SPA News

SAN ANTONIO 55 SOFTBALL CLUB took the important “IF” game to win the 2018 SPA 55 MAJOR PLUS WORLD July 19-2 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE POINT PARK.

BOB JOHNSON CHEVY/DOMINO’S probably has nightmares dreaming about what could have been if they only could have beaten SAN ANTONIO.

SA beat BOB JOHNSON’S 14-10 in pool, 29-4 the first game in bracket play and after losing to BJ 29-31 to force an “IF” game came back to take the title game 34-11.

To reach the title game BOB JOHNSON disposed of RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT 30-9 and 35-16

Ironically BOB JOHNSON lost to SA in pool play and beat RBC in pool play making them 5-3 in the tournament all against the same two teams.

Others in the five team bracket were NEXT LEVEL INCREDIWEAR and TSC.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS for SA are JOHN ROACH MANAGER OF THE YEAR, MICKEY RODRIQUEZ MVP, ALL-AMERICANS MIKE GARIBY, TONY CLARK, DAVID VELASQUEZ, LARRY CARTER, JIMMIE PINA, BOBBY GILBERT and PATRICK REA.

Others on the championship team are: CHARLES MUELLER, JUAN NAVARRO, REGGIE SIMMONS, SAM WILLIAMS, MIKE TEPERA, MARK HENSON, FRANK VIVIER, DONALD,

COLBATH, MICHAEL HOFFNER and ROBBIE RODRIQUEZ.

They didn’t have enough room on the shirts for their team name but there was enough room to engrave it on the 2018 SPA 50 MAJOR WORLDS championship trophy.

FENCE BUSTERS TEAM KITTY MIKEN WORTH went 3-0 in bracket play to capture the 50 MAJOR crown.

FBTKMW disposed of SUNCOAST ADIDAS twice (35-29, 29-2) and B&B LEGENDS (36-18) in bracket play for the title.

SUNCOAST ADIDAS came out of the loser’s bracket defeating KELLHER FIRM SOFTBALL 32-22, TEAM USA 2-21 and B&B LEGENDS 27-3 to reach the finals.

Teams in the six-team bracket were FENCE BUSTERS, SUNCOAST ADIDAS, B&B LEGENDS, TEAM USA, HUNTERS BAD BOYS ELITE and KELLEHER FIRM SOFTBALL.

Taking home individual awards for FENCE BUSTERS were MANAGER-OF-THE-YEAR RICHARD OTINGER, MVP BOB O’BRIEN, ALL-AMERICANS DENNIS RULLI, BRADLEY STILLWELL, ALAN TANNER, CHRIS WALKER, STEVE HELLER, ROBERTO RODRIQUEZ and KEVIN JOHNSON.

Others on the roster were KEVIN GILLET, SPENCER KENNEDY, ROBERT BROWN, GERALD DONALDSON, MICHEL DILL and PAUL HARDIN.

DAYTON TOURNAMENT A SUCCESS

Despite the problems with a date change and the dreaded JULY 4 weekend schedule the DAYTON FIRST FLIGHT TOURNAMENT held JULY 6-8 at KETTERING FIELD COMPLEX came up only three teams short of the 2017 event.

“It took a lot of scrambling,” TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR JOHN ZAMPATTI said. “We were planning on 40 plus teams this year but we lost teams because they had already scheduled a tournament elsewhere because they were unaware of our new dates. We also ran into competition with the SHELBYVILLE tournament.”

“We survived this year and I am sure now that teams are aware of our new dates we can have forty entries in 2019..” he said.

The attendance at this year's FIRST FLIGHT may have been down a little but the competition didn’t suffer with “IF” games and close games scattered throughout.

MJ LOWE took the 50 AAA crown with a 25-21 “IF” game victory over the DAYTON LEGENDS. The LEGENDS forced the “IF” game beating MJ LOWE 21-6. Dayton also beat TEAM ILLINOIS 18-13 to reach the finals.

MJ LOWE was undefeated with a 20-10 win over the LEGENDS and 23-20 against FREDERICKS WINE AND DINE in earlier bracket play until the LEGENDS beat them in the semi-finals.

The other team in the five-team bracket was OHIO HITMEN.

The DAYTON LEGENDS 55’S beat IS/WB 29-28 and 21-18 to take the 50/55 MAJOR championship. IS/WB beat JJ FINANCIAL 34-25 and 28-24 to reach the finals.

TOUCH EM ALL took home the trophy in the 55 AAA bracket with a 19-15 verdict over I IUNDER CRAFT AND BEER in the finals. They had previously beaten ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW (18-17) and SIDELINE BULL MOOSE 25-16 in opening games.

I UNDER reached the finals out of the losers’ bracket 26-18 over ANTIQUE ROAD SHOW.

Others in the seven team bracket were BUCKEYE CLASSICS,DETROIT CONNECTION and SENIOR PSYCHOSIS>

The 60 AA/AAA crown went to the CINCINNATI 60’S with a 34-15 win over UNIVERSAL SOFTBALL in the title game.

CINCINNATI has sent UNIVERSAL to the loser’s bracket earlier but UNIVERSAL came back reaching the finals with a 27-17 win over the DAYTON DIAMOND DAWGS.

UNIVERSAL SOFTBALL downed CAVCO 27-24 in an “IF” game championship game in the 65 AA/AAA bracket.

CAVCO had forced the game with a 16-12 win over UNIVERSAL.

Until the loss to CAVCO, UNIVERSAL had bested DAYTON LEGENDS 29-18 and CAVCO 24-22 in the opening bracket game. INDY FOG was the fourth team in the bracket.

The 70AA/75 crown went to COSSA with 21-20 and32-22 wins over the DAYTON LEGENDS 75’s.

DAYTON DIAMOND DOGS and LEGENDS OF DAYTON were the others in the bracket.

The DAYTON LEGENDS 70’S beat WINDSOR CHIEF 18-15 twice for the title.

ESCOBAR BODY SHOP took no prisoners in either pool or bracket play going 7-0 to win the SPA 50 MAJOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP JULY 29-22 at HERITAGE POINT PARK in DALTON, GEORGIA.

ESCOBAR started tournament play with a 23-15 win over TEAM DUDLEY and 19-18 over SE WATER/SWARM.

In bracket play they disposed of TRINITY RIZZO’S 31-16, DOC C’S 24-13, WALKER BROTHERS 27-26, LIGHTHOUSE 29-21 and 7-0 over DOC’S.

DOC’S was worn out by the time they reached the finals having won five games in the loser’s bracket before the final game.

DOC’S beat LEMAY CONTRACTING 33-26, TEAM ARKANSAS 26-20, TEAM DUDLEY 29-19, WALKER BROTHERS 27-26 and LIGHTHOUSE 27-20.

The 16-team field included ESCOBAR BODY champs, DOC C’S runner-up, LIGHTHOUSE, WALKER BROTHERS, B&H MAINTENANCE, TEAM DUDLEY, CORVETTE SANITATION,TEAM ARKANSAS, LS DB, TRINITY RIZZO’S, LEMAY CONSTRUCTION, SEWATER/SWARM, RIVER ROCK and LAF DEMARINI.

ESCOBAR individual awards: MANAGER OF THE YEAR DANNY ESCOBAR, MVP CARL RANDLE and ALL-AMERICANS JERRY STOTTS, GEOFFREY ORR, CHARLES RUSSELL, MARTIN FERGUSON, MELITON VILLARREAL, ART PEIFER and LUCIANO CASTANEDA.

Other members of the team are PAUL ALVAREZ, GERALD DESALDO, TOM CLARK, KENNY SEYMOUR, LARRY MARTIN, RICARDO HERNANDEZ, ROBERT SAUCEDO and OWEN GARLAND.

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 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.