Lightning Capture 3rd Tournament Title of 2012

Front Row (l. to r.): Coach Kevin Nunnikhoven, Alex Chapman, Keaton DeKock, Jaden VanRoekel, Alex Dejong, Tanner DeKock, Coach Doug DeKock
Back Row (l. to r.): Coach Bryan Kime, Jacob Kime, Tucker Nunnikhoven, Charlie Bandstra, KJ McCrea, Rian Yates, Coach Doug Yates (submitted photo)

The Oskaloosa Lightning 12U USSSA baseball team captured their third title of 2012 by winning the Harley Steele Memorial Tournament in Cedar Rapids this past weekend. Solid defense behind quality pitching and timely hitting produced four victories in as many games.

Pool play on Saturday started against the Muscatine Tribe. The Lightning were ahead 4 -1 going into the top of the fifth inning, only to see the Tribe rally with four runs to take a 5 – 4 lead. Due to time limits, the Lightning had one final at bat to stage a comeback. And that they did as Tanner DeKock started the inning with a double, followed by a base hit by KJ McCrea. Three straight walks to Keaton DeKock, Jaden VanRoekel, and Alex Dejong forced in the winning run. T. DeKock and VanRoekel led Oskaloosa in hitting with two hits each. Tucker Nunnikhoven, Charlie Bandstra, Rian Yates, K. DeKock and Dejong all contributed base hits as well. Bandstra, Nunnikhoven, and McCrea combined for the victory on the mound.

The Lightning faced the Carlisle Wildcats in the second pool game on Saturday. This would prove to be another nail-biter as the Wildcats forced the Lightning into an extra-inning contest. With the score tied 6 – 6 in the bottom of the seventh, Alex Chapman slapped a hard ground ball to second driving in VanRoekel from third for the winning run sending the Lightning into Sunday bracket play as a #1 seed. Nunnikhoven had two hits, with McCrea, Bandstra, and Chapman having one hit each. Pitching duties were shared by McCrea, Yates, T. DeKock, Dejong, and Bandstra.

With the #1 seed, the Lightning received a bye to the semi-finals on Sunday to face the Linn Mar Lions. Two big offensive innings propelled the Lightning to a 7 – 4 victory. McCrea threw a complete game registering nine strikeouts, and also helped his own cause driving in three runs with a bases-loaded hit in the fifth. Two hits from VanRoekel, along with a double from Nunnikhoven, and base hits from Bandstra, K. DeKock, Dejong, and Chapman completed the offense for Oskaloosa.

A very strong five-inning pitching performance by Bandstra sealed the 7 – 4 championship victory for the Lightning against the Kennedy Cougars from Cedar Rapids. Offensively the Lightning jumped out to a 6 – 0 lead after two innings with K. DeKock and McCrea leading the way with two hits. Jacob Kime, Chapman, Dejong, Yates, Bandstra, and Nunnikhoven also added to the hit parade. Yates pitched the final inning of the contest.

The Lightning take a 22 – 10 record into their season-finale AAA State Tournament this weekend in Des Moines where a field of 38 teams from across Iowa stands between them and their fourth championship of the year. “We’ve finished in the Elite Eight at the State Tournament the last three years, and that is our first goal again this year. But bringing the state title back to Oskaloosa is our ultimate goal and within our capability if we play well,” stated Manager Doug DeKock.

Good Luck Oskaloosa Lightning!!!!