Great Umpires and Ground Crew Create a Successful 2025 Jim Sherman Northwest Champs

July 1, 2025

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Twenty-three teams from three states earned berths to the 2026 Tournament of Champions by capturing their divisions at the 2025 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championship.

Playing close to home seemed beneficial to Oregon and Washington teams, which represented 82 percent of the entries but 91 percent of the champions. Two California teams kept Oregon and Washington from sweeping all the titles.

Overall, 12 women’s and 65 men’s teams competed July 8-13 at parks in Salem and Albany, Ore.

Top-notch umpiring and a “tremendous” grounds crew in Salem were among the highlights for Tournament Director Butch Jones.

“That was the best umpiring crew I’ve seen in a long time,” Jones said.

In addition, a bevy of close games made for a memorial tournament.

Results:

Women's 40+ Major: Top-seeded defending champion Royal-T Real Estate/The LaFlamme Group of Washington (photo below) edged third-seeded Firestarter of Washington 18-17 to capture the crown with an unblemished record. Second-seeded Ol' D BYBs of Oregon finished third in the three-team division.

Women's 40+ AAA: Second-seeded Lady Kingpins of Washington (photo below) overcame a 23-21 loss in the first championship game to dispatch third-seeded NWB of California 14-11 in the second title game. Top-seeded Vintage Baddies of Washington finished third in the three-team division.

Women's 50/55+ Gold: Top-seeded West Coast United, a 50+ AAA team from California, capped a 6-0 tournament with a 7-2 championship victory over third-seeded Takin' Chances of California. Second-seeded Snap, Crackle, Pop of Washington took third in the four-team division.

Women's 55/60+ AAA: Team BattleAxe 55, a AAA team from Oregon (photo below), swept 60+ Oregon Reign 17-8 and 13-10 in a best-of-three bracket format.

Men's 40+ Major: Third-seeded Headcase of Washington knocked off the top two seeds enroute to the finals, where it overcame a 25-22 loss in the first title game by building a nine-run lead and hanging on for a 26-22 victory in the decisive finale over second-seeded SmAshtown of Washington. Top-seeded NW Hustle of Washington placed third in the five-team bracket.

Men's 40+ AAA: After losing its first seeding game, Torgi Trucking/U.P. Electric won four games in a row, including a 26-22 championship victory over NW Elevate/Dirty Sports of Washington. Top-seeded GTR of Oregon placed third in the six-team division.

Men's 50+ Major Plus: After winning the 40+ Major championship a year ago, Hara's/Hub City/Dirty of Washington captured the 50+ Major Plus title this year in a best-of-three format that required all three games, 34-18, 3-24, and 47-34, over the NW Legends 50s of Washington.

Men's 50+ AAA: Seeded seventh of eight teams, Cryowrx of Oregon turned on the scoring faucet in bracket play, winning 21-13, 19-12, 23-7 and 27-26 to capture the championship. Sixth-seeded Washington Ogs won three elimination games before finishing second. Top-seeded Rightline of Washington placed third.

Men's 50+ AA: Top-seeded HCD 50 of Oregon capped a 5-2 tournament with a 19-12 “if needed” championship win over Doerflinger Athletics of Washington, which had won the first title game 18-17. Juggernaut of Washington finished third in the three-team division.

Men's 55+ Major: The fourth-seeded NW Jokers/Dave Smith Motors of Washington scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat third-seeded Damage of Utah 22-21 for the title. Second-seeded DeMarini took third in the four-team division.

Men's 60+ Major Plus: Unbeaten Sommerville Softball of California (photo below) swept CornerStone of Oregon 29-11 and 31-30 in a best-of-three format.

Men's 55/60+ Gold: Third-seeded Pacific Enterprises, a 60+ Major team from Washington, won all four of its bracket games, including a 23-17 championship victory over top-seeded Pro Vision, a 55+ AAA team from Washington. All-Quip/SOWC-55 of Oregon took third in the six-team division.

Men's 60+ AAA: Top-seeded Chelu 60s of Oregon defended its 2024 title by double-dipping second-seeded Excellence Auto Collision of Washington 25-20 and 17-10 to win the five-team division. Chelu never trailed in either championship game. Third-seeded Shockwave/ICS of Idaho took third.

Men's 60+ AA: Playing a best-of-three format, Spin Tees of Washington (photo below) swept Tri City Legends of Washington 37-26 and 14-6. Spin Tees finished 4-1 overall.

Men's 65+ AAA: Third-seeded Chelu 65s of Oregon (photo below) defeated top-seeded Team Fire 65 of Washington 18-17 to win the three-team division. Team Alaska 65 finished third.

Men's 65+ AA: Playing a best-of-three format, Pastimers of Washington (photo below) dispatched Northwest Force of Washington 8-23, 21-12 and 19-18 to win the title.

Men's 65/70+ Platinum: Unbeaten and top-seeded NorthWest Stampede, a 65+ Major Plus team from Oregon, beat the 65+ Major champion NW Elite Hitmen of Washington in the title game 27-19. Both teams earned TOC berths. Timberworks/Suncoast of California placed third in the three-team bracket. (Photo of Champion and Finalist teams below).

Men's 70+ AAA: Top-seeded and unbeaten Second Wind of Washington (photo below) defeated second-seeded Proton/Spikes of Washington 25-15 in the championship game. Rabble Rousers of Oregon placed third in the three-team division.

Men's 70/75+ Platinum: The second-seeded Bulldogs, a 70+ Major team from Oregon (photo below), lost its first bracket game then won four in a row, including 17-16 and 11-5 championship victories over top-seeded Omen 75 of California. Third-seeded Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia, Canada, took third in the four-team division.

Men's 70/75+ AA: Third-seeded Cascade Thunder, a 70+ AA team from Oregon, won its first two bracket games by one run each before dispatching second-seeded Vancouver USA/ILANI 70s of Washington 18-7 in the title game. Top-seeded Northwest Lightning 70s of Washington placed third in the four-team division.

Men's 75+ Major: The top-seeded Oregon Crabs (photo below) capped a 4-1 tournament with a 21-11 championship victory over third-seeded W.E. Ruth Realty of Washington. The Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia, Canada, finished third in the three-team bracket.