Three Teams Complete Elusive Triple Grand Slam During Session Two of the 2019 World Masters

Oct. 1, 2019

LAS VEGAS - The eighth annual LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, the largest Senior Softball tournament in the country with 612 teams participating, continued here on Sept. 23 with the elder statesmen of the game, the Men’s 65 through 85 age divisions, taking the field.

The second session included 147 teams representing 25 states and one Canadian province, competing across seven complexes.

A total of 493 games were scheduled for the second session, including seven U.S. National Championship Games.

Teams from Minnesota, Florida, California, Arizona, Kansas, Oregon and Nevada won World Masters titles in the 15 divisions, making it the largest session of the tournament by division.

In the seven U.S. National Games, which pits winners from the Eastern and Western National Championships, four teams from the East and three teams from the West prevailed – with three of the seven teams completing the elusive Triple Grand Slam: Timberworks/Adidas (CA); Men’s 65 Major Plus, Nor Cal Stixx (CA); Men’s 70 Major, and Center For Sight (FL); Men’s 85 Major.

To win the SSUSA Triple Grand Slam, teams must win either the Eastern or Western Nationals, the U.S. National Game, and the World Masters Championships.

Starting off with the four-team Men’s 65 Major Plus Division, Western Champ Timberworks/Adidas (CA) defeated Eastern Champ New Jersey Hitmen 27-5 in the U.S. National Championship Game. For the Timberworks/Adidas, this marked the team’s third straight U.S. National Championship.

Timberworks/Adidas entered bracket play looking for its third straight Triple Grand Slam, as well as fourth straight World Masters Championship.

The team would do just that, posting a perfect 3-0 record, including a 23-5 win over Pope Transport (WI) in the championship game.

Timberworks/Adidas (CA) - 2019 Men's 65 Major Plus Triple Grand Slam

Enviro-Vac Marauders (WA) and NJ Hitmen rounded out the third and fourth place finishers, respectively.

In the 22-team Men’s 65 Major Division, Eastern Champs Pill & Pill (WV) took down Western Champs Incrediwear (CA) 17-14 in the U.S. National Game.

Pill & Pill (WV) - 2019 Men's 65 Major U.S. National Champions

Neither team would make much noise in bracket play, as top seeded Pill & Pill went 0-3, while No. 2 seed Incrediwear went 1-2.

Coming from the No. 10 slot in the bracket, Arizona Ancient recorded a perfect 5-0 record, including a 14-12 win over Minnesota Masters/Ancell in the championship game.

MN Masters/Ancell made the ultimate Cinderella run, as the team entered bracket play as the last seed following an 0-2 showing in seeding play.

MN Masters/Ancell got off to a hot start in bracket play, winning three straight games, including two one-run thrillers, before falling to AZ Ancient 13-12 to drop down into the elimination side of the bracket. MN Masters/Ancell would then run off another three straight games en route to its second-place finish.

RPR Softball (AL) finished in third place, while Nor Cal Reds (CA) was the fourth-place finisher. Following a nail-biting 23-22 loss to open bracket play, Nor Cal Reds ran through the gauntlet with an incredible six-game winning streak, before falling in the fourth-place game.

Gonzalez Insulation (TX) and Over the Edge (CA) were the other teams to make it Championship Thursday, tying for fifth place.

In the 27-team Men’s 65 AAA Division, Western Champ Cut Loose (CA) earned the default U.S. National Championship, with no Eastern National Champ to play.

The team would still have a shot at the Triple Grand Slam; however, they came up short, eventually finishing in fourth place.

Emerging from the middle of the pack, No. 12 seed KC Kids (KS) posted a flawless 6-0 record in bracket play, including a 23-10 win over No. 2 seed No Guts, No Glory (CA) in the championship game.

Team Texas San Antonio finished in third place.

Making valiant runs through the elimination side of the bracket with five straight wins apiece, Fierce Firearms (UT) and MN Lumberjacks finished tied for fifth-place.

Similarly, the 14-team Men’s 65 AA Division did not feature a U.S. National Game, as Western Champ Scrap Iron Diamonds (CO) earned the default national championship.

Bracket play would feature the top two seeds square off for the championship, as No. 2 Los Vatos Viejos (AZ) knocked off No. 1 Oklahoma Street Outlaws, 21-15. The win completed a perfect week for Los Vatos Viejos, as the team posted a 2-0 record in seeding, and a 4-0 record in bracket play.

After dropping its second bracket game 23-18 against Bags Softball (IA), Oklahoma Street Outlaws rattled off three straight wins en route to its runner-up finish.

Entering bracket play as the No. 12 seed, Bags Softball finished in third place, while Vancouver USA Wooly’s (WA) rounded out the top four finishers.

Las Vegas Desert Heat (NV) and Blue Chips (IL) tied for fifth place.

In the three-team Men’s 70 Major Plus Division, Eastern Champ Venom (FL) defeated Western Champ Omen (CA) 24-14 for the U.S. National Championship.

Venom (FL) - 2019 Men's 70 Major Plus U.S. National Champions

The teams would meet up three times in bracket play, with Omen eventually getting the final word with a 2-1 record, including a 20-10 win in the “if” game, blocking Venom’s shot at the Triple Grand Slam.

Omen (CA) - 2019 Men's 70 Major Plus World Masters Champions

All-American (MN) finished in third place.

In the 16-team Men’s 70 Major Division, Western Champ Nor Cal Stixx (CA) downed Eastern Champs Bradford White/Jersey Masters (NJ) 20-17 for the U.S. National Championship.

Proving to be the best two teams, both teams would again square off in bracket play, meeting up three more times.

In the first meeting in bracket play, the winner’s bracket final, Nor Cal Stixx edged out a thrilling 16-15 win to punch its ticket into the championship game.

Bradford White/Jersey Masters rebounded with an 18-16 win over Poncho’s (CA) in the third place game, setting up a third game with Nor Cal Stixx. Bradford White/Jersey Masters would finally get on the board with a 17-10 victory in the championship game, forcing the “if” game.

The fourth and final meeting would again see Nor Cal Stixx defeat Bradford White/Jersey Masters 18-13 to complete the Triple Grand Slam.

Nor Cal STIXX (CA) - 2019 Men's 70 Major Triple Grand Slam

After dropping its first two bracket games, San Antonio Silver Streaks (TX) eventually got on the right foot with four straight wins to take fourth place.

AMR (FL) and Game On (CA) tied for fifth place.

Another 16-team division, the Men’s 70 AAA Division, saw Eastern Champ Syracuse Cyclones (NY) squeak out a slim 15-14 win over Western Champ Sacramento Islanders (CA) in the U.S. National Championship Game.

The team’s would again meet up in bracket play, this time in the Third Place Game, as the Cyclones got the better of the Islanders for a second time, 16-7.

Looking to complete the Triple Grand Slam, the Cyclones would come up short, falling to Mr. Plywood (OR) 29-19 in the championship game. For Mr. Plywood, the win capped off a perfect week for the team, going 2-0 in seeding and 5-0 in bracket play.

Mr. Plywood (OR) - 2019 Men's 70 AAA World Masters Champions

Dougboys (NV) rounded out the top four finishers.

Chicago Hitmen and Relentless (TX) tied for fifth place.

In the seven-team Men’s 70 AA Division, top seed Southern California Crush came out of the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip El Paso Nine-Elevens (TX), winning both the championship (16-15) and “if” (22-14) games.

Western Champ Valley Fog (CA) earned the default U.S. National Championship with no Eastern opponent, and finished third.

Top Gun Olde Dawgs (CA) finished in fourth place.

The Men’s 75 Major Plus Division saw Omen (CA) sweep Tharaldson’s (NV) in a best two-out-of-three game series by scores of 15-11 and 13-11, respectively. Omen, who was the default Western Champs, also earned the U.S. National Championship with no Eastern opponent.

The Men’s 75 Major Division did not feature a Western or Eastern National Champion, as the eight-team division was decided by a full seven-game round robin.

Posting a perfect 7-0 record, Sidewinders (AZ) took the top spot.

Hooikaika Kinipopo (HI), 6-1, and ProHealth Care (WI), 5-2, finished second and third, respectively.

Three teams would tie for fourth place, as California Connection, General Equipment (OR), and Ginco/Bryce Orthopedics (AZ) all finished with identical 3-4 records.

The teams remained tied following the first tie breaker, as the teams were all 1-1 against each other (California Connection defeated General Equipment, 16-6; General Equipment defeated Ginco/Bryce Orthopedics, 23-19; and Ginco/Bryce Orthopedics defeated California Connection, 20-17).

In the second tie-breaker, least runs allowed, California Connection would come on top, allowing 26 runs, to earn fourth place. General Equipment (35 runs) and Ginco/Bryce Orthopedics (40 runs), followed.

Rounding out the division were Findlay Auto Scorpions (AZ), 1-6, and Arizona Outlaws, 0-7.

Similarly, the eight-team Men’s 75 AAA Division also did not feature a Western or Eastern National Champion, and was also decided by a full seven-game round robin.

Las Vegas Coyotes (NV) posted a perfect 7-0 record to claim the top prize, while Hill Contracting (TX) followed with a 6-1 mark.

Minnesota Masters Jimmy’s finished third with a 5-2 mark, while Git-R-Done (CA) rounded out the top four with a 4-3 record.

Stark Street Pizza S. CA, 3-4; Chicago Gray Sox (IL), 2-5; San Antonio Desperados (TX), 1-6; and Top Gun 6 Bits (CA), 0-7; completed the field.

The Men’s 80 Major Plus Division was decided by a best two-out-of-three game series between Florida Investment Properties and San Francisco Seals.

The opening game, which would also go on to decide the U.S. National Championship, saw the Seals take down FIP, 16-8.

San Francisco Seals (CA) - 2019 Men's 80 Major Plus U.S. Naitonal Champions

FIP evened the series with relative ease, cruising to a 20-5 win in game two.

The rubber-match saw FIP complete the come-back, taking a 28-17 decision to claim the championship.

Florida Investment Properties - 2019 Men's 80 Major Plus World Masters Champions

In the three-team Men’s 80 Major Division, top seed Top Gun Gold (CA) defeated Scrap Iron Gray Berets (CO), 15-10, in the championship game.

LOTA Softball (TX) finished in third place.

In the nine-team Men’s 80 AAA Division, a full eight-game round robin was used to crown the champion.

Winning all eight games, Minnesota Masters took the top prize.

Minnesota Masters - 2019 Men's 80 AAA World Masters Champions

New York Statesmen followed with a 6-2 record, while Chicago Geezers (IL) finished third with a 5-3 mark.

Three teams tied with identical 4-4 records.

All three teams had a win over the other, as Antiques of Kansas City (KS) defeated Redwood City Gold Rush (CA), 15-3; Git-R-Done (CA) defeated Antiques of Kansas City, 23-17; and Redwood City Gold Rush defeated Git-R-Done, 21-6.

Of the three, Redwood City Gold Rush would come out as the fourth-place finisher, following the tie breaker of least runs allowed, surrendering just 21 runs in the two games. Antiques of KC allowed 26 runs, while Git-R-Done gave up 38 runs.

Git-R-Done, the Western Champ, was also the default U.S. National Champ with no opponent from the East.

Git-R-Done (CA) - 2019 Men's 80 AAA U.S. National Champions

Rounding out the field were Sidewinders (AZ), 3-5; So Cal Titans (CA), 1-7; and San Antonio 80s (TX), 1-7. So Cal Titans defeated San Antonio, 16-4, to earn the tie-breaker.

In the six-team Men’s 85 Major Division, Eastern Champ Center For Sight (FL) beat Western Champ Sacramento Gold (CA) 22-8 to claim the U.S. National Championship.

Center For Sight would go on to win the division as well, defeating Arizona Prospectors, 11-10, to win the World Masters, as well as complete the Triple Grand Slam. This is Center For Sight’s third straight win in the 85 age division.

Center For Sight (FL) - Men's 85 Major - 2019 Triple Grand Slam

Southwest Stars (TX) and Sacramento Gold tied for third place.

The six teams in the Men’s 85 Division, which made its debut in 2014, also set a record. With its most recent title, Center For Sight now lays claim to four of the six championships in the 85 division.

For game-by-game scores, please click on the link below:
Men's 65

Men's 70

Men's 75 - 85

To view photos from the 2019 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships, please visit JacksActionShots.com.