BATS ON FIRE IN HOT WEATHER

Sept. 1, 2012

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. _ The 2012 Salt City Classic SSUSA tourney was played here at the Hopkins Road complex in mid-July under cloudless skies and warm weather, perfect conditions for softball.

The 65 and 70 age brackets kicked things off in fine fashion. After the round robin in the 65 division, the Syracuse Cyclones (NY) were 3-0 and the top seed. In bracket play, they defeated Barracuda’s (NY) 22-13 and the Jersey Masters 26-22 to reach the winner’s final. Jersey Masters defeated Rochester Classics 18-4 to reach the finals for a rematch with the Cyclones. They ended up defeating the Cyclones 25-23 and 15-14 to capture the title.

In the 70 division, Brookhouse Rest (NY) went 2-0 in the round robin. In the double-elimination bracket, Syracuse Cyclones 70AAA defeated Syracuse Cyclones 75AAA 18-12 to then face Brookhouse Rest. The Cyclones defeated Brookhouse 20-12 and then Syracuse Cyclones 75’s 24-9 to win the division.

The seven-team 60 division began their round robin with the Syracuse Cyclones 60AA going 3-0 in the round robin defeating Brooklin 60’s (Canada) 27-25, Central PA Millertime AAA 22-18, and Davy Byrnes AA (Mass) 23-10 to secure the No. 1 seed.

The Cyclones lost to Central Pa Millertime 21-19 who advanced to face Davy Byrnes who had beaten Athletic Outfit/Trovato Ins (NY) AAA 23-22. Davy Byrnes then beat Central Pa 24-23 to reach the winner’s bracket final. The Brooklin 60’s team, who won last year’s Salt City Classic, lost 23-22 to Central Pa then won 20-10 versus Athletic Outfit, 25-23 against Syracuse Cyclones, and 19-15 over Central Pa to reach the finals. Davy Byrnes scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to capture the 60 division championship by beating Brooklin 60’s 24-23.

In the 60 Major Division, the Syracuse Merchants faced Pace 60’s (NY) and Pace erupted in the first game to defeat the Merchants 33-22. The Merchants came back in the second game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 13-12. Syracuse Merchants then won the championship game 15-10 over Pace in an exciting finish.

After the round robin in the 50’s division, there were two championship brackets (50AAA and 50Major). In their first tourney, Custom Logo (NY) 50AAA team defeated The Rustbelters (NY) 20-15 and 25-10 to win the 50 AAA championship.

In the 50 Major Division, defending champion Combat Bandits (Canada) lost the first game 18-15 to Sportscenter (RI). Then the Bandits won 16-9 and 26-18 to repeat as the 50 Major Salt City Classic Champions.

The evenly matched 55 Division saw three teams have to go to a third tie breaker to determine the No. 1 seed for the double elimination bracket. All three teams went 1-1 in the round robin and also had allowed 37 runs scored against them. DNM Rampower (Canada) was awarded the top seed by having the best run differential. They lost to Fat Nancy’s/Gubiotti Ins AAA (NY) 20-7 after Fat Nancy’s had beaten Stefco Silverstix AA (Canada) 21-10. Rampower then beat Stefco 24-20 to reach the finals versus Fat Nancy’s. Rampower took Fat Nancy’s to the “If” game by defeating them 23-18 but then lost in the championship game 19-7 to have Fat Nancy’s/Gubiotti Ins capture the championship.