52 Teams Compete in 10th Annual Northeast Championships

Aug. 1, 2017

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The tenth annual Northeast Championships was held here for the sixth straight year as Hopkins Road Park hosted the games July 7 – 12.

"We had another nice turnout," said Cal Allison, SSUSA National Director. "We had teams from up north in Canada and all the way down from Virginia. The weather was super and we had great ballgames."

The Men’s 40 through 60 age divisions began the tournament July 7.

In the three-team Men’s 40 Gold division, Thunder/GiantSteel/Miken (NY) (pitctured below) posted a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a thrilling 22-21 victory over J.D. Oxfords/Bob Johnson Chevrolet (NY) in the championship game. Superior 40s/Potomac Sports (MD) finished in third place.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Elmwood Sports Center (RI) (pictured below) finished the weekend with an unblemished record in the Men’s 50 Major division, posting a 3-0 mark in seeding play to take the top seed, and completing bracket play with a 3-0 record, including a 12-9 win over Domino’s/Bob Johnson (NY) in the championship game. Hard Hat Cafe/Latella’s/Vio’s Sports (CT) finished in third place.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

The six-team Men’s 50 AAA division saw Trinity/Rizzo’s (NY) (pictured below) defeat top seed Custom Logo (NY), 16-9, in the “if” game, after losing the championship game, 9-8. Chicago Sams/RDD (CT) made a nice run through the elimination bracket winning three straight games, before running out of steam and losing in the third-place game.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Building Innovation Group (NY) (pictured below) defeated Action Auto Parts (RI), 22-15, in the championship game of the four-team Men’s 55 Major division. Frederick Chevrolet (PA) placed third.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Pittsburg North (PA) (pictured below) completed a perfect weekend, going 3-0 in seeding play and 3-0 in bracket play to win the four-team Men’s 55 AAA division. Pittsburgh North defeated Beltway Bandits (VA), 17-7, in the championship game. Lynch Construction rounded out the top three finishers in the bracket.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Agway Steelers (Ontario) (pictured below), from north of the border, had a strong showing in the five-team Men’s 60 Major division, taking the top spot with a 2-0 record in seeding play, before winning three straight in bracket play, including a 25-15 win in the championship game over Promotion Softball (NJ). Cardot/Madalena Construction (NY) finished in third place.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Northern Virginia Force (pictured below) won four in a row in bracket play in the seven-team Men’s 60 AAA division, including a 22-11 victory over Talaga Construction (CT). Spring Ford AA 60+ (PA) finished in third place.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

A second Canadian team would clinch a title at the Northeast Championships, as Durham Silver Stix 60’s (Ontario) (pictured below) double-dipped Diamond Dawgs (MA) by scores of 15-9 and 14-7, in the championship and “if” games, respectively, to win the Men’s 60 AA division. Syracuse Cyclones (NY) finished in third place.

Photo Courtesy of Marisa DuVal 

Moving to the Men’s 65 through 75 age divisions, which began July 10, New Jersey Hitmen swept Syracuse Merchants (NY) by scores of 13-1 and 16-4, respectively, in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 65 Major division.

Northern Virginia Force 65 joined their younger brothers on the championship podium, as the team rebounded from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, with a 4-0 mark in bracket play, including a 19-5 win over Anaconda Sports (NY) in the championship game of the five-team Men’s 65 AAA division. Anaconda Sports won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the championship game. Rochester Brewers (NY) finished in third place.

In the four-team 65/70 Silver division, Bostonian 70’s came out of the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip Tabor Franchi VFW (RI), winning both the championship and “if” games. Southern Tier Express 65 (NY) finished in third place.

A full five-game round robin was used to determine the champion in the six-team Men’s 75 AAA division. Bailey Talent Cavaliers 75 (VA) and Monkey Joe’s Big Nut (NJ) each finished with identical 4-1 records, with Bailey Talent owning the tie-breaker by their head-to-head win, 11-8. Jersey Masters 75 (NJ) finished in third place with a 3-2 record.