Odin Men’s Fastpitch 2016 Minnesota Class B runners-up
The Norse warriors of the Odin Men’s Fastpitch Team are not of mythological folklore. Rather, they claim nobility on the softball diamond by nabbing second-place in the National Softball Federation (NSF)/Minnesota Sports Federation (MSF) 2016 Class B Men’s Fastpitch North American Championship/Minnesota Open, played Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 at Caswell Park in Mankato.
Last year’s titlists returned to the championship game, but were thwarted from the repeat by the Ostrander Men’s Fastpitch Team, who downed Odin 16-5 to claim the 2016 honors.
For the tourney, Odin finished 4-2, opening up with three wins on Saturday. They dropped the Liberty Mudhens from West St. Paul, Minnesota Computers and Freeport Men’s Fastpitch.
The team’s first loss came in their opening Sunday contest, dropping an 8-4 match-up to Ostrander – the same team they would eventually come back to confront in the title game. On that comeback trail in the one-loss bracket, Odin bested Freeport once again to set up another Ostrander face-off. Ostrander finished the tournament 5-0.
Additional teams in the tourney included Lake Crystal; SME Threshers of Fargo, North Dakota; Baldwin, Wisconsin; Len’s Automotive of West St. Paul; Gamecocks of St. Charles; PBI of West St. Paul; Jordan Realty of West St. Paul and Saw Dust City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Odin Men’s Fastpitch Team members include Johnny Hohenstein, Justin Davis, Derek Nau, Lou Heller, Curt Rogers, Ike Rogers, TJ Tiesler, Mitch Leopold, Dusty Pfeiffer, Ben Morrison, Nate McVenes, Paul Larson and Mike Froderman.
Below are photos of play from the Odin/Ostrander championship tilt, courtesy of the Ostrander Men’s Fastpitch Team; photographer, Barb Scheevel:
