50 Teams Compete in 2018 ISA Senior World Series

Aug. 1, 2018

Recap Courtesy of Tournament Director, Jerry Jackson

COLUMBIS, Ind. - The 2018 ISA Senior World Series was once again held in this beautiful city. The location allows for a wide range of teams to earn a world title on some of the best fields the state has to offer.  This event also awards the champions with a berth to attend the prestigious Tournament of Champions, which is held in Polk County, Florida each February by Senior Softball USA. The Tournament of Champions is an “Invite Only” event where only Champions of major qualifying events are invited.

This year, a total of 50 teams from ten different states (Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Tennessee, Colorado, and Texas) gathered in Columbus to battle it out for the title.

50 Platinum Division: 
Going 0-2 in seeding play, Dudley Lightning (MO) bounced back in bracket play, going 4-0, including a 24-16 win over top seed Gem City Softball (OH) in the championship game. Gem City made a strong push through the elimination side of the bracket after dropping their opening game, 24-23, against Bad Boyz (KY), winning four straight games to reach the championship game. Bad Boyz was the eventual third place finisher.

50 AAA Division: 
50 Degrees (MO), the No. 4 seed in the bracket, went unbeaten in bracket play, including a 26-15 win over Resolve 50s (TN) in the championship game. After losing their first two games in the three game gaurantee bracket, Resolve rebounded with four straight wins to reach the championship game. Team Illinois finished in third place. 

55 Major Division:
The championship came down to the top two seeds, as Doug & Don's Auto Care (MI) edged out top seed NTG/TMS Michigan, 14-13, in the "if" game. TMS Michigan forced the "if" game after winning the championship game, 20-14. Doug & Don previously defeated TMS Michigan, 34-18, to reach the championship game. Derby City (KY) finished in third place after winning five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket.

55/60 Plus Gold Division:
Windy City Softball 60s (IL) completed a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play, before rattling off three straight wins in the bracket, including a 23-21 win over Motown Stars (MI) in the championship game. Louisville OG's (KY) finished in third place. 

60 AAA Division:
Top seed Chicago Panthers (IL) polished off a perfect weekend, as a the team went 2-0 in seeding play, before going 3-0 in the bracket, including a thrilling 19-18 win over Cincinnati 60s (OH) in the championship game. Cincinnati 60s won four games in a row in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the championship game. Universal Softball Team (OH) finished third.

65 Major: The No. 3 seed Louisville OG 65 (KY) and No. 2 seed Hendricks Sports Management (TX) kicked off the bracket where Hendricks won 15-9. Hendricks then faced the top seed Handeland Flooring (WI) who won 19-12. Hendricks fell to the loser’s bracket to face OG’s again where they won 26-24 forcing a rematch for the championship.  However, Handeland won the Championship game 21-12 claiming their title.

65 AAA: Mid-State Seniors (IL) and MP Components/Bomb Squad (MI) played a best two-out-of-three game series. Mid-State won the first game, 20-17, then Bomb Squad won the second game, 17-8, forcing the "if" game.  Bomb Squad won the rubber match with a score of 8-5.

65 AA: In a best two-out-of-three game series, Blue Chips (IL) won the first game, 21-15, over Indy Fog (IN). Indy Fog won the second game, 16-9, while the third and decisive game was won by Indy Fog, 21-14.

70 AAA: Kicking off bracket play was the top seed Columbus Silver Sticks (IN) against the No. 4 seed Chicago Strikers (IL) where the Strikers won, 14-4. The No. 2 seed Avengers (MO) won over the No. 3 seed Michael’s (WI), 21-20. In the winner’s bracket final, Avengers beat the Strikers, 16-8, claiming their spot in the championship game. Down in the loser’s bracket, the Silver Sticks defeated Michael’s, 20-18, and the Strikers beat the Silver Sticks, 27-11, to claim their spot in the championship. However, the Avengers were on a winning streak and beat the Strikers, 17-12, to claim the championship.

In the end, the tournament proved to be a world class event with 141 games in a three-day period. There were a total of 28 one-run ball games and 42 games that ended with a three-run difference or less. We would like to thank all the teams that participated in the event and send a special thanks to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the staff of Lincoln Park and Dunn Stadium who kept the park and fields at a level of perfection throughout the tournament.

Thank you to all for making this event one of the best!