DEFENSE NOT ENOUGH ..

DEFENSE IS NOT ENOUGH AT THE 4TH OF JULY CLASSIC

STEADY DEFENSE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO ADVANCE THE CYCLONES PAST THE SEMI-FINAL ROUND OF THE USSSA 4TH OF JULY CLASSIC AT BALLWIN. iT WAS A WOODEN BAT TOURNEY, AND IT SEEMED LIKE THE MAPLE BATS WEREN'T LOADED WITH ENOUGH HITS.

THE FIRST GAME OF POOL PLAY WAS ON THURSDAY EVENING. THE CYCLONES WON 10-0 AGAINST THE RASCALS, IN A GAME INTERRUPTED BY A 45 MINUTE RAIN DELAY.

THE SECOND POOL PLAY GAME PITTED THE MIGHTY CYCLONES AGAINST THE SILVERHAWKS. A VERY WELL-PLAYED GAME ON BOTH SIDES ENDED WITH THE SILVERHAWKS UP 8-2.

THE THIRD POOL PLAY GAME WAS AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTERS. THE CYCLONES LED THE WHOLE GAME UNTIL THE LAST INNING. IT APPEARED THAT THE MOMENTUM WAS TO STAY WITH THE CYCLONES AFTER A PICKOFF OF A RUNNER AT SECOND. BUT THE FIREFIGHTER'S PUT UP 3 RUNS IN THE SEVENTH INNING TO WIN 5-3.

ELIMINATION PLAY STARTED AGAINST THE SAME FIREFIGHTERS TEAM. A VERY EVENLY PLAYED GAME ENDED WITH THE SILVERHAWKS ADVANCING ON A 6-2 SCORE.

THE REGULAR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE FOR THE CYCLONES IS NOW COMPLETE. THE LAST HURRAH OF THE SEASON IS THE WORLD SERIES IN COOPERSTOWN, NY. WE SAY FAREWELL TO TAAFFE, BIRK, AND MATTHEWS AS THEY WILL NOT BE MAKING THE TRIP. WE WELCOME DEGENER, FLETCHER, HANSON, AND WEBB AND ANTICIPATE A GREAT TIME IN UP-STATE NEW YORK.

WE HOPE THE EXPERIENCE AT DREAMS PARK WILL BE JUST LIKE ABNER DOUBLEDAY ENVISIONED IT. IT TRULY IS AMERICA'S GAME, AND WE ARE ALL KIDS AT HEART.

RECORD

Affton Tourney: 0-3
Bridgeton Tourney: 2-1
Columbia Cowhide Classic: 4-1
Ozzie's Super Series: 0-3
Rawlings Invitational: 2-1
USSSA Missouri Qualifier at Wiehaupt Park: 4-1
USSSA Missouri Qualifier at Bridgeton: 2-2
USSSA Wooden Bat at Ballwin: 1-3
Pond League: 4-0
OVERALL: 19-15