Perfect Weather for ISA Winter Nationals

April 1, 2015 – Joe Ruggiero SSUSA staff

By Joseph Ruggiero

Softball News Report

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Independent Sports Association along with Polk County Sports Marketing recently held the Senior Winter Nationals here and ISA Chief Executive Officer Don Stratton called it a “chamber of commerce weekend with the temperature in the mid-80s and no clouds in the sky.”

Champions were crowned in six different divisions with the winners receiving a team trophy, ISA championship watches and monogrammed polo shirts, while the second place teams received ISA T-shirts.

The 50 Platinum division saw four teams duke it out for the crown with Team 1 Sports/Miken reigning supreme. Team 1 played impeccably surviving their first game of bracket play against 50 Caliber St. Louis 27-26. Building steam, Team 1 annihilated Blast (FL) 41-22 to turn around and replay them in the championship game with a strong win of 22-6.

New Rule Softball faced some tough competition from Vero Scorpions, but ultimately swept the 50 AAA division with a 23-19 victory.

With only two teams facing off in the 50 AA division, a formidable Grey Geese Squad proved triumphant knocking out Jackson Merchants 22-19 and 13-4 respectively.

In the 55/60 Gold division, Jerry’s Cross-Cut Select and CNM Wealth Mgmt. contended for the division title. In their first match, Cross-Cut managed an excellent win 18-9 against CNM. After knocking out Promotion Sportswear 30-22, CNM countered Cross Cut with a close 23-21 victory. Forcing an “If” game, Cross-Cut barely came out alive defeating CNM 13-12 to snatch the division title.

Southern State Services dominated the playing field in the 65 Major division. Thwarting SW Florida Thunder 20-7 and 14-6 to take the division title.

MCC Insurance 65’s managed to seize the 65/70 AAA division title despite some solid ball play by their competitors. After falling to the elimination bracket in a tough loss to MMC Insurance 19-11, Plaque Attack bounced back. Defeating Red Heat 19-17 and Cross-Cut 70’s 20-17 to replay MCC Insurance in the championship game. MCC Insurance ended up outscoring Plaque Attack 19-11 to take the crown.