MINNESOTA QUALIFIER GETS PLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY DESPITE WET CONDITIONS ALL WEEKEND LONG

June 1, 2010 – Steve Simmons New England & North Regional Director, Clubs & Leagues

ROCHESTER, MN – The sun never revealed itself over the entire June 12-13 weekend of the 10,000 Lakes Classic, the MN SSWC Qualifier, played here. The games were played in conditions marked by intermittent showers, a persistent drizzle and just a downright drippy atmosphere.

Despite all the moisture the spirits of the teams involved were not dampened. The teams had a great time and put on quite a show. Half of the teams were of Major or Major Plus status. This is quite unique for a mere 23 team field of teams. Most tournaments this size struggle to find ways to provide games for their one or two Major or Major Plus entrants.

The 50 Platinum division consisted of five Major and Major Plus teams, representing the elite senior teams in the Midwest. Minnesota had three representatives (Kevitt X, Long Haul Trucking / Ancell and the MN Grayhounds 50’s), Wisconsin had one (Milwaukee Merchants) as did Illinois (Can-Do-Metals). Long Haul rolled through the championship round robin portion of the tournament undefeated by topping Kevitt X 25-21, Can-Do-Metals 21-19, Milwaukee Merchants 27-22 and the MN Grayhounds 50’s 20-15. Milwaukee was the second place finisher in this group.

There were three teams in the 55 Platinum division and they were Roberts Construction / Pope Transportation (WI), the MN Masters 55’s (MN) and the WI Masters (WI). These three teams played a series of preliminary games against the 50 Platinum teams on Saturday and then engaged in a round robin championship bracket on Sunday. Roberts captured the title by squeaking by the MN Masters 55’s 20-19, with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, and then dismissing the WI Masters 17-12. The MN Masters were the 55 Platinum division runner-up.

Four more Major / Major Plus teams comprised the 60 Platinum division bringing the total of top skill level teams in this tournament to 12. This group consisted of a team from Kansas, the KC Kids, and three from the host state of Minnesota, Rickers, the MN Masters 60’s – White and the MN Prize 60’s. The MN Prize 60’s went undefeated in the double-elimination portion of the tournament. They first beat the KC Kids 19-14 and then double dipped the MN Masters 60’s – White 31-20 and 27-14 to claim the 60 Platinum championship while the MN Masters took second place.

The largest division in the tournament was the 55/60 Silver division. There were six teams in this group which combined 55+ and 60+ AA and AAA teams. This was a classic border state battle with three of the teams hailing from Wisconsin (Oshkosh Ambassadors 60’s, Oshkosh Ambassasors 55’s and Badger Classics) and three of the teams based in Minnesota (MN Lumberjacks 60’s, MN Prize 55’s and MN Masters 60’s – Red).

Befitting an evenly balanced mix of teams the championship round robin competition in the 55/60 Silver division ended in a three way tie. Both the Oshkosh teams and the Lumberjacks were all 4 & 1. The scores of the games involving the three tied teams were Oshkosh Ambassadors 60’s 16 vs MN Lumberjacks 60’s 10, MN Lumberjacks 60’s 31 vs Oshkosh Ambassadors 55’s 22, and Oshkosh Ambassadors 55’s 21 vs Oshkosh Ambassadors 60’s 20. The tie breaker used was the fewest runs allowed in games between the tied teams so, on this basis, the Oshkosh Ambassadors 60’s were declared the champions.

The 65 Silver division consisted of five teams. Those 65+ squads were the Quad City Old Stars (IA), the Oshkosh Ambassadors 65’s (WI), the MN Masters 65’s (MN), the MN Prize 65’s (MN) and the MN Lumberjacks / Bobby & Steve’s 65’s (MN). These teams played a round robin seeding round followed by a single elimination championship round. The Quad City Old Stars blew through the championship round as they first hammered the MN Prize 65’s 31-16 and then smoked the MN Masters 65’s 23-9 to win the title.



Following are the top three finishers in each division:

50 PLATINUM

1. Long Haul Trucking / Ancell, MN

2. Milwaukee Merchants, WI

3. Can-Do-Metals, IL

55 PLATINUM

1. Roberts Construction / Pope Transportation, WI

2. MN Masters 55’s, MN

3. WI Masters, WI

60 PLATINUM

1. MN Prize 60’s, MN

2. MN Masters 60’s, MN

3. KC Kids, KS

55/60 SILVER

1. Oshkosh Ambassadors 60’s, WI

2. MN Lumberjacks 60’s, MN

3. Oshkosh Ambassadors 55’s, WI

65 SILVER

1. Quad City Old Stars, IA

2. MN Masters 65’s, MN

3. (TIE) MN Prize 65’s, MN & Oshkosh Ambassadors 65’s, WI