Three-Peat for Meadows Parents in Softball Tourney
Jun 12, 2017 11:24AM ● By Mb News Staff
The Meadows Elementary parents' softball team celebrates the team's third consecutive victory at the Parents' Softball Classic.
"This is my favorite day," mused one of the ten coaches who'd brought a team out to Sunday's Parents' Softball Classic.
It wasn't hard to see why he was enjoying the afternoon. The 12th annual version of the tournament saw perfect weather, more than 120 players, grills sizzling with bacon burgers, and an enthusiastic audience of kids and families cheering on their teams at the Marine Sports Complex.
After 10 teams battled it out over 21 grueling games, the Meadows Elementary School crew emerged victorious, claiming bragging rights for a "three-peat" with their third consecutive tournament victory.
DigMB and MB Confidential sponsored this year's event, with Dave Fratello serving as tournament director. A well-staffed crew of volunteers, many representing the Mira Costa softball team, managed the registration, field prep, and snack bar.
The event is a fund-raiser for the MBX Foundation, which supports local youth sports programs. This year's tournament is estimated to bring in around $20,000.
In the competition, there were several strong teams. Both Robinson and Pennekamp fielded teams that went 3-1 in pool play. A team combining Manhattan Beach MIddle School and Mira Costa High School parents, which played in last year's final, went a respectable 2-2, as did the "B" team from Meadows. Teams from Pacific, Grand View, MBMS and Mira Costa also represented their respective schools proudly.
But the steamrollers in the tournament were the teams from American Martyrs and Meadows, each going 4-0 and earning a spot in the championship game. Each had a scare in pool play. Martyrs survived a 4-3 contest against Robinson in a first game that could have gone either way. Meadows eked out just one run against Pacific, but held the Panthers scoreless for a win.
Defense was the name of the game for each team, with Martyrs surrendering just 4 runs in the first four games, and Meadows allowing 5.
In the championship game, played in front of an audience of families and exhausted players from the other teams, Meadows raced out to a 5-0 lead in a fast-paced game.
During the final inning, Martyrs broke out of its funk and staged a 2-out rally, scoring 3 and loading the bases. Alas, a sharp line drive to the Meadows shortstop was caught, nailing down the victory.
The Meadows "A" team took home its third trophy in a row, defeating Martyrs for the second time in those three years.
The three-peat had players chanting, "Eastside Pride!"
Can the Mustangs keep it up? Word is, their core players all have younger kids working their way through the elementary. And that "B" team performed well also.
Looks like the other schools now have a full year to step up their recruiting.
It wasn't hard to see why he was enjoying the afternoon. The 12th annual version of the tournament saw perfect weather, more than 120 players, grills sizzling with bacon burgers, and an enthusiastic audience of kids and families cheering on their teams at the Marine Sports Complex.
After 10 teams battled it out over 21 grueling games, the Meadows Elementary School crew emerged victorious, claiming bragging rights for a "three-peat" with their third consecutive tournament victory.
DigMB and MB Confidential sponsored this year's event, with Dave Fratello serving as tournament director. A well-staffed crew of volunteers, many representing the Mira Costa softball team, managed the registration, field prep, and snack bar.
The event is a fund-raiser for the MBX Foundation, which supports local youth sports programs. This year's tournament is estimated to bring in around $20,000.
In the competition, there were several strong teams. Both Robinson and Pennekamp fielded teams that went 3-1 in pool play. A team combining Manhattan Beach MIddle School and Mira Costa High School parents, which played in last year's final, went a respectable 2-2, as did the "B" team from Meadows. Teams from Pacific, Grand View, MBMS and Mira Costa also represented their respective schools proudly.
But the steamrollers in the tournament were the teams from American Martyrs and Meadows, each going 4-0 and earning a spot in the championship game. Each had a scare in pool play. Martyrs survived a 4-3 contest against Robinson in a first game that could have gone either way. Meadows eked out just one run against Pacific, but held the Panthers scoreless for a win.
Defense was the name of the game for each team, with Martyrs surrendering just 4 runs in the first four games, and Meadows allowing 5.
In the championship game, played in front of an audience of families and exhausted players from the other teams, Meadows raced out to a 5-0 lead in a fast-paced game.
During the final inning, Martyrs broke out of its funk and staged a 2-out rally, scoring 3 and loading the bases. Alas, a sharp line drive to the Meadows shortstop was caught, nailing down the victory.
The Meadows "A" team took home its third trophy in a row, defeating Martyrs for the second time in those three years.
The three-peat had players chanting, "Eastside Pride!"
Can the Mustangs keep it up? Word is, their core players all have younger kids working their way through the elementary. And that "B" team performed well also.
Looks like the other schools now have a full year to step up their recruiting.
2017 Parents Softball Classic [11 Images]
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