Storm/Bosch Financial takes long road to 2007 ASA Men’s Class D Northern title

Oklahoma City---With 65 teams competing for the title at the ASA Men’s Class D Northern National Championship in Topeka, Kan., two teams would have to play an extra game before the other 63 teams even get started. Storm/Bosch Financial of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Hatalla Flooring of Virden, Ill., were the lucky teams who drew the pigtail game of the championship.

Storm/Bosch Financial didn’t seem to be fazed by the extra game and cruised to an easy 16-6 win over Hatalla Flooring. With one game already under their belts, Storm/Bosch Financial played their second game of the night and that resulted in a 13-7 win over Volvo Rents of Shakopee, Minn.

With two wins on the opening night, Storm/Bosch Financial got to rest on Saturday before facing Bad Habit of Wichita, Kan., at 4:45 p.m. In its closest game of the tournament, Storm/Bosch Financial topped Bad Habit, 13-10, to keep its unblemished record intact.

A 6-2 win over Burton Drywall of Arcola, Ill., advanced Storm/Bosch Financial into the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket where it emerged with a 12-8 win over Beaver Softball of Waterloo, Iowa.

In the semi-finals of the winner’s bracket Storm/Bosch Financial continued its run with a 17-11 win over Hat Trikz/Ink Monster/Povs of Blaine, Minn., to take its place in the winner’s bracket finals.

An 8-4 win over Labor Pro’s of Topeka, Kan., in the winner’s bracket finals left Storm/Bosch Financial as the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

While Storm/Bosch Financial breezed through the winner’s bracket, Mississippi Heat of Columbus, Miss., was working its way through the loser’s bracket in hopes of earning a spot in the championship game. Nine wins later the Heat found itself in the championship game against Storm/Bosch Financial.

In the championship game, Mississippi Heat put up a valiant fight but Storm/Bosch Financial was too much and came away with a 20-16 win and the championship title at the Men’s Class D Northern National Championship.

The win earned Storm/Bosch Financial a trip to the Hooters Championship Series in Oklahoma City to compete against three other teams that won the ASA National Championship in their respective area. Storm/Bosch Financial will face 3 Legged Monkeys of South El Monte, Calif., in their opening game of round-robin competition.

Six players from the Storm/Bosch Financial earned first-team All-Tournament accolades and three were selected to the second team. Players selected to the first-team were Ryan Bosch, Joel Ondler, Scott Farlow, David Kahler, Matt Donner and Ryan Risetter. The players selected to the second team were Chad Bosch, Brett Lerch and Scott Whechter.

Mississippi Heat’s Chris Harris was the Batting Champion after playing 12 games.