Tournament wrapup

Playing in the Sun: SSWC Kicks off 2001 Qualifiers in L.A., Hawaii, Phoenix

March 1, 2001 – Senior Softball-USA

Softball News Report - March 2001

More than 120 teams ˆ up from 98 last year ˆ kicked off the 2001 season in a series of SSWC Sunbelt Qualifiers.

And more women's teams competed than ever before in these early Qualifiers. Twenty women's teams competed in the Menifee Winter Classic in Southern California, the Hawaii South Pacific Qualifier and Phoenix Golden Glove.

In addition, 104 men's teams competed in the January and February Qualifiers for spots in the 2001 Senior Softball World Championships Presented by Las Vegas.

"These early qualifiers are a result of the intense interest of teams in the World Championships in Las Vegas ˆ and a indication of the continuing growth of our sport," said Rick Seifman, SSWC national tournament director.

Menifee Winter Classic

The traditional kickoff of the senior softball season is the Menifee Winter Classic, which drew 71 teams from Jan. 6-14.

In the Women's 45+ division, the Slammers, from XXXX, captured 1st place from the powerhouse 2nd Wind 45s of Lake Forest. 2nd Wind won the 2000 World Championships in Winnipeg in September.

The Arizona Queen Bees got a measure of revenge by beating the California Spirit Majors, from Whittier, for the Women's 55+ title. The Spirit defeated the Queen Bees 19-12, in Winnipeg to win the 55+ Women's Division World Championships.

The Capital Return, from Burbank, Calif., beat out the Seacreast Mavericks from Huntington Beach California, to take first place in the 50+ Division I. The American Cougars, from Calabasas, California, captured first place in a strong 50+ Division II, beating out D&K, from XXXX. In the 50+ Division III, San Diego's Top Gun II swept to victory with a 5-0 record. The Southern California Cobras took second.

In the 55+ Division I, Las Vegas' Skinny Dugans took the title, with Golden State Fasteners, from XXXX, in a close second: Both teams had 4-1 records. Bickerton Iron Works, from Northridge, California, won the 55+ Division II and San Diego's Top Gun 55s captured second place. In the 50+ Division III, the Rice Paddy from Las Vegas took first and Fresno Prime came in second. Both teams had 4-1 records.

Fairway Ford squeaked into first in 60+ Division I with a 3-2 record. McCloud Salvage from Glendale, California, captured first place in Division II with a 5-1 record and the SLO Pokes from Grover Beach, California, took first place in Division III with a 4-1 record.

Fairway Ford 65s kept the winning tradition going, sweeping to first place in the 65+ Division I with an undefeated 5-0 record. PS Diamonds, from XXXX, took first place in the 65+ Division II and Regency Homes, from Hemet, Calif., took second place. In the 65+ Division III, Jimmy's Dukes from Anaheim, California, captured the title with a 4-1 record and Top Gun Gold from San Diego won the second place spot ˆ also with a 4-1 record.

The 70s Division was socked by rain and teams only played three games. The Arizona Wranglers captured the rain-shortened 70+ division with a 3-0 record.

Hawaii South Pacific Qualifier

Eight teams competed in one of senior softball's most exotic qualifier sites in Honolulu from Feb. 7-9.

"The first day of the tournament was beautiful," said SSWC Tournament Director Frank Daniel. "On the second and final days we had clouds and some showers, but it did not have an adverse effect on the tournament."

The Hawaii Masters 50s finished with a perfect 6-0 record, defeating the Hawaii 55s 14-6 in the championship game.

In addition to the five Hawaiian teams, three teams competed from the mainland, including the Oklahoma Seniors in the 60s Division and two women's teams: Las Perlas de Arizona 45s and the Arizona Diamond Debs.

"Next year we are hoping to move to the new Wapio Regional Park Complex and we are opening the tournament to the 40+ Masters Division," said Daniel.

Phoenix Golden Glove

A record 45 teams competed in beautiful weather from Feb. 17-20 on some of the best softball fields in the country.

There were several nail-biters and one great come-from-behind drive by CC&A from XXXX in the 50+ A Bracket.

"In their first game, CC&A pulled out a nail-biter over the 2000 AA champion El Paso Drillers, winning 14-13," said Seifman. "CC&A came in as the fifth seed and went on to beat top-seeded Grimes Trucking (from Phoenix) 28-24 in the championship game."

In the Women's 45+ Division, the Senior Saints from Phoenix defeated the California Spirits 15-7 to win first place. In the Women's 55+ Division, the hometown Queen Bees again beat the California Spirit Majors to capture first place.

In the Men's 50+ Pool B, the Arizona Amigo defeated the Phoenix Roadrunners 12-7 to win first.

Play in the 55+ Division was close.

In 55+ Pool A, Tharalson's Enterprises of Nevada squeaked out a first-place finish over Rusty's from XXXX. Both teams had 4-1 records. And in the 55+ Pool B, the Players, from Fountain Hills, Ariz., beat the Arizona Sun Lake Masters 18-17.

The Arizona Aeros took the 60s Division title, with the Boomers from XXXX capturing second place. In the 65+ Division, Trap House from Las Vegas won first place over Arizona Sun Lakes 65s.

And in the 70+ Division, Del Webb 70s from Sun City, Arizona, took the championships, with the Las Vegas 70s placing second.