SUNNYVALE, CA - Early season softball was in full swing as the ASA Western Shootout series started with a bang at the Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvale, California over the February 25th weekend. Tournament director Gary Ybarra commented, "This was my largest men’s tournament ever. We had thirty men’s ‘D’ teams battling for two berths in this years men’s ‘D’ Nationals, which is being hosted in Sunnyvale this Labor Day weekend." Ybarra added, "This was a VERY competitive tournament. Nor Cal will be very well represented this year."

Taking the top spot in the Shootout was Team EMCI / C02. This was their second ASA tournament this year. They played very consistent softball the entire tournament. They ended up 6-0 for the weekend beating the following teams: Renegades (23-0), Team United/Bowtech (15-3), TBA (11-10), Pass the Stick (12-11), Warriors (27-4) and Warriors again in the championship game 12-11. EMCI/C02 are the 2nd team to earn their berth in Northern California this year.

The Most Valuable Player award went to EMCI/C02’s Brian Brugier and all tourney selections went to EMCI/C02’s Leo Skattaboo, Aaron Maderos, Mike Wright and John Flannery.

In second place, playing in their first ASA tournament of the year, were the Warriors/Reality World. The only team they lost to were the champion EMCI/C02 team. They earned victories in a couple of close games, which got them to the championship round. The Warriors displayed very good, solid defense and signaled that they will be a team to watch this season. They ended the tournament with a 5-2 record. The Warriors defeated Rapid Trans (22-9), Regency Softball (12-11), BFC (16-14), Pac Coast Bail Bonds (11-10) and SB Performance Cycles (19-16) to get into the championship round games.

Warrior all tournament awards went to MVP Scott Pearce, Mark Mattos, Matt Dayak and Roberto Zaldavar

Warrior player James Booe said, "The competition this weekend was top notch, if this is any indication of how the year is going to be in Northern California, Wow!"

Third place went to SB Performance Cycles. SB lost their second game of the tournament and was forced to battle back through the loser’s bracket. They ended up with an 8-2 tourney record. They beat Beaver Busters (33-0), lost to Pass the Stick (19-5), defeated Finale & Son’s (34-2), Renegades (22-9), Regency Softball (15-14), S.F.A.I.C. (22-12), TBA (25-13), Pass the Stick in the rematch (19-13), Pac Coast Bail Bonds (14-2), and then lost to Warriors/Reality World in the third place game by the score of 19-16.
SB Performance placed Steve Martinez, Anthony Ortiz, Richard Rodriguez and Craig Jensen Jr. on the all tournament team.

Pac Coast Bail Bonds finished in the fourth place slot in their first ASA tournament of the year finishing with a 4-2 record. They had a first game blowout, but every other game was very close. They beat Yo Momma (36-0), Mediatrac/Freakshow (8-3), Getterdun (9-8), lost to Warriors/Reality World (11-10), beat Nor Cal / Golden State (9-8) and then lost to SB Performance Cycles (14-2).

All tourney selections for Pac Coast Bail Bonds went to Ruben Rameriz, Brian Engell and Dameon Smith.
Tied for fifth place with a 6-2 tournament mark was Nor Cal / Golden State. Nor Cal spent most of the day Saturday through the losers bracket. Nor Cal beat Bad Karma (13-1), lost to Getterdun (10-9), beat Kirby’s Dawgs (8-5), beat Real Deal (14-9), beat Nut it up! (21-11), beat Getterdun in the rematch (11-3), beat Alpha Male (11-8) and ended up losing to Pac Coast Bail Bonds (9-8).

Dennis Mendes, Lance Poulos and James Kaul were all tourney for Nor Cal / Golden State.

Geremy Stebbins of Nor Cal / Golden State had this to say about the Western Shootout, "The tournament was expected to be strong, even for this early in the year. All the areas top teams showed up and it was as good as the hype led me to believe." Stebbins went on to say, "Most of the stronger squads met up in the second round. This made for some scrambling early in the tourney. We played well but came up short by one run against Getterdun. That made for a long Saturday to get back to Sunday. We got Getterdun again and got them back for our loss the day before. We finally lost to Pac Coast by one after a very good run late Sunday. I will take this 5th place finish in February!"

Also tied in fifth place was Pass the Stick as they ended up the tournament with a 3-2 record. They beat Kirby’s Dawgs (17-5), SB Performance Cycles (19-5), beat S.F.A.I.C. (22-18), lost to EMCI/C02 (12-11), and lost to SB Performance Cycles in the rematch (19-13).

Rounding out the all tourney squad from Pass the Stick were Charlie Williams, Wylie Pond and Damien Bird.

Ryan Flores of Pass the Stick also commented on the Shootout tournament, "Overall, the tourney was one of the better ones from the last few years. Everything was on time, weather held off and the competition was great. There were quite a few one and two run games throughout the tourney. Northern California softball will represent very well at the Regionals this year. Thanks to Gary Ybarra and his assistants for a great tourney!"