KELSO DIST. WINS KELSO KLASSIC

KELSO -- For the fourth time in the 13 year history of the Kelso Klassic Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, a Kelso team took the title.

This year Kohlfeld Distributing went undefeated in the 16-team double-elimination tourney, beating St. Louis Midwest GMC twice on Sunday to secure the title.

Kohlfeld beat GMC earlier in the day 2-1 in extra innings to drop then into the losers bracket. In the championship final, Kohlfeld dropped GMC again 3-1. GMC took second place for the second year in a row.

In the final game, Kohlfeld scored two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to build a 3-0 lead. GMC got an unearned run back in the bottom of the sixth, but Kohlfeld pitcher Terry Luster shut the door from there.

Kohlfeld had seven hits in the final. Rick Dohogne and Keith Brinker both went 2-for-3. Luster struck out five and allowed only four hits in the title game.

Luster pitched every inning of every game for Kohlfeld, winning all five games. He was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the Klassic, allowing only one earned run and struck out 53 in 36 innings. Luster's only walk was an intentional pass.

Kohlfeld catcher Ray Reinagel was named the Most Valuable Player of the Klassic. Reinagel batted .385 (5-for-13) with three RBIs and was the team's leader behind the plate.

Kohlfeld also beat GMC earlier in the tourney with 2-1 eight-inning thriller.

Kohlfeld took a 1-0 lead in top of seventh on home run by Keith Ressel. GMC tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the second on a two-out error.

But Luster tripled to start the eighth inning and Brent Rampley followed with single up the middle to drop GMC into the loser's bracket. Luster struck out eight.

Kohlfeld title marks the first time a Kelso team has won the Klassic since 1991.

Last year's Klassic champions, Bonutti Orthopaedics, finished third this year. Bonutti lost to GMC 4-3 as GMC moved on to face Kohlfeld again in the title game.

Bonutti battled back in the loser's bracket after losing to Kohlfeld 4-0 in the second round Saturday.