ORANGEMEN FALL ONE GAME SHORT

            The championship run of the Rice Lake Orangemen in the North American Fastpitch Association Continental Championship Class A tournament fell one game short, as the Orangemen lost to Black Oak Casino of Sonora, California 9-1 in the “if necessary” championship game.  The game became necessary after the Black Oak team posted a 6-2 win in the first championship contest.  The Rice Lake team had defeated the California club by the identical 6-2 score in the winner’s bracket final, forcing Black Oak into the loser’s bracket finale where they defeated Waterdown of Hamilton, Ontario to advance to the title games set.

            The Orangemen rode the pitching of Larry Cushman and Dave Maxon to six straight wins and a shot at the championship of the 54 team event, staged at Salem, Oregon.  But the Orangemen’s run ended in the first championship game.  A two run home run by Bill Erickson and the two for four performance of playing manager Scott Musolf was not enough in the loss, saddling Cushman with his only loss in the tourney.  Mark Paulsrud’s home run was the lone Rice Lake tally in the “if” game, with Musolf going two for three.  Maxon was losing pitcher.

            Cushman’s no-hitter lifted the Orangemen past JRW & Associates of Yakima, Washington, 7-0, in the tourney opener.  Erickson and Paulsrud both went two for three, and Tim Hall contributed a triple.

            Maxon followed with a 2-hitter in an 8-1 win over the Patriots of Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania.  Dave Lay and Jason Ellingson each went two for three, while Maxon and Hall both added doubles.

            The Orangemen then pulled an upset over the pre-tournament favorite Las Vegas Hitmen, 7-3, with Cushman in the pitching circle and Hall homering.  Musolf went two for three, and Paulsrud and Doug Kucko each going two for four.

            Rice Lake went eight innings to win its fourth straight game, 5-4, over another Pennsylvania team, the Lancaster Merchants.  Maxon started the game, gave way to Cushman, then re-entered to hit the game-tying home run in the 7^th and eventually got the pitching win on Hall’s game-winning RBI one inning later.  Hall was three for four for the game, including a triple, and Troy Lessman homered.

            The Orangemen’s ride continued with a 5-3 win over New Image, a Wisconsin team from Montfort.  Cushman was the winning pitcher and Lessman batted two for three.

            Maxon was the star in the win over Black Oak Casino, getting the pitching win and hitting a home run, double, and single in three trips.  Hall slammed a three run homer, while Lessman stayed hot, belting two home runs.  In the win, the Orangemen lost centerfielder Lay, who broke his wrist while chasing a home run ball over a temporary fence.

            Five Orangemen were named to the all-tournament team:  pitchers Cushman and Maxon, second baseman Lessman, shortstop Hall, and outfielder Paulsrud.

            Also playing for the Orangemen were Mike Kuehl, Arron Manecke, Greg Randle, and Dave Gutsch.

            The North American Championships in Salem also included the Class AA and AAA tournaments, won by The Sting of Sebringville, Ontario and All-Seasons of Allenton, Pennsylvania respectively.  The Orangemen are expected to move up to Class AA next season when the tournament comes to Wisconsin, with the cities of Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire serving as co-hosts.