Repeat Champions Reign in the 2026 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Champs

Aug. 1, 2026

The Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships honors SSUSA's original Safety Officer, who drafted the organization's First Aid Basics and defibrillator program. Photo by Lora Flewelling.

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Eight teams successfully defended their 2025 titles by repeating as champions in the 2026 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships in early July.

One of those teams, Royal-T Real Estate of Washington, captured its fourth Jim Sherman title in the Women’s 40+ Major division. Another team, the Oregon Crabs, nabbed their fourth in a row covering competition across the Men’s 70+ and 75+ divisions.

Overall, 75 teams competed July 7-12 at parks in Salem and Albany, Ore.

“The Jim Sherman tournament brought lots of sunshine to Oregon's capital city of Salem,” Tournament Director Butch Jones said. “Many compliments were earned by the umpires, and the staff members at Wallace Marine Park were superb at supporting the tournament.”

Tournament director, Butch Jones (left) inducts Wayne Ross into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame Plaque at the 2026 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships.

Twenty-two teams earned trophies, shirts and berths to the 2027 Tournament of Champions by claiming division titles. Seven times, the finals went to an if-needed championship game to determine the winner.

Results:

Women's 40+ Major: Second-seeded Royal-T Real Estate of Washington (photo below) got revenge for a seeding-game loss by defeating top-seeded Firestarter of Washington twice in bracket play, including a 19-11 championship victory in the three-team division.

Photo by Lora Flewelling

Women's 40+ AAA: The top-seeded Vintage Baddies of Washington double-dipped second-seeded Stayin Alive of Washington in a pair of close games, 20-18 and 24-23, to capture the four-team division. The third-seeded Lady Kingpins /Just A Game of Washington took third.

Women's 50+ Gold: Second-seeded 50+ Major champs Snap, Crackle, Pop of Washington knocked off the defending champ, West Coast United of California, 19-3 to win this three-team bracket. Idaho Spirit 50s finished third.

2026 Northwest Championships players from Royal-T Real Estate (WA), Vintage Baddies (WA) and Idaho Spirit 50s women's teams. Photo by Lora Flewelling.

Women's 55+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three series, unbeaten Takin' Chances 55 of California swept Team BattleAxe 55 of Oregon 19-8 and 16-1,

Women's 60+ AAA: Also playing a best-of-three format, Adrenaline of Nevada finished 4-1 overall by sweeping Scrubs of California 9-4 and 12-6.

Men's 40+ AAA: Top-seeded GTR 40 of Oregon won three one-run games enroute to a 6-0 overall record, which included a 23-18 championship victory over third-seeded Torgi Trucking/U.P. Electric of Washington. Second-seeded NW Elevate of Washington took third in the four-team division.

Men's 40+ AA: This best-of-three bracket came down to the final innings, with The Lugnuts of Washington defeating A.A.R.P. of Washington 10-14, 25-10 and 19-18.

Men's 40/50+ Platinum: Third-seeded NW Hustle/AC Taylor Const., a 40+ Major team from Washington (player below), lost the first title game to the 50+ Major Plus team Hara's/CCM/HCE/Marucci/Victus/OA Sports of Washington 26-1,  but rebounded to claim the if-needed game 30-19. Fourth-seeded Headcase of Washington took third in the four-team division.

Photo by Lora Flewelling.

Men's 50+ AAA: The second-seeded Washington Ogs (photo below) needed two championship games to subdue top-seeded GTR 50 of Washington. GTR won the first title game 26-21 before the Ogs retaliated with a 21-16 triumph in the finale. Fifth-seeded Apollo/Venom of Washington captured third in the eight-team division.

Photo by Lora Flewelling.

Men's 50/55+ Silver: Fourth-seeded Vancouver Connection, a 55+ AAA team, also needed two games to clinch a crown. Second-seeded All-Quip/SOWC-55 of Oregon won the first title game 21-15 before Vancouver blasted its way to a 23-8 victory in the if-needed title game. Third-seeded Bend Dirtbags of Oregon won three elimination games to finish third in the six-team division.

Men's 55+ Major: The top-seeded and defending champion NW Jokers of Washington notched another title by nipping second-seeded Factory DeMarini of Washington 28-27 in the championship game. Third-seeded Pro Vision 55 of Washington took third in the three-team bracket.

Men's 60+ Platinum: Undefeated and top-seeded Pacific Enterprises, a 60+ Major team from Washington, slipped past runner-up and third-seeded Chelu 60s of Oregon 28-27 to win the three-team division and nab its second Northwest title in a row. CornerStone of Oregon placed third.

Men's 60+ AAA: Second-seeded Excellence Auto Collision of Washington had an unbeaten streak snapped in the first title game, which fifth-seeded Anderson Realty Vintage Softball of Washington won 23-5. Excellence Auto responded by grabbing the if-needed title game 20-15. Top-seeded Turn and Burn / Lathrop Trucking of Washington finished third in the five-team division.

Men's 60+ AA: Defending champion Spin Tees of Washington needed all three games in a best-of-three format to defeat Tri City Legends of Washington 15-12, 17-29 and 23-13.

Men's 65+ Silver: Defending champion Chelu 65s, a AAA team from Oregon, raced unbeaten through the tournament, including a 16-6 championship victory over third-seeded Team Alaska 65. Firecreek Pops of Washington finished third in the three-team division.

Men's 65/70+ Platinum: Unbeaten in five games, the 70+ Major Plus team NorthWest Stampede of Oregon (photo below) won its third consecutive Jim Sherman Memorial championship with ease. It defeated runner-up NW Elite Hitmen of Washington 28-13 in the title game after scoring 30 runs in its first bracket game. Northwest Softball Club of Washington finished third in this three-team bracket.

Men's 70+ Major: Unbeaten in six games, top-seeded Cal Energy 70 (photo below) defeated the defending champ and fourth-seeded Bulldogs 70 of Oregon 23-8 to win the four-team division. Second-seeded Team Fire 70s of Washington finished third.

Photo by Gus Hurtado.

Men's 70+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three format, East/West Aircraft Pilots of Idaho swept Alaska Kings 70s (photo below) 21-19 and 14-9.

Men's 70+ AA: The second-seeded defending champion Cascade Thunder of Oregon capped a 5-0 tournament with a 22-7 domination of fourth-seeded Northwest Lightning 70s of Washington. The fifth-seeded Scrap Iron Diamond 70s of Colorado snagged third in the six-team division.

Men's 75+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, Omen 75 of California (photo below) swept Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia, Canada, 24-9 and 22-7.

Men's 75+ Gold: Also playing a best-of-three, the defending champion 75+ Major team Oregon Crabs swept Team Ryan of Washington 17-12 and 22-14. That gave the Crabs a 5-0 mark for the tournament.

Men's 75+ AA: This two-team division needed all three games to crown a champion, with Northwest Silver 75 of Washington outlasting Northwest Sage of Washington 13-16, 21-19, 20-9.