SPA News

The COSSA (COLUMBUS,OHIO) 75’s wrapped up a championship year by adding the SPA 75 SILVER DIVISION WORLDS to their trophy case.

COSSA earned the WORLD TITLE August 6-9 at the BERLINER SOFTBALL COMPLEX in COLUMBUS, Ohio.

It was the team’s FOURTH 75’s SENIOR TITLE in FIVE tries this year. COSSA won the COLUMBUS HEART OF OHIO May tournament, DAYTON FIRST FLIGHT in July and SHELBYVILLE HOOSIER CLASSIC in JULY, They also took runner-up honors at BARBERTON’S June BUCKEYE CLASSIC,

At the SPA WORLDS COSSA lost their first two pool games (8-13) CANTERBURY CLASSIC (MAJ) and GOLD BAILEY TALENT CAVALIERS (9-12).

They beat MINNESOTA MASTERS 15-10 in the final pool game.

COSSA took the three-team bracket title beating MINNESOTA MASTERS 15-11 and 18-12. The MASTERS reached the finals with a 12-11 edging of MIDWEST DRIVING SCHOOL.

Individual awards went to FRANK CLEMENTS MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR 75 SILVER DIVISION TOURNAMENT MVP DON PENROD.

COSSA players selected to the 75 SILVER ALL-AMERICAN team were TOM ROLLINS, JOHN FLOR, JOHN SKAGGS, DICK REIDENBACH and DICK GOLDSMITH.

Members of the SPA 1980 75 SILVER WORLD CHAMPS are: CLEMENTS, FLOHR, MO FOWLER, GOLDSMITH, JOHN HARWELL, TIM KLODNICK, BUCKY LOUDERMILK, DICK MARTIN, AL MUELLER, PENROD, REIDENBACH, ROLLINS, SKAGGS and ERNIE WICKER.

When you are the only 85 team in the tournament, yo are automatically the SPA 85 WORLD CHAMPS and such was the case with CENTER FOR SIGHT at COLUMBUS, OHIO’S BERLINER FIELDS August 6-9..

But the CENTER FOR SIGHT gang almost went one better by almost winning the SPA 80 SILVER DIVISION.

They won three in a row in bracket play before losing to the 80 SILVER CHAMP LEGENDS OF MINNESOTA 20-12 in the finals.

Prior to that they had beaten PROHEALTH CARE 16-13, SAN ANTONIO SPURS 18-2 and LEGENDS OF MINNESOTA 10-7.

Coming in second to 80’s teams in a tournament is nothing new to CENTER FOR SIGHT. They also came in second at THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC against five 80’s teams.

“W also play 75’s teams, “manager HUGH BROTHERTON said. “Not to many 85’s playing so we have to play most of our games against the kids (75/80). It doesn’t bother us though, heck at 85+ we are just happy to still be playing.”

Individual Award winners were HUGH BROTHERTO, MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR, ROGER THRESHER, TOURNAMENT MVP and ALL-AMERICANS ALAN DEWERTH, FERRELL SPARKS, JOE SYKES, TOM INGHAM and TOMMY HICKS.

Members of the 2018 champs are: BROTHERTON, THRESHER, DEWORTH, SPARKS, SYKES, INGHAM, HIKS, DAVID BUSH, BOB DARNELL, DAVID GOLDBERG, DONAL GSELL, JERRY JONES, DWIGHT MCIVER, AL MURRAY, HOWARD SCHOEN, EDWARD SCHULTZ and JAMES THOMAS.

Some times it takes a village but in softball it takes a team and as a result PROHEALTH is the 2018 SPA 75 GOLD WORLD CHAMPS.

The WISCONSIN team did it the hard way. After losing their opening bracket game to the INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS (4-16) they came out of the losers’ bracket beating PITTSBURGH GOLD (22-2), CANTERBURY CRUISERS. INDIANAPOLIS CRUISER 20-5 to force an “IF” game and beat the CLASSICS 8-5 in the title game.

PROHEALTH manager MIKE HANEY felt so strongly that it was teamwork which won his team the title, he refused to accept ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS for his players

“We played as a team and I don’t feel picking out five players out of fourteen is the right thing to do,” HANEY said. “We feel our entire team should be ALL-AMERICANS”

Although not accepting ALL-AMERICAN awards, PROHEALTH did not go home empty handed in individual awards.

JERRY STREMIKIS revived the TOURNAMENT MVP AWARD and HANEY accepted the MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR- AWARD.

The INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS took runner-up honors. The CLASSICS started out the bracket play well beating BAILEY TALENT CAVALIERS 22-22, PRO HEALTH 16-4 and CANTERBURY CRUISERS 15-13 before losing the final two games to PROHEALTH.

PROHEALTH CARE 2018 ROSTER: HANEY, STREMIKIS, DICK BARTELL, FRANK BATI, GARY BENDER, GARY BLASCHKE, JAMES DUCHARME, THOMAS KRESS, DARRELL LESCHEN, HARRY NELEZEN, BILL RUTZINSKI, JOHN SIMONS, BERNARD SLOWEY, LAWRENCE VANNUEDEN, ROD WILTERDINK, JIM HANDLEY, EDWARD HURLEY and WAYNE STAPLETON.

Teams in the 75 GOLD BRACKET were PROHEALTHE CARE, INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS, CANTERBURY CRUISER, PITTSBURGH GOLD and BAILEY TALENT CAVALIERS.

The SPA HOOSIER CLASSIC in SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA JUNE 11-12 due to weather problems was forced to shorten the entries from 40-to 27 but still had a great outing.

“SHELBYVILLE always has a great tournament ever since DUANE LAIRD started it 26 years ago,” SPA PRESIDENT RIDGE HOOKS said.. “It was a shame they had to cancel the 50/55 groups but the 60-and-up had a great tournament”

SHELBYVILLE had one of the year’s highest turnout for the 75’s with seven teams taking part in the seven team round-robin.

COSSA and PROHEALTH tied at 5-1 but the COLUMBUS team won the tie breaker with a 17-12 win over PROHEALTH.

Ironically COSSA’s only loss was 6-8 to FRICKERS which was their only win.

Final results COSSA 5-1, PROHEALTH 5-1, MICHIANA MERCHANTS 4-2, INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS 3-3. SENIOR REDBIRDS 2-4, AKRON FRICKERS 1-5, CANTERBURY CRUISERS (MAJOR) 1-5.

STEEL CITY lost its second game in bracket play 21-23 to the SILVER STICKS and then won five in a row to take the 70AAA title

The PITTSBURGH team beat the previously unbeaten CHICAGO STRIKERS 21-20 and 19-18 in the “IF” game to sneak by in the championship rounds.

COLUMBUS SILVER STICKS, RUSH TRUCKING, INDY 70’s and MICHIGAN LAKERS filled out the six-team field.

The CHICAGO HITMEN ran the table beating LEGENDS OF DAYTON 26-12 and INDIANA LEGENDS 11-3, 19-4 for the 70 AA crown.

The INDIANA LEGENDS beat LEGENDS OF INDIANA 22-17 to reach the finals.

Others in the bracket were DAYTON FARM TEAM and KENTUCKIANA.

The three-team 65 AA bracket saw OHIO SILVERADO’S beat (by) GRACE REDEEMED 26-7, 26-8 and INDY FOG 21-12 to take the title in the three-team group.

UNIVERSAL SOFTBALL took no prisoners in going 4-0 in bracket play capturing the 65 AAA title.

On the way to the title UNIVERSAL beat BLUE CHIPS 18-10, THE BOMB SQUAD 23-19, STEEL DAWGS 16-12 and THE BOMB SQUAD 12-10 in the finale.

Also in the 65 AAA group were DOC MARTEN/ROPE COURSE and SIDELINE BULL MOOSE.

MARIETTA, GEORGIA’S PEACH STATE CLASSIC entertained 35 teams for their 27^th year. Crowning seven champs in the process.

The eight-team 50 division saw the TN COMETS go undefeated in pool and bracket play to take the title.

The COMETS beat KENT’S PLAYERS (20-11), SWARM 55’s (22-21) SIDELINES (25-16) and PUNISHERS (20-7) in bracket play.

KENT’s PLAYERS came out of the loser’s bracket winning three games to reach the finals.

Others in the group were MAJOR LEAGUE 50’S, GA RENEGADES and ATLANTA 50’S.

reached the finals with a 16-15 edge over the SWARM 55’s.

The 50 MAJOR crown went to WALKER BROTHERS who also went undefeated in the tournament. They went 2-0 in pool and beat LIGHTHOUSE (24-9 and 2-18) as well as DOC C’s 25-16.

LIGHTHOUSE lit up the scoreboard in beating RIVER ROCK VENTURES 34-27 to reach the finals.

Others in the bracket were SE WATER SWARM and ATLANTA MONARCHS.

DARRELL HARRIS with wins over JR SMITH (23-15), TN CONNECTION (17-9), DT EXPRESS (22-21) after losing to JR SMITH (19-23) in the opener claimed the 55 AAA crown.

The 60 MAJOR title went to ATLANTA RECYCLE who beat DT EXPRESS (23-7), TN CONNECTION (26-22) and JR SMITH (22-13) to take the top spot.

RPR downed TAG 25-21 and 17-12 as well as COLUMBUS LXV 23-8 for the 65 AAA title.

TIME BANDITS came out of the loser’s bracket to beat TRAVELERS twice 16-15,14-13 for the 70 AAA/MAJOR/75 MAJOR title.

Others in the bracket were MATADOR, SE LEFTOVER 75’s, FOR FREEDOM and DEEP SOUTH.

ELITE SOFTBALL took the 60 AAA title beating REALITY CHECK in the finals. Others in the group were GAS, SEASONED VETERANS and SOUTHERN THUNDER.

“It was a good tournament with the weather cooperating,” TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR PETE FOWLER said. “The completion was great throughout going down to the final games in most of the brackets.”

The SPA GREAT LAKES TOURNAMENT drew 44 teams 8/2-8/5 tournament making it the second highest SPA draw in OHIO but also in SPA.

“The SYLVANIA tournament had another good year,” SPA President RIDGE HOOKS said. “They probably would have had 50 teams if our 75/80 worlds were not so close.”

The tournament was loaded with one run, “if” games and teams coming all the way through the loser’s bracket to make it to the finals.

CHICAGO PRIME 60’s had the longest run o all the teams. After losing their second round bracket game, they played five game in reaching the finals for a total of seven games.

JP MOTORMEN ended the PRIMES run beating the CHICAGO team 12-9 in the “IF” game to win the 60AAA title..

The MOTORMEN won their first two bracket games over MADALINA/CARDOT (24-9) and BULL MOOSE (20-13) before losing to the PRIME (10-11) to set up the “IF” game.

Others in the bracket were DETROIT LUGNUTS and MINUTEMEN/PEPCO

DURHAM SILVER STICKS beat the DAYTON LEGENDS (13-17,15-13,20-7) to win the 60 AA crown.

The OHIO SILVERADO’S lost the first game to BRANTFORD 6-9 before winning the next two games (16-3, 22-17) for the 65 AA championship.

Nine teams took part in the 65 AAA bracket with the DAYTON LEGENDS running the table (15-11 BOMB SQUAD, 15-8 CAVCO, 25-10 DOC MARTENS, 13-9 UNIVERSAL SOFTBALL

UNIVERSAL also had a long road to the finals winning four straight to get out of the loser’s bracket and reach the finals.

Others in the group were STEEL DAWGS, CHICAGO PRIME, BULL MOOSE and RUSH TRUCKING.

FLYTIME downed DIVERSIFIED MACHINE 14-13 and 24-17 to claim the 50 AAA crown. They also beat DAYTON LEGENDS 21-20 and OHIO HITMEN 15-14 to go 4-0 in bracket play.

DIVERSIFIED beat OHO HITMEN 24-13 to make it to the finals.

The hard luck trophy goes to LAKESHORE CONTRACTING who went 2-3 in pool and bracket play. All three defeats were by one run as one of their wins.

CPOA went 3-0 in bracket play wit wins over DETROIT CONNECTION, BUCKEYE CLASSICS and BULL MOOSE to win the 55 title.

DETROIT CONNECTION was second. Others in the bracket were DETROIT CONNECTION, BUCKEYE CLASSICS, BULL MOOSE, JACKSON MERCHANTS and SENIOR PSYCHOSIS.

CANADA’S DURHAM SILVER STIX beat DAYTON LEGENDS two out of three (1-17, 15-13,20-7) for the 60 AA title.

BRANTFORD beat KENTUKIANA (17-2, 18-12) and ROCHESTER ROYALS (17-4) for the 70 AA crown.

Others in the bracket were COSSA and FRICKERS.

The seven-team 70 AAA title was won by STEEL CITY. The champs beat WINDSOR CHIEFS 26-15, DAYTON LEGENDS 18-2 and WINDSOR again 9-9 to claim the top prize.

Others in the group ere RUSH TRUCKING, HEWCOR BANDITS< CHICAGO GRAYSOX and MICHIGAN LAKERS.

The TOM WILLIAMS TRI-CITIES CLASSIC crowned champs in six divisions during the July 13-15 tournament held at JOHNSON CITY’s WINGED DEER PARK

The TOM WILLIAMS tournament is SPA’s longest running event celebrating its 26^th year.

“We’ve been around for a long time but it never gets old, “TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR TERRY WIDENER said. ”We had a good group this year but next year we plan on opening it up to 50 and 55 teams also.”

ELITE beat REALITY CHECK 19-12 and 18-8 to win the 60 GOLD BRACKET. REALITY had beaten CAROLINA PATRIOTS 23-12 to reach the finals.

In the 75 BRACKET, CAROLINA BLUE SKY downed SPORTS LETTERING 15-11 and LEIDENS LEGENDS 21-17 to win the title. SPORTS LETTERING beat LEIDENS 16-11 for second.

The TRAVELERS defeated the SMOKIES 19-12 and TRI-CITIES 26-8 to win the 70 AAA CROWN.

SOUTHERN HEAT was the 70 AA champs when after an opening 17-18 loss to SMOKIES, they bounced back to beat TRI-CITIES 17-2 and SMOKIES 10-8.

The 65 CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN went to STEELE CREEK by beating TRI-CITIES 25-10 and KINGSMEN 15-7.

TRI-CITIES took the 60 AA title beating BOYS OF SUMMER 27-25 and 26-24.

Talk about close games. The PLAYER EXPRESS TOURNAMENT held July 28-29 at FRANK LISE PARK in CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA saw NINE of FOURTEEN games decided by two runs or less including the loser bracket and winner’s bracket finals.

TENNESSEE COMET took the 50 plus crown defeating CT EXPRESS twice 22-20 in opening bracket play and 20-18 in the title game.

The COMETS other wins in the bracket were 20-18 over EAST COAST and 21-12 over CAROLINA>

CT EXPRESS reached the finals with 22-19 win over REDLINE.

BAT ATTITUDE finished fourth followed by EAST COAST, BLACKBURN TRUCKING, CAROLINA and GEORGIA>

For the eighth straight year THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC is not only SPA’s top drawing qualifier tournament but the highest attended AA/AAA senior tournament east of Vegas.

“Some point to ISSA tournaments who draw 90+ teams as the highest attended,” BUCKEYE CLASSIC director RED BOLE said. “But if you subtract their majors and women’s teams they draw around 50-to-55 teams while we have averaged 76 for the past eight years.”

The year 2017 was no different. Despite a threat of rain and teams which had not paid entry fees pulling out at the last minute THEE SPA 2018 BUCKEYE CLASSIC drew 74 teams.

“We will be making changes on when entry fees are received next year,” BOLE said. “It really hurts your schedule when teams you are expecting pull out one-or-two weeks prior to the tournament.”

No problems on the field JUNE 12-24 as none of the 222 games were canceled due to rain.

There were also no repeat champs from 2017 as 15 new champs were crowned.

75”

SCARLET – INDY CLASSICS (6-0,4-0) took the top sot ahead of MONKEY JOE’S (4-2,2-2) and PITTSBURGH GOLD (3-3,-2). MICHIANA MERCHANTS (2-4,1-3) and BAILEY TALENT CAVALIERS (3-2,1-3) rounded out the five-team bracket.

GREY – JERSEY MASTERS (5-1,4-0) beat COSSA (3-3,3-1) 13-11 to win the 75 GREY BRACKET. SYRACUSE (3-3,1-3), BROOKHOUSE (1-5,1-3) and FRICKERS (1-5,1-3) were also in the bracket.

60’s

SCARLET – JP MOTORMEN (5-1) beat MADALINA (5-1) 16-4 for the 60’s GREY title. CHICAGO PRIME (3-3), BUELL FUEL, CINCINNATI 60’s and BULLMOOSE were also in the six-team bracket.

GREY – ROC CITY beat the MINUTEMEN 26-12, 5-9 and 9-7 to take the AAA GREY crown.

MCMAHON-COYNE-VITANTONIO-ONE MORE THING )3-3,3-1) won the GREY AA title edging out FLEX STRUT and GLORY DAZE.

80’s

The 80’s were split into two complexes at FIRESTONE STADIUM and BARBERTON.

PROHEALTH (5-1) outlasted FITTEAM (4-2) and CENTER FOR SIGHT 85’s (4-2) to win the FIRESTONE group. Others at AKRON were CHICAGO GEEZERS, SYRACUSE and LOUISVILLE THUNDER.

PFEIFFERS (5-1) edged PEACHTREE (4-2) at BARBERTON to the MAGIC CITY 80’s crown. The rest of the six-team group were KV SPORTS, HAMELS, LEFTOVERS and LOTA SOFTBALL.

70’s

NORTHER VIRGINIA FORCE went 5-0 with a 14-13 victory over LIFEGUARD (4-1) to take the 70’s Scarlet BRACKET. RUSH TRUCKING, INDY 70’S, FRICKERS and DELAWARE AUTO SALVAGE filled out the six-team bracket.

ROCHESTER CLASSICS (4-0-1) TOOK THE 70’S AA GREY GROUP followed by ROCHESTER ROYALS (2-2-1). COSSA, MAGIC CITY and HEWCOR BANDITS also were in the AA group. SYRACUSE 70’s (4-1) took the AAA crown.

65’s

The 65’s SCARLET title went to undefeated SPRING FORD (6-0,5-0) by virtue of a 15-3 win over runner-up BULL MOOSE )5-1,4-1). CAVCO was a close third followed by LIFEGUARD, BOMB SQUAD and RUSH TRUCKING.

AKRON SILVERADOS beat the ROCHESTER ROYALS 17-12 for the AA 65 Crown. DOC MARTENS ROPE COURSE (5-1,4-0) edged ROCHESTER BREWERS (5-1,3-1) 15-14 for the GREY 65 AAA title. Other AAA teams in the hunt were MICHIGAN LAKERS and STEEL DAWGS.

55 and 50

The nine-team 50’s group went down to the final game and second tie-breaker with DIVERSIFIED MACHINE (5-1) edging GTO (5-1) and LAKESHORE CONTRACTING (5-1) for the championship. OHIO HITMEN (4-2) just missed. Others in the group were BRICKYARD SOFTBALL, POTOMAC SPORTS, OREA BLACK SHEEP. MJ LOWE and FREDERICKS WINE AND DINE.

Also going down to the final game BUCKEYE CLASSICS (6-0) beat BUELL FUEL (4-2) to win the 55 title.

Others in the bracket were CPOA, SENIOR PSYCHOSIS and BULL MOOSE.

Over 40 teams showed up to play in the June 7-10 STEVE SIMMONS MOSQUITALAND CLASSIC at LITTLE CANADA, MN PIONEER PARK.

“STEVE was a director for both SPA and SSUSA and TERRY (HENNESY) and I decided to honor his memory with a combined tournament in his home state,” SPA President and CEO RIDGE HOOKS said.

SIMMONS, who also played for the MINNESOTA PRIDE was 67 years old when he died September 2012 in tragic boating accident.

In tournament play Wisconsin’s PROHEALTH won the 75/80 group with a 10-9 win over MINNESOTA MASTERS. Others in the bracket were MIDWEST RIVING SCHOOL and MN LEGENDS 80’S.

The 70 Major crown went to the MINNESOTA PRIZE who after losing to P5/ANCELL 8-22 came back to win 11-4, 12-6 for the title.

MIDWEST EXPRESS downed the CHICAGO STRIKERS 18-12 to win the 70 AAA Crown.

MN MASTERS, CHICAGO EXPRESS, MN LUMBERJACKS and OSHKOSH were also in the bracket.

STUDZ beat MN BLIZZARDS 21-16 to take the 65 AAA title. FOSSILS, BAGBYS and MN LUMBERJACKS rounded out the field.

The MN MASTERS/ANCEL downed the WISCONSIN MASTERS 19-12. 18-14 for the 65 Major championship award.

The 55 MAJOR/MAJOR PLUS title was won by SPEEDEX with a 19-18 win over the MN MERCHANTS. NEBRASKA SILVER BULLETS and J&J’S were the others in the bracket.

POPE TRANSPORT took the wind out of WINDY CITY”S sails winning 22-13 for the 60 MAJOR title. TASTY PIZZA, NEBRASKA 60’S, MN MASTERS/ANCEL and MILWAUKEE MERCHANTS were also in the hunt.

PLAYMAKERS beat MN BLIZZARD 16-12 to take the four-team 60 AAA championship. OSHKOSH AMBASSADORS and MN MASTERS rounded out the bracket.

The 50 AAA saw KAFKA CONVEYOR down MN LUMBERJACKS 14-9 to win the top spot.

The largest group was won by CPP/ANCEL who edged POPE TRANSPORT 18-17. Others in the bracket were MN MERCHANTS, MN LUMBERJACKS, MIDWEST CONNECTION, IOWA DEMONS, GOLDEN GEEZERS and KAFKA.