Winter Worlds Shine With Record 178 Teams

Dec. 1, 2015

PHOENIX – The western portion of SSUSA’s 2016 Season began Nov. 17 as the Valley of the Sun hosted a record 178 teams for the Winter World Championships.  Teams were seeking an early 2016 season championship and coveted berths to the 2017 Tournament of Champions.   

 “Phoenix is possibly the finest assembly of playing facilities in one location anywhere, and the 2016 Winter World’s enjoyed clear blue skies and the usual terrific Arizona fall weather,” said Tournament Director Dave Dowell.

Session No. 1 included a session record 51 teams and expanded to three facilities for the Men’s 65+ and more senior groups.  Competition was balanced, with multiple divisions being decided in “If needed” games. 

 The first of those was in the Men’s 65-Major+ at Rose Mofford, where Timberworks Construction (CA) and Omen 70 (CA) waged a thrilling three-game set, with Timberworks prevailing in the “If” game (28-6) after the teams had split the Winners’ bracket final (Timberworks: 26-20) and Championship game  (Omen 21-20).  The Men’s 65-Major at Papago Park also needed an extra game as Centex (TX) dropped its first bracket game to Arizona Ancient before reeling off seven consecutive wins for the title, the last two as pay back over Arizona Ancient, 21-20 in the championship game and 18-10 in the “If” game.

The Men’s 65-AAA and 65-AA at Desert West took a more conventional approach, settling things in their respective championship games.  In the 10-team 65-AAA, Prime Time (CA) swept through the bracket unbeaten from the No. 9 Seed position with wins over No Guts. No Glory (CA) in the winners’ bracket final (17-16) championship game (17-15).  In the 65-AA, Duke City Dynamite (NM) completed an unbeaten week with wins over Git-R-Done 65 (CA), 13-11 in the winners’ bracket final and 19-14 in the championship game to claim the trophy.

The Men’s 70-Major+ division saw the Scrap Iron 70 Legacy (CO) sweep the first two of their Best 2 of 3 championship series with Tharaldson’s (NV), 22-7 and a thrilling 11-10 on Wednesday.  The Men’s 70-Major was another division that went to extra innings.  Home town Poncho’s 70 (AZ) stumbled to Top Gun Swat (CA) in the championship game (13-9) before bouncing back to take the “If” game (19-7) to come out on top.  In the eight-team 70-AAA at Papago Park, Hooikaika Kinipopo (HI) became another of the teams to complete an unbeaten week as they swept Sons of Pitches (CA) in the winner’s bracket final (23-8) and the championship game (20-6).  Also at Papago Park, Git-R-Done 70 (CA) swept the first two of their Best 2 of 3 Championship series with Yavapai Casino (AZ), 17-10 and 24-9 for the Men’s 70-AA title.

The most senior of divisions, the Men’s 75’s and 80’s, played their usual highly skilled and competitive games at Rose Mofford.  In the Men’s 75-Platinum division, the 75-Major Scrap Iron 75’s (CO) swept their Best 2 of 3 Championship Series from 75-Major+ PDR FastSigns (OR) by scores of 18-11 and 20-18.  In the 75/80-Gold Division, the Kokopelli Eye Institute Scorpions (AZ) swept through the bracket unbeaten from the No. seed position, culminating in a championship game victory (9-7) over the Fairway Ford 80’s (CA).

Friday morning arrived with another 127 teams taking to the Phoenix facilities and the eight-field Big League Dreams Sports Park in Gilbert.  In the six-team 50-Platinum division at Rose Mofford, 50-Major+ Arizona Elite completed an unbeaten weekend with similar wins over 50-Major Champion J.U. Entertainment (CA) in both the winners’ bracket final (20-12) and championship game (20-9).  Both teams earned first place awards and T.O.C. 2017 bids in their respective divisions.  At Papago Park, the 13-team 50-AAA was yet another “if” game bracket.  Hawaii Five-0 dropped the winners’ bracket final (23-22) to Down & Dirty/ComBat (NM) before bouncing back to defeat them in both the championship (28-10) and “If” needed games (22-9).

 The combined four-team Men’s 50/55-AA yielded another team completing the week unbeaten as Tucson Buds/Los Buds (AZ) cruised to the title with their 20-15 victory in the championship game.

The 10-team Men’s 55/60-Platinum and 14-team 55-AAA divisions began play at the beautiful Big League Dreams Sports Park in Gilbert on Friday before finishing at Cesar Chavez Park over the weekend.  The 55/60-Platinum saw the L.A.F./Life After Fifty (CA) slip by the R&R Strokers 55 (CA) in the winners’ bracket final (25-24) before comfortably winning the title with a 20-6 championship game victory.   The 55-AAA also took the long way to the end as the Sidewinders 55 (AZ) stayed unbeaten until the championship game before suffering a loss (17-9) to the OG Outlaws (NM). But they bounced back in the “If” game with a thrilling 18-17 last at-bat win.

Rose Mofford hosted the seven-team 60-Major and 13-team 60-AAA with both divisions proving highly competitive.  In the 60-Major, Gonzales Insulation (TX) strung together three consecutive one-run elimination bracket wins to force two games against the Desert Dawgs 60’s (CA), defeating them in both the championship (18-17) and “If” games (16-5) to emerge victorious.  The 60-AAA saw another thrilling championship game as the Agway Steelers (ON) hung on to defeat Rocco’s 60 (AZ) 18-17, making the trip back to Canada enjoyable.  The 11-team 60-AA at Papago Park resulted in another team completing the week unbeaten as the New Mexico Boomers closed out their run of perfection with a 13-8 championship game win over Stagecoach Saloon (OR).

The Men’s and Women’s 40-Masters divisions expanded to a three-day format this year in response to the impressive growth in team participation, taking over the Desert West facility.  The 14-team Men’s 40-Platinum division was marked by close, high-scoring games all weekend as GTS (ID) finished strong with an impressive 29-11 championship game win over Nicon Trucking (CA).  

In the Women’s 40-Masters Majors, 2015 World Masters and Triple Grand Slam Champion Kiss Our Stix (CA) won their inaugural tournament at their new rating.  After losing (17-8) to perennial power Old School 40’s (CA) in the winners’ bracket final, they came back to take two in revenge, 16-13 in the championship game and 18-8 in the “If” game.   The seven-team Women’s 40-Masters AAA had another team complete a perfect weekend as Blue Heat (NM) swept through the tournament unscathed, ending with wins over SoCal Toxic (CA) in the winners’ bracket final (14-8) and the championship (13-9) game.

The Senior Women’s divisions again grew in the number of teams participating for the fourth year in a row.  The 10-team Women’s 50+ began on Friday at the Big League Dreams with pool and bracket play before moving for the weekend to the Chaparral Softball Complex in historic Scottsdale.

  Eastern powerhouse Dreamgirlz 50 (VA), with three consecutive World Masters and Triple Grand Slam Championships trophies to their name, were upset in their first bracket game by 50 ‘N Over IT (CA).  Undeterred, they reeled off five consecutive elimination bracket wins to get back in the mix.   After getting by Sudden Impact (CA) in the championship game (15-6), Sudden Impact retired, handing the Dreamgirlz a 7-0 forfeit win.

The rest of the Senior Women’s divisions have become quite at home at the Mountain Vista complex in southeast Phoenix, having the park to themselves again this year.  In the six-team Women’s 55/60+ division, the California Express ladies edged the Arizona Castawaz (10-7) in an exciting championship game.  The eight-team Women’s 65/70+ division had the last of the teams to play a perfect unbeaten weekend.  The Fun Bunch (MO) extended their dominance in Phoenix, defending their 2014 title with wins over Saints Express (CA) in the winners’ bracket final (10-8) and championship (12-1). 

 On Saturday at Mountain Vista, the final member of the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame Class of 2015, Cathy Nicholson of California Spirit 60, was inducted to the Hall.  Cathy gave a “spirited” acceptance speech that was the highlight of the day.

Complete game scores and bracket results are available at www.seniorsoftball.com.

Here are the All Tournament players selected by the teams for the 2015 Winter Worlds:

Men’s 50 Major-Plus- Arizona Elite/Demarini: Curtis Horger, Scott Spalding, Jeff White, Joe Gonzales, Dominick Calise; Arizona Old School: Randy Pongratz, Greg Vanhoy: Phoenix Bulldawgz: Randy Tompkins, Barry Midthun, and Robby Tucker

Men’s 50 AAA- Hawaii Five-O: Scott Murray, Tom McCarthy, Vern Ramie, Chris Ray, Felix Mendiola; Down & Dirty/Team Combat: Frank Smith, Randy Case, Joe Chavez, and Robert Sanchez; Sugamele- No Excuses: Danny Gutierrez, Paul Gutierrez, and Rusty Astgen

Men’s 55 AAA- Sidewinders: Kerry Krueger, Tom Petrizzio, Craig Hauger, Emery Hunt, and Jim Walter; Mr. Softball: Arty Alvarez, Lasaro Salgado, Mike Gonzales; Braves: Ron Larriu, Art Estrada

Men’s 55/60 Platinum- Arizona Old School: Jeff Marine, Gino Fiascnhem Dave Vandehey; R & R Strokers: Rick Vogel, Mick Swen, Richard Moreno, Rockey Colbern; L.A.F: Frank Dean, Matt Dobyns, Chuck McKenney, Mike O’Donnell, Chip Brakeville

Men’s 50/55 AA- Scrap Iron Coyotes: Pete Ayotte, Bruce Brothis, Rick Frahm

Men’s 60 AAA- Rocco’s: Joe A. Simental, Lonnie Ashley, Duane Hopkins, Edward Sanchez; Agway Steelers: Jeff Morton, Steve Garvin, Glen Auch, Steve Vasseur, Tony Reda; Just 4 Fun: Boyd Miller, Jeff Kay; New Mexico Boomers: Louie Ortega, Bill French, Julio Rios, Steve Armstrong, Bob Chesney; Stagecoach Saloon: Tom Brown, Steve Tucker, Jon Birk, Gary Tauscher

Men’s 60 AA- New Mexico Warriors: Dennis Rosales, John Arviso; YMC/Keith Enterprises: Joe Lathrop, Stu Prince, Doug Keith

Men’s 65 Major-Plus- Omen: Steve Callan, Pat McGuire, Dan Walsworth, Conway Waddy; Timberworks: Doak Whitley, George Robinson, Marvin Mielke, Rick Hines, and Don Hayashida; Enviro-Vac Marauders: Ron Beck, Leonard Gann, and O.J. Moe

Men’s 65 Major- Scrap Iron Phiten: Mike Edwards, Mike Ebbing, Mark Soloway; High Desert Roadrunners: Kent (Lucky) Near, Ed Andrews; AZ Ancient: Jerry Mason, Ken Sheffield, Bob Vogt, Al Hawkenson

Men’s 65 AAA- Fountain Valley Outlaws: Bob Varela, Steve Harabedian, Rob Albert

Men’s 65 AA- Duke City Dynamite: Ray Ortega, Rich Doney, Mike Sinnott, Joe Chavez, and Larry Gialouris; Git-R-Done: Bill Rugh, Donnie Drehsen, Jim Ziemer, and Artie Hartington

Men’s 70 Major-Plus- Scrap Iron Legacy: Dale McLaughlin, Stan Snichta, Gene Smith, Don Carpenter, Mike Hoftberg

Men’s 70 Major- Ponchos: Manny Hurtado, Brian Hiltz, Bill Kee, Dennis Bernalche, and Dennis De Verise; Silver Sox: Jack Lantz, Bob Borchard; Nick’s Diner: Jay Larson, Steve Rustman, and Don Joesten

Men’s 70 AAA: Sons Of Pitches: Roger Wisslead, Bob Sutton, Chris Mills, Bob Leatherwood; Hooikaika Kinipopo: John Hirota, Dwight Fujii, Dennis Holland, Al Apo, Bobby Damaso; Chicago Strikers: Dan Tuftee, Tony Inzerillo, Jack Zuzak

Men’s 70 AA- Git-R-Done: James Hansen, Jerry McGee, Jon Newell, Ed Nilsen, Mike Welch; Yavapai Casino: Larry Cathey, Julian Jarquez, Denny Williams, Doug Lee

Men’s 75 Platinum- Scrap Iron Beams: Don McGill, Bob Lennon, Carroll Shook, Ronnie Guest, John Wunderli; PDR Fastsigns: John Fournier, Dan Miniick, Tom Imming, Bob Quarantino

Men’s 75 AAA- Kokopelli Eye Institute Scorpions: George Harrell, Gene Monk, Ken Ponzio, Larry Richey, Ed Romero

Men’s 75/80 Gold- Fairway Ford: Jim Douglas, John Fisher, Frank Purdue, Jim Arena; Sidewinders: Frank Williams, Ron Johnson, and Gene Boettcher; Git-R-Done: Gene Dick, Mike Wiemer

Women’s 40 Major- Kryptonite: Sara Payne, Karen Hunger; Kiss Our Stix: Jennifer Stewart, Patti Affriseo, Linda Ikami, Laura Bernadino, and Aretha Tilley

Women’s 40 AAA- SoCal Toxic: Melanie Grieco, Becky Hardy, Heather Michaelis, Danelle Sticklin; Texas Crush: Kim Ott, Debra Jean Lowry

Women’s 55/60- Skormor: Terry Chavez Spraggs, Yvonne Delk, Barb Shanley; Cal Express: Fran DePuy, Jane Smith, Sue Prentice, Nancy Moniger, Kathy Hawk

Women’s 65/70- Queen Bees: Mo Deys, June Cord; Ye Olde Bats: Linda Sampson, Dottie Johnson, Kathy Smith; Saints Express: Sue Cary, Sharon Amer, Bev Burger, Sis Iorio; Fun Bunch: Jill Smith, Kathy Lord, Cyndi Kelly, Susan Thompson, Marcia Hiltabidle