SPA News

THE VILLAGE GOLDEN GALS won their second straight SPA WOMENS’ 75 WORLDS August 19-23 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK COMPLEX.

The GOLDEN GALS beat OHIO TRI STARS 15-0 in the “IF” game to win the 2018 crown. TRI STAR forced the “IF” game beating the GOLDEN GALS 10-7.

The two teams played each other four times in the tournament, once in pool and three times in bracket. The GOLDEN GALS won the pool game 10-7 and the first bracket game 4-2.

In other games the GOLDEN GALS beat the TENN SR STARS 14-13 and the GOLDEN GIRLS 75’s 18-1.

The OHIO TRI-STARS beat TENN ST STARS 10-1 for second place. GOLDEN GIRLS 75’s were fourth.

In 2017 the GOLDEN GALS beat the SPORTACULARS 13-9 for the title while the OHIO TRI STARS finished third.

GOLDEN GALS individual award winners in the 2018 tournament were: MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR CHRIS EVANS and TOURNAMENT MVP MARIAN MILHAM. Selected to the ALL-AMERICAN team were BARBARA BAILEY, CAROL WALTHER, DOTTIE BURELL, GLORIA MILLER and CAROL KOSZOLA.

Members of the 2018 GOLDEN GALS WORLD CHAMP are: EVANS, BAILEY, WALTHER, BURRELL, MILHAM, MILLER, KOSZOLA, KAREN ADAMS, SHARON BARAN, MADELAINE CAZEL, DOLORES FAHRNEY, BARBARA HARJU, LOIS BORIE, EVELYN HAYES, NOREEN MURPHY, MARCIA HALVORSON, BETH QUESNEL, JUDY LEWIS, JEANNE HCKETT and JOYCE TURNER.

The MIDWEST MAYHEM BALLERS 2018 season didn’t start out that well but it sure finished in style with the SPA 35 DIVISION WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP trophy to take home.

The MICHIGAN team came up empty at the SPRING NATIONALS, TWITTY and ROCKY TOP but it was a different story AUGUST 19-23 HERITAGE PARK in DALTON, GEORGIA.

They lost a pool game 13-12 to OUTER LIMITS but after that it was no contest.

MAYHEM beat PITCHES BE CRAZY 12-7 in pool and followed it up with wins WICKED GAME {pool 7-1), TAZ K&G (bracket 10-3), HILTON 40 PLUS (bracket 20-16) and TAZ K&G 11-8 in the title game.

TAZ K&G beat HILTON 40 PLUS 20-9 for second. Others in the six-team bracket were OUTER LIMITS, WICKED GAME, SPORTS ORTHO URGENT CARE WICKED.

Individual award winners for MIDWEST MAYMEM BALLERS were MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR AIESHA AVENT and TOURNAMENT MVP VIKKI MAGDICH.

ALL-AMERICAN selections were ANGELA AVENT, YUKA WISNRSKI, TONIA HUGHES and MICHELLE CANNON’

Team members of MIDWEST MAYHEM BALLERS:

JACQUELINE PRICHETT, ADRIENNE BAILEY-HILL, SHONTE JOHNSON, AMY FASSBENDER, SHAMEKA SMITH, ANGELA AVENT, JUDITH TRYLONG, ALESHA ROBINSON, YUKA WISNESKI, CINDY STAPLES, RENEE GRAHAM, VIKKI MAGDICH, CHARISSE WRIGHT, JACLYNN DARKANGELO, TONIA HUGHES, MICHELLE CANNON, CHERIE RADER and TARYN FINLEY.

Some teams go years before winning a major tournament and others never win one. Not so with the JOLICO SR 65’S who in their initial entry into the SPA WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS August 19-23 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK, claimed the top prize.

JOLICO took no prisoners, going 3-0 in bracket play outscoring their opponents 69-29. In their win over the SPA 2017 65 WORLD CHAMPS OHIO CARDINALS, they collected 40 hits in a 32-10 win.

“The hitting was just contagious in that game,” JOLICO 65 Coach JAN SANDER said. “We had never hit like that in a game before, it was unreal.”

“Everybody was hitting throughout the tournament,” SANDER said, “Our Catcher ROSE BOLONE had her first ever home runs, one a grand slam. Everybody had big hits.”

JOLICO wrapped up the tournament beating the SR DIAMONDS 17-6 and 20-13 in the title game.

It was JOLICO 65’s second SPA TOURNAMENT title this year. Earlier they won the TWITTY TOURNAMENT at HENDERSONVILLE, TENN. They have also won a pair of non-SPA tournaments.

“We have had a pretty good year so far and it hasn’t just been our offense which has carried us, our defense has been just as good,” SANDER said.

JOLICO 65’s are not done for this year, they have the HUNTSMAN GAMES and the NATIONAL SENIOR OLYMPICS still left to play.

Other teams in the SPA 65 WORLDS bracket were runner-up SR DIAMONDS, OHIO CARDINALS, MN LADY LOONS and SMOKEY MOUNTAIN STARS.

Individual awards taken home by JOLICO were CHRIS SCHNEIDER SPA MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR and MVP NANCY NEWKIRK.

Selected to the ALL-AMERICAN team were MARGARET VAN ECKOUTE. PAT BAKER. CJ TAYLOR, CHERYL JAMES, ROSE BOLONE and JANET PFAU.

Members of the 2018 SPA 65 WOMEN’S WORLD champs are: SANDER, SCHNEIDER, VAN ECKOUTE, NEWKIRK, BAKER, TAYLOR, BOLONE, JAMES, PFAU, JUANITA GRANDSTAFT, PENNY ZIELINSKI, PATRICIA WEILAND, SANDRA NYENHUIS, JANICE STROZIER,MARY TWEEDY, POPATI WING, CYNTHIA MCCARTHY and ELLEN BOWERS.

It is two years and counting as KRYPTONITE won their second 45 SPA WORLDS title AUGUST 19-23 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK.

Last year it was a two-out-of-three showdown with BAT GIRLS RETURN while this year

KRYPTONITE ran the table going 2-and-0 in bracket play and 2-0 in pool. The CHAMPS beat PITCHES BE CRAZY FORTIES 21-5 and 32-10 to win the WOMEN’S 40/45 PLUS title

In pool play they beat a pair of 3 5-year old teams WICKED GAME (20-7) and SPORTS ORTHO WICKED (9-6).

It was a great way for KRYPTONITE to finish off the year which started by winning the SPA SPRING NATIONALS.

Individual Awards went to: MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR EDWARD BOUCHARD while Tournament MVP was CAROLYN DEEB. ALL-AMERICAN SELECTIONS went to COLLEEN SMITH, RHONDA “DODY’ CLINE, VERONICA “V” SHAW, DIANE “DJ” WHITE and VALORIE MULLINS.

KRYPTONITE team members are: SMITH, APRIL BLAKE, CLINE, DEEB, SHAW, WHITE, VERBIA BEHE, SARA PAYNE, MULLINS, KAREN HUNGER, SONJA BROOKS-WHITE, SUNDAY WRIGHT and LORI LAMONT.

It took the entire season but SERIOUS FUN finally found a way to have some as they won the 2018 SPA 55 WOMEN’S WORLDS 9/21-9/23 at HERITAGE PARK in DALTON, GEORGIA.

SERIOUS FUN had started the season earning a second and two thirds in 2018 SPA TOURNAMENTS.

In the 2017 WORLDS they were 3-3 with a third place finish.

SERIOUS FUN’s 2018 title wasn’t a walk in the park.

The champs had to beat number one seed THE PLAYERS in the winner’s bracket semi-finals with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh for a 17-16 win but lost to EAST COAST GEMS 5-15 to force the “IF” Game..

SERIOUS FUN beat the defending 2017 SPA WORLDS champs EAST COAST GEMS 12-11 in the title game which was decided in the bottom of the seventh.

Pinch hitter LINDA HANSON supplied the two-out winning blow.

Against THE PLAYERS it was JAYNE STAGGS who delivered the two-out game winner.

“Our girls have a never-give-up attitude and that was the difference in the tournament, “SERIOUS FUN manager and SPA 55’s MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR ROBERT HALL said. “It took an extra effort to beat two teams like THE PLAYERS and EAST COAST for the title. They are both exceptional teams.”

Other teams in the six-team 55’s bracket were SHO-ME 55’s, SLUGGERS and SUNNY BEACHES.

For EAST COAST it saw their perfect SPA tournament record come to a halt. After winning the 2017 SPA WORLDS, EAST COAST won the SPA SPRING NATIONALS, ROCKY TOP and TWITTY tournaments.,

SERIOUS FUN’S SANDY SPENCER was the 2018 SPA WORLDS TOURNAMENT MVP, while teammates MARY HELEN CONNER, EVA HIXSON, JAYNE STAGGS, KIM MOORE and KAREN CULLEY were selected to the ALL-AMERICAN TEAM.

The SERIOUS FUN championship roster included CONNER, HIXSON, STAGGS, MOORE, CULLEY,, SPENCER, SYLVIA HANCOCK, NELLE PALLME. POLLY DENNISON, CAROL LAND, PAULA BARNES, CAROLE RUSSELL, LINDA HANSON, CHRISTINA OSTROWSKI, BRIDGETTE STAFFORD, PATTY HARCH and Manager HALL.

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.

CANTERBURY CRUISERS 75 MAJORS must have scared the rest of the SPA 75 MAJOR teams away, because they were the only entrant at the AUGUST 6-9 SPA WORLDS at COLUMBUS, OHIO BERLINER PARK.

As a result they were crowned the 2018 SPA 75 WORLD CHAMPS...but not without first earning the recognition.

The CRUISERS played 75 AAA teams going 3-0 in pool with wins over COSSA 75’s (13-8), MINNESOTA MASTERS (20-5) and BAILEY TALENT CAVALIERS (19-11).

CANTERBURY beat PITTSBURGH GOLD 15-3 before losing to 75 AAA runner-up INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS 15-13 in their final tournament game.

INDIVIDUAL Awards went to: 75 MAJOR MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR RONALD HELLIER. RONALD SANNER was the team MVP.

ALL-AMERICAN honors went to: ROY SIMS,RAY DYE, VIC NUCATOLA, JERRY JOHNSON and SAM LAPICCOLA.

Members of the CRUISERS are: DAVID BEEBE, ALFRED BROWN. VAUGHN COVERT, GERALD DEMARA, HROBOSKI,DONALD HUSER, JAMES RANISZEWSKI, LOUIS SOTO, MANUEL FRENCH, DOUGLAS HOGUE, SIMS,JOHNSON,SANNER, LAPICCOLO, DYE, HELLIER and NUCATOLA.

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

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.