Street Kids Win Second Straight
Fall City Tournament
After walking in breat cancer awareness event in morning, SKS
win Mishawaka Fall City Tournament at Rose Park
Fall City Tournament
After walking in breat cancer awareness event in morning, SKS
win Mishawaka Fall City Tournament at Rose Park
Game by Game Results:
Game 1 vs. YMFT, WON: 19-6
Game 2 vs. Balls Deep, WON: 18-8
Game 3 vs. Press Box, WON: 25-20
Game 4 vs. Balls Deep, WON: 14-9
Game 1 vs. YMFT, WON: 19-6
Game 2 vs. Balls Deep, WON: 18-8
Game 3 vs. Press Box, WON: 25-20
Game 4 vs. Balls Deep, WON: 14-9
Outfielder Shane Varga made only one out on his way to being named the 2007 Mishawaka Fall City Tournament MVP
on Saturday. SKS went undefeated and won for the second straight year.
on Saturday. SKS went undefeated and won for the second straight year.
Mishawaka, IN-
After joining thousands of people in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday
morning, the Street Kids/Tanel/TPS softball team came to the 2007 Mishawaka Fall City Tournament
with hopes of repeating last years actions, where they walked in the 2006 Breast Cancer event, then
went on to win the Fall City Tournament. On Saturday, they did just that, defeating the same team in
the finals as they did in 2006.
Shane Varga was nearly perfect as he helped lead the SKS team to their second straight Fall City
championship and their sixth tournament win of the season. Varga batted .929 with four home runs and
13 rbi, while also hitting two doubles, a triple and walking three times. For his efforts, he was named
the tournament most valuable player. Lanny Fisher was almost as good, batting .800 for the day and
having another flawless day on the mound.
"We did this last year, going 5-0 and beating some good teams to do it," said Fisher. "It was nice to
beat Balls Deep in this tournament twice, just as we did last year. They're a pretty good team."
Chris Firebaugh played outstanding defense up the middle, making diving catches all day, and was
steady at the plate as well, batting .667 with a team high 14 runs batted in. Nick Bishop and Tony
Hardiman also contributed both at the plate and on the field.
In the first game against YMFT, the team played without centerfielder Joe Horvath, who was serving a
one game suspension for throwing his bat in last Thursday's league game. The Kids never missed a
beat, though, as they rolled past YMFT 19-6.
In game two, the Kids would square off against Balls Deep, which featured many players from the
Brew Crew team from the Elkhart area. After being down 7-0 early, SKS battled back and won 18-8.
There was a lot of trash talking going on between both teams throughout the game, and it seemed to
hurt the Balls Deep team, as they struggled both defensivley and at the plate. SKS outscored them
18-1 after the second inning.
"They made some comments about our pink shirts, which none of us took too kindly," said TJ
Jorgensen, who's mother Judi - a breast cancer survivor - watched from the bench. "I'm sure it was
just the intensity of the game, and the fact that they were screwing up on the field, but we obviously
care enough about what we did before the tournament and thats why we wore our pink jerseys, to
show support of breast cancer awareness."
Jorgensen spoke to one member of Balls Deep after the game, who stated the comment was not
directed at his mother nor the team.
"I was just frustrated at the way we were playing," the slick fielding shortstop said. "I have all the
respect for Street Kids for what they do off the field."
After beating Balls Deep, the Kids advanced to the semifinals of the tournament and faced a very
talented Press Box team. Both teams played outstanding and after a late game rally, the Kids put Press
Box away 25-20. Balls Deep would win their next two games to reach the finals from the losers
bracket and face SKS in a rematch. Balls Deep would have to beat the Kids twice in order to win the
tournament.
In the third inning, trailing 5-2, Lanny Fisher hit a solo home run to bring the Kids within two runs.
After Balls Deep scored three run in the top of the fourth, making it 8-3, SKS answered back in the
bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on a three run home run by Jason Fowler and a two run shot by
Jorgensen.
Then, with the game tied at eight, SKS got hot. Tony Hardiman hit a solo home run, followed shortly
after by Varga's fourth home run of the day, a two run shot. After singles by Nick Bishop and Chris
Firebaugh, utility infielder Danny Fleming was due up as he came into the game for defense, replacing
Hank Minix in the lineup.
"Normally in those situations, you want to re-enter Hank to hit," said Jorgensen. "But the big guy was
struggling today and I had to make a quick decision, so I let Danny hit."
Fleming, who came into the tournament with the lowest batting average on the team, came through in
the biggest spot of the tournament, connecting for a three run home run, just his third of the season, and
gave the Kids some breathing room late in the game.
"I was ready if they needed me to hit," said Fleming, who has stood by the team all year as a reserve,
filling holes here and there. "I was just trying to drive the ball to the right side and move the runners
around, but I got just enough under it to get it out of the park."
"I like to tell Danny that he's my fix-it guy," said Jorgensen. "Whenever we get a flat tire on our way to
our goal, he's there to fix the flat. He may not start too many games, but he's there to help us when we
need him."
The Kids would end up beating Balls Deep, 14-9 and win the City Tournament, despite a drunk
escapee from the local mental institution, who continued to heckle Street Kids throughout the game.
The Kids just ignored the obviously unintelligent jealous person, and went on to play ball.
"I think that was even more impressive than Danny coming off the bench to hit that home run," said
Nick Bishop. "The way we didn't respond to the guys comments or let it effect us on the field. If
anything, it probably effected them (Balls Deep)."
The Kids (136-29 overall, 60-20 in tournaments) will play in one more tournament next weekend in
Monon, Indiana in the annual Wagner Tournament, to help raise money for a player who passed away.
The Kids have four more games of league play on Mondays and one more playoff game against - who
else - Balls Deep this Thursday at Rose Park.
After joining thousands of people in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday
morning, the Street Kids/Tanel/TPS softball team came to the 2007 Mishawaka Fall City Tournament
with hopes of repeating last years actions, where they walked in the 2006 Breast Cancer event, then
went on to win the Fall City Tournament. On Saturday, they did just that, defeating the same team in
the finals as they did in 2006.
Shane Varga was nearly perfect as he helped lead the SKS team to their second straight Fall City
championship and their sixth tournament win of the season. Varga batted .929 with four home runs and
13 rbi, while also hitting two doubles, a triple and walking three times. For his efforts, he was named
the tournament most valuable player. Lanny Fisher was almost as good, batting .800 for the day and
having another flawless day on the mound.
"We did this last year, going 5-0 and beating some good teams to do it," said Fisher. "It was nice to
beat Balls Deep in this tournament twice, just as we did last year. They're a pretty good team."
Chris Firebaugh played outstanding defense up the middle, making diving catches all day, and was
steady at the plate as well, batting .667 with a team high 14 runs batted in. Nick Bishop and Tony
Hardiman also contributed both at the plate and on the field.
In the first game against YMFT, the team played without centerfielder Joe Horvath, who was serving a
one game suspension for throwing his bat in last Thursday's league game. The Kids never missed a
beat, though, as they rolled past YMFT 19-6.
In game two, the Kids would square off against Balls Deep, which featured many players from the
Brew Crew team from the Elkhart area. After being down 7-0 early, SKS battled back and won 18-8.
There was a lot of trash talking going on between both teams throughout the game, and it seemed to
hurt the Balls Deep team, as they struggled both defensivley and at the plate. SKS outscored them
18-1 after the second inning.
"They made some comments about our pink shirts, which none of us took too kindly," said TJ
Jorgensen, who's mother Judi - a breast cancer survivor - watched from the bench. "I'm sure it was
just the intensity of the game, and the fact that they were screwing up on the field, but we obviously
care enough about what we did before the tournament and thats why we wore our pink jerseys, to
show support of breast cancer awareness."
Jorgensen spoke to one member of Balls Deep after the game, who stated the comment was not
directed at his mother nor the team.
"I was just frustrated at the way we were playing," the slick fielding shortstop said. "I have all the
respect for Street Kids for what they do off the field."
After beating Balls Deep, the Kids advanced to the semifinals of the tournament and faced a very
talented Press Box team. Both teams played outstanding and after a late game rally, the Kids put Press
Box away 25-20. Balls Deep would win their next two games to reach the finals from the losers
bracket and face SKS in a rematch. Balls Deep would have to beat the Kids twice in order to win the
tournament.
In the third inning, trailing 5-2, Lanny Fisher hit a solo home run to bring the Kids within two runs.
After Balls Deep scored three run in the top of the fourth, making it 8-3, SKS answered back in the
bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on a three run home run by Jason Fowler and a two run shot by
Jorgensen.
Then, with the game tied at eight, SKS got hot. Tony Hardiman hit a solo home run, followed shortly
after by Varga's fourth home run of the day, a two run shot. After singles by Nick Bishop and Chris
Firebaugh, utility infielder Danny Fleming was due up as he came into the game for defense, replacing
Hank Minix in the lineup.
"Normally in those situations, you want to re-enter Hank to hit," said Jorgensen. "But the big guy was
struggling today and I had to make a quick decision, so I let Danny hit."
Fleming, who came into the tournament with the lowest batting average on the team, came through in
the biggest spot of the tournament, connecting for a three run home run, just his third of the season, and
gave the Kids some breathing room late in the game.
"I was ready if they needed me to hit," said Fleming, who has stood by the team all year as a reserve,
filling holes here and there. "I was just trying to drive the ball to the right side and move the runners
around, but I got just enough under it to get it out of the park."
"I like to tell Danny that he's my fix-it guy," said Jorgensen. "Whenever we get a flat tire on our way to
our goal, he's there to fix the flat. He may not start too many games, but he's there to help us when we
need him."
The Kids would end up beating Balls Deep, 14-9 and win the City Tournament, despite a drunk
escapee from the local mental institution, who continued to heckle Street Kids throughout the game.
The Kids just ignored the obviously unintelligent jealous person, and went on to play ball.
"I think that was even more impressive than Danny coming off the bench to hit that home run," said
Nick Bishop. "The way we didn't respond to the guys comments or let it effect us on the field. If
anything, it probably effected them (Balls Deep)."
The Kids (136-29 overall, 60-20 in tournaments) will play in one more tournament next weekend in
Monon, Indiana in the annual Wagner Tournament, to help raise money for a player who passed away.
The Kids have four more games of league play on Mondays and one more playoff game against - who
else - Balls Deep this Thursday at Rose Park.
Fisher was exceptional again on
Saturday in helping SKS to their sixth
tourney win of 2007.
Saturday in helping SKS to their sixth
tourney win of 2007.
