News story

Milwaukee Site of Eastern Nationals, Las Vegas to Host Westerns

Jan. 1, 2002 – Senior Softball-USA

Milwaukee ˆ site of the 2002 All Star Game ˆ will be the host of the 2002 Eastern National Championships and Las Vegas will host the 2002 Western National Championships, according to Senior softball World Championships officials.

"It was a difficult choice," said Terry Hennessy, SSWC Executive Director. "Several cities bid on the Eastern and Western National Championships.

"Milwaukee was chosen because of it's modern softball facilities, the support of the local softball and city officials and the strong regional senior softball programs," he said. "Las Vegas ˆ which offers unparalleled fun for players off the field ˆ was the site of the highly successful 2001 World Championships. It was a natural choice for the 2002 Western nationals."

Milwaukee and Las Vegas welcomed the event.

"We are very excited to be serving as the host city for this year's Senior Softball Eastern National Championships," said Doug Neilson, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "With this event arriving in town just weeks after the Major League Baseball All Star Game in the new Miller Park, the summer of 2002 is guaranteed to be an exciting time for residents and visitors alike."

Both the Eastern and Western Nationals will be played on the same dates:

Men's 65, 70/75 Divisions play Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22-23.

Men's 50, 55, 60 and Women's 45 and 50 Divisions play Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24-25.

Major, AAA and AA teams from East of the Mississippi River qualify for both the Eastern Nationals in Milwaukee and the World Championships by playing in a SSWC Qualifier.

Major, AAA and AA teams from West of the Mississippi River qualify for both the Western Nationals in Las Vegas and the World Championships by playing in a SSWC Qualifier.

The World Championships are played in two different cities: the AA World Championships are played in Salem, Oregon, and the Major, AAA and Women's Divisions are played in Phoenix, Arizona. (See Page 18 for dates and details).

So, for example, a AA team from East of the Mississippi River can qualify in any SSWC Qualifier, play in Milwaukee in the Eastern Nationals in August, and then compete in the AA World Championships in September. Major teams from East of the Mississippi River would play in a SSWC Qualifier, the Eastern nationals in Milwaukee in August and the Major Division World Championships in Phoenix in October.

Teams winning the Eastern or Western Nationals, the US Nationals (one game between the East and West Champs played during the World Championships), and the World Championships win the Triple Grand Slam. Each player on the winning teams receives a $120 pair of Tanel shoes and the Team name is engraved on the Triple Grand Slam Perpetual Trophy.

Last year, the San Francisco Seals and Jimmy's Dukes won the Triple Grand Slam.