A-1 Golfers: Kneeling (left to right): Wayne Newman, Dennis Bernaiche, Vern Rodgers, and Mike Willits; standing (left to right): Bill Gaston, Bill Mccoy, Dan Ziccarelli, Mgr. Dennis Kennedy, Dave Boone, Doug Warwick, and Don Scoggins
Larry Wolfe
In the opening game of the Lakes Division Spring Tournament, Manager Chris Jensen’s Core Consulting team outlasted Manager Tom Erpelding’s Skyview Digital Media squad 24-20. In a well-balanced attack, eight Consultants had three hits each, with Tim Loeffler adding a homerun. Ken Brenden was the leading hitter for the Drones, going 4 for 5.
In a low-scoring contest, Manager Dennis Kennedy’s number-one seeded A-1 Golf Carts club edged Manager Gary Hillabolt’s Young Home Team Realtors 7-6. Five players for the Golfers had two hits each, with Dennis Bernaiche adding an inside-the-park homerun. Gene Granquist led the Realtors with three safeties.
A-1 found their hitting shoes on day two of the tourney, banging out 23 hits and scoring 16 runs to top Core Consulting 16-7. Dennis Bernaiche led the way, going 4 for 4. Larry Maggard had three hits for the losers.
The Young Home Team scored 10 runs in the final inning enroute to a 24-11 drubbing of Skyview Digital Media in game four. Manager Hillabolt led the way, going 5 for 5. Dennis Colbert, Doug Friesen, and Joe Matras all had four hits.
In another tight contest, Core Consulting scored the winning run on Dave Kratz’s sacrifice fly in the final inning of a 9-8 game. Charlie Alley and Dan Malachuk had three hits each for the winners, including two ringing triples by Alley. Doug Friesen had three hits, including a long triple, for the Realtors.
In the championship game, A-1 showed that their number-one seed was, indeed, justified by beating Core Consulting 15-12. Bill McCoy paced the winners with four hits, including a double and triple, while Dan Malachuk had four hits for the Consultants. After winning the regular season pennant, the A-1 Golfers went 3-0 in the tourney to cap off a great season.
Top hitters in the tournament were Gene Granquist (.889), Vern Rodgers (.818), Doug Friesen (.813), Ken Brenden (.778), and Joe Matras and Doug Warwick (both at .750).
Congratulations to Manager Kennedy and the entire A-1 team!