Tournament wrapup

Florida, Michigan Turn Up Heat in Eastern Nationals

Sept. 1, 2003 – Senior Softball-USA

ALPHARETTA, Georgia ˆ In some of the best softball east of the Mississippi River, nine teams competed in a heated battle for the 50 Major Eastern Championships in beautiful North Park here in July.

Third-seeded Extra Innings of Virginia punched through the losers bracket to win. Extra Innings' road to victory started with two double-elimination victories over Florida teams, the first over the Senica Braves, 24-8, and then a slim win over Al Estes Bail Bonds, 26-25.

But powerhouse Riverside Paving of Kentucky bounced Extra Innings into the losers bracket with an 18-9 win. Facing elimination, Extra Innings beat Damon's Grill of Maryland 13-10 then beat Riverside Paving twice ˆ 13-10 and 16-7, to win the 50 Major Championships.

In a best-of-three series between two 50 Major-Plus giants ˆ Thermco of Massachusetts and Florida Crush ˆ the Crush won 32-24 and 27-15 to take the 50 Major-Plus Eastern Championships.

"Before starting the tournament directors agreed to a couple very significant rule changes for the 50 Major-Plus," said Mike Waller of the Orange Crush. "No homerun limit and no five run per inning limit.

"And to keep the games running on time the SSWC used the one-hour time limit without any run rule so the games moved right along and the players really enjoyed themselves," he said.

"Some said it was simply going back to the way softball used to be played. Players could swing away without penalty for hitting the ball over the fence and no one complained about hitting the middle," said Walker

In the 55 AAA, the Ohio Lone Stars won the Eastern National title by beating the Chicago Classics Red 8-5, then Office Products of Florida twice ˆ 10-6 and by a thin 12-11 in the championship game.

Sunview Trucking of Georgia shone in the 55AA, first beating Hot Springs 55s or Arkansas 23-12, then Nugent Sand of Kentucky 21-9 to win the Eastern National title.

The 60 AA Division produced some sweet results for the Dream Team of Michigan. Third-seeded Dream Team started by beating second-seeded Georgia Nuggets 15-5, then beat top-seeded Gulf Coast Village of Florida 13-9 and 14-8 to become the 60 AA Eastern National champions.

In the 65 Major Division, Dixie Gas emerged from the loser's division to beat Mitchell's Eastern States of Maryland 24-10, then Dixie Gas knocked off top-seeded Florida Investment Properties in two straight games ˆ 8-4 and 28-13, to become the Eastern champs.

The Icemen of Kentucky put a chill on their opponents ˆ beating the Virginians 16-4 and Tri-County Office of Maryland 21-15 and 15-8 ˆ to take the 65 AAA Eastern Championships.

In the 65 AA Division, West Michigan Sportsmen edged Donato's Pizza of Ohio in two close games ˆ winning 20-19 and 9-8 ˆ to take the 60 AA East title.

In a rain-shortened final, Mitchell's Construction of Pennsylvania won the 70 Major Division in the East and the Georgia Peaches took second. The Syracuse Cyclones took the 70 AA Division Eastern Championships, defeating Huntington Bank of Michigan.