Riverdogs dismantled J&R Trucking, 27-4, to take the 2007 Men’s Class D Eastern Slow Pitch National Championship.

With the win, Whites Lawncare/Riverdogs advance to the Hooters Championship Series in Oklahoma City to battle three other teams for the title of “Best of the Best” in the men’s class D division. The Riverdogs open round-robin competition against Lugo’s Heavy Hitters of Mission, Texas who won the Men’s Class D Southern National Championship.

Johnny Baker, Adam Keith and Jeff Parker were selected from the Riverdogs roster as members of the ASA All-Tournament First-Team while teammate David Langston was selected to the All-Tournament Second-Team selection.

This marks the first time a team from North Carolina has advanced in any men’s division to the Hooters Championship Series. Diamond Magic of Pittsboro, N.C., advanced to the 2001 Hooters Championship Series in the Women’s Class D division and S&S/LeBleu of Belews Creek, N.C., also competed in 2001 in the Women’s Class B division.