WESTERNS ROCK IN AURORA: CHAMPIONSHIPS OFFER POSITIVE EVENT FOR SHOCKED COMMUNITY

Sept. 1, 2012 – Jack Sirard contributing writer

AURORA, COLO. – Played just a week after a gunman shattered this quiet Denver suburb by killing 12 people, the Senior Softball USA Western Nationals offered a welcome positive diversion.

"Aurora was honored to host the Western Nationals and excited to have so many teams travel to Colorado for this wonderful tournament,” said Gary Wheat, president/chief executive officer of Visit Aurora.

"To have more than 80 teams the first year, the Western Nationals produced a significant impact to our economy and Visit Aurora is proud to have been a presenting sponsor with the Scrap Iron Softball Club of Colorado."

For the 89 visiting teams from 13 states, the Western Nationals was the main event in an effort to represent the West in the U.S. National Championship Game.

Winners of the Western Nationals receive a berth in the U.S. National Game against the winner of the Eastern Nationals in their division. Teams that win the U.S National Game, the World Master Championships in Las Vegas this fall win the Triple Grand Slam.

Unfortunately, the shootings here came close to home for tournament officials, who learned that one of the victims slain in the theater was a member of the Color Guard scheduled for Opening Ceremonies.

In the Men’s 50/55 Platinum Division, the fourth-seeded Arizona Elite breezed through bracket play unscathed to take the title. They beat After Party Las Vegas 29-17 in the final game.

Team Rio Grande from New Mexico dominated in the Men’s 50 AAA division, smashing the Desert Dawgs from California 56-22 to win the crown.

In the Men’s 50/55 AA Division, Bob’s Classics of Utah won the 55AA Division title and Four Corners of New Mexico claimed the 50AA championships.

Eight teams vied for top honors in the Men’s 55 AAA Division, but it was the top-seeded JCI/The Y Bar & Grill from Washington state that emerged as champions. JCI ran the table in the tournament and topped MI Sports from Colorado in the tournament finale by a 19-15 score.

The top-seeded Nor Cal Reds had a scare in the Men’s 55/60 Platinum Division by losing an early bracket game to Scrap Iron Master Collision, 18-12. But they bounced back in the loser’s bracket only to face Master Collision, this time winning 24-13 and taking the 55 Major title. Master Collision was the top finishing team in the 60 Major-Plus Division.

The second-seeded Tanel 360/Bud Light from Texas won a number of very close games in early bracket play only to see their bats come alive in thumping California’s Bay Supporters 23-11 to win the Men’s 60 Silver Division which featured 11 highly competitive teams.

In the Men’s 60/65 Platinum Division, Team Omen from California went through bracket play undefeated to take the crown, beating W.E. Ruth Realty from Washington 28-17 in the final game to win the 65 Major-Plus title. WE Ruth won the 55 Major title.

In similar fashion, the Minnesota Prize sailed through bracket play in the Men’s 65 Major Division, topping New Mexico’s High Desert Roadrunners 24-18 for the title.

In the Men’s 65 AAA Division, the top-seeded Scrap Iron/Phiten from Colorado topped the Scrap Iron Red 21-15 to claim the championship.

In the Men’s 65 AA Division, Colorado’s Scrap Iron 65 Classic topped the El Paso Nine-Eleven from Texas 20-15 for the title.

The Arizona Heat took two straight from the Texas Wildcatters by scores of 12-11 and 15-8 to win the Men’s 70 Major Plus Division.

Pinnacle Physical Therapy from Arizona, the top seed, nipped Scrap Iron Legacy 24-23 to take the title in the Men’s 70 Gold Division.

In the Men’s 70/75 Silver Division, the host Scrap Iron Red won a pitcher’s duel 55-2 over the New Mexico New Concepts for the championship.

The San Francisco Seals won two straight games over Joeseppi’s from Washington by scored of 24-12 and 26-19 to claim the Men’s 75 Major Division.

Four teams battled it out in the competitive Men’s 80 Division but it was the Arizona Prospectors who were undefeated in tournament play emerging as champions. They beat the Northwest 80’s from Washington 21-12 for the 80 Major title.

Seven teams fought hard on the diamond in the Women’s 50/55 Division and it was the California Spirit 50’s winning the title in the If game over the Bottom of the 5th from California 22-21.

In the Women’s 60 Division, the California Spirit 60s came out of the loser’s bracket to beat the Golden Girls twice by scores of 20-13 and 10-7 for the title.

And in the Women’s 65 Division, the Scrap Iron/Dream Catchers from New Mexico topped the Colorado Hot Flashes 9-3 for the championship.

For complete results, please go to www.seniorsoftball.com.

WESTERN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012 ALL TOURNEY PLAYERS

Men’s 50Major-After Party- John Livingston, Peter Oriarte, William Kephart.

Men’s 50AAA- Rio Grande-Erin Ford, Steve Speis, Todd Hill, Jim Chiles, Jerry Wicks.Desert Dawgs 50- Joe Quintero, Fernando Hill, Greg Bovero.Tucson Bandits- Jeff Marine, Lyman Thompson.

Men’s 50/55AA- Mountain Men- Bruce King, Nate Olpin.

Men’s 55Major- Nor Cal Reds- Duane Williams, Brad Drennan, Lenny Meinecke, Clay Fox, Steve Hillman.

Men’s 55AA- Bob’s Classics- Mike Seegmiller, Grant Hockin, Ernie reyes, Mark Merkley, Stuart Fredman.

Men’s 55AAA-JCI/The YBar&Grill- Jerry Crawford, Shane Verley, Charles Hudson, Rick McLaughlin, Dave Dutcher.MI Sports- Pete Ayotte, Dave Maestas, Barry Jack.

Men’s 55/60Platinum- Scrap Iron/Master Collision-Tom Exum, Dan Silvey, Steve Schoeder, Rob Clark,Mark Soloway. KC Kids- Chuck Tipton, Gary Hall, Dave Murrill. GSF- Bob Bainbridge, Mark Weber.

Men’s 60 Silver- Aro Glass- John Delia, Wayne Ross.

Men’s 60/65Platinum- Omen 65- John Dorsett, Tom Best, Jesse Martinez, Ed Carey, Larry Lopez.

Men’s 65 Major-MN Prize- Mark Lilledahl, Curt Callstrom, Ken Young, Dave Weber, Bob Goldstrand.High Desert Roadrunners- Les Poland, Paul Allen, Vern Curtis.Timberworks- Donnie Hayashida, Larry Gies.First American Title- Vern Tillman, Skip Baebler.

Men’s 65AA- Scrap Iron Classics- Paul Zalus, Richard Hooper, Jerry Denzler, DuWayne Pillard, Harry Elenbaas.Nine Elevens- Ramon Zepeda, Manny Zepeda, Danny Strickland.

Men’s 65AAA-Scrap Iron Phiten- Mike Rossi, Rich Bonacquista, Dick Schimmels, Mel Vanek, Alan Wiechmann. Scrap Iron Red- Jim Davidson, Doug Kinney, Bob Bennett.Master Mauraders- Rick Moore, Craig Barrachough.

Men’s 70 Major+- AZ Heat- Ronnie Guest, Steve Duga, Dan Minnick, Frank Lentine, Bob Gregorich.Wildcatters- Jim Torrence, Jose Villagra, Mickey Donahoo, Dick Kreger.

Men’s 70 Gold- Scrap Iron 70 Legacy- Don Pierson, Bob Wiltgen, Jerry Sundberg.Knapheide- Dean Larson, David Heard.

Men’s 70/75Silver- Scrap Iron Red- Ken Nakauchi, Jerry Reidy, Fred Mattos, Steve Lents, Monty Phillips, Miles County.New Concepts- Bob Balthaser, Bo Botkin, Mike Saul. Redwood City Chiefs- Carl Woodruff, Dan Caruso.

Men’s 75 Major- SF Seals- Jim Phillips, Dick Bryson, Don Fields, Harry Benzie, Bob Swarthout. Joeseppi’s- Tom Davis, Walt Gronley, Buzz Gilbreath, Bill Brotten.

Men’s 80 Majors- AZ Prospectors- Fred Donaghy, Wayne Ellithorpe, Steve Boinski, Marcel Mathias, Ron Brown.

Men’s 80- Northwest 80’s-Bob McElrea, Mike Darnell, Ken Berg, Jim Petersen, Bill LaVigne.Texas Classics- Bill Blakemore, Jimmy Richardson, Tom Godwin.

Women’s 50/55- Calif. Spirit 50- Linda Bucan-Baltazar, Nedra Jerry, Becky O’Campo, Annie Sneden, Sandy Wood.Bottom of the 5th- Ginny Lund, Cynthia Tucker, Vanessa Farrington.

Women’s 60- Calif.Spirit 60- Cathy Chavez, Janice Robson,Linda Mohrfeld, Patricia Klammer, Kathy McComb.Golden Girls- Diane Belge, Linda Davis, Peg Moyer.Golden Saints- Terry Sheldon, Cindy Lutz.

Women’s 65- Dream Catchers- Pat Lawlis, Eve Rey, Carmen Sandoval, Janet Wood, Penne Adams. Colorado Hot Flashes- Chris Beal,Ardyce Buntrock, Diane Toomey. Golden Girls 65- Connie Jamison, Louvenia Johnson.