Mio Body wins second festival title in three years

Mio Body Shop/Bons Boys earned their second Nautical Festival Men’s Softball tournament championship in three years with a 30-16 victory over Sports Factory of Detroit. The same two teams squared off in the finals in 2002. The results were almost identical, as MBS defeated the downstaters, 25-14.

The most valuable player was Mike Kann, who was four-for-five in the championship game, including a two-run homer in his first at-bat. The two teams were a contrast to each other. Sports Factory can hit the ball down the line and in the holes, while MBS could crushed the ball over the fence.

THERE WAS a breeze blowing in from Lake Huron and the American Flag in centerfield continued to flap toward home plate. While some fly balls were hung up in the wind, it didn’t seem to keep many of the MBS drives from elaving the yard. They hit their allotted six home runs in the first inning at the Hole. Sports Factory, who stays at Jerry Chrzan’s home during the tournament every year, scored five in the first inning, and led until MBS scored nine runs and sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first.

Nick Shlady and Dean Crewshank hit back-to-back home runs in the second for Sports Factory and went ahead, 10-9, but MBS reclaimed the lead with three in the bottom of the second.

MBS, which camped at the Ed Derry home for the weekend, added five in the third for their biggest lead, 17-10, but Sports Factory came back with six runs in the fifth and sixt

h innings. MBS scored two in the fifth and the game was anybody’s at the point, with MBS leading, 19-16. The game was put away with an 11 run outburst by MBS in the bottom of the sixth.

Sports Factory failed to score in the seventh and the contest ended with a double play. SPORTS FACTORY needed to defeat MBS twice to win the championship trophy. Manager Terry Adams said he’ll be back next year to try and win it next year. Schlady was four-for-four with three homers for Sports Factory. Scott Weaver was four-for-five for MBS, while Todd Menard was had two hits and scored twice in the 11 run rally.

Sports Factory reached the finals with a 17-10 win over Crew Cats of Alpena in the semifinals. The game featured a triple play in the third inning by Sports Factory. Catcher Scott Ross of Crew Cats had a bases clearing triple which scored three. Crew cats took home the third place trophy. About 31 men’s teams participated in this year’s tournament.