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2016 ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP DRAWS RECORD 84 TEAMS
May 1, 2016
LOUNDOUN COUNTY, VA – The 10th Annual Atlantic Coast Championships drew a record 84 teams here May 10-15, making it one of the largest qualifiers east of the Mississippi River.
The teams braved some substantial rain and an unseasonable cold Sunday. “Thanks to the park staff for their efforts and thanks to all teams during the week for their patience and understanding while we got the fields prepped, re-prepped, etc.” said Tim McElroy, who served as one of the tournament directors.
Although this was the Atlantic Coast Championships, there were a number of teams from outside the region, including Colorado (Scrap Iron/Rocky Mountain Thunder 55 & Scrap Iron Diamonds 65), Arizona (Full Throttle), Michigan (Jackson Merchants & Motown Magic Bachelors), Illinois (Old Style/ASP Nation), Ohio (Steel Dawgs & Ohio Silverados) and Florida (Florida Automated Shade, Kryptonite & Sweet Ladies Softball).
The tournament began with the Men’s 65 and up divisions.
In the four-team 65-Platinum division, High Street Bucs 65 (MD) went 3-0 with wins over Jersey Masters 65 Blue, Hamel Builders/Superior (VA) and finally HermTech (MA), 9-7, in the championship game.
The 65-AAA division featured eight teams with Athletic Outlet/Travato (NY) coming out of the elimination bracket to defeat previously unbeaten Ohio Silverados, 11-6 and 15-10, in the championship and “if” games, respectively. Athletic Outlet/Travato previously lost to Ohio Silverados, 9-8, earlier in the bracket, which dropped them into the elimination bracket. Despite being the top seed, Syracuse Cyclones 65 would finish third.
The five-team 70-AAA division Bostonian 70’s went through seeding and bracket play unscathed, going 2-0 in seed play and 3-0 in bracket play. Ed Hamels also went 2-0 in seeding play; however, they would fall to Bostonian twice, including in the championship game, 16-12.
The 75-Gold division saw four teams compete with #1 seed Pittsburgh Gold defeating Hamel Builders 75’s (MD), 18-12, in the “if” game. Hamel Builders defeated Pittsburgh Gold, 15-12, in the championship game to force the “if” game. Pittsburgh Gold went 3-0 in seeding play to claim the top spot in bracket play.
The tournament would continue with the 40’s through 60’s.
In the six-team Women’s 40 division, Chill 40 Below (MD) and Kryptonite each posted a 3-0 record in seeding play. Moving on to bracket play, Motown Magic Bachelors, the #3 seed, would go on to defeat Chill 40 Below and Team Works (VA) to win the division.
The 40/50-Platinum division would be modified to a single elimination championship bracket due to weather. After going 1-1 in seeding play, Team USA (MD), defeated MidAtlantic Elite 40s (VA), 19-16, and previously unbeaten Brysons Pub/Veltri/AIA (NJ), 22-15, in the championship game. Elite 40s defeated Mid-Atlantic Softball (VA) in the third place game, 25-17.
In the 40/50-Gold division, Elmwood Sports Center (RI) and Team Elite/Miken (MD) each went 2-0 in seeding play to lock up the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively, in the five-team bracket. Elmwood would go on to defeat BH Maintenance (VA) in the “if” game, 25-15, after falling in the championship game, 26-19. BH Maintenance bounced back from a 0-2 showing in seeding play to end the tournament with a runner-up finish.
The 50-AAA division consisted of 11 teams with #8 seeded Roadhouse Blues (PA) making an unprecedented run to the championship game, defeating Team 757 (VA). Central PA Caveman finished third in the division.
The eight-team 50/55 Silver division, Jackson Merchants went 2-0 in seeding play, before going on to take the division with a 4-0 record. Jackson Merchants outlasted Precision Ford, 10-9, in the championship game.
The 55-Platinum division saw 13 teams compete. Omega IT Services (MD), as the #7 seed, defeated top seed Florida Automated Shade, 16-13, in the “if” game, after falling 20-5 in the championship game. Scrap Iron/Rocky Mountain Thunder finished third in the bracket.
In the 60-Silver division, Spring Ford 60+ (PA) posted a 4-0 record to win the championship. Spring Ford edged out Northern Virginia Force 60, 15-14, in the championship game. Syracuse Cyclones 60 finished in third place.
In the 60-Major division, JG Drywall (PA) posted a 4-0 record in bracket play, including an 18-10 victory over High Street Bucs 60 (MD) in the championship game. Promotion (NJ) would finish third.