By Rob Potter
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — August 10, 2010 — Ronny’s Ringers won the annual White Sulphur Springs Fire Department Softball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Gary A. Bradley Field at the White Sulphur Springs Firemen’s Park.
And the team did so in perhaps the most difficult way possible. After losing its first game on Saturday morning to Matthew’s on Main in the 14-team, double-elimination tourney, Ronny’s Ringers won its next seven games – including six games in a row on Sunday – to earn the first place trophy.
Following a 6-0 win over Neversink Fire Department in the loser’s bracket final on Sunday afternoon, Ronny’s Ringers defeated Darder’s Stoneworks, 12-3, in the first possible championship game to give Darder’s Stoneworks its first loss of the tourney. Then in the “if” game, Ronny’s Ringers topped Darder’s Stoneworks, 19-7, to win the championship. The game ended after six innings due to the tourney’s 10-run mercy rule.
“These guys played with all heart the last two games,” said Ron Canfield, who founded Ronny’s Ringers several years ago and served as the team’s Player/Coach for many seasons. “They dug down deep and played well.”
With the second title game tied at 2-2, Ronny’s Ringers took the lead for good with by scoring eight runs in the top of the second inning. Kyle Rizzi led off with a single and scored on a base hit by Paul Schwatz. Later in the inning, Drew Boandal had an RBI single and Justin Collins hit a three-run triple to help Ronny’s Ringers grab a 10-2 advantage.
Darder’s Stoneworks answered with five runs in the bottom of the second. Aaron Dinkel and Orion Darder hit RBI singles as Darder’s Stoneworks pulled to within three runs at 10-7.
Ronny’s Ringers stretched its lead to 16-7 in the top of the fourth. The key hits in the frame were John Meyer’s three-run triple and Kyle Rizzi’s RBI double.
Ronny’s Ringers closed out the scoring in the top of the sixth. Scott Beilman led off with a single and Boandal followed with a two-run, inside-the-park home run to deep center field.
Darder’s Stoneworks put two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. But Ronny’s Ringers pitcher Frank Bannan got the next batter to fly out to end the game.
In the first championship game, Darder’s Stoneworks grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Corey VanKeuren crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Steve Mussa and Mike Mann scored on a single by R.J. Rosa.
But Ronny’s Ringers took a 4-2 advantage in the top of the third. Beilman hit a two-run single, Boandal had an RBI triple and Collins hit a sacrifice fly.
Ronny’s Ringers added three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to extend its lead to 12-2.
Darder’s Stoneworks scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Dez Williams belted a solo home run over the left-center field fence.
John Meyer of Ronny’s Ringers, who had many timely hits and made some great defensive plays at shortstop, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
“The Darder’s [Stoneworks] team is a great bunch of guys,” said George Muller of Ronny’s Ringers. “But our guys played some great games and never quit.”
Muller credited the Ronny’s Ringers pitchers – Bannan, Reggie Bunnell and Rizzi – with being a big reason the team was able to rebound from its opening game loss and win the tourney.
“Frank [Bannan] pitched three wonderful games,” Muller said. “Kyle Rizzi didn’t allow a walk in our second game against Matthew’s on Main, which we came back to win after being down two runs in the fifth inning. Reggie Bunnell pitched two great games today and one yesterday.”
Ronny’s Ringers Player/Coach Shawn Canfield praised his teammates for the way they played the entire tournament.
“We definitely gutted it out,” he said. “We had several guys who were hurt, but they kept going out on the field and playing hard. We had good hitting and our pitchers were great. It was just an overall great team effort.”
In addition to Ronny’s Ringers (first place), Darder’s Stoneworks (second place) and Neversink FD (third place), the other teams in the tournament included: American Electric, Davis Excavating, Fat Boy’z Deli & Grill, Hotel Clair, Kohler Lumber, Live Bait Bar & Grill, Manor House of Furniture and Appliances, Matthew’s on Main, North Branch, Stone Arch Inn and Swan Lake FD.
“It was a good tournament and we had good weather,” said Mike Black, a member of the White Sulphur Springs FD who served as the Tournament Director. “All of these players went out and gave it their all for the full 27 games.”
While many of the tournament games were played at Bradley Field, several were played at the Swan Lake Firefighters’ Max Eronimous Field.