News story

Milwaukee Wins Huge 50 Major Bracket in Midwest Champs

Oct. 1, 2008 – Senior Softball-USA

By Steve Simmons

Softball News Report

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The allure of a Tournament of Champions berth, coupled with the reputation that Rudy Pribble has established for the Midwest Championships, has helped this tournament become one of the nation’s largest.

A record 77 teams were in attendance, with 59 of them in the 50+, 55+ and 60+ divisions, which played July 11-13. The 60+, 65+ and 70+ divisions (18 teams) played July 8-10.

Rain shortened the schedules for some divisions, but most teams played all of their games.

In the largest of the 14 divisions, the Milwaukee Merchants topped a bracket of 13 teams, beating the Indiana Classics in the championships.

Scores were tight, with five of the 14 divisions being decided by 1 run or by an IF game.

In the 8-team 50 Silver Division, Chicago Prime forced an IF game by beating Brickyard of Indiana 16-9. Brickyard came back in the IF game to clip Chicago 17-16 and win the championship.

In a hard-fought 65 AAA bracket, the Dorchester Canadians forced the United Seniors of Wisconsin into the losers bracket in a 11-10 contest. Wisconsin emerged from the loser’s bracket to beat Dorchester 12-10 and force an IF game. Wisconsin proceeded to double-dip Dorchester, beating the Canadians 17-6 to win the championship.

The Columbus (Indiana) Silver Sticks double-dipped hometown favorite KFC of Champaign, Illinois, 14-13 and 19-15 to win the 65 AA title. In the 70 Silver Division, the Chicago Geezers edged Moose Lodge 500 of Indiana 15-14 to win the championships. And in a rain-shortened 60 AAA bracket, Michigan Express beat the Minnesota Prize Company 21-20 in a squeaker.