June 17, 2008

Chalk Up Another One for the Ol' Sport

Led by the pitching and hitting of Dan Wall, Wilber Lime of Galesville went unbeaten at 4-0 and won their fifth

overall championship in the 30^th annual Rice Lake Aquafest Invitational Men’s Fastpitch Softball Tournament. 

At the helm of the Wilber Lime squad, as he was in the previous title years of 1986, 87, 88, 2000, and 2004, was

Hall of Fame Manager John “Sporty” Salsman, who at age 88 has no plans to step down from his position.

American Solutions for Business of Villard, Minnesota finished runner-up in the ten-team event, battling Wilber

to the wire in the first championship game before succumbing, 5-4.

Salsman’s team opened tourney play with a 1-0 win over Jordan Realty of West Saint Paul and their dominating

right handed hurler Kevin Kammueller and followed up by rallying to knock off defending Invitational champion

New Image of Monfort, 3-2.  A 4-2 victory over ASB-Villard in the winner’s bracket final set the stage for the

championship game rematch between the squads.

ASB began its competition by downing L-X of La Crosse, 7-4, then came from four back, scoring five 7^th inning

runs to turn back Pate Bonding of West Saint Paul, 9-8.  A 4-3 triumph over Jordan Realty propelled Villard to

the title clash.

The Jordan club claimed third place honors and New Image was fourth.

Two local teams were in the 2008 field.  The Rice Lake Orangemen were defeated in the tournament’s opening

game by Sawdust City of Eau Claire, 13-6.  The Orangemen were eliminated by Herda and Sons Seal Coating of

Waverly, Minnesota 3-2 despite the stellar pitching performance of 16-year old Max Loew.  Top of the Ladder,

an 11^th hour substitute after the entry from Farmington, Wisconsin withdrew, fell victim to the perfect game

offerings of Kammueller 12-0 and were eliminated by L-X 8-0.

The 2008 All-Tournament team consisted of infielders Jason Bohl, Sawdust City, Zach Goring, ASB-Villard,

Brent Holman, New Image, and Jerrell Graham, Jordan Realty; outfielders Dustin Lenz, L-X of La Crosse along

with Chris Duda and 16-year old Nathaniel Albers, both of ASB-Villard, designated batter Jeff Killian, Wilber

Lime, and catcher Steve Hovel, Wilber Lime.  Pitchers named were Kevin Kammeuller, Jordan Realty and Dan

Wall, Wilber Lime.

Wall, who in addition to being the pitcher of record in all four of Wilber’s wins, connected for three home runs

including a three-run blast in the opening inning of the championship game.  He was named the tournament’s

Most Valuable Player.

       Game Results