64 Teams Begin Road to Triple Grand Slam at 17th Annual Eastern National Championships

Aug. 1, 2017

CARY, N.C. – The 2017 Eastern National Championships was held here Aug. 1-6 at Middle Creek Athletic Complex and Thomas Brooks Park Softball Complex.

Winning teams from each division cleared the first hurdle towards the elusive Triple Grand Slam, which also includes winning the US National Game (played against the Western National Champion) at the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, and winning the World Masters Championship.

Of the 64 teams who participated, 24 teams have moved onto the second leg of the Triple Grand Slam, securing a berth to the US National Game as East Champions.

The tournament began with the Men’s 65 through 80 age divisions playing Aug. 1-3, with all games held at Middle Creek Athletic Complex.

In the four-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum division, Superior Senior Softball (VA) defeated Hollis Appraisals 65 (FL) 14-13 in the championship game. After dropping their first game in the bracket, Hollis won back-to-back games in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the championship game. The win gave Superior a perfect record for the week, as the team went 3-0 in seeding play to earn the top seed, before going 3-0 in bracket play. The team will represent the East in the 65 Major Plus division in the US National Game. Venom (FL) finished in third place.

As singleton teams in the division, New Jersey Hitmen (65 Major) and Venom (70 Major Plus) will represent the East in their respective divisions in the US National Game.

The five-team 65/70 Gold division was captured by Northern Virginia Force 65, as the team ran through the division, going 2-0 in seeding play to earn the top seed, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 9-8 victory over Storm 65’s (FL) in the championship game. Northern Virginia Force will represent the East in the 65 AAA division in the US National Game. Spicer Properties 70 (MD) finished in third place, and as a singleton team in the division, will represent the East in the 70 Major division in the US National Game.

In the final division of the first session, the four-team Men’s 75/80 Gold division, Florida Investment Properties posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 20-6 win over Bailey Talent Cavaliers 75 (VA) in the championship game. Carolina Blue Sky’s (NC) finished in third place. Florida Investment Properties will represent the East in the 80 Major division in the US National game, while Bailey Talent Cavaliers, as the top finishing 75 AAA team, will be the East representative in that division in the US National Game. As a singleton team, Southeast Left-Overs (GA) will represent the East in the 75 Major Plus division in the US National Game.

The tournament resumed Aug. 4-6, with the Men’s 40 – 60 divisions.

In the three-team Men’s 40 Masters Major division, East Coast Berserk/LB (MD) escaped the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip PA Posse 40’s, 25-21 and 15-13, in the championship and “if” games, respectively. Extreme (MD) finished in third place.

Color By Design (MD) took the three-team Men’s 40 Masters AAA division, defeating Superior 40’s/Potomac Sports (MD) 5-1 in the championship game. Y’all Next (MD) finished in third place.

Color By Design Eastern National Champions

Mid-Atlantic Softball (VA) bounced back from its 25-6 loss against Team USA (MD) in the championship game of the three-team Men’s 50 Major Plus division, to win the “if” game 22-14. TSC/Miken Reloaded (GA) finished in third place.

Mid-Atlantic Softball Eastern National Champions

Mizuno/RBLawncare (NC) defended their home turf, earning the top seed in the six-team Men’s 50 Major division, going 2-0 in seeding play, before completing a perfect weekend with a 3-0 mark in bracket play, including a 14-12 win in the championship game over Ohio Elite/A&B. Miami Power/Twisted Sports finished in third place.

In the seven-team Men’s 50 AAA division, BP & Associates/Roadhouse Blues (PA) started off strong with a 2-0 showing in seeding play, before continuing their solid play into the bracket, going 4-0, including an 18-10 win over Straight Gas (VA) in the championship game. After dropping their first game in the bracket against BP & Associates/Roadhouse Blues, Straight Gas rattled off four straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket to set up a rematch in the championship game. Gaithersburg Rental (MD) finished in third.

Hollis Appraisals 60’s (FL) took the four-team Men’s 55/60 Platinum division, going 3-0 in seeding play, before completing an unblemished weekend with a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 22-6 win over Triangle Masters (NC). Hollis Appraisals will represent the East in the 60 Major Plus division in the US National Game. Sweet Construction 55’s (NJ) finished in third place and will represent the East in the 55 Major division in the US National Game.

Hollis Appraisals 60s Eastern National Champions

After losing their opening game in the bracket, Ameriprise Florida Legends rebounded with four straight wins, including back-to-back one-run wins over Crossfit/RDU (NC), 20-19 and 15-14, in the championship and “if” game, respectively, to win the four-team Men’s 55 AAA division. Old Stars (IN) finished in third place.

Longshoreman 55 (VA) swept Helltown (VA) in a best two-out-of-three game series by scores of 18-11 and 24-14 in the Men’s 50/55 AA division. As singleton teams, Longshoreman (55 AA) and Helltown (50 AA) will also represent the East in their respective divisions in the US National Game.

In the seven-team Men’s 60 Major division, No. 5 seed Omega IT Services (MD) made a Cinderella run through the bracket, going 4-0, including a 21-13 win over Carolina Cobras 60 (NC) in the championship game. Minnesota Cowboys finished in third place.

Pompano Crush 60’s (FL) won the six-team Men’s 60 Silver division, going 4-0 in bracket play, including a 16-12 win over Northern Virginia Force 60 in the championship game. After dropping their first game in the bracket, Northern Virginia Force won three games in the elimination side of the bracket before falling in the final. Reality Check (NC) finished in third place. With their win, Pompano Crush will represent the East in the 60 AAA division in the US National Game. As a singleton team in the division, The Starboard/OTS (DE) will represent the East in the 60 AA division in the US National Game.

The 40’s and 50’s Women’s teams played Aug. 5-6.

Kryptonite (FL) and Sweet Ladies Softball (VA) played a best two-out-of-three game series in the Women’s 40 Masters Major division, with Kryptonite sweeping the series by scores of 15-6 and 16-10.

Kryptonite Eastern National Champions

Dreamgirlz 50 (VA) completed a perfect weekend, going 4-0 in seeding play and 2-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 17-16 win over Fireballs (MA) in the championship game of the Women’s 40/50 Gold division. Lew’s Crew/Exceeding Expectations (MD) finished in third place. Dreamgirlz will represent the East as the 50 Major champion, while Fireballs will represent the East as the 40 AAA champion.