11 Teams Receive Coveted TOC Invite at 2019 Midwest Championships; Three 80's Teams in Action

July 1, 2019

ROGERS, Ark. - The 14th Annual Midwest Championships returned here to Rogers Regional Sports Park for the fourth consecutive year. Forty-three teams from across nine states competed, July 9-14, for a berth to the original Tournament of Champions.

Beginning with the five-team Men’s 65 Gold Division, KC Kids (KS) entered bracket play as the No. 1 seed following its 2-0 record in seeding. Carriage Homes (MO) also went 2-0 in seeding, to secure the second seed.

The top two seeds would meet twice in bracket play, with KC Kids taking both games.

In the first meeting, KC Kids knocked Carriage Homes down into the elimination side of the bracket with a 17-12 win, to advance to the championship game.

Carriage Homes bounced back with a thrilling 19-18 win in their next game, the third-place game, to earn their spot in the championship game.

Trailing 18-16 heading into the bottom of the open, Carriage Homes scored plated the three runs it needed to complete the walk-off victory.

In the championship game, KC Kids would again defeat Carriage Homes, this time by a score of 16-10.


KC Kids (KS) - 65 AAA - Men's 65 Gold Champions

In the three-team Men’s 65/70 Silver Division, Boyd Metals 70 (AR) avenged its earlier 12-10 loss against top seed KC Renegades 70 (MO) in bracket play, with back-to-back wins in the championship (16-12) and “if” (11-10) games.

Boyd Metals (AR) - 70 AAA - Men's 65/70 Silver Champions

Holding a slim 11-9 lead heading into the bottom of the open, Boyd Metals held KC Renegades to a single run, to escape with the 11-10 win and division title.

Robson Ranch Texans finished in third place.

The Men’s 70/75 Silver Division featured a best of three series between R&D Leverage 70 (MO) and Midwest Driving School 75 (KS).

Midwest Driving School swept the series, by scores of 16-10 and 27-16, respectively.

Midwest Driving School (KS) - 75 AAA - Men's 70/75 Silver Champions

San Antonio Silver Streaks (TX) entered bracket play of the four-team Men’s 70 Major Division as the top seed following a perfect 3-0 record in seeding play.

After winning their opening bracket game, 19-7, over St. Louis Vision (MO), San Antonio Silver Streaks dropped a nail-biter, 16-15, against OK-ARK (OK) in their next game, to fall into the elimination side of the bracket.

San Antonio Silver Streak again defeated St. Louis Vision, 17-15, in the third-place game, before avenging their earlier loss against OK-ARK, with wins in the championship (27-18) and “if” (17-6) games.

San Antonio Silver Streak (TX) - Men's 70 Major Champions

The three-team Men’s 80 Gold Division saw top seed LOTA Softball (TX) defeat Antiques of Kansas City (KS) in the championship game, 16-15.

With the game knotted at 15 all in the bottom of the open, LOTA Softball scored the lone run it needed to take the division.


LOTA Softball (TX) - 80 Major - Men's 80 Gold Champions

San Antonio 80s (TX) finished in third place.

The tournament continued with the Men’s 50-60 age divisions taking the field, July 12-14.

Starting with the six-team Men’s 50 Major Division, Team Arkansas defended its home turf by defeating B&B Drywall/World Gym (KS) in the “if” game, 27-12.

B&B Drywall/World Gym edged out a win in the championship game, in walk-off fashion, 18-17, to force the “if” game. Trailing 17-15 in the bottom of the open, B&B Drywall/World Gym plated three runs to keep its championship hopes alive.

After dropping its first two bracket games in the three-game guarantee bracket, KC Vintage (MO) scored a pair of wins en route to their eventual third-place finish.

The three-team Men’s 50 AAA Division also came down to the “if” game, as Drury Inn Road Dogs (MO) double-dipped top seed Maher Homes Nebraska Elite in dramatic fashion, winning both the championship and “if” game by single digits each, 16-15 and 21-20, respectively.

In the championship game, Drury Inn Road Dogs clung on to win, allowing just one run in the bottom of the open.

In the “if” game, Maher Homes Nebraska Elite plated eight runs in the top of the open to take a 20-15 advantage. The lead would not be enough, as Drury Inn Road Dogs was able to erase its deficit, scoring six runs in the bottom half of the open to complete the walk-off win.

The win for Drury Inn Road Dogs capped off a three game winning streak, which began with a 25-22 win over KC Monarchs (MO) in the third-place game.

The Men’s 55 Division had a pair of three-team divisions.

In the Men’s 55 Major Division, top seed Pope Transport (WI) defeated Rock N Legends 9 (TX), 32-20, in the “if” game to win the title. Rock N Legends 9 won a thrilling championship game, 23-22, to force the “if” game.

Trailing 20-15 heading into the top of the open, Pope Transport tallied seven runs to go ahead, 22-20. In the end, it would not be enough, as Rock N Legends took advantage of its last licks, to score the three runs it needed.

Pope Transport (WI) - Men's 55 Major Champions

50 Caliber Plus-St. Louis (MO) finished in third place.

In the Men’s 55 AAA Division, top seed Omaha Silver Bullets went a perfect 5-0 on the weekend, going 3-0 in seeding play, and 2-0 in the bracket, including a 20-13 win over American Mortgage Pro’s (OK), in the championship game.

KC Renegades 55 (KS) finished in third place.

Mayhem (OK) and Central Illinois Chiefs played a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 60 Major Division.

After dropping the first game, 19-13, Mayhem rebounded with back-to-back wins, 23-6, and 23-16, respectively, to win the championship.

In the four-team Men’s 60 AAA Division, OKC Relics (OK) avenged its 20-13 loss in the championship game against Westrock (AR), with a 20-15 win in the “if” game.

Top seed Big Daddy’s Donuts (MO) finished in third place.

In the five-team Men’s 60 AA Division, top seed R&K Drywall (OK) ran the table, going 2-0 in seeding play, and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 17-12 win in the championship game over KC Monarchs (MO).

R&K Drywall (OK) - Men's 60 AA Champions

Texas Legends finished in third place.