Buckeye Tournament Sweet for 65 and 70 Teams

Sept. 1, 2009 – Ho Hoffman Buckeye Classic

BARBERTON, Ohio - Despite the rain, the eighth annual Buckeye Classic had a record turnout of teams in the 65+ and 70+ divisions at the June Ohio SSWC Qualifier at the Barberton Sports Complex. For the first time, the field was limited to AAA and AA teams and the response was outstanding. There were ten 70+ teams that entered the tournament with two others pulling out in the final week. The same thing happened in the 65+ division as three late cancellations lowered that total to nine teams. Still the 19 teams constituted a new high for this tournament.

Rain forced a format change for the 70’s from the planned “pool play, followed by a double-elimination championship round”, to a one-day round-robin tournament.

Kaiser Permanente / North Coast from Cleveland took an evenly balanced 70 AAA Division by edging the Back Office Associates from Harwich, Mass., by virtue of the head-to-head tie-breaker in the round-robin format.

In the 70 AA Division the Akron 70’s beat in-state rival Central Ohio 70’s of Columbus 20-15 in the title game.

The rain also played havoc with the 65+ division forcing the final standings to be determined strictly on the basis of pool play. The 65’s AAA winner was the Brantford Nissan 65 Seniors of Ontario, Canada. In 65 AA play Raymond James of Greenwood, Ind., took first place.

The Rochester Classics, N.Y., beat Mike Pruitt Auto, Kent, OH, to win the 60 AAA title while ECSM Property Boys of Akron edged the Silver Stars of Kent for the 60 AA title.

60 AAA

1. Rochester Classics (NY)

2. Mike Pruitt Auto (OH)

60 AA

1. ECSM Property Boys (OH)

2. Silver Stars (OH)

65 AAA

1. Brantford Nissan 65 Seniors (CN)

2. COSSA 65’s (OH)

3. Akron Silver Masters (OH)

65 AA

1. Raymond James (IN)

2. Olde D’s (MI)

3. Dayton Legends (OH)

70 AAA

1. Kaiser Permanente / North Coast (OH)

2. Back Office Associates (MA)

3. Peach Tree Restaurant (PA)

3. Dorchester Canadians (CN)

70 AA

1. Akron 70’s (OH)

2. Central Ohio 70’s (OH)

3. Ontario Elder Dogs (CN)