Fat Nancy's, Cyclones, Capitals Win in Northeast

Sept. 1, 2013 – Dave Dowell National Director

Softball News Report

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The SSUSA’s 2013 Northeast Championships returned here in late August as 32 teams sought regional championships and coveted berths in the Tournament of Champions in Florida in February, 2014. The tournament took place over six days at the Hopkins Road Park Softball Complex.

“It’s a treat to return here for the Northeast Championships again this year. The tournament is growing nicely and the city is great to work with,” said Cal Allison, an SSUSA national director from Florida and on-site tournament director. “This is New England softball at its best, with close games and closer friendships on display every day,” he added.

The tournament got under way Friday as teams in the Men’s 50’s, 55’s and 60’s took to the fields under perfect conditions. The Men’s 50-Platinum division set the tone for the rest of the tournament with an amazingly competitive bracket. Four of the six games played were one-run affairs. Top seed Sports Center (RI) completed an unbeaten weekend by winning all three of their bracket games by a single run, the last of which was 25-24 over Rochester NY 50/Genesee Creamale in the championship game. Both teams earned TOC berths for the 50-Major Plus and 50-Major, respectively.

In the Men’s 50/55-Gold division, the six teams played a mixed round robin before splitting to their respective double-elimination brackets. Custom Logos (NY) completed an unbeaten weekend by defeating Fat Nancy’s Buck Naked Lounge (NY) in the championship game (26-21) for the 50-AAA title.

The 55-Major division played out in similar form with Fat Nancy’s/Gubiotti Insurance (NY) beating Roncones (NY), in a tense 15-14 squeaker in the championship game.

In the Men’s 55/60-Gold division, mixed pool play also led to separate brackets for the six Major and 55/60-Silver divisions. The Syracuse Merchants (NY) swept their best two of three 60-Major championship series with Pace Electronics (NY) by scores of 28-15 and 27-5. In the Silver bracket, Bradford White completed a perfect unbeaten weekend with two close wins over the Roc City 55’s (NY), 15-13 in the winner’s bracket final and again, 23-20, in the championship game.

In the Men’s 60-AA division, the New York Capitals and the Syracuse Cyclones 60 needed three games at the end of the bracket to sort things out. After trading fairly comfortable wins, Syracuse by 20-13 in the winner’s bracket final, and the Capitals by 18-7 in championship game, things got serious in the “If” game. The Capitals hung on in an instant classic, 20-19, to snag the title.

Monday arrived with the 65+ and more senior divisions beginning play at Hopkins Road Park in the second session of games.

In the Men’s 65-AAA division, the Syracuse Cyclones took the long approach to the championship by losing their first bracket from the top seeded position before reeling off four straight wins from the elimination bracket.

The last two wins were over the Jersey Masters, 20-18 in championship game and 20-12 in the “If” game to grab the title.

The Syracuse Cyclones 70 swept both games in their best two of three championship series against the Anaconda Sports 65’s (NY) to take home the 65/70-AA title.

And the Pittsburgh Gold (PA) put together an exciting unbeaten week in the 70/75-Gold division, with three of their five wins by one run. Pittsburgh defeated Hannington’s of Massachusetts twice, 12-4 in the winner’s bracket final, and again, 15-13 in the championship game to take home the trophy.

For complete scores, bracket results, and All Tournament Player lists, please visit the Northeast Championships Tournament page at www.seniorsoftball.com.