The Young Realtors Champs: Kneeling (left to right) Bill Cheney, Dave Lingen, Randy Neumann, Mgr. Mike Gloyd, Wes Reynolds, Mike Willits and Chuck Schaan; standing (left to right) Dick Bleich, Mike Otman, Gary Hatch, Steve Hilby, Tom Kasunic, Bill Corso and Dirk Close (photo by Core Photography)
Larry Wolfe
A modified double-elimination tournament was held after the close of the Sun Division Winter League season. The three-day event featured many close and exciting games, especially on the final day of play.
In the opening game, the Brenden Financial Planning Services team, managed and sponsored by Ken Brenden, came from six runs down in the final inning to beat the State Farm Insurance squad 14-13. The State Farm club was managed by John Whitman and sponsored by the Ralph Vasquez Agency. Randy Neumann led the Insurers, going four for four with three doubles while Doug Friesen went four for four for the Planners. In the second game, the Young Realty team, managed by Mike Gloyd and sponsored by Terry and Susan Young, beat the Real Estate Rustlers, managed and sponsored by Jim Leckner, by a 20-12 score. Sam Giordano led the Young Realtors with four hits, while Tim Loeffler and Mike Otman banged out three hits apiece for the Rustlers. It was a tight contest until the final inning when the Realtors piled on seven runs to take a commanding lead.
On the second day of play, the State Farm club eked out a 15-14 win over the Rustlers, eliminating them from the tournament. The Insurers launched seven home runs in that game, with Kim Whitney and Dan Melosi each clubbing two. Manager Leckner led his team with three hits. In game two, the Young Realtors bested Brenden’s Planners by a 20-8 score. Mike Willits led the way for the Realtors with four hits, while Sam Giordano had four for the Planners.
On the third and final day of the tourney, Brenden’s boys nudged the State Farm team 11-10, coming from behind again in a thrilling down-to-the-wire contest. Larry Kaufmann and Mark McKinnon both clubbed two homers for the winners, while Billy Kee led the losers with three hits. That game eliminated State Farm and set up the championship game between Brenden’s boys and the Young Realtors. Brenden’s team jumped out to an early 12-3 lead, but the Young Realtors kept pecking away and eventually took the game and the tournament championship with an 18-15 victory. The victors smacked six home runs, with Steve Hilby and Mike Otman both hitting two out of the park. Mark McKinnon hit two for the losing squad.