Mother Nature Disrupts 13th Annual Brickyard Invitational

May 1, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS, IN --- The 2017 Brickyard Invitational was held here at the Midwest Sports & Social Complex, Wednesday – Sunday, May 3-7.

The tournament got off to a rocky start, as the first session, the Men’s 65/70 age divisions, would not be completed due to rain on Thursday.  During seeding play on Wednesday, Indy Fog (IN) and Dr. Viny/Indy 65 (IN), each posted 2-0 records to secure the No. 1 and 2 seeds, respectively, for the 60/65 Gold division. Only two games would be completed in bracket play, as rain canceled the rest of the first session. Indy Fog was declared winner based on seeding.

In the 65/70 Silver division, Indiana Legends/Columbus and Chicago Gray Sox (IL) were slated to play a best two-out-of-three game series. The teams split the first two games, before the rubber match to determine the champion was rained out. The teams were declared co-champions.

With a built-in day off in play on Friday, grounds crews worked round the clock to get the fields ready for the weekend session. They even bought pumps to drain the low spots in the outfield. 

A number of teams pulled out of the tournament based on weather forecasts on Friday. SSUSA sent out a notice Friday to all of the teams, telling them the tournament was still being played and reminding them of the rainout policy:

“Please be aware that our policy on refunds is that there is NO REFUND for any team pulling out of this tournament.  The schedules have already been drawn.  If teams pull out, we will be using those funds to reschedule the games for the remaining teams.”

While a handful of teams did pull out, most teams stayed and played the tournament after schedules were re-drawn.

Starting with the Men’s 50/55 Major Plus division, Kluever Snap-On Tools (IN) out-slugged Gem City Softball (OH), by scores of 52-49 and 31-30, to sweep a best two-out-of-three game series.

In the six-team Men’s 50 Major division, No. 1 seed Team Champion Real Estate (MI) defended its top seed and lived up to its name sake, going 3-0 in bracket play, including a 16-13 win over Motor City Thunder (MI). Pope Transport (WI) finished in third place.

In the 10-team Men’s 50 AAA division, No. 2 seed 50 Degrees (MO), making their SSUSA debut, posted a perfect 4-0 record in bracket play, including a 24-23 win over Miken/Chi Town Assault (IL) in the championship game. Big Hurt Softball (IL) finished in third place.

After going 0-2 in seeding play, Dayton Legends (OH) bounced back in bracket play, double-dipping Steel City A’s (PA) by scores of 13-8 and 16-4, in the championship and “if” game, respectively, to win the three-team Men’s 55 Major division.

In the six-team Men’s 55/60 AAA division, No. 2 seed Antique Roadshow (IN) came out victorious, defeating top seed Pope Transport (WI), 10-8, in the championship game. Milwaukee Merchants (WI) finished in third place.