SYRACUSE QUALIFIER GROWS IN 3RD YEAR

Oct. 1, 2011 – Chuck Sharkey New York State Director

For the third straight year, the number of teams participating in the Salt City Classic SSUSA Qualifier at Hopkins Rd Complex in Liverpool, N.Y., continued to grow.

They all enjoyed playing in perfect weather conditions of temperatures in the 80’s with low humidity.

The competition started on July 14 with the 65 and 70 divisions. The Syracuse Cyclones 65 AA (NY) won the best of three championships over COZY Grill (RI) with scores of 22-13 and 17-7.

In the 70 division, Brantford Nissan (Canada) beat Brookhouse Rest 20-17 in the first game of the double elimination bracket. Brookhouse then defeated Syracuse Cyclones (NY) 17-16, Hannington (MA) 18-10, and Brantford Nissan in the winders bracket final 15-14 to force the “if” game. Brantford won the “if” game 23-22 by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in an existing finish.

The next day, 50, 55, and 60 divisions started their action. In the round-robin format Sports Center (MA) went 3-0 beating Rochester 50’s Major 22-16, Rustbelters (NY) 27-1, and Petland Top Dogs (NY) 20-15 to win the top seed in the double elimination format. They then defeated McBrides (NJ) 18-4, St. Anthony’s- Rhino (PA) 17-7, and then St. Anthony’s-Rhino (PA) again in the championship 15-6.

The 50’s Major best 2 of 3 championships was won by the Combat Bandits (Canada). They beat the Rochester 50’s (NY) 24-10 in the first game and then scored eight runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game and won it in the extra innings 25-22 in the second game.

The three-team 55 division was won by the Bay State Bombers (MA). They beat Stefco- Silverstix (Canada) 21-19 and lost to them 28-21 to force the “if” game. In the “if” game, Bay State was too much for Stefco, beating them 32-19.

In the 60 division, the Syracuse Merchants (NY) went 3-0 in the round-robin format. They won their first game 28-23 over Bathtub Billies (NY). Then they lost to Brooklin 60’s (Canada) in a nail-biter 13-11. The second-seeded Brooklin 60’s beat MVP/NY Capitals (NY) 21-20, then the Merchants 13-11, and then defeated the Merchants again 22-19 in the final.