LVSSA/SSUSA WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDES WITH MEN'S 50s

Oct. 1, 2016

LAS VEGAS – The fourth and final session, which included the 50’s division (130 teams) and the largest division of the WMC, concluded the 2016 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. There were 10 sports complexes and 39 fields used during the 13-day tournament, with 1,837 games scheduled among the record setting 564 teams.

The 59-team 50 AAA division, the largest division in the World Masters Championships, featured competitive play throughout. In the USA National Championship Game, Dead Sailors (WA) defeated Team 757 (VA) 26-24 to win the second leg of the Triple Grand Slam. Dead Sailors would fall short of the ultimate goal, posting a 1-3 record in the bracket.

In bracket play, four teams advanced to Championship Sunday unscathed, as Escobar Body Shop (TX), Chi Town 50’s (IL), PGC Enterprises (RI) and Senior Dogs (MO) all won their first four games in the bracket.

Escobar Body Shop continued its strong performance on Sunday going 3-0, including a 27-20 victory over PGC Enterprises in the championship game.

WC Thunder/ASP (IL) posted a 7-2 record in bracket play en route to their third-place finish, while Chi Town 50’s finished fourth.

Of the eight teams that made it to Sunday, three were double-digit seeds, as Senior Dogs (No. 19 seed National Pod), Pacific Coast Alliance (CA) - No. 17 seed National Pod, and Hawaiians (HI) - No. 26 National Pod all made Cinderella runs in the bracket.

Whacko's, a team made up of entirely deaf players, made a nice run through the bracket, winning three straight after dropping their opening game, before eventually being eliminated by Team 757.

The 14-team 50 Major Plus division featured a Triple Grand Slam winner as Sommerville Softball (CA) defeated Team USA (MD) 21-5 in the USA National Championship Game, before going 4-0 in bracket play, including a 24-14 victory over Team 1 Sports/Miken (FL) in the championship game to take home the title.

After going 0-2 in seed play and dropping their first game in bracket play, No. 12 seed Minnesota Merchants 50 ran off five straight wins before falling to Team 1 Sports/Miken in the third-place game. Doerflinger/DeMarini (WA) finished in fourth place.

The 47-team 50 Major division was split into two pods, the American and National. In the USA National Championship Game, L.A.F. 50/DeMarini (CA) edged out Ohio Elite 22-21 to earn the top seed in the American pod.

L.A.F. 50/DeMarini would be unable to complete the Triple Grand Slam, going 0-3 in bracket play.

The four teams that entered Championship Sunday with undefeated records and in the driver’s seat for the title were Texas Mavericks, Team Champion Real Estate (MI), Gem City Softball (OH) and 50 Caliber/Dudley St. Louis (MO).

In the end, Gem City Softball would be the lone unbeaten team, going 3-0 on the final day of the championships, capped off with a 24-16 win over Texas Mavericks in the championship game, to claim the crown.

AB Contracting/Nobles (WV) made a strong push through the elimination bracket on Sunday, winning four straight games, until falling in the third-place game. 50 Caliber/Dudley St. Louis rounded out the top four finishing teams.

The 50 AA division saw the ultimate underdog win it all, as No. 10 seed Romo’s Old School (TX) registered a perfect 5-0 record in bracket play to win the 10-team division, capped off by a 20-19 victory over Minnesota Lumberjacks 50 in the championship game, after going 0-2 in seeding play.

Fifty GZ (TX) finished in third place, while Manifest 50’s (TX) rounded out the top four finishing teams.