SPA News

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 CAROLINA A’s won the SPA 50 PLUS WARM-UP held APRIL 7-8 at FRANK LISE PARK in CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

The A”S defeated C3 RAGS 26-22 in the finals as well as 20-10 earlier to take the crown. The A’s also beat CAROLINA PROPERTIES 18-14 in their march to the title.

C# RAGS edged BLACKBURN TRUCKING 19-18 in the loser bracket finals to make it to the title game.

Others in the field were PREMIER ELECTRIC, and CAROLINA FIVE O

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.

More umbrellas were in demand than bats at the SPA WOMEN'S ROCKY TOP NIT held in KNOXVILLE’S CASWELL COMPLEX JULY -8.

“It was a shame because we had such a great turnout for the tournament and the weather didn’t cooperate, “SPA President and CEO RIDGE HOOKS said.

Despite the weather problems ROCKY TOP was still able to declare champs in the 50, 55, 60 and 65 division with only the 35 and 40/45 groups coming up empty.

The OHIO CARDINALS flew away with the 65 PLUS crown beating the GOLDEN GALS 7-1 and SR DIAMONDS 12-2.

The GOLDEN GALS reached the finals with a 2-1 win over the SENIOR DIAMONDS. SMOKEY MOUNTAIN STARS rounded out the bracket.. The CARDINALS left no doubt as to who was champ, having also gone 3-0 in pool.

SUNNY BEACHES went 3-0 in pool and 2-0 in double elimination to easily take the 60 PLUS bracket.

In bracket play they defeated HAMEL LADIES 10-7 and SHO ME 60’S 12-1 to win the crown.

HAMEL LADIES were the finalist followed by third place MARYLAND ROAR RUNNERS.

EAST COAST GEMS took the 55 PLUS title with SERIOUS FUN the finalist. SHO-ME 55’s rounded out the field..

FIRE & ICE took the 50 PLUS title followed by JWP AR MIX . WAYPOINT FINANCIAL was the third team in the bracket.

No bracket play was started in the 35 and 40/45 Division.

Teams in the 35’s with pool play records were TZKG SOFTBALL (1-1), pitches be crazy (1-0), MIDWEST BALLERS MAYHEM (0-1), OUTER LIMITS (1-0), HILTON 40 PLUS (1-0) and SAVE SECOND BASE (0-2) .

40/45 PLUS pool play results.

TM FORCE (40) 2-0, KRYPTONITE (45) 1-1 and PITCHES BE CRAZY (40) 0-2.

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>

SPA and THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC each donated $500 to the KAREN LEE BURNETTE SCHOLARSHIP FUND June 19 at Thee Buckeye Classic tournament.

Burnette taught at Barberton High School for 29 years in addition to serving as a counselor. She passed away February 2, 2018.

A scholarship fund has been set up by her husband MARCO BURNETTE with the BARBERTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION to award two $1,000 scholarships each year to a Barberton graduates.

The requirements are they must live in the city and carry a 2.00 GPA.

As a teacher BURNETTE concentrated on underprivileged, under-served and what many considered average students

"Those are the types of students KAREN would have wanted her scholarship to serve," MARCO BURNETTE said. "Kids who are on the border line of being college eligible but are hard working and trying to improve and have a true desire for a college education."

"Karen was a very caring, loving and giving person who always thought of others before herself," he added. " She touched the lives of many people over the years, both students and adults.I know she would really appreciate the kind scholarship contributions by SPA and THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC'

This was the first scholarship donation by THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC but the 65th for SPA and its second to a BARBERTON student.

In 2014 SPA awarded a $500 scholarship to TYLER OWEN who attended AKRON U.

"We (SPA) has been awarding $500 scholarships for the past 18 years," HOOKS said. "It may not seem like much but to families which do not have much money, it is a lot."

"When my dad died, I was 16 and the local church donated $500 to my college education," HOOKS said. "To me it was a lot of money and I try to repay what the church did for me to others who have the same situation."

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.

DIVERSIFIED MACHINE left THEE SPA 2018 BUCKEYE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT in BARBERTON June 23, 24 with no skin on their teeth.

Playing in the nine-team 50 AAA division DIVERSIFIED lost their second game of the tournament Saturday 19-20 to LAKESHORE CONTRACTING and had to hope for a miracle to have a chance for the title.

It didn't look like it was going to happen as GTO and LAKESHORE were both 5-0 and on a collision course to see who the 50 champs would be.

"It was really tough  losing a game we should have won by one run and then sitting back and watching that team keep winning" DIVERSIFIED manager .MIKE BIELEK said. "I knew they had to lose two games or one and we would have to beat GTO for a three way tie. Then we would have a chance."

DIVERSIFIED beat HITMEN 16-15, OREA 17-10 and BRICKYARD 24-11 to keep their hopes alive

It didn't look like BIELEK'S team had much of a chance as LAKESHORE kept winning with only a game left with the .500 HITMEN and DIVERSIFIED was being beat by GTO.

Then it happened...the miracle.

DIVERSIFIED cane back to beat GTO 12-11 and LAKESHORE lost to the HITMEN to force a three way tie with each team 5-1. Since there wasn't a head-to-head tiebreaker because they all did not play each other the "runs against common opponents" was the decider.

With the only common opponent being BRICKYARD and OREA even that was close. DIVERSIFIED  allowed 21 runs while the others 24.

"We have won and lost tournaments by a game but never like this," BIELEK said. "It was worth it because we not only won THEE BUCKEYE but also got the TRIPLE CROWN bid. I hope our next tournaments are not as gut wrenching, I don't know if I can take another one like this, despite the outcome.".