HEAVY RAIN FORCES ALTERNATE FORMAT IN LOUDON COUNTY

Sept. 1, 2012 – Ross McCulligan

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA, _ A heavy rainstorm threw tournament directors a nasty curve, but they were able to hit it out of the park while saving the Atlantic Coast Championships in fine style.

The rain forced tournament director Tim McElroy to scrap play on the first day of seeding/bracket play and change the tournament to a two-day true round-robin format with the team with the best record in each division being declared the champion.

“Teams in session one were pleased with the revision because they got the five games that they were guaranteed, and also played against five different opponents,” McElroy said.

While the weather was less than perfect, the fields were in major league condition. The tournament utilized two facilities offered by Loudon County Parks Recreation and Community Services: the Potomac Lakes Sportsplex and the new Phillip A. Bolen Memorial Park.

The professional staff at both complexes maintained perfectly manicured infields and outfields throughout the tournament.

Sixty-six teams from 11 states battled each other here as the tournament continues to grow each year. That’s up from 56 teams last year.

The first session’s round-robin format proved fiercely competitive as the top three teams in the 65 and 70 divisions all finished with 4 – 2 records therefore having to rely on tiebreakers to determine tournament placings.

In the 65 division, Syracuse Cyclones 65 took the championship while Bostonian Shoes and Spicer Properties 65 finished second and third respectively.

The Men’s 70 Division took up where the 65’s left off with a high level of competitive softball. In the end, Hamel Cavaliers, hailing locally from Virginia, took home the championship while Hannington’s of Massachusetts claimed the runner-up spot, leaving Back Office Associates to place third.

In the Women’s 40 Masters AAA Division, Team Works showed resilience by knocking Chosen Few out of the winners bracket and forcing an “IF” game. Team Works needed all 16 runs to defeat Chosen Few, 16-15, for the championship.

Men’s divisions were littered with tight games and “IF” championships.

The 50 Major Division saw Mid-Atlantic knock ENR from the winners bracket by the slightest of margins, 22-21, then go on to take the championship with a 25-14 victory in the “IF” game.

In the 10-team 50 AAA Division, Phoenix Tube, out of New Jersey, defeated the Maryland Cougars 27-26 in a thrilling “IF” game. Third seeded Stahl Post would prove too much by running its way through the 60 AAA Division winner’s bracket to claim the title over Athletic Outlet, 30-27.

Despite the weather, the Atlantic Coast Championships was a huge success and is quickly growing in popularity. Excellent playing facilities, centrally located hotels and restaurants, and most importantly competitive softball all combine for a wonderful Atlantic Coast Championships.

For complete results please visit our website at SeniorSoftball.com

2012 ATLANTIC COAST ALL TOURNEY PLAYERS

Men’s 50Major+-Rochester 50/Gennessee- John Fitzgerald,Bill Morgan,Mike Balta.

Men’s 50Major-ESB Renovation- Darryl Shamble,Mike White.

Men’s 50AAA-Phoenix Tube 50’s-Al Faleski, Al Bucchino,Dennis Lake,Dave O’Connor,Steve Belford.Pill and Pill- Steve Barrett,Buddy Fauber.

Men’s 55Major-Omega/QSE Construction- Tony Marlow, Hosea Harris, Charles Clarke,Jerry Liscomb,Milton Harrison.

Men’s 55AAA- Fat Nancy’s/Gubiotti- Randy Shaffer,Rob Ripka, Mike Garvey, Curt Kirchmaier, Dave Cavalieri.NY Motion- Richie Brancaccio, Larry Toglia,Ron DeFrancis

Men’s 60Platinum-Pace 60-Gary Richter,Khalid Abdus-Salaam.

Men’s 60AAA-Stahl Post#30-Don Natale,Alvie Rinehimer, Jim Anderson,Ken Hayden,Poke Rodriguez.AO/Travato Ins.- Ken Snyder,David Hanna,Mike Flynn.

Men’s 65+- Syracuse Cyclones 65-Dan Glum, Joe Scaturro,Ritchy Faia,Chuck Andrews, Bert Keating.Bostonian Shoes- Dave Clark, Bob Clifford, Ted Wess, Art Robichaud.

Men’s 70Gold-Hamel Cavaliers- Bill Thompson,Bud Allen,TC Carey, Bruce Remick,Paul Math.Hannington’s of MA-Bud Dodge, Joe DeFelice,Justin McGrath,Rene Vigneault,Don Murphy.Back Office Associates-Mike Sullivan,Paul Gigley,Hank Baldassarri.

Men’s 75AAA-Syracuse Cyclones- Herb Pfuhl,Doug Hammond,Joe Hill,Ted Sniffen,Mike Fitzgerald.Delaware Diamonds- Charles Johannes,Clyde Dossett,William Deputy.Barracuda.Barracudas- Lee Estelle,Larry Deschaine.

Men’s 70AA-Baracuda’s- Lee Southworh, Dick Ochampaugh,George Shimono,Rich Poliquin,Robert Wordel.