ST. PAUL TEAM WINS RICE LAKE INVITATIONAL

Jeff Sell's base hit to left field scored Derek Shepherd from second base in the bottom half of inning 19 to give Pate Bonding, Incorporated of St. Paul, Minnesota a 1-0 victory over Evansville Bowl of Evansville, Wisconsin in the first championship game of the 24th annual Rice Lake Invitational Men's Fastpitch Tournament. Shepherd had connected for a two out single and advanced to second when the ball was mishandled by the Evansville leftfielder. The 19 inning contest surpasses by two innings the previous record for longest tournament game.

Veteran PBI lefthander Mike Newby dueled former Rice Lake resident Byran Lathrop for 18 1/3 innings before Newby gave way to eventual winning pitcher Judd Bertieume. Newby, ironically, was one of Lathrop's insturctors as the latter perfected his pitching in Rice Lake in the late 1980s. Lathrop went the distance for his squad.

Four time champion Wilber Lime of Galesville, Wisconsin finished third and the only local entry, the Rice Lake Orangemen, placed fourth. 14 teams competed in the tournament field, which used the NAFA 3-game guarantee format.

PBI advanced to the title match by, following an opening round bye, downing Harley Davidson of Rochester, Minnesota 7-1, the Marksmen of Wausau, Wisconsin 2-1, and Evansville Bowl 5-0 in the winners' bracket final. Evansville began tourney play with a 1-0 nail biter over Villard, Minnesota. The Bowl then turned back the challenge of The Bar of Appleton, Wisconsin 4-2 before another 1-0 win, this time over Rep & Baja's of Wausau, propelled them into the winners' bracket final with PBI. Evansville rebounded after that loss to whitewash Wilber Lime 4-0 and gain a shot at the top prize. 

Evansville shared the 2001 Invitational title with Mancini's of St. Paul.

Other tournament entries included Line-X of West Salem, Wisconsin, Kelley Chiropractic of Bloomer, Wisconsin, and Mancini's and Jeraldine's, both of St. Paul.

Named to the 2002 All Tournament team were pitchers Newby and Berthieume of PBI, Lathrop and Stacey Hanson of Evansville Bowl, and Larry Cushman of the Orangemen, who established a new Invitational total innings pitched record of 42. The lone catcher selected was Dan Stuhr of Wilber Lime. Six infielders were picked: Chris Ryan of Harley Davidson, Brian Dachel of Kelley Chiropractic, Mark Brummond of the Wausau Marksmen, Mike Applegate of Mancini's, Jerry Ball of PBI, and Larry Stuhr of Wilber Lime. Three outfielders made the squad, Orangemen Dave Lay and Mark Paulsrud along with Todd Vanderharr of PBI, while Matt White of Evansville Bowl was named All-Tournament Designated Batter and PBI's versatile Brad Shepherd was selected in a utility role.

Rice Lake center fielder Dave Lay was the tourney's leading hitter with 13 hits in 20 at bats for an average of .650. Newby, who allowed just one run in 25 1/3 innings, was the 2002 Invitational Tournament Most Valuable Player.


ORDER OF FINISH
1. PBI, St. Paul, MN 4-0
2. Evansville Bowl, Evansville WI 4-2
3. Wilber Lime, Galesville, WI 5-2
4. Rice Lake Orangemen, Rice Lake WI 4-2
5. Marksmen, Wausau WI 2-2
Rep & Baja's, Wausau WI 1-2
7. The Bar, Appleton WI 2-2
Kelley Chiropractic, Bloomer WI 2-2
9. Mancini's, St. Paul MN 3-2
Harley Davidson, Rochester MN 2-3
11. Line-X, West Salem, WI 0-3
Jeraldine's, St. Paul MN 1-2
Villard-ABF, Villard MN 0-3
Duluth Fastpitch, Duluth MN 0-3

GAME RESULTS
1. Rice Lake Orangemen 4, Kelly Chiropractic 3
2. Marksmen 4, Jeraldine's 0
3. Harley Davidson 9, Duluth Fastpitch 0
4. The Bar 3, Line-X 2 (9 innings)
5. Evansville Bowl 1, Villard-ABF 0
6. Mancini's 2, Wilber Lime 1
7. Marksmen 9, Rice Lake Orangemen 4
8. Evansville Bowl 4, The Bar 2
9. PBI 7, Harley Davidson 1
10. Rep & Baja's 3, Mancini's 1 (9 innings)
11. Kelley Chiropractic 4, Harley Davidson 3
12. Jeraldine's 7, Duluth Fastpitch 5
13. Mancini's 2, Line-X 1
14. Wilber Lime 2, Villard-ABF 1
15. Kelley Chiropractic 7, Duluth Fastpitch 1
16. Harley Davidson 2, Jeraldine's 0
17. Mancini's 3, Villard-ABF 0
18. Wilber Lime 3, Line-X 0
19. The Bar 5, Harley Davidson 0
20. Rice Lake Orangemen 3, Mancini's 2 (10)
21. PBI 2, Marksmen 1
22. Evansville Bowl 1, Rep & Baja's 0
23. Rice Lake Orangmen 5, Kelley Chiropractic 1
24. Wilber Lime 5, The Bar 0
25. Rice Lake Orangemen 3, Rep & Baja's 1
26. Wilber Lime 2, Marksmen 1
27. Wilber Lime 5, Rice Lake Orangemen 1
28. PBI 5, Evansville Bowl 0
29. Evansville Bowl 4, Wilber Lime 0
30. PBI 1, Evansville Bowl 0 (19 innings)