111 TEAMS KICK OFF 2016 LVSAA/SSUSA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sept. 1, 2016

LAS VEGAS – The first session of the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships (WMC) kicked off in Las Vegas with 111 teams in the 40 Men’s and Women’s Masters and the 50 Women’s division last weekend.  Over the entire WMC, 564 teams will be competing in 33 divisions.

Of the 111 teams, five teams from Guam -- along with scores of supporters from the small US Territory in the South Pacific – brought intense excitement, wild cheers, and great sportsmanship to the WMC.  

Umpires, officials and players from other teams all remarked on how inspirational the Guam teams were when they competed.  One Guam team competed in the 40 Major Men's, two teams competed in the 40 AAA Men’s, one in the 40 AAA Women’s and one in the 50 Women's divisions. 

Please be sure to read Betsy Helfand's article on the WMC, SENIOR SOFTBALL TAKES OVER FIELDS AROUND LAS VEGAS, that appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Kryptonite (FL) earned the top seed in the 11-teamWomen’s 40 Major division at Big League Dreams, following its victory over Summy’s Old School (CA) in the USA National Championship Game (second leg of the Triple Grand Slam), which pits winners of the Eastern and Western National Championships (first leg of the Triple Grand Slam). Winning the World Masters Championships is the third and final leg, completing the Triple Grand Slam.

Kryptonite was well on its way to capturing the Triple Grand Slam, winning their first three games in bracket play; however, No. 3 seed TKP/Hunters (CA) had other plans, coming out of the elimination side of the bracket to eventually double-dip Kryptonite in the championship (14-7) and “if” games (11-8) to win the title.

Rounding out the top four teams in the bracket were Hafta Play (CA) and Fun Bunch 40’s (CA), third and fourth place, respectively.  Hafta Play made a strong run through the elimination bracket, winning four straight games before being eliminated by TKP.

In the 18-team Women’s 40 AAA division played at both Lorenzi Park Softball Complex and Sunset Park Softball Complex, Smack That (CA) captured the Triple Grand Slam defeating Northern Construction Fireballs (MA) in the USA National Championship Game and winning the World Masters Championship with a victory over No. 3 seed Above the Law (MO).

Still Swinging 4.0 (NV) and World Gym (KS) finished third and fourth, respectively, in the bracket.

The eight-team Women’s 50 division at Sunset Park Softball Complex, also saw a Triple Grand Slam winner, as Dreamgirlz 50 (VA) defeated Arizona Dream Team in the USA National Championship Game, before going on to win the World Masters Championship by double-dipping Karphone 50’s (CA) in the championship (9-6) and “if” games (19-13). Karphone defeated Dreamgirlz earlier in the bracket 19-18 to knock the top seed down into the elimination side of the bracket. For Dreamgirlz, this marks their fourth straight Triple Grand Slam title.

Arizona Dream Team and B.O.O.B.S 50 (CA) finished in third and fourth place, respectively, to round out the top four teams.

Moving over to the men’s side in the 21-team Men’s 40 Major Plus division at Big League Dreams, top seed J.K. Inc./Miken (CA) breezed through the tournament, going 2-0 in seeding play on the opening day of competition, before posting a 5-0 record in bracket play, capped off with an 18-13 win in the championship game over Nicon Trucking (CA), to complete the perfect weekend. After going 0-2 in seeding play to eventually take the No. 19 seed, Nicon Trucking rattled off four straight victories before falling to J.K. Inc. 21-20, knocking the team down into the elimination bracket. Nicon Trucking would bounce back with an 18-17 win over Fattboyz Elite/Dudley (CA) to set up a re-match against J.K. Inc. in the championship game and eventually take the runner-up finish. Fattboyz finished in third place, while GTS 40 (ID) took home the fourth place finish.

The 41-team Men’s 40 Major division was split between two pods with 21 teams in the National Pod  at Desert Breeze Softball Complex and 20 teams in the American Pod at Sunset Park Softball Complex. Championship Sunday was played at Desert Breeze.

The Men’s 40 Major division featured a USA National Championship Game, as Damaged Goods (CA) from the West defeated MidAtlantic Elite 40’s (VA) from the East 19-14.

Continuing its chase of the elusive Triple Grand Slam, No. 1 seed (National Pod) Damaged Goods got off to a solid start, winning its first three games in bracket play to get to Championship Sunday. No. 2 seed Layer Cake Wines/Dudley/Elite Sports USA (National Pod) also won their first three games in the bracket to set up a meeting against Damaged Goods on Sunday.

Coming from the American Pod, No. 8 seed Cody Staffing/All American Athletics (WA) won their first three meetings to advance to Sunday, while No. 10 seed SMASH (CA) also won their first three games to move on to Sunday and set up a matchup between both teams.

Moving on to Championship Sunday, Layer Cake edged out both Damaged Goods (25-24) and Cody Staffing (15-14) to reach the championship game.  In the championship game, Cody Staffing bounced back with a 20-19 win to force the “if” game, which in the end was won by Layer Cake.

Rounding out the top four finishing teams were SMASH (third place) and Diablos (fourth place). Diablos, the No. 13 seed in the National Pod, won their first two games, before falling to Presitge Pools (CA), 24-23, dropping the team down in the elimination bracket. Once in the elimination bracket, Diablos won five straight games en route to their fourth place finish.

The third and final division in the Men’s 40’s featured the 12-team AAA division at Shadow Rock Softball Complex (Friday and Saturday) and Big League Dreams (Sunday).

No. 4 seed Pattie House (ID) ran the table, going 4-0 in bracket play, capped off with a thrilling 21-20 victory over CRS (AZ), in the title game to win the championship.  Last seeded Bud Light Guam made a valiant run through the elimination bracket en route to a third place finish. After falling to No. 5 seed Tucson Hammertime 40’s (AZ), 22-21, Bud Light Guam rattled off five straight wins before being eliminated by CRS. Mach One 40’S (WA) finished in fourth place.

The tournament continues this weekend with the 55 and 60 Men’s divisions, then the 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 compete Monday-Thursday and the 50 Men’s division plays the final weekend, Sept. 30- Oct. 2.