SPA News

MONTGOMERY, ALA - MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA entertained 27 teams for the SPA MENS SOUTHERN SPRING NIT MARCH 14-17.

Champs were crowned in NINE DIVISIONS with the 40/50 group having the most teams with nine.

SIX ONE FIVE bested SOUTHEAST WATER SWARM 36-35 in the title game after losing to SOUTHEAST 32-36 earlier to force the "IF"  championship showdown.

While SIX ONE FIVE had an easier road to the finals with wins over WALKER BROTHERS 27-19, ATLANTA MONARCHS 35-34 and SHIELD CONSULTING COLOR BY DESIGN 44-42 it was not the case for SOUTHEAST.

The SWARM beat DOCS SOFTBALL 31-19 but lost its next game 31-32 to WALKER BROTHERS to fall into the loser's bracket,

SOUTHEAST faced a marathon trip to the title game beating LIGHTHOUSE 31-20, TEAM ARKANSAS 36-21, WALKER BROTHERS 24-18 and SIX ONE FIVE 36-32 to make it to the finale.

Teams in the nine-team bracket were SHIELD CONSULTING COLOR BY DESIGN, SOUTHEAST WATER SWARM, TEAM ARKANSAS, LIGHTHOUSE LOOKOUTS, RIVER ROCK CONSTRUCTION, DOC'S SOFTBALL, ATLANTA MONARCHS, SIX ONE FIVE SENIOR SOFTBALL and WALKER BROTHERS.

T-REX SOFTBALL won the 60 MAJOR CROWN with SEASONED VETS the 60 AAA CHAMPS. Others in the field were BAND OF BROTHERS and GAS.

TRAVELERS 70 were the 70 MAJOR winner with THE TITUS COMPANY 65 AAA champion and COLUMBUS LXV taking the 65 MAJOR TITLE. DEEP SOUTH SOFTBALL was the fourth team in the bracket.

KPI SOFTBALL bested MONSTER SOFTBALL in a 2-out-of-3 match-up winning 21-18 and 37-22 and losing 31-30.

Four teams battled it out for the 55 AAA crown with MONTGOMERY SWARM after losing its opening bracket game 17-19 to PANHANDLE won four in a row including the championship game.

The CHAMPS beat DARELL HARRIS 22-6, PANHANDLE 16-13 and TENNESSEE CONSTRUCTION 26-14 and 25-14.

TENNESSEE had beaten PANHANDLE 20-18 and DARELL HARRIS 28-26 to reach the finals.

KENTS PLAYERSbeat BRICKYARD SOFTBALL 43- 36 and GEORGIA RENEGADES 27-26, 33-18 to go undefeated in bracket play and claim the 50 AAA crown. ACTION SOFTBALL was the fourth team in the bracket.

"It was a good way to start the 2019 year," RIDGE HOOKS SOFTBALL PLAYERS PRESIDENT said. "There were great games in all the brackets, I expect next year to see a huge increase in the tournament."

COLLEGE STATION,TX -The SPA 2019 SALUTE TO VETERANS COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS TOURNAMENT  made up for last year's weather problems with near perfect skies and temperatures. This year's event drew 28 teams to the MARCH 21-24 event.

Eight teams went home with first place awards in the event.

GONZALES INSULATION won the five-team 65AAA- Major "MAJOR" title beating HOOKS 28-14 and TEXAS THUNDER 22-21 for the crown.

TEXAS THUNDER won the 65 AAA crown downing DALLAS SPURS 19-10 and 28-27.

Others in the five-team bracket were HOOKS, ROBSON RANCH and DALLAS SPURS.

The EIGHT TEAM 70'S BRACKET saw LA LEGENDS go undefeated (4-0) in bracket play in winning the championship. The LEGENDS bear OK-ARK 20-2, 11-4, SAN ANTONIO LEGENDS 20-19 and STILL 22-12.

OK-ARK fought its way to the title beating the OAKIES 11-10 and GRAY SOX 16-5 before falling into the losers bracket with a 4-11 loss to LA LEGENDS. OK-ARK bounced back bating SAN ANTONIO LEGENDS 13-10 before losing the title game to LA>

Others in the eight team bracket were: OK-ARK, SAN ANTONIO LEGENDS, STILL, TX RAIDERS, GRAY SOX and TEXAS CLASSICS.

Three teams went at it for the 75 AAA title with HILL CONTRACTING beating the SA DESPERADO'S 16-1 AND 16-6 to claim the crown.

TEXAS CRUSH was the 60 MAJOR PLUS champ. TEXAS THUNDER took the 60 MAJOR title and the TEXAS LEGENDS took home the 60 AA crown.

SAN ANTONIO SOFTBALL 55's was the 55 MAJOR PLUS champ and VIVID EASTON THE 50 MAJOR TITLE WINNER.

SA SOFTBALL beat ESCOBAR 27-14 TEAM ARK 39-23 TO EARN THE TOP SPOT.

VIVID EASTON disposed of MIXED BREED 19-18, TEAM ARK 24-9 and ESCBAR 27-24 on its march to the title.

MANCAVE was the sixth team in the field.

TEXAS ACES beat ETX 50 19-17 and UNDERDOGS 44-20 for the 50/55 title.

ETX downed UNDERDOGS 23-8 to reach the finals.

"It was a great tournament," SOFTBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT and CEO RIDGE HOOKS said." The weather cooperated and the teams all seemed to enjoy themselves. The winners also earned a spot in the SPA TRIPLE CROWN at DALTON."

COLUMBUS LXV went into the 2018 SPA 65 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP at DALTON, GEORGIA Sept 6-9 with one thing in mind...win it for HENRY!!

HENRY SOLIC had been the manager and third basemen for COLUMBUS LXV and unfortunately passed away earlier this year.

“HENRY meant a lot to our team and we all miss him greatly,” COLUMBUS LXV Manager-of-The-Year PHIL DUNLAP said. “We remember HENRY before every tournament game and spread his ashes at third base after the tournament.”

“I know he was watching and rooting for us at DALTON,” DUNLAP said. “I know he is just as excited at winning the WORLD TITLE as we are.”

If SOLIC was watching from above, he had some anxious moments as his teammates won nine games in the tournament but five were by one run in the bottom of the seventh.

“We were lucky and won the toss in all five games, so I took last bats,” DUNLAP said.

They also had to come out of the loser’s bracket to win it.

In the only breather in the tournament COLUMBUS won the first bracket game 17-2 over THE FIRM. That was followed by a 25-24 win over SIDELINE BULL MOOSE before losing 14-17 to the DAYTON LEGENDS.

The CHAMPS started their journey out of the loser’s bracket with an 18-17 over RPR and forced the “IF” game beating DAYTON 15-14. The finale was more of the same with COLUMBUS rallying in the bottom of the seventh for the 18-17 tournament title.

“We were kind of lucky winning both the coin flip and then the game,” DUNLAP said.” We just played really, really well. We are not a soon-to-be MAJOR team, we didn’t win a lot of games this year. We just got really lucky in this one.”

COLUMBUS’S pool wins were over INDY FOG (20-14) and SIDELINE BULL MOOSE (10-8), They lost to SCRAP IRON MILE HIGH (10-11). Counting pool games DAYTON LEGENDS had won five in a row before losing the final two to COLUMBUS.

Teams in the nine-team bracket were: 1, COLUMBUS LXV, 2. DAYTON LEGENDS, 3. RPR, 4. BOYD METALS, 5. SIDELINE BULL MOOSE, 5. THE FIRM, 7. MIDSTATE STARS, 7. SCRAP IRON MILE HIGH and 9. HOOKS.

Members of the 65 AAA WORLD CHAMPION COLUMBUS LXV; NATE DOWDELL, DODGER FOWLER, ANDY HARBIN JR, RON INGRAM, ELMO MOSER, RONNIE SPANN, DINO SULLINS, DANNY WILSON, DOC YATES, RANDY LUNSFORD, DOUG DODSON, DANNY BAKER, VAL VALENTINI, PHIL DUNLAP JR, WALTER BROOKS, RODGER ALLEN, JIM THOMPSON, NICO NICOMETO, JEFF GOLLOTTE and LARRY MAFFIT.

JACK isn’t the only GIANT SLAYER, you can add CAROLINA FIVE-O to the list. CAROLINA earned the recognition by not only winning the 2018 SPA 50 WORLDS at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK but knocking off the TENNESSEE COMETS to do it.

The COMETS came into the tournament already having won SPA TOURNAMENTS at PLAYERS/AWARDS EXPRESS; PEACH STATE, SOUTHERN SPRING NATIONALS and the MID SOUTH NIT and won their first two pool games and three bracket games at DALTON.

CAROLINA FIVE O slowed down the COMETS with a 19-10 victory in the tournament’s winner’s bracket finals. CAROLINA reached the finals with wins over BLACKBURN TRUCKING (23-7), WDMS (22-21) and BRICKYARD SOFTBALL (20-17).

TENNESSEE fell into the loser’s bracket and promptly downed CANADA’S LAKESHORE CONTRACTING 21-15 to earn another shot at CAROLINA.

This time the COMETS came out on top 12-11 to set up the “IF” game. CAROLINA FIVE-O came out charging winning 20-15 for the 2018 SPA 50 AAA WORLD TITLE.

CAROLINA finished 7-1 having won two games ( DIVERSIFIED MACHINE 17-11 and MAJOR LEAGUE SRS 19-14) in pool play.

Teams in the 16-team 50 AAA bracket were: 1. CAROLINA FIVE-O, 2. TENNESSEE COMETS, 3. LAKESHORE CONTRACTING, 4 TEXAS BULLETTS,5. BRICKYARD SOFTBALL, GEORGIA RENEGADES, 7. DAYTON LEGENDS, 7. BOMANI/OHIO REAL ESTATE, 9. MAJOR LEAGUE SENIORS 9. WDMS, 13. CINCY 50’S QUALITY SOFTBALL, 13. BLACKBURN TRUCKING, MJ LOWE PLUS, 13 and ETX 50’S.

Team members of the champion CAROLINA FIVE-O team: JIM PEARSON, ANTHONY HOLMES, RICHARD KIRK, SCOTT CARTER, MIKE RIPBERGER, JEFF LESTER, GREG WATKIN, DAVE POOLE, EVERETT GRAHAM, HOWARD BOYD, JAY SHOTWELL, CLEO SUMMERS, GLEN ROSS, GREG BONNER, TROY BOWLING and JAMIE SANDERS..

ELITE SOFTBALL roared through the 2018 SPA 60 AAA WORLDS Sept 13-16 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK COMPLEX going 6-0 in combined pool and bracket play..

The champs were at the top of their game averaging 17.5 runs per game while holding their opponents average to single digits (8.6) in their six tournament games.

ELITE was 3-0 in bracket play beating CARRIAGE HOMES (18-3), SEASONED VETS (14-6) and KC THUNDER 23-18 in the title game.

In pool play they disposed of KC THUNDER 12-8, CHATTANOOGA RAZORS 21-9 and CARRIAGE HOMES 17-8.

Runner-up KC THUNDER had a rough start losing all three pool games and their bracket opener to CARRIAGE HOMES 6-7 which put them into loser’s bracket after only one game..

They responded by beating CINCINNATI 60’s 24-23, CARRIAGE HOMES 21-13 and SEASONED VETS 13-12 before losing to ELITE SOFTBALL in the title game of the six-team division.

For ELITE SOFTBALL it was their first 2018 SPA tournament title after finishing second at the PENSACOLA SOUTHERN NIT and the MID-SOUTH TOURNAMENTS.

Members of the SPA 60 AAA WORLDS champs are: STEVE SOUTHERN, DAVID TAYLOR, DAVID MASHBURN, JIMMIE YOUNG, ALLEN MICKLER, JACK MELSON, ED BLACKMAN, JOHN SMILEY, RON BRUMMETT, RICHARD BRUMMETT and MARK HUGHES.

No other tournament bracket at the 2018 SPA WORLDS in DALTON, GA was as loaded with as many  2018 Regional tournament champs and runner-ups then the 70 AAA WORLDS group.

SPA 2018 70 AAA champs and runner-ups  participating were TRAVELERS (TOM WILLIAMS, MIDSOUTH, RUNNER-UP PEACH STATE), TIME BANDITS (PEACH STATE,RUNNER-UP MIDSOUTH), DAYTON LEGENDS (HEART OF OHIO, FIRST FLIGHT), LOUISIANA LEGENDS (LAYLA BRYAN, LONE STAR, RUNNER-UP SOUTHERN NIT), US PALLET (MID-AMERICA), LIFEGUARD FINANCIAL (RUNNER-UP THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC) and CHICAGO STRIKERS (RUNNER-UP MOSQUITO LAND, RUNNER-UP HOOSIER CLASSIC).

But when the dust cleared there was only one 2018 SPA 70 WORLD CHAMP among the 13 teams entered… the TRAVELERS from GEORGIA.

The TRAVELERS moved through the 70 AAA field going undefeated in both pool (3-0) and bracket (4-0).

In Pool play the TRAVELERS beat the TEXAS GREYHOUNDS 20-4, CHICAGO GREY SOX 11-1 and LIFEGUARD FINANCIAL 9-8.

First to fall in bracket play was CHICAGO STRIKERS 16-6 followed by TIME BANDITS 19-12,, DAYTON LEGENDS 15-14 and in the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME US PALLET fell 24-9.

US PALLET came out of the loser’s bracket winning three-in-a-row including a 15-12 win over DAYTON LEGENDS to put them in the finals.

Teams in the 70 AAA bracket were TRAVELERS, US PALLET, DAYTON LEGENDS, TIME BANDITS, CHICAGO STRIKERS, LOUISIANA LEGENDS, LIFEGUARD FINANCIAL, AVENGER, FOR FREEDOM, OKIES, NORTHERN VIRGINIA FORCE and DOWN SOUTH.

Team members of the champion TRAVELERS: HARLON BAKER, THOMAS BALLARD, RAY BRYANT, JOHN DAVIS, JERRY DUPREE, LLOYD FERGUSON, HARRY MANSELL, MICHAEL MCFARLAND, RICH MEST, JIM MYERS, RON PETRE, KEN SPANN, JOHNNY STANFORD, LOREN VEACH, DONALD WILLOUGHBY, KEN REESE and KEN SMITH.

ONE UNDER CRAFT BEERS AND EATS ran the table Sept 7-9 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK to win the 2018 SPA 55 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

The CHAMPS went 2-0 in pool and 3-0 in bracket for a perfect 5-0 record.

It wasn’t a total cake walk because ONE UNDER had to edge CPOA 27-26 in the finals to wrap up the crown. They started bracket play beating CPOA 20 -12 and MARYLAND COUGARS 21-10 to set up the title game with CPOA.

In pool play they beat DARRELL HARRIS & ASSOCIATES (30-17) and JAMES R.SMITH (14-12).

CPOA gave it a good try opening with a 20-14 over DARRELL HARRIS but lost to ONE UNDER 12-20 in their

next game. They earned their way to the title game with loser bracket wins over DARRELL HARRIS 20-14 and 21-16 over MARYLAND COUGARS.

The sixth team in the bracket was TENNESSEE CONNECTION.

Members of the ONE UNDER CRAFT BEERS AND EATS champs are MANAGER JEFF SHEEHAN, RUPERT ZUBKOFF, BRUCE ANTIOCH, DAVE W. JASKA, MIKE MCLELLAN, BRUCE WOOD, JEFF MILBRATH, PAUL LABARA, ROGER BREEDING, ROBERT MILLER, LARRY MERCER, FRANK NICKOWSKI, GREG KANCLEIZ, JIM CATES, FRANK DELUCA, RICHARD WAYNE, BILL REARDON and MICHAEL FORDE.

The Alphabet team, LOTA SOFTBALL easily won the four-team 80 SPA inaugural WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP at DALTON, GEORGIA’S heritage park SEPT 9-11.

LOTA which stands for LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, ARKANSAS was perfect (3-0) in bracket play and 2-1 in pool.

The champs only loss came in their first pool game 28-20 to the CHICAGO GEEZERS. After that defeat they finished pool play with wins over PRO HEALTH CARE 80’s (20-16) and EAST COAST LEFTOVERS (20-10).

In bracket they got revenge against the GEEZERS beating them 18-9 in the opening round. The EAST COAST LEFTOVERS fell 15-2 and LOTA SOFTBALL finished the tournament with an 18-8 win over PRO HEALTH in the title game.

LOTA SOFTBALL also won the SPA 2018 JIM WELCH CLASSIC in TROY beating the CHICAGO GEEZERS and KC ANTIQUES. They did not fare as well at THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC in BARBERTON going 1 -5.

Members of the championship LOTA SOFTBALL team are: DAVID BOONE, ELDON BRAST, RICHARD BULLOCK, ARNO CHASTEEN, EDDIE GLOVER, ED HARDY, ARTHUR HARRIS, EDDIE HOGAN, JOE HOUSLY,HARLAN JENSEN, RON PERDUE, FERRELL ROTON, MARLYN SCHROEPFER, JESSE SMITH, DON SWIFT and F.JAMES TIBELLI

DON HARRIS is the manager.

The trip from MINNESOTA to OHIO took a whole day for the LEGENDS OF MINNESOTA to finally wake up and compete in the SPA 80 SILVER DIVISION WORLDS August 6-9 at COLUMBUS, OHIO’s BERLINER PARK.

After losing their opening games in pool play (4-19 HAMELS, 6-9 NY STATESMEN6-12 CHICAGO GEEZERS) they put it all together in bracket play.

The LEGENDS started out with wins over ANTIQUES OF KC (16-6) and CHICAGO GEEZERS (10-8) before stumbling against 85 WORLD CHAMPS CENTER FOR SIGHT (7-10).

They rebounded in style downing the ANTIQUES 22-10 and beating CENTER FOR SIGHT 20-12 in the championship game.

Teams in the SILVER DIVISION were: LEGENDS OF MINNESOTA, CENTER FOR SIGHT. ANTIQUES OF KC, CHICAGO GEEZERS, SAN ANTONIO 8-0’S and PRO HEALTH CARE 80’S.

Taking home individual awards for the champs were: 80 SILVER MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR DICK ANDERSON and tournament MVP BOB DAMADIO.

Selected to the ALL-AMERICAN team were: STEVE AGARD, NORRIS KRUSE, DON EICHTEN, TOM DANIEL and DICK GOSSE.

Members of the Champion LEGENDS team are: DAMADIO, KRUSE, GOSSE, DANIEL, EICHTEN, AGARD, D.ANDERSON, EARLE ANDERSON, DAVID BELBIN, KNNETH BENTFIELD, DAVID BRAY, WAYNE CAMPBELL, RICHARD FULDY, ROBERT LENZNEIER, MICHALE SMEIJA, FRED SWENSON, LOWELL THOMPSON.

What had been a dismal senior softball season for the HAMELS 80’s team turned to GOLD August 6-9 at the BERLINER SOFTBALL COMPLEX in COLUMBUS, Ohio.

The MARYLAND team was a perfect 6-0 (3-0 pool.3-0 bracket) in winning the 2018 SPA 80’s GOLD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

HAMELS beat LEGENDS OF MINNESOTA 19-4, CHICAGO GEEZERS 20-8 ANTIQUES OF KC 17-8 in pool play. The competition was a little stronger but the results the same in bracket play. The SILVER STARS fell 10-17 and PFEIFFER GREY SOX went down twice (9-10.7-15) as HAMELS took the five-team 80 Division GOLD title.

Individual awards went to 2018 SPA 80 GOLD MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR AL HUNTER. DONALD MORTON was the tournament MVP.

HAMELS ALL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS were DICK HILL, FRANK DERAMO, CLARENCE LEWIS, WILLIAM BAHNMAIER and HUNTER.

Members of the WORLD CHAMPS are: JAMES MARTIN, JAMES BUTLER, FRBK CARLMAN, VINCENT DELVECHIO, ROBERT ETCHBERGER, LARRY GAERATNER, JR, DON GALVIN, THOMAS GEARHART, EDWARD MORRISON, FRANCIS PILARSKI, ART POFFENBERGER, CHARLES WARNICK, MAYNARD WELLS, BOBBY ELLIS, HILL, MORTON, HUNTER, DERAMO, LEWIS and BAHNMAIER