TEAMS BATTLE MOTHER NATURE AT 2016 BRICKYARD INVITATIONAL

May 1, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS - The 2016 Brickyard Invitational was held at the Midwest Sports & Social Complex April 27- May 1 with 51 teams playing through rainy weather conditions.

“We had more than our share of rain at this tournament, but were able to play 90 percent of the scheduled games,” said Tim McElroy, tournament director. “A huge thank you goes out to the park staff for getting the fields into playing shape, to the umpires who sat through a 6+-hour rain delay and to all teams for being patient while we sorted things out.”

In the three-team 50/55 Major Plus division, DLB (IL) bounced back from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, to post a 3-1 record in bracket play to win the division. DLB downed 50 Caliber/Dudley St. Louis (MO) and Dave Jackson Nissan (IN), by scores of 27-14 and 27-9, respectively. 50 Caliber/Dudley would later defeat DLB to force an “if” game, where DLB won the rubber match 29-28 in a thriller.

AB Contract/Nobles (WV), the fourth seed, had a flawless showing in bracket play in the eight-team 50 Major division, posting a perfect 4-0 record to take home the championship. Gem City Softball (OH) earned the runner-up after winning four straight games to survive the elimination bracket, while WC Thunder (IL) finished in third place.

Needing to win two straight over previously unbeaten Senior Dogs (MO), Steel City A’s (PA) did just that in the 10-team 50 AAA division, winning 13-7 and 26-7 to claim the championship. Team O50 (IL) finished third in the bracket bouncing back from an opening-game loss.

In a best two-out-of-three game series in the 50-AA division, Jackson Merchants (MI) swept All-In Softball (IL) 18-3 and 13-11 to claim the title.

Michigan Smash (MI) rolled through bracket play in the 55 Major division as the fifth seed, going 4-0 to win the championship. Another lower seed, No. 7 J & J’s Sports (IA), also had a strong showing posting a runner-up finish by winning four straight games to come out of the elimination bracket after dropping its first game, before falling in the championship game. CPOA Cle/No Ohio Print (OH) earned a third place finish.

Old Stars (IL) went 3-0 defeating Central IL Chiefs (IL) 14-13 and Dayton Legends (OH) in back-to-back games, 13-12 and 13-8, respectively, to win the six-team 55 Silver division. Dayton ended up with a runner-up finish as the fifth seed, while Central IL Chiefs finished in third place.

In the 60 Platinum division, Kinnco Services 60 (IN) came back to defeat Pope Transport 60 (WI) in both the championship (20-16) and “if” games (11-10) to win the four-team division, avenging a loss to Pope Transport earlier in the bracket, 13-12.

Direct Employers/Indy 65 (IN) took home the three-team 60/65 Gold Division, defeating MP Comp./Bomb Squad (MI) 26-18 and Brickyard Classics (IN) 19-17.

The 60 AA division featured a best two-of-three game series between Chicago Hitmen 60’s (IL) and Indy Fog (IN). Indy Fog would sweep the series, edging out a game one win 15-14 before taking a 9-6 triumph in the championship game.

After going 0-2 in seeding play, Michigan Lakers 65 won three straight games in bracket play to win the 65 AAA division, defeating Blue Chips 65 (IL) 21-20 Mid-State Seniors 65’s (IL) 14-13 and Blue Chips again 10-7 in the championship game.

The 65/70 Silver division also featured a three-team battle, with Chicago Strikers (IL) taking the top prize. After going 2-0 in seeding play, the Chicago Strikers concluded a perfect tournament, defeating Vet Central (IN) 6-5 and Indiana Legends/Columbus 19-14 in the championship game.