MIDWEST SIZZELS - BOTH TEMPERATURE AND GAMES

Sept. 1, 2012 – Giovanni Crotti

SHAWNEE, Kan. – The seventh annual Midwest Championships drew 58 teams from 12 different states to Kansas. The division winners mirrored the diverse group of teams as teams from seven different states took home championship trophies.

After enduring off and on rain the first day of the tournament, the sun finally came out and lit up the spectacular fields at the Mid-America Sports Complex.

J & J’s Sports from Iowa came out on top in the five-team Men’s 50 Major division. After splitting their pool play games, J & J’s went undefeated in bracket play and beat a tough DLB/LT's Grading team twice with each victory by one run including the classic championship game (27-26 and 28-27).

In the six-team 50AAA division, Chicago Prime went through the tournament unscathed beating Team Mayhem twice in bracket play to take home the title.

Fossils/Miken from Iowa outlasted the pack in the largest division, the 10-team 60AAA division. Fossils/Miken exacted its revenge on the Mid-America Legends, who had sent them down to the loser’s bracket, by doubling them up in the Championship and “If” games to emerge victorious (18-8 and 21-15).

Knaphide, hailing from Kansas, took down all comers to win the Men’s 65/70 Silver Division. Knaphide although undefeated, 5-0 in the tournament, was tested by the Quad City Old Stars who gave them everything they could handle in the one-run victory in the title game (23-22).

Eight teams took part in the hotly contested 50/55 Silver Division. Sports Image edged out the Prudential Ambassadors in the “If” game 20-17 after Prudential Ambassadors had forced the issue with a 21-17 victory in the championship game.

In the Men’s 65 AAA division, seven teams from five states competed for the crown. Midwest Express entered the bracket as the No. 2 seed and topped Scrap Iron/Phiten in a close battle in the championship game (19-18).