News story

Las Vegas to Host Worlds / Triple Grand Slam Unveiled for National, World Champions

Jan. 1, 2001 – Senior Softball-USA

LAS VEGAS, Nevada ˆ This mecca of entertainment and illusion will host the largest senior softball event in history in 2001, according to Senior Softball World Championships officials.

The combined World Championships are expected to draw as many as 20,000 players, family and friends from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Europe to Las Vegas from September 6-17, 2001.

In addition, SSWC officials announced the creation of Western and Eastern National Championships.

"The winners in each division of the Western Nationals will play the winners from the Eastern Nationals in a special set of games at the World Championships to determine the US Champions," said Terry Hennessy, SSWC Executive Director. "Teams can qualify for both the Nationals and the Worlds at all SSWC Qualifiers ˆ and they can compete in both during the World Championships in Las Vegas."

Hennessy explained that teams playing in any SSWC qualifier will be eligible to be invited to both the Nationals and the Worlds. If teams compete and win in the Nationals, they become eligible to participate in the US Championships, which will be played during the dates that their age group competes in the World Championships.

"A team could win both the National Championships AND the World Championships in Las Vegas," said Hennessy.

The Western Nationals will be played at the 10-field Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Sunnyvale, California, from Aug. 23-26, and the Eastern Nationals will be played on nine fields in two softball complexes in Glen Burnie, Maryland on the same dates, Aug. 23-26.

The World Championships in Las Vegas is expected to dwarf the record-setting Phoenix World Championships in 1999, which drew 254 teams.

All three divisions ˆ Major, AAA and AA ˆ will compete in Las Vegas using the standard World Championships format. Under that format, teams play six games during the first three days, usually two games per day, and the top teams from each bracket advance to the finals on the fourth day of competition.

All Women's Divisions and the Men's 55+ and 70+ divisions will play from Sept. 6-9, all 60+, 65+ and 75+ divisions play Sept. 10-13 and all Masters (40+ and 45+), Men's 50+ and 80+ divisions play Sept. 14-17.

"Las Vegas has a history of hosting World Championship Events. We are pleased to bring the Senior Softball World Championsbhips to Las Vegas and we are excited to welcome their teams and fans from North America, Germany and Japan to enjoy their stay in our City of Lights," said Kirk Hendrix, president of Las Vegas Events.

The Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area, which is the Official Host of the 2001 World Championships and National Championships, includes the City and County of Las Vegas and the City of Henderson.

The winners in each age division of the Eastern Division Championships will play the winners in the Western National Championships in a special set of games to determine the National Champions in each age and skill division.

"It will be the best of the East playing the Best of the West," said Bob Mitchell, SSWC president.

SSWC officials said complete details will be posted on the Internet on the Senior Softball-USA website: www.seniorsoftball.com.