FOLSOM, CA - What is a Tournament Director’s worst nightmare? Going into the seventh inning of a tight, seesaw championship game and losing your lights half way through. That’s exactly what happened at the Western Shootout Qualifier on May 16. Due to Folsom City ordinances, park lights are timed to go out shortly after 11pm. By 11:15, both teams were confident they could finish the game with enough time, but luck was not on their side. Tournament Director Gary Ybarra called the game at 11:20 pm due to darkness. At the time the lights went out, ICM (Sacramento, CA) was up 22-19 over Ripstik (Redding, CA), having scored five runs in the top of the seventh. Due to the abrupt ending of the game, Ybarra had to take the scores from the bottom of the sixth inning to determine the championship team. At that time, Ripstik was up 19-17, adding another prestigious win to their list of championships, and making them the undisputed top rated D team in Northern California.

In an amazing turn of events, Team Ripstik went 7-1, losing their first game to D12 (Sparks, NV), 11-9, then came back to win it all. They were forced to play two extra inning games to get to the championship. They beat ICM 21-9 in the first game them double dipped them with a 19-17 win in a heated second game. ICM went 4-2 overall to take a hard won second place. D-12 took third going 3-2, while Casper’s (Placerville, CA) took fourth with a 3-2 record as well. Both Ripstik and ICM had already earned their berth to the Western Shootout Regional Championship in Las Vegas as well as their berth to the ASA Western Nationals in Salem, OR. D12 earned their berth to Salem and Casper’s earned their Vegas berth this weekend.

"There were a lot of good games and a few blow outs. The last two games of the day were very competitive and a little hostile, but we got through it," says Ybarra. "I wish the lights would not have gone off after ICM hit in the top of the 7th, but it was 11:20 pm and the City of Folsom shuts the lights down. There was nothing else I could do. I was sorry to see it end that way," he added.

The MVP award for Team Ripstik went to John Wheeler, while All tourney went to Dave Hemet, John Johnson, Ed Quijada and Rod Dinger. For the ICM Team, John Young was nominated MVP, with Larry Maser, Leo Skatabo, Matty Widell, Wayne Reed and Jason Tarmy claiming All tourney awards.

For more information on the Western Shootout series, check out the ad on page 9 of SWM. There are still sixteen more opportunities to qualify for the Las Vegas Championships on August 21-22. Divisions include Men´s B, C, D, E, Women´s C, D and Coed Recreational. For more information, go to www.asatournaments.com.