What a Weekend for the Warriors

Seven games. The Resurrection Life Warriors pushed through seven games on Saturday. The team pushed through fatigue and dehydration to win four games and finish third place in the consolation bracket.

It was a great day for softball and the Warriors took advantage with each player getting between 25 and 28 plate appearances. There were several good teams there and Rez Life competed with each team it faced. The class A ASA Church softball state champion Mt. Olivet squad was nearly up-ended by the Warriors in a defensive contest, before Olivet went on to win the entire tournament.

Three players from Rez earned All-tournament honors; Austin Colby who had a sizzling 20-24 day at the plate including 5 doubles, one triple and one homerun; Jamy Antoine who knocked in 15 rbi to lead the team and had two 5+ rbi games including one with a cycle; Jason Merritt who played a great defensive tournament in the outfield and hit .630 on the day.

Game one was a tight contest until Rez blew it open in the top of fifth with six runs en route to a 18-10 victory. Rez opened the game with four runs in the top of the first using singles from Austin, Jason, Andy Briggs, Jamy, Brad Seibert and Lee Valle.

Opponent, Riverof Life, answered with one run in the bottom of the first. The Warriors got that one back after Austin tripled and scored on Jason's rbi single. After shutting River down in the bottom of the second, the Warriors opened things up with four more runs in the top of the third to go up 9-1. Andy, Jamy, and Brad loaded the bases with two singles and a walk with one out. An error allowed one run to score and Jordan Schumack cleared the bases with a deep double to left field.

However, the game was far from over as River of Life erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the third. River had 10 his and used one error to plate the nine runs. Undeterred, Rez plated three more runs to regain the lead in the fourth. Austin doubled and scored on Jason's deep triple. Chris Burr then ripped a double to score Jason. An Eric Johnson single moved Chris to third and a Jamy fly ball scored Chris.

Good defense kept River from scoring in the bottom half and Rez put the game away with six runs in the final inning. With one walk, Jordan and Jeff Johnson drew walks and after the second out, the offense really got it going. Austin singled to score two and Jason reached on an error to score another one. Chris singled to plate two more and Eric provided the big blow, ripping a triple to plate Chris. A wild throw allowed Eric to score on the play to end the inning's scoring.

River went down quickly and Rez started the day 1-0. Austin earned Player of the Game honors with a 4-4 game, four runs scored, two rbi, a double and a triple.

Mt. Olivet beat Rez in the second game, 9-3, as both defenses played very well. Olivet scored four runs in the first and Rez bounced back with two runs in the top of the third. Jordan singled, Jeff doubled to put runners at second and third for Austin who lined out to right-field to score Jordan. Jason singled to plate Jeff and make it 4-2.

Olivet added one run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-2 heading into the sixth. The Warriors missed their best chance in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded without scoring. With one out, Austin singled and moved to second as Jason reached on an error. Eric singled to load the bases but Andy flew out to left to end the threat. Olivet then opened the game up with four runs in the bottom half.

Rez added one run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough. Jamy singled and eventually came around to score on Jeff's sac fly. Jeff earned Player of the Game with a double, run scored and rbi.

Game three was a bit of a letdown, as the Warriors kind of coasted after the tough loss to Olivet and fell to an inferior team 8-7. Crossroads scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game and push the Warriors from the 10 seed to the 12 seed in the consolation bracket.

The team had a tough game getting the big hit, stranding 16 runners in seven innings. Andy Briggs had four hits and Adam Hey earned his first Player of the Game with a perfect 3-3 day with two rbi. Jamy added two rbi during the game and Austin, Eric and Lee all had two hits.

In the first game of the consolation bracket, Rez manhandled TLC 20-5. Austin opened the game with an inside-the-park homerun. Jason singled and moved to second on a single from Andy and came home on Eric's single. After an out, Brad singled to load the bases and Lee singled to plate Andy. Jordan lofted a sac fly to score the fourth run of the inning.

TLC pushed one across in the bottom half and Rez added four more runs in the top of the second to go up 8-1. Jamy had a two-run double and Brad had a two-rbi single in the inning.

TLC made it close in the top of the second, taking advantage of three walks while scoring three runs. Both teams went scoreless in the third and Rez opened up the lead with four runs in the fourth. Lee, Jordan, Adam and Austin provided the rbi in the inning.

TLC didn't score in the bottom half and Jamy drove a blast into the right-center gap for a homerun. TLC again went scoreless in the fifth and Rez racked up seven more runs in the sixth. Jamy again provided the big blow with a huge bases-loaded triple to give him six rbi on the day en route to Player of the Game honors. He finished 4-5 with 4 runs, 6 rbi and a single, double, triple and a homerun.

Jason, Brad and Lee all had four hits in the game too while Austin and Eric added three apiece.

Game five of the day was against RAGS and it was a much closer contest. Rez won 10-7 but stranded 10 runners in the game. The first inning was all Rez needed as the team scored six runs on seven hits and a walk. Jason mashed the shot of the tournament with a deep drive over the left-fielders head for an rbi triple. The Warriors added two more runs in the second on singles from Eric, Jamy, Brad and Lee.

Leading just 8-6 going into the bottom of the fifth, Rez added two insurance runs. Lee singled and after a forceout Jeff drove a triple to score Jordan. Austin singled to score Jeff and make it 10-6. RAGS added one run in the sixth, but that was it and Rez held on 10-7.

Lee captured Player of the Game with three hits, a run and three rbi.

That was the end of the magic for a while as the Warriors fell in the consolation semi-finals 14-7 to eventual consolation champions Real Life.

Although the team had 16 hits and drew one walk, it was only able to score 7 runs. Austin snagged POG again with three hits, two runs, on rbi and a double.

The final game of the day was a fun one, as Rez dominated 13-0 from start to finish. Life Fest managed just two hits in the game while Rez mashed out 20. Three guys had four hits in the game, Austin, Eric and Jamy with Eric earning his first Player of the Game of the tournament. He also had two rbi on the day.

While each player had his highs and lows on the day, everyone got plenty of exercise and enjoyed their shower when they got home. Austin was able to win Tournament MVP for the second straight year hitting .833 while scoring 14 runs while driving home nine.

The team's record is now 15-8 (11-5 league-only) on the season with two games left. The big game is Thursday at 5:50 on field #3 versus Life. Life is 12-4 and a Rez Life victory gives the team the tie-breaker for second place.