Tournament wrapup

82 Teams Fight for Western Nationals

Oct. 1, 2008 – Senior Softball-USA

Softball News Report

SALT LAKE CITY – Almost 2,500 players and their families flocked to Salt Lake for the 8th Annual Western Nationals from July 15-20.

The 82 senior softball men and women’s teams competed for the Western National championships in 19 divisions and represent some of the best teams – and players – in the sport.

The divisions range from the 40 Masters to the 80-year-old Division.

“We are very excited about working with the Salt Lake CVB and the Utah Sports Commission to make the 2008 Western National Championships a successful – and memorable – premier championship tournament for the players, Salt Lake and Senior Softball,” said Terry Hennessy, Chief Executive Officer of SSUSA.

Teams competed in the first step of the coveted Triple Grand Slam of softball.

Winners of the Western Nationals received a free berth to the US National Game (against the winner of the Eastern Nationals in their division). Teams that win the US National Game and the World Championships win the Triple Grand Slam.

In addition to the Grand Slam Competition, the Western Nationals featured the induction of two players into the National Senior Hall of Fame: Bob Young of Washington State and Russ Curtis of the California. Both inductions took place during the Opening Ceremonies.

A defibrillator was presented to the Scrap Iron club of Colorado during Opening Ceremonies as part of a benefit drive to provide defibrillators to all senior clubs and leagues. The defibrillator was presented by the widow of Ed Rothe, a Scrap Iron player who collapsed and died of a heart attack while playing in a tournament a few months ago.

Senior Softball-USA provides defibrillators for each complex and SSUSA officials are certified in CPR, AED and First Aid. In addition, SSUSA offered AED and CPR training during the tournament.

In tournament play, scores were close, with five of the 19 division titles decided by a single run.

In the 50AAA Division, Team Pound of Washington defeated CJ&S of Arizona 19-18 in the championship game. In the 60 Majors, Paradise Chevrolet of California defeated Diamond Dawgs of Nevada 27-26; in the 60AA, Scrap Iron Diamonds of Colorado beat the Austin Lonestars of Texas 18-17; in the 65AAA, Fastsigns of Oregon defeated Las Vegas Elks 18-17 and in the 65AA division, the hometown Salt Lake Pioneers beat Speed Limit of Utah 19-18.

The Northwest Legends of Washington came back to win the largest division – the 50 Majors with 9 teams – after going 1-1 in seeding play.