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FIFTY-FIVE TEAMS COMPETE AT 2016 SSUSA/CAN-Sirs NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
May 1, 2016
SACRAMENTO / ELK GROVE / LINCOLN – The second annual Northern California State Championships held May 10-15 was once again a success with 55 teams competing across 15 divisions. This year’s tournament was held in conjunction with CAN-Sirs and $50 from each team's entry fee went towards the organization that is dedicated to promoting cancer awareness and prevention for senior softball players.
The Men’s 40-Masters division was comprised of 10 teams, with two going head-to-head in the Major Plus division and eight others in the Major division.
Dudley/Prestige had a flawless weekend, going 3-0 in seeding play, before sweeping BP Legends, 30-16 and 22-12, respectively, in a best two-out-of-three game series to win the major plus championship.
SofaKing Softball/Elite earned the top seed in the major division following a 2-0 record in seeding play. After defeating Tribe, 25-4, SofaKing fell to Prestige Pools, 15-8, to drop into the elimination bracket. With their backs against the wall, SofaKing went on a hot streak, winning five straight games, including back-to-back over previously unbeaten Layer Cake/Dudle/Elite in the championship, 22-19, and “if”, 11-8, games. Prestige would finish third to round out the top three teams.
The 50/55-Platinum division consisted of 13 teams split into the 50/55-Major Plus, 50-Major and 50-AAA divisions.
In the three-team 50/55-Major Plus division, JU AfterShock entered bracket play as the #2 seed and defeated both Preferred Pump/Eaton Pump and MTC 55's/Dudley to claim a spot in the championship game. After eliminating Preferred Pump, MTC would play its way into the championship game, where JU AfterShock once again downed MTC, 27-20, to win the division.
The seven-team 50-Major division would see the Nor Cal Warriors go 4-0 in bracket play to claim the division. The Warriors defeated CaliGold Athletics in the championship game, 25-14. Twelve Gauge would finish third in the division.
In the three-team 50-AAA division, Sacramento Flash, the #3 seed, posted a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a, 21-15, victory in the championship game over #2 seed Excessive Speed.
Six teams played in the 55/60-Gold division with three teams in the 55/60-Platinum division and three teams in the 55-AAA division.
California Energy completed a perfect showcase, going 3-0 in seeding play, and 2-0 in bracket play, downing Old Dawgs, 25-23, and Sonoma County Crush 55, 14-13, in the championship game of the 55/60 Platinum division.
After dropping the championship game of the 55-AAA division, to Senior Bend Elks, 15-13; Rebellion bounced back to win the “if” game, 16-11.
The 60-Gold division featured five teams, with three teams playing in the 60-Major division and two others in the 60-AAA division.
Tri-C-Machine took the 60-Major division defeating Old Giants, 20-9, in the championship game, while Viejitos defeated Not Yungins 60’s in a best two-out-of-three game series that went all three games.
The 65-Platinum division was comprised of seven teams, with three teams playing in the 65-Major Plus division and four teams in the 65-Major division.
Top seed Omen 65 won the 65-Major Plus division winning the “if” game over Timberworks Construction, 10-4, after falling in the championship game, 18-8.
Fourth seed Old Dawgs 65 had a Cinderella run through the 65-Major division, going 3-0 in bracket play, defeating top seed Cut Loose 65’s, Nor-Cal STIXX 65 and Animals.
Despite being the #1 seed, California Wrecking Crew 70 would need to come out of the elimination bracket needing to defeat previously unbeaten Sacramento Islanders 65 twice to win the five-team 65/70 Gold division. California Wrecking Crew would do just that, beating the Islanders, 17-13 and 18-17, in the championship and “if” games, respectively. The Islanders had beaten California Wrecking Crew earlier in the bracket, 21-13.
In another five-team bracket, the 70-Silver division, Game On earned its top seed by going 3-0 in bracket play to win the division, defeating Triple Play 70 and Solano Senior Enforcers twice.
The 75/80-Gold division featured a pair of best two-out-of-three game series’, in the 75-Major division and the 75/80-Gold division.
State Roofing Systems 75 swept California Oaks 75’s with identical scores of 13-12 in both games of the 75-Major division, while Sacramento Gold 80’s also swept Redwood City Chief 80’s, 16-8 and 16-7, respectively, in the 75/80 Gold division.