204 Teams Battle in Reno

Sept. 1, 2013 – Ross McCulligan

Softball News Report

RENO – The 26th annual Rock 'n Reno Challenge Cup kicked off another spectacular year with the second largest senior softball event in the country.

The tournament attracted 204 teams and utilized four of the best softball complexes in the west, including Golden Eagle, known for its breathtaking views, pristine turf and second-to-none concessions.

“The 26th annual Rock 'n Reno tournament was a huge success. Boasting teams from 14 states and Canada, we plan on continuing this tournament’s rich tradition for many years to come,” said Senior Softball Executive Director Fran Dowell.

While Reno’s weather can be quite temperamental, this year the conditions were perfect as sunshine and blue skies were the norm for the 10-day event.

Rock 'n Reno allowed all participating teams to qualify for the Western National Championships and the ever popular World Masters Championships in Las Vegas.

As always, competition on the field was fierce with teams competing for supremacy in 31 divisions.

The 40 Major-Plus division included four teams: Handpicked, Prestige/Premier, Louisville Sluggers, and Magic Sports Unforgiven. After dropping their first game, Louisville Sluggers ran off four straight wins for the championship. They eventually defeated Prestige/Premier in the championship and ‘IF’ game, 18-17 and 16-9 respectively.

The 40 Major division was conquered by Craze/Anarchy in an eight-team bracket. As the No. 4 seed, Craze averaged 24.5 runs per game during bracket play on their way to the championship. They defeated Sofaking, 26-12 in the finals.

In the 50 Major-Plus division, second-seeded God’s Sports Company cruised to a championship with three straight wins. Northwest Legends was the only team to test God’s Sports Company only to fall short, 28-25, in the third round. G.S.C. would go on to defeat Nazzareno Electric, 32-17 in the championship game.

The 50 Major division was arguably the most competitive division. Out of the 18 games in the bracket, eight were decided by three runs or less. JU Entertainment defeated No. 1 seeded Nor Cal Warriors 14-13 in the second round. Nor Cal Warriors would go on to win five straight to face San Antonio Softball Club in the finals. However, San Antonio Softball would prove too strong defeating the Warriors 13-5 for the division title.

The 50 AAA division bracket was chalk full of great games but in the end the top two seeded teams faced each other in the finals. Top seeded OH MY knocked second seeded Fly 50’s into the loser’s bracket 19-11 in the semifinal round. Fly 50’s came back to face OH MY again in the finals but OH MY would once again prove to tough winning the championship 22-10.

The 55 Major-Plus division was won by second seeded Hendricks Sports Management. Hendricks was knocked into the loser’s bracket by MTC 55’s, only to win three straight double dipping MTC 55’s, 24-10 and 18-17 in the championship and ‘IF’ games.

Number 4 seeded Christiansen Arms was victorious in the 55 Major division. Christiansen Arms won four straight games on their way to victory with an onslaught of offense, scoring no less than 24 runs in each of their games. They defeated Goodman Racing 40-31 in the championship.

All Pro Plumbing, hailing locally from Nevada, grabbed the top seed heading into bracket play for the 55 AAA division. In the 11-team bracket, All Pro Plumbing proved dominant with four straight victories defeating Git-R-Done in the championship 14-12.

The 55 AA division was highly competitive with close games littered throughout the bracket. 1st draft defeated Lincoln Hills Coyotes in the semifinal 23-11, sending Lincoln Hills into the loser’s bracket. Lincoln Hills topped Scrap Iron 16-12 to face 1st Draft once again in the finals. In two closely fought games, Lincoln Hills defeated 1st Draft 12-10 in the championship and 17-14 in the ‘IF’ to take the division championship.

The 60 Major-Plus division saw Joe Brown’s All Stars face Timberworks Construction in a best of three match-up. Timberworks took game one 30-25 only to lose in the second game 20-17 setting up a winner take all ‘IF’ game. Joe Brown’s All Stars fell to Timberworks 30-21 in the championships game.

The 60 Major division was made up of 10 teams from six different states and Canada. Old Dawgs, hailing from California, showed tremendous resiliency to win the division as the tenth seed. They ran off five straight victories only being tested in the semifinals by Texas Heat 19-18. Old Dawgs beat Smith Electric 26-15 in the finals.

The 60 AAA division was the second largest division of the tournament as well as the most exciting. Aro Glass Clubbers, the No. 14 seed, lost to R&R Sixties 22-20 in the opening round. R&R won four straight to advance to the championship game, while Aro Glass clawed their way through the loser’s bracket to once again face R&R in the finals. In two of the most thrilling games of the tournament, Aro Glass Clubbers beat R&R Sixties 28-27 in the championship and then 23-22 in the ‘IF’ to win the division.

The 60 AA division was one of the larger ones of the tournament with 11 teams. No. 4 seed Modesto O’s ran through the winner’s bracket defeating their opponents by an average of 7.75 runs per game. Modesto O’s claimed the division championship with a 26-15 victory over Git-R-Done.

Three teams made up the 65 Major-Plus division: Omen 65, Full Circle and Tharaldson 65. Omen 65 beat Full Circle 19-15 in the second round only to defeat them once again in the championship game 24-9.

In the 65 Major division, the top seed was claimed by KRT Financial. KRT beat W.E. Ruth Realty in the opening round, 15-13. W.E. Ruth Realty won a nail biter over Bickerton Iron Works 16-15 in the first game of the loser’s bracket. W.E. Ruth got hot, running off seven straight wins on their way to the championship where they got their revenge on KRT Financial by double dipping them, 18-12 and 23-21 respectively.

The 65 AAA division was the largest of the tournament with 16 teams. The No. 10 seeded Marauders played consistent ball and were able to stay perfect through the bracket, eventually defeating the Silver Sox 13-9 to win the division.

In the six-team 65 AA division, the Lincoln Hills Coyotes stayed true to form by grabbing the No. seed to begin bracket play. The Coyotes defeated the Sacramento Buds, Monaco Mayhem and Physiomotion by an average of 12.5 runs per game to claim the division title.

Florida Legends Human Kinetic was able to win the 70 Major-Plus division with three straight victories. They were tested by Streamline Circuits in the second round but eked out a victory 23-20. Florida Legends would go on to defeat Streamline Circuits once again in the championship 27-17.

Scrap Iron 70 Legacy slugged their way to the championship in the 70 Major division. As the top seed, they were able to defeat Team New Mexico, 1,000 Oaks Panthers, and PDR/Fastsigns in three consecutive victories for the division championship.

Eight teams fought for supremacy in the 70 AAA division. No. 1 seed RWC State Roofing held their opponents to an average of eight runs per game to win the championship. RWC State Roofing defeated the Raptors 14-6 in the championship.

In the 70 AA division, The Zone scored 21 runs in three consecutive games on their way to the title. The 75 Gold division played a round-robin format in order to accommodate different team classifications. The championship game pitted Gold Coast against State Roofing Systems. In a defensive battle, Gold Coast edged out State Roofing Systems 15-12.

The 75 Major division was a battle of two 2 teams: San Francisco Seals and Top Gun 75’s. The San Francisco Seals took down Top Gun 75’s with two consecutive wins 22-11 and 20-11 for the championship.

The 80 Major division saw top seed Fairway Ford defeat Joeseppi’s 17-12 in the second round and then claim the championship with a 14-11 win over Joeseppi’s once again.

The Redwood City Chiefs and Texas Classics played a best of three bracket for the 80 AAA division title. Texas Classics defeated Redwood City Chiefs 19-9 and 16-15 in a close one for the championship.

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