Tournament wrapup

59 Teams Compete in Winter Nationals in Ft. Myers

March 1, 2004 – Senior Softball-USA

FORT MYERS, Florida ˆ Warm weather, white-sand beaches and a chance to play ball in November attracted 59 teams to the second annual Winter Nationals here.

Men and women's teams from 17 states and Canada competed in 13 divisions, with close games in several championship rounds in the Winter Nationals, played from Nov. 21-23 at Lee County Sports Complex, Northwest Cape Coral Complex and the BMX Softball Complex.

"The Winter Nationals is fast becoming a tradition in senior softball," said Jerry Jackson, the Winter National Tournament Director.

In one close slugfest, Fairway Ford of California tipped Dixie Gas of Florida 26-25 in the 65 Major-Plus Division finals. That result was a repeat of the finals of the Senior Softball World Championships between the two teams in Mobile, which Fairway Ford won, as well.

In another close contest in the 65 AAA Division, the Florida Jaguars beat the Virginia Cavaliers 16-15 in the finals. The finals of that game was protested when the Jaguars added a player to their lineup during the championship game. The player was listed on the roster, but not on the original lineup. "In one place, the rulebook states that a player must be listed on the lineup to be substituted in the game," said Otis Rowland, chairman of the Senior Softball-USA Rules Committee.

"In another section, the rulebook states that any person on the roster can be placed on the lineup. The effect is that any person on the roster may be added to the lineup and substituted during the game," he said.

In the 65 Major Division, Club Med Billiards of Pennsylvania edged Northside Tire of Florida 17-16 in the semi-finals, but lost to Suncoast Orthopedic of Florida 30-11 in the finals.

It was eye-to-eye in the 70 Major Division, as Center for Sight, Eye Associates of Ft. Myers and the Eye Center of Florida faced off with Georgia Peaches. In the final contest of the division, Center for Sight broke a 7-7 tie with Eye Center of Florida, scoring 2 runs in the fifth inning and 3 runs in the sixth inning to win 12-7. In the 70 AAA Division, two Florida teams battled for the championships, with the Ospreys beating the Golden Gators 10-5.

A northern team topped a large 12-team 60 AAA division to win the Winter National Championships.

Syracuse 60s emerged from the number 4 seed in single elimination to beat Roadside Express of Illinois 21-14, then defeat the number-one seeded Pompano Beach Bums14-12 to advance to the finals. In the finals, Syracuse beat a scrappy Southwest Florida Suns team, which had fought from the 10th seed position. The final score was Syracuse 18, Suns 15.

In 60 AA competition, top-seeded Villages of Florida 60s capped a perfect 4-0 round robin run to beat Hungry Harry's of Florida 22-12 and the St. Louis Legends 14-12 to win the 60 AA Winter National Championships.

In an all-Florida finish, Gulf Shore Insurance tipped Office Products Warehouse 12-11, then toppled The Storm 18-12 to win the 55 Major championships.

Hard Rock Café of Florida came from behind to win the 55 AAA championship game. Mandel's of Missouri started the game with a bang ˆ 4 runs in the top of the first ˆ and stayed ahead until the bottom of the fifth. Hard Rock, behind 8-7, scored two critical runs in the fifth inning to pull ahead and two more runs in the sixth inning to seal the championships, beating Mandel's 11-8.

The Broward Bunch of Florida beat both the Akron Silver Legends of Ohio, 17-13, and Hungry Harry's of Florida, 14-11, to win the 50 AAA Winter National Championships.

Damon's Grill of Maryland made a mighty run at Hollis Appraisals of Florida in the 50 Major championship game, but fell one run short. Damon's Grill was behind 27-20 going into the top of the seventh inning and punched in 6 runs before being shut down by Hollis, which one the game 27-26.

In the 50 Women's Division, the Maryland Roadrunners solidly defeated the Village Vixens of Florida (20-10 and 15-6) to win the Winter Nationals and the Sportaculars of Canada went on a hitting spree to defeat Freedom Spirit of Florida 20-12 in the Women's 60 Division.