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Di Miller, RBLL-Colorado Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday November 4, 2017 history was made when the Inaugural IBLA (Interstate Box Lacrosse Association) Championships would begin. The three Sr. A Champions from each state, Colorado; Oregon and Minnesota would meet for the IBLA Cup. From Colorado the Parker Rangers, the 2017 RBLL-Colorado Champions; the Portland River Monsters, the 2017 RBLL-Oregon Champions; and the Hastings Walleye, the 2017 RBLL-Minnesota Champions would face off to be crowned National Champions.
Game One: Parker Rangers vs. Portland River Monsters
The buzzer sounded and the first face-off in IBLA history would happen at 2:30 p.m. Denver time. The Rangers 
would dominate the first quarter with Greg Martinez notching a hat-trick; Nick Amendt would score two; and CJ Gerber, Dan Finck and Tyler Snyder would score one goal apiece. The River Monsters would score three times off Jonah Mohawk; Wesley Vanden Burke; and Ryan Emery. Rangers 7—River Monsters 3 at the end of the first.
The second period was completely dominated by Parker. They would score seven times, two from Amendt; Mike Synek, Ethan Heritage and Bryant Boucher would get one apiece; and Finck would get their second of the night. The only River Monster to score would be Jake Maslin. 
Penalties were flying on the Portland side. They were hit with two additional “too many men”; a slash; and a hit from behind. The Rangers had two penalties in the frame, a holding and a slash. Score at the end of two: Parker 14—Portland 4.
Parker came out even stronger in the final frame. Finck would score back-to-back-to-back goals to start the third, giving him five on the night. Amendt would notch his fifth; Snyder his second to close out the scoring for the Rangers. The River Monsters would put two more up on the board before the final buzzer. Kristufur Williams and Kinnon Roy would close it out for Portland. Tempers flared in the third as the frustration showed with Portland. A fight would ensue about half way through the third with matching majors called on both teams with the other penalties being two slashes and a high sticking. Final Score: Parker Rangers 21—Portland River Monsters 6.
Game Two: Parker Rangers vs. Hastings Walleye
With game two starting only one hour after the first, Walleye fans were wondering if the Rangers had used up all their steam in the first game. The Rangers coached by Dave Long and Brian Langtry were certainly ready for Hastings. They wanted to go into tomorrow with a two-game lead.
In the first the Rangers would shut out the Walleye scoring 10 goals. Parker would see seven different players score. Dan Finck would notch another hat-trick on the day; Nick Amendt would score twice; and Luke Miller, Tyler Snyder, Ethan Heritage, Bryant Boucher and Greg Martinez would notch one apiece. Score at the end of one: Rangers 10—Walleye 0.
The second would be much different with the Walleye scoring first.
Rj Ancona second in scoring for Hastings would finally get them on the board; and Mike Nogle with two on the night. The Walleye held the Rangers scoreless for the first 10 minutes in the period. Their net minder Seth Scott was unstoppable holding the high powered Rangers to zero goals. When the clock hit five minutes in the second, Mike Synek would have two breakaway goals for Parker followed by a third giving him the hat-trick. Snyder would notch his second and that would be it for both teams in the second. Score at the end of two: Parker 14—Hastings 3.
The Walleye would
outscore the Rangers in the third by one with Hastings putting up three in the third off Luke Johnson; Luke Nelson; and Nogle notching his hat-trick on the night. Both goals for Parker in the third would come off Finck giving him another five-goal game. Final Score: Rangers 16—Walleye 6.
On Sunday November 5, 2017 the Hastings Walleye and Portland River Monsters face off at 10:00 a.m. The winner of that game will go onto face the Parker Rangers for the championship.
Stars of the Night:
Parker Rangers–Dan Finck 10 G
Parker Rangers–Nick Amendt 7 G
Di Miller, RBLL-Colorado Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome