SSWC: SUN & FUN IN PHOENIX

Feb. 1, 2010

PHOENIX – Just the numbers for the 18th Annual Senior Softball World Championships played here in October are impressive.

More than 316 teams from 35 states, four Canadian Provinces, two cities in Japan and Germany played more than a 1,000 games on 29 diamonds, with more than 20 tournament officials and 60 umpires -- many brought in from throughout the United States and Canada.

The World Championships infused more than $15 million into the Phoenix economy in just 10 days.

But the World Championships is so much more than just numbers.

The international teams reminded everyone how much fun a tournament can be – on and off the field. Several players shared touching thoughts and comments as they were inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame.

And Phoenix Parks officials became the MVPs of the tournament with their exceptional work to keep the fields in great shape despite significant staff reductions.

The top Senior Softball-USA award for the year, the 2009 Sportsmanship Award, was presented to the Colorado Scrap Iron Club.

“This award transcends the game itself,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA chief executive officer, in presenting the award to Scrap Iron president Greg Broeckelman. “It stands for all that is good in the sport: passionate competition played with good humor and good fellowship – that is the formula for Good Sportsmanship.”

On the field, six teams captured the coveted Triple Grand Slam; winning the Western or Eastern Nationals, the US Nationals and the World Championships.

Those teams included the Arizona Sidewinders in the 70 Major-Plus Division, the Florida Legends/ Human Kenetics in the 65 Major-Plus Division, Blaine County Title of Idaho in the 60 AAA Division, Roberts Construction of Wisconsin in the 55 Major Division and CJ&S Express in the 50 AAA Division.

Many of the 31 divisions competing were extremely large, with 27 teams vying for the 50 AAA title, 23 teams for the 50 Major and 20 teams in the 60AA division.

And competition was sharp: more than one-third of the division championships were decided by one run, or by forcing an “IF” game. In one of the closest preliminary rounds in the World Championships history, 11 of the 18 teams in the 55AAA division were 1-1 going into bracket play. The Texas Legends won the 55 AAA title, beating Stancil’s Photo of Florida 21-17 in the finals.

In an amazing end to their season, CJ&S captured the Triple Grand Slam by winning the Western Nationals, the US Nationals – and the largest division of the World Championships. CJ&S beat Los Vatos Viejos (also of Arizona) to win the 27-team 50AAA Division.

Roberts Construction of Wisconsin won the Triple Grand Slam the hard way, coming from the loser’s bracket in the 17-team 55 Major division to double-dip Top Gun III of California in the finals.

And the Arizona Sidewinders fought off a strong San Francisco Seals team after losing the first game of the 70 Major-Plus championships to come back and win the “IF” 21-10 – and the Triple Grand Slam.

The youngest divisions of the World Championships – the 40 Masters – are also the fastest growing.

In the Women’s 40 Masters, teams were divided into two divisions – AAA and AA – with KAR Phone /TKP of California winning both the 9-team AAA division and the Triple Grand Slam by topping Old School 20-10. In the Women’s Masters AA, TKO of New Mexico came back through the loser’s bracket to double-dip Steel Runnin’ of California 14-7 and 12-8.

In the 40 Men’s Masters Major division, perennial powerhouse JK Inc., beat OGR 26-25 to advance to the finals, then beat Team Braves 22-21 to win the championships.

In the large 11-team Men’s 40 Masters AAA division, Ty Boys of Pennsylvania defeated the NorCal Stars 26-18 to win the championship.

In the oldest division of the tournament, Tiodize D-99 of California defeated long-time foes Center for Sight from Florida 27-19 to win the 80 division title.

Competition was tight – and the final score was low – in the 75 Major division. Joseppi’s of Washington popped out of the loser’s bracket to defeat Fairway Ford 15-13 and force an “IF” game. However, Fairway Ford came back to win in a low-scoring 5-3 contest to take the championship.

In the 7-team 60 Women’s division, Jolico Seniors of Michigan beat the Golden Saints 24-17 to force an “IF” game, then went on to win again 7-6 to take the title.

A familiar winner emerged once more in the Women’s 55 division when California Spirit 55s defeated Jolico 55s of Michigan for the championships. And in the Women’s 50 division, longtime rival California Spirit 50s fell to 2nd Wind of California.

In one of the most competitive divisions of the tournament, the Seacrest Mavericks defeated the East Bay Oldies 24-23 in the 50 Major-Plus finals. It was one of the largest Major-Plus divisions in SSWC history, with 10 teams competing.

In another division with a large number of teams (23) – the 50 Majors – the KC Barons squeaked out a victory over Sweet Construction of New Jersey 15-14.

Just 4 Fun of Arizona won the 50 AA division, beating Baker Boys of California in the finals 11-7.

In the 55 Major-Plus division, Travelodge of Indiana hung on after losing the championship game to MTC of California, to beat MTC 22-16 in the “IF” game and claim the division title.

Relentless of Texas beat Steel Dawgs of Pennsylvania 25-18 in the finals to win the 55 AA division.

In the 60 Major-Plus division, GSF of California defeated MTC 60s in the championship game 17-13 to win the title. In the 60 Major division of 16 teams, Robson Ranch of Arizona beat Jim & Joe’s of Kentucky 23-4 to win the division.

In the large 18-team 60 AAA division, Blaine County Title of Idaho put on a gutsy performance, emerging from the loser’s bracket to double-dip the strong Georgia-Alabama Masters 29-21 and 26-17 to win the division.

And in the even larger 20-team 60 AA division, OTD of Arizona prevailed, beating Oops of Texas by a lopsided 23-0 in the finals.

In the 65 Major-Plus division, Florida Legends / Human Kenetics defeated the normally strong NorCal Bluejays 23-10 to win the division – and the Triple Grand Slam.

In a tight contest in the 65 Majors, the Las Vegas Elks came back in the “IF” game after losing the first championship game to Scrap Iron of Colorado 21-13. The Elks won the “IF” game, and the division, 21-15.

Another Robson Ranch team prevailed in the 65 AAA division, beating Michael’s of Illinois 28-13 in the finals. And in the 13-team 65 AA division, KFC of Illinois was knocked into the “IF” game by the Chicago Classics Gray Sox, but came back to defeat the Sox 17-9 and win the division.

PDR/Fastsigns of Oregon continued a winning season, but did it the hard way. Coming out of the loser’s bracket PDR beat Doc’s Sports of Michigan twice 11-7 and 20-19 to win the 70 Major division.

In the 70 AAA division, the NorCal Renegades beat Back Office Associates of Massachusettes 18-16 to win the 9-team division.

And the San Antonio Crackers defeated the Sacramento Rebels 28-20 to win the 70 AA title.