Patrick Hoppa, Olathe graduate student and 12-Inch Ballers’ first baseman, catches the ball as Brad Witherspoon, Humboldt freshman and Apartment M player, crosses first base and is called out during the men’s intramural softball championship game Sunday night at Clinton Lake Sports Complex. Apartment M defeated the 12-inch Ballers 17-6. The team also took first in the CoRec intramural championship game previously that night.

It was a display of dominance that would have brought a smile to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner’s face.

Apartment M won eight games in a 12-hour stretch Sunday to win both the men’s and CoRec intramural softball championships.

The CoRec squad struck first, with an 18-6 championship victory against the C&C; Softball Factory. The men’s group followed with a 19-6 run-rule victory against the 12-Inch Ballers. The run rule, also known as the mercy rule, stops a game if one team is ahead by 10 or more runs.

How did Apartment M, named after the address of several team members, celebrate the victories?

“Food,” said Justin Jacobs, Olathe senior. “I’ve only had time to eat one meal all day.”

Justin Sloop, Valley Falls senior, pitched all eight games, four in each division of play.

For the CoRec team, the day started at 1:30 p.m. By the time the championship game rolled around at 9:30, the group had already developed a reputation as the team that was run-ruling everybody.

Despite the cold weather, a bleacher full of fans still showed up to cheer Apartment M’s opponent, the C&C; Softball Factory.

The fans came prepared, even bringing a boom box to play music introducing the batters. The crowd stayed animated throughout.

Referring to his team’s lack of a cheering section, Apartment M’s Jared Abel said to the C&C; supporters, “We don’t need support.”

The Winchester senior was thoroughly heckled during each future plate appearance.

C&C; held its only lead of the game in the second, when it retired three straight batters.

In the fourth, however, the entire lineup batted for Apartment M. The six-run inning was highlighted by Justin Jacobs’ home run to right-center field.

C&C; scored in five of the seven innings but could not produce enough offense to keep up with Apartment M.

“We hit and fielded well and made plays when we had the chance,” Sloop said.

Strong defense by Apartment M kept runs off the board. The team turned a double play twice in the game, including one in the fifth inning with two runners on base.

Apartment M did not lack offense either. The team had three doubles, a triple and four home runs. Three of those homers came from the bat of Jacobs.

“Its just standing back and being relaxed,” Jacobs said. “That’s what hitters do.”

Because it was the championship, the game was allowed to go the full seven innings instead of ending at the 50-minute mark.

The teams took advantage of the extra time, compiling 40 hits and six home runs.

Pitching was solid on both sides. Tina Borcher, Wichita sophomore, walked only four hitters. Apartment M’s Sloop did not walk any.

It was C&C;’s second championship game loss in three years.

When the game ended, Apartment M claimed its prize, an Intramural Champions T-shirt, then hustled to an adjacent field for the men’s championship.

“I am dead,” Jacobs said. “But I want to win.”

The men’s final pitted Apartment M against the 12-Inch Ballers.

In the first inning Apartment M put up three runs while holding the Ballers scoreless.

“This game was, by far, our best defensive performance,” Mike Miller, Humboldt junior, said.

Apartment M began turning up the heat in the third inning. The entire lineup batted, including two plate appearances for leadoff hitter Jared Abel.

The inning ended with nine runs on seven hits, including two triples.

On a triple by Miller, the Ballers defense committed two fielding errors.

“As long as you put the ball in play, you’ve always got a chance to get on base,” Miller said.

The Ballers followed with their best offensive performance of the game, but its five runs were not enough to keep the team in contention.

After a scoreless fourth on both sides, Apartment M entered the fifth inning ahead by 10, which would mean a run-rule victory if they could hold the Ballers scoreless.

During the top of the inning Apartment M added three insurance runs, batted in on a home run by Mike Miller. The home run cleared the fence in left field.

“It was floating up there like a beach ball, and my eyes just got real big,” Miller said. “As soon as I hit it, I knew it had a chance.”

The junior previously played baseball at Allen County Community College.

The Ballers entered the bottom of the fifth inning needing four runs to avoid falling victim to the run rule.

After a flyout to center, the Ballers had a base runner when Locke Uppendahl, Cheney senior, walked.

He would remain on first base, however, as the next two batters were retired, giving Apartment M the victory.

The team was finally able to relax. Some of the players put on their two championship shirts, both to celebrate and because the temperature had dropped considerably.

They had survived 12 hours of softball.

Softball championship notes

In the Men’s Greek division championship, Beta A-1 defeated Lambda Chi Alpha 21-9.

In the women’s open division championship, Women’s Peaches defeated the Dragons.

softball box score

CoRec championship rosters

Apartment M

Name Hometown/class AB H R

David Baxter Sioux City, Iowa, senior 5 4 3

Jesse Paden Wathena senior 4 3 3

Justin Jacobs Olathe senior 5 5 4

Karry Klatt Waterloo, Iowa, junior 4 1 2

Justin Sloop Valley Falls senior 5 5 3

Jennie Brevitz Valley Falls senior 5 2 0

Jarris Krapcha Albuquerque, N.M., senior 5 1 0

Elisa Zahn Littleton, Colo., senior 4 0 0

Jared Abel Winchester senior 4 3 2

Kellie Hammack Leavenworth, senior 1 0 0

C&C; Softball Factory

Name Hometown/class AB H R

Stephen Vinson Lawrence junior 4 3 1

Kate Hosack Harlan, Iowa, senior 4 1 0

Andy Schuttler Lenexa senior 4 4 2

Tina Borchers Wichita sophomore 3 3 1

Chris Jones Carrollton, Texas, junior 3 3 0

Emily Duckworth Webster Groves, Mo., sophomore 3 1 0

Ryan Pratt Webster Groves, Mo., sophomore 3 1 0

Jen Cox Kansas City, Kan., sophomore 3 1 0

Eric Schlickman Wheaton, Ill., junior 3 3 2

Liz Kelsey Springfield, Mo., junior 2 1 0

Men’s Softball box score

Men’s championship rosters

Apartment M

Name Hometown/class AB H R

David Baxter Sioux City, Iowa, senior 4 2 2

Michael Bateman Lawrence senior 3 2 3

David Doeren Lawrence senior 3 2 3

Justin Jacobs Olathe senior 4 4 4

Mike Miller Humboldt junior 4 4 3

Justin Sloop Valley Falls senior 4 3 0

David Hillman Humboldt junior 4 1 0

Jared Abel Winchester senior 4 1 0

Jarris Krapcha Albuquerque senior 3 1 1

Brad Witherspoon Humboldt freshman 3 2 1

12-Inch Ballers

Levi Donals Winfield senior 3 1 0

Pat Hoppa Olathe graduate student 3 2 1

Locke Uppendahl Cheney senior 2 1 1

Ty Pfannenstiel Ness City graduate student 3 2 1

Cale Dark Attica senior 3 1 1

Alan Patterson Anthony senior 2 0 0

Landon Lukens Medicine Lodge freshman 2 1 1

Justin Rhorer Yankton, S.D., graduate student 2 1 0

Brice Korobka Hays senior 2 0 0