138 Winter Nationals Teams Kick Off 2015

Dec. 1, 2014 – Dave Dowell National Director

FT. MYERS, FLA – The 13th annual SSUSA Winter National Championships in Lee County kicked off the Eastern portion of the 2015 Tournament Season with 138 teams descending on Ft. Myers, Cape Coral and Naples for six days of spirited competition.

The Winter Nationals continue to grow annually, with teams hailing from as far north as Ontario, Canada, and as far west as Dallas, Texas, and just about everywhere in between.

“We are pleased to host such a great group of softball players each year to start the new senior softball season,” said Allison Gruber, a sports division executive with the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “We see many of the same players from year to year and enjoy rolling out the red carpet while they are here,” she added.

Session 1 began on Tuesday with 72 teams in the age 65 and older divisions playing at the Lee County, Northwest and Cape Coral sports complexes. The highlight of the first session, judging from local press coverage and attendance, was the first ever game between the defending LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions from both the 80+ (Florida Investment Properties) and 85+ (Center for Sight) Divisions.

F.I.P. defeated the scrappy Center for Sight 85’s squad 23-10 by virtue of a big open inning and capped an impressive unbeaten tournament with a Championship game victory over Jimmy’s Minnesota Legends (15-2) on Thursday. Center for Sight did defeat the other two “younger” 80+ teams on the way to a very impressive third place finish.

In the Men’s 65+ Divisions, the Windsor Chiefs (ON) won the 12-team 65/70+ Platinum bracket, with the High Street Bucs (MD) and Jersey Masters (NJ) second and third, respectively.

The largest division of the tournament was the highly competitive 25-team 65-AAA bracket, with Spicer Properties (MD) and the Lake Wales Legends (FL) being the last two standing. Spicer won the winner’s bracket final (16-10) over lake Wales before dropping the Championship game to the Legends (17-15) and bouncing back to take the “If” game (22-7) to complete the run to the title.

It was a similar story in the five-team 65-AA division, with the Long Island Jaguars (NY) winning the trophy in the “If” game (19-14) over Kentuckiana after the two teams had split the winner’s bracket final (Long Island by 11-7) and Championship game 1 (Kentuckiana by 20-14).

The Men’s 70-AAA crown went to the Senior Red Birds (IL) coming out on top of the Bostonian 70’s and the Jersey Masters (NJ). The 70-AA final was an all-Indiana finale with the Indianapolis Classics slipping by the Columbus Silver Sticks in the “If” game (15-14) after dropping the Championship game (17-13).

The Men’s 75+ championships went to the Bucs & Bulls (FL) in the 75-Major with an exciting last at-bat 23-22 “If” game win over Premium Seats USA (FL) while ProHealth Care 75 (WI) swept through the tournament unbeaten with their Championship game win over Back Office Associates (MA), 16-8

Session 2 commenced on Friday with another 62 teams in the mix and the tournament expanding to the N. Collier Regional Park facility in Naples. In contrast to the first session, Mother Nature played a major role over the weekend as rains hampered play, especially here and in Cape Coral.

In the 50+ Divisions, the AMR 50’s (OH) swept the first two in the Best 2 of 3 from previously unbeaten Steve Levin/Dudley (FL) by scores of 22-19 and 27-12 for the 50-Major+ title.

The 50/55-Platinum winner was Good Times (FL), who won all the close ones, three times winning bracket games without scoring more than 10 runs, the last of which was by 9-6 over the WC Thunder (IL) in the Championship game.

The eight-team 50-AAA was moved on Sunday to Naples from Ft. Myers in an attempt to beat the rains, but bracket play was suspended and ultimately cancelled with two teams, All Secure (FL) and New Rule Softball (FL) the only two unbeaten in bracket play being declared co-champions.

The 55+ divisions also suffered rain issues that resulted in champions being declared based on results to date when play was terminated. The 55-Major championship went to the Six Pac 55’s (KY) over CNM Wealth Management (FL) when the Championship game was cancelled, leaving Six Pac the only unbeaten.

The same result occurred in the 55-AAA’s with The Bank (DE) declared victors following their winner’s bracket win (16-5) over the Ballbusters (FL) late Saturday afternoon, prior to Sunday play being rained out.

In the 50/55-AA Best 2 of 3, the Silver Foxes 55 (FL) bounced back strong in the “If” game (24-8) after they had split the first two games with The Grey Geese 50’s (FL).

Lastly, the 60+ Divisions completed play in Naples, but not in Lee County or Cape Coral. The 60-Major+ title went to Hollis Appraisals in their two-game sweep (9-3 and 23-10) over the previously unbeaten Minnesota Masters while the Metro Hitmen (NJ) became the only other team to compile an unbeaten tournament. The Hitmen swept through the 60-Major bracket from the top seed position, culminating the perfect run with a 33-15 victory over the High Street Bucs (MD).

The 17-team 60-AAA bracket champion was declared to be Slug-A-Bug (FL) as they were the only remaining unbeaten team when play was cancelled. There was a six-team tie for second place.

And in the 60-AA, Action Auto Parts (RI) and No Stars (FL) were declared co-champions when play was cancelled. They were the only unbeaten teams in the winner’s bracket at the time.

For complete scores and bracket results, please visit www.seniorsoftball.com.

Winter National All Tournament Players Selected

2014 Winter National Championships (2015 roster event) All Tournament players included:

Men’s 50 AAA – All Secure: Louis Reyes Jr, Alvin Berkhall, Carl Lockhart, Marty Thiessen, Marvin Kelly; New Rule Softball: Scott Bowden, Warren Jenkins, Dave Leon, Danny VanCamp, Curt Kreisler

Men’s 50/55 Platinum – Good Times: Ray Bonnell, Donny Burke, Tim Fincher, Ned Johnston, Craig Lisa; WC Thunder: Jim Weber, Jim Watson, Larry Mueller; Tri-State Merchants: Bob Baker, Pat Daley

Men’s 55 Major – Six Pac: Mark Harrison, George Roberts, Donnie Katzman, Alan Gibson, Frank Cebe; CNM Wealth Mgmt/Snyder’s Lance: Roger Bard, Doug Schram, Brad Rector, Pete Bassignani

Men’s 55 AAA – The Bank: Tom Forrest, Gary Lewis, Joseph Lucas, Mike Johnson; Ballbusters: Dan Stewart, John Popov, Doug Brooks

Men’s 50/55 AA – Silver Foxes: Norman Caribo, Danny Woodcum, Dan Covey, Art Permenter, Paullie Grillot, Scott Jones; The Grey Geese: Kelly Goswick, Kevin (Goose) O’Kiefe, Bob (Oz) Darrah, Tom Collins

Men’s 60 MajorPlus – Hollis Appraisals: Pat McLellan, Dave Motta, Jack Aronson, Charles (Chip) Cregar, Lewis (Gunny) Grace; Minnesota Masters: Steve Pease, Steve Schletty, Garry Morris, Dave Mattson, Dave Slack

Men’s 60 Major – High Street Bucs: Timmy Potter, Steve Propert, Joe Herr

Men’s 60 AAA – Minutemen/Pepco/SFS: Manny Patton, Tom Coyne, Barry Benjamin; American Scaffolding: Bob Bosse, Mike Hanselman, Jim Richardson

Men’s 60 AA – No Stars: Bruce Walsh, Allan Parenteau, Stan Duncan, Bill Coyne, Harry Freedman; Action Auto Parts: Mario DeAngelis, Bob Pierce, Paul Danesi, Frank (Flip) DeCorpo, John Martins, Manny Costa

Men’s 65/70 Platinum – Windsor Chiefs: Roy Oke, Grant Snary, Wayne Dupuis, Bill Wislon, Ernie Holden; High Street Bucs: Bill Macuch, Bobby Lehman, Pat Carey

Men’s 65 AAA – Spicer Properties: Joe Fry, Martin Harahush, Ron Miller, James Ross, Ken Ruffo; Lake Wales Legends: Donnie Atkins, Eric Johnson, Don Held; Bradford White: Rob Wolf, Jim Siers

Men’s 65 AA – Long Island Jaguars: William (Butch) Schultheis, Billy Meyler, Bob Gutkowski, Wayne Hillen, Tom Granito Jr; Kentuckiana: Terry Stallard, Charlie Abell, John McGarry

Men’s 70 AAA – Senior Redbirds: Len Suess, Bob Moutray, Carlos Lindo, Gary Schad, Jim Welch, John Meeden; Bostonian 70s: Dave Clark, Tom Hall, Stuart Gray, Angelo Scarcella; Jersey Masters: Dick Lillich, Bob Zimmerman

Men’s 70 AA – Indianapolis Classics: Dave Abney, Wayne Weber, Bill Wolfe, Ken Bonham, Floyd Edwards; Columbus Silver Sticks: Jim Ogilvie, Roger Gildersleeve, David Adwell; Blaze (SW Florida): Conrad Madaleno, Bob Schneider

Men’s 75 Major – Bucs and Bulls: Wayne Mundy, Roy Gardner, Doug McLellan, Randy Hill, Bill Miller, Rich Kelly; Premium Seats USA: Tom Ladd, Don Gsell, Scott Logan, Wayne Hughes

Men’s 75 AAA – ProHealth 75: Barney Slowey, Bill Rutzinski, Ozzie Oswald, Dennis Driebel, John Heisdorf; BackOffice Associates: James VanBaalen, James Parmelee, Michael Sullivan; Peach Tree Restaurant: Dan MacDonald, Donald Germer

Men’s 80/85 Gold – Florida Investment Properties: Larry McCurdy, Ferrell Sparks, Don Deaton, Dewey McVicker, Bob Johnson; Jimmy’s MN Legends: Bob D’Amadio, Norm Robinson, Don Hutchinson; Center For Sight: Paul McGillicuddy, Don Gsell