Topeka upends two-time defending champ Bloomington, Lynch to take Kelso Klassic

KELSO, Mo. -- Jon Lynch is plenty familiar with the Kelso Klassic, and he's pretty familiar with performing well at it. So Sunday evening was a little different for the Notre Dame alumnus.

Lynch helped his Bloomington, Illinois, Stix back to another title game but couldn't help it win a third straight tournament title, as the Topeka, Kansas, Toros took out the two-time defending champions in impressive fashion -- 11-3 in five innings in the championship of the 32nd Annual Kelso Klassic fastpitch softball tournament at Kelso City Park.

"Today was, overall, a good day. We just came up a little short," Lynch said. "But it was a good group just getting started. It's early summer, and I'm just ready to continue with the next few weekends.

"Credit to [Topeka], they have a very nice team and they swing it really well."

By winning the championship, Topeka earned an automatic qualification for the International Softball Congress World Tournament, scheduled for Aug. 12-20 in Quad Cities, Iowa.

Bloomington Stix second baseman Paul Lynch fields a Topeka Toros ground ball during the second inning of the championship game in the Kelso Klassic on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Kelso, Missouri.Fred Lynch

The Toros jumped on the Stix for six runs in the first two innings and never looked back, rapping nine hits and taking advantage of 10 walks to win comfortably.

"We always try to seed this thing, take our top four and pair it up where we have good competition. But these were probably the two teams we expected to be here in the final," tournament director Larry Eftink said. "These are two that we thought should be here and would be here, and they did. The championship game was a little bit lopsided, but that happens in fastpitch. If a team gets on a roll and a pitcher runs out of gas, things can change in a hurry."

It did for Topeka.

Carlos Carreno went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two driven in, a home run, a double and a walk for the victors, while Chris Leaf went 2-for-3, including a solo home run.

Carlos Ucero got the win in the pitcher's circle, throwing all five innings and giving up three runs on just two hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

Ricky Manson bats for the Topeka Toros against Bloomington Stix during the fourth inning of the championship game in the Kelso Klassic on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Kelso, Missouri.Fred Lynch

"Both [their] pitchers throw the ball well and they swing it well, too," Lynch said. "They have a very nice team all-around. It was a good few games, back and forth. The last one didn't go how we'd like, but they have a very solid ball club."

Topeka also defeated Bloomington, 4-2, in a winner's bracket semifinal.

The Stix were paced by Jaden Selu, who drove in all three of his team's runs with a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly.

Ethan Johnston took the pitching loss, giving up six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Lynch went 0-for-3. He also pitched one inning in relief, giving up one run on one hit with a strikeout and a walk.

Bloomington Stix batter Paul Lynch takes a swing during the third inning of the championship game against Topeka Toros in the Kelso Klassic on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Kelso, Missouri.Fred Lynch

Lynch, who is a former member of the USA Softball Junior Men's National Team, began his Kelso Klassic career with Kelso Fastpitch and was the tournament MVP in 2013, the same year he was named to the second-team ISC world roster. He's won the last two Klassic titles with Bloomington.

Paul Lynch, Jon's father and also a Notre Dame alum, also played for the Stix, going 0-for-2.

For both, it was an opportunity to play in an important tournament close to home in front of family and friends.

"I'm just thankful for the opportunity," Jon said. "The atmosphere is one of the best around, has been for a long time and will be. You get to come home and see everyone, and it's familiar and just love being here -- of course play, but just hanging out between games and things like that.

"It's fun getting to play in that atmosphere here. You can't beat it. It's a blast."

Josh White scores for Topeka Toros against Bloomington Stix during the fourth inning of the championship game in the Kelso Klassic on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Kelso, Missouri.Fred Lynch

Hometown hosts

Kelso Fastpitch never expected to contend for the crown. It was, however, pleased with its weekend performance.

The hosts finished tied for fifth out of 14 teams with a record of 3-2.

"We finished tied for fifth, which is what we did last year," said Eftink, who also coaches the Kelso team. "We're kind of skewing younger guys who haven't played much. Plus, not only playing but trying to work the tournament, from everything from the gate to working the fields in between and picking up trash. Having to deal with that and win a couple of games on Sunday and finish fifth, that was a tremendous achievement for our guys, I thought."

Kelso opened the tournament Friday night with a 3-2 victory over St. Charles Tribe before falling in the second round to McMahon Meats, 16-3, in five innings Saturday morning. The hosts bounced back to defeat the Springfield Falcons on Saturday night, 8-1, in five innings before dropping Black Gold 5-3 just 24 hours later in Sunday's early-morning opener. Kelso was then edged by Pete's Blues on Sunday afternoon, 5-3, in extra innings to conclude its weekend.

"[Pete's Blues is] a top-notch team," Eftink said, "so we felt pretty good about that."

Tournament wrap

Topeka and Bloomington took the tournament's top two spots with records of 4-0 and 3-2, respectively. Pete's Blues finished third at 4-2 while McMahon Meats were fourth at 3-2.

The tournament's Most Valuable Pitcher Award went to Topeka's Josh Pettett, who went 2-0 and allowed just three earned runs in 14 innings with 14 strikeouts.

The Toros also fielded the event's Most Valuable Player, as shortstop Carreno was honored after going 6-for-13 with a pair of home runs and a double for the champions.

Topeka's Leaf, who went deep in the final, was the tournament's home-run champion.

Unlike a year ago, the Klassic was played entirely under sunny, though hot, skies. It still, however, suffered some delays. By the time the event was in its waning moments, things were hours behind -- the championship was scheduled to be played at 3 p.m. but didn't begin until close to 6:30.

"We did run a little long. I don't know what it was, but I guess it was competitive games, is all I can say," Eftink said. "A lot of runs were scored, or it was so intense, pitchers took more time and batters took more time. We got a little off track, but everyone puts a lot of emphasis on the outcomes. And I guess that has a little to do with why it ran a little late."

The on-field product, though, did not disappoint.

"As far as the competition and everything, it went great," Eftink said.