A CLASSIC PITCHING CONTEST DECIDES KELSO KLASSIC TITLE

KELSO -- As expected, the Meierhoffer fast-pitch softball team from Savannah, won the Kelso Klassic Tournament.

But the defending national champions didn't cruise in the championship game Sunday.

Kelso, after knocking off defending tournament champ Bonutti 8-0 in the winner's bracket final, squeezed past the same team in a 1-0 thriller for the Klassic championship.

Savannah won the game with a bloop single by No. 9 hitter Chris Miljavac with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Savannah ace Doug Middleton dominated the championship game like he excelled during the whole tournament. In the title game, he tossed a one-hitter and struck out 10. In two games during the tournament, Middleton tossed 14 innings of shutout ball, fanned 27 and allowed just three hits. Middleton was named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament.

Kerry Shaw, who was named tournament MVP, went 2-for-3 in the title game and was 6-for-11 in the Klassic.

Mike Rappe suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing just six hits.

In other games on Sunday, Taylorville Bob Ridings downed Action Amusement 4-1; Montclaire Bowl beat B & H Drilling 10-4; Taylorville doubled up Mueth's Tavern 4-2; University Chrysler shut out Montclaire Bowl 4-0; Taylorville eliminated University Chrysler 6-1 and Bonutti won the losers' bracket final 7-1 over Taylorville.