SESSION TWO (55s & 60s) OF 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS FEATURES 182 TEAMS

Oct. 1, 2016

LAS VEGAS – Session Two (Sept. 23-25) was the largest of the 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, featuring 182 teams in the Men’s 55’s (90 teams) and 60’s (92 teams) divisions.

In the 10-team 55 Major Plus division, Summy’s 55 (CA) earned the top seed with their 26-17 victory over Combat/Next Level 55’s (NC) in the USA National Championship Game. Summy’s 55 fell short of its goal of capturing the Triple Grand Slam, losing to MTC 55’s/Dudley (CA) in bracket play 22-21.  MTC went  on to win the division, defeating Northwest Legends (WA) 37-22 in the championship game.

After falling to eventual champion MTC 55’s/Dudley in their first game in bracket play, No. 5 seed Change The Mascot (CA) rattled off four straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket before eventually falling to Northwest Legends and earning a third place finish.  Last seed DLB (IN) battled through bracket play to take home a fourth-place finish.

In the 34-team 55 Major division, D & K Tradition (NV) secured the top seed following its victory over Triangle Masters (NC) 30-27 in the USA National Championship Game. Similar to the 55 Major Plus division, there would be no Triple Grand Slam winner in the 55 Major division, as D & K Tradition dropped its opening game in the bracket to No. 33 seed Midwest Driving School (KS) to fall into the elimination side of the bracket. D & K Tradition made a deep run through the elimination bracket, winning five straight games, before falling to Triangle Masters in a rematch from their USA National Championship Game.

No. 9 seed High Street Bucs 55 (MD) went through the bracket with a perfect 6-0 record, capped off with a 29-14 victory over Triangle Masters in the championship game. The Bank (DE) finished in third place, while Tasty Pizza/J & H Wall (MN) won seven straight games in the elimination side of the bracket after dropping their first contest en route to a fourth-place finish.

The largest division in the 55 age group was the 37-team 55 AAA division, which was split into two pods, the American (18 teams) and National (19 teams).

In the USA National Championship Game, So Cal Guys 55’s (CA) defeated Old Stars (IL) 13-10 to continue its trek towards a Triple Grand Slam title.

As the No. 1 seed in the American pod, So Cal Guys got off to a great start towards the elusive Triple Grand Slam crown, winning three straight games, before falling to Central Illinois Chiefs 18-17 to drop into the elimination bracket.

Central Illinois Chiefs would advance all the way through to the championship game, where Southern California Braves won 15-12 to force the “if” game. In the end, Southern California Braves would complete the double-dip, edging out a 25-24 victory to claim the championship.

Dayton Legends (OH) and Precision Ford (NC) finished in third and fourth place, respectively. Precision Ford won five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their fourth-place showing.

In the nine-team 55 AA division, Antiques of Iowa City (IA) came out of the elimination bracket to double-dip New Mexico Boomers 10-9 and 13-11 in the championship and “if” game, respectively. Tucson Buds/Los Buds (AZ) finished in third place, while Pastimers (WA) finished in fourth place.

The 55 AA division also featured a USA National Championship Game, as Longshoremen 55 (VA) defeated Pastimers 21-18.

In the 60s division, Hollis Appraisals (FL) captured the lone Triple Grand Slam title of session two, as the team defeated Old Dawgs 60 (CA), 27-16, in the USA National Championship Game, before going on to capture the nine-team 60 Major Plus division by double-dipping Hendricks Sports Management (TX) 29-10 and 43-29. Hendricks defeated Hollis, 30-27, earlier in bracket to knock Hollis into the elimination bracket.

Summy’s Nighthawks (CA) finished in third place, while Kinnco Services (IN) won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket after dropping their first game in bracket play to eventually finish fourth.

In the 25-team 60 Major division, Hannington’s 60’s (MA) earned the top seed, defeating TRI-C-Machine (CA) 39-18 in the USA National Championship Game.

Looking to make a run at the Triple Grand Slam, Hannington’s 60’s got off to a solid start winning their first two games, before falling into the elimination bracket with a loss to eventual champion JG Drywall (PA) 20-11.

JG Drywall would lose its next game against NCI Finish Strong 60 (CA), 28-23, before bouncing back with a 20-19 win over TRI-C-Machine (third place) and double-dipping NCI Finish Strong 60, 29-23 and 31-19, in the championship and “if” games, respectively.

In a rematch of the USA National Championship Game, TRI-C-Machine edged out a 17-16 victory over Hannington’s 60’s (fourth place).

The biggest division of session two, the 60 AAA division (39 teams), was split into two pods, American and National. The division also featured a USA National Championship Game, as Bulldogs 60s (OR) edged out Pill & Pill 60 (WV), 17-16.

As the No. 1 seed in the National pod, Bulldogs 60’s won their first two games before falling to Fierce Firearms (UT) 16-15 and dropping the team into the elimination side of the bracket. Bulldogs 60s made a strong push through the elimination bracket to keep their hopes for a Triple Grand Slam title alive, winning four straight games, including a victory over Fierce Firearms 18-12 in the  fourth place game; however, the team would eventually be eliminated by Deep Purple (MA) 22-20 in the third place game. 

Bellevue Merchants (WA), the No. 7 seed in the National pod, ran through the bracket, posting a perfect 6-0 record, including a 23-8 win over Deep Purple in the championship game.

In the 19-team 60 AA division, Scrap Iron 60’s Rockies (CO) defeated Syracuse Cyclones 60 (NY) 29-27 in the USA National Championship Game, to secure the top seed in the bracket.

Scrap Iron 60’s Rockies fell just short of capturing the Triple Grand Slam title, as the team lost to Base Hawgs (CA) 22-21 in the championship game. Scrap Iron 60s Rockies had won three straight games in the bracket, before falling to Base Hawgs 21-20 and dropping into the elimination bracket. Scrap Iron 60s Rockies bounced back with a 19-8 win over Durham Silver Stix 60s (ON, Canada) in the third place game to get back into the championship game, before falling to Base Hawgs for a second time.

After going 0-2 in seeding play, No. 18 seed Durham Silver Stix 60’s posted a 5-2 record in bracket play to eventually earn a third place finish. Local team, Family (NV), finished in fourth place after making a strong push through the elimination bracket that included a three-game winning streak.