The BIRD was not the word at the 9/9-9/11 SPA 2018 75 AAA WORLD SERIES at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK.
The INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS downed the SENIOR RED BIRDS two out of three times in the double-elimination bracket competition to win the WORLD SERIES TITLE.
The CLASSICS beat the BIRDS 23-19 in their first encounter in bracket play sending the winged wonders to the loser’s bracket. The BIRDS fought their way out of the loser’s bracket beating the TEXAS LEGENDS (9-7) to get another shot at INDIANAPOLIS.
This time the BIRDS won (10-9) to set up an “IF” game but the CLASSICS came back to win 9-5 in the finals.
For the tournament the two teams (CLASSICS and REDBIRDS) were 2-and-2 against each other since the BIRDS edged the CLASSICS 15-14 in pool play which making the REDBIRDS 3-0 and the number one seed. In the end all it earned them was the runner-up spot in the 75 AAA 2018 SPA WORLDS SERIES TOURNAMENT.
Ironically it was a repeat of the SPA JIM WELCH CLASSIC in TROY, ILL when the CLASSICS beat the SENIOR REDBIRDS twice to win that tournament. For the year the CLASSICS won three SPA TITLES the WORLD SERIES, JIM WELCH and THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC. They also finished second in the WORLDS in COLUMBUS to PRO HEALTH.
The other two teams in the 75 WORLD SERIES were TEXAS LEGENDS and FLORIDA’S PREMIUM SEATS.
Members of the championship INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS are: KEN BONHAM, ROBERT BRABENDER, LARRY COOPER, JEFF CRUMP, DICK DOUGLAS, FLOYD EDWARDS, CHARLES FEDERLE,ELDEN FORTHUM, WILLIAM GREENWALD, WILLIAM HUDSON, HAROLD KENNEDY, JOHN LOIACANO, ROBERT WILLOUGHBY, WES WORLEY, GEORGE MILLS, GEORGE HULL, ROGER REVEAL, KEN KEELER, JAMES PATTERSON and STEVE SWICK.
The CANTERBURY CRUISERS added their second SPA 2018 75 MAJOR WORLDS to their resume winning the SPA 75 MAJOR WORLD SERIES at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK September 9-11.
In August they won the SPA 2018 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP played at COLUMBUS, OHIO’S BERLINER PARK.
It only took two bracket games to add their second title in DALTON. They knocked off SE LEFTOVERS 24-9 in the first game and HILL CONTRACTING 21-6 in the championship battle.
HILL made it to the finals beating SE LEFTOVERS 17-6.
CANTERBURY wasn’t perfect in the tournament losing to 75AAA WORLD SERIES winner INDIANA CLASSICS 14-7 in pool play. However, they did win their other pool games over two other 75 AAA teams PREMIUM SEATS (21-7) and SR REDBIRDS (29-8).
Members of the new 75 MAJOR 2018 SPA WORLD SERIES champs are:
RON HELLIER (mgr.), DAVE BEEBE, AL BROWN, VAUGHN COVERT, GERALD DEMARA, RAY DYE, CHARLES HROBOWSKI, RON HUSER, SAM LOPICCOLO, JIM RANISZEWSKI, RON SANNER, BRAD SMITH, LEWIS SOTO, MANUEL FENECH, JERRY L. JOHNSON and DOUG HOGUE.
The OHIO SILVERADOS won the SPA 2018 65 AA WORLD Championship played Sept 6-9 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK.
For the OHIO team it was their fourth SPA championship in 2018 tournaments. They had previously won THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC, HOOSIER CLASSIC and the GREAT LAKES CLASSIC.
Ironically of the four tournaments, only the HOOSIER CLASSIC with three AA’s had more than two 65 AA teams in the event.
There are only six AA teams (thirty AAA teams) in SPA. The six teams are BRANTFORD (CAN), (by) GRACE REDEEMED (TN), INDY FOG (IND), ROBSON RANCH TEXANS (TEX), UPSTATE EXTREME ROYALS(NY) and the SILVERADO’S (OH).
Tough to have a tournament with more than two teams.
The SILVERADO’S made the most of the opportunity beating INDY FOG 20-11 and 19-7 in a two out of three for the crown..
In pool play the SILVERADOS played three AAA teams losing to RPR SOFTBALL 9-23 , SCRAP IRON MIKE HIGH 3-20 and MIDSTATE SRS 9-11. RPR and SCRAP IRON both went 3-0 in pool play while MIDSTATE was 2-1.
Members of the OHIO SILVERADO’S are manager RANDY BALLARD, JEFF BRENNEMAN, DAVE CAPLINGER, BILL FOLK, KEN SPOERNDLE, LARRY OMALLEY, JIM KIRBY, RANDY MILLER, STERLING MELODY, KEN PODOLAK, LYLE CARPENTER, JOHN WALDSMITH, DAN GERIN, MARK MARINI, LARRY CHIMENTO, THOM BLASDEL, LE GERIN and DANA PAUL BARNETTE
SUPERIOR SR SOFTBALL and VENOM used five head-to-head games to decide the 2018 SPA MAJOR PLUS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN played Sept 14-16 at DALTON, GEORGIA’S HERITAGE PARK
When the smoke cleared SUPERIOR SENIOR SOFTBALL had the 3-2 edge winning the final game 28-13.
Not only were the two teams close on wins 3-2 but VENOM only had a 83-82 edge in runs scored for and against.
SSS won a close first game 25-24 and the second game 16-4 before VENOM fought back winning 25-5 and 17-7 to force the deciding contest.
Some interesting facts about the two teams SSS had four impact players on their roster C. BALLARD JR, DON CLATTERBOUGH, CHARLES CREGAR and JOHN DAVIDE while VENOM had only two DAVE CLOVER and TOLS MIHAILOFF.
The SSS 15-man roster had players from six states (VA 5, MD 4, NC 3, NJ, TN, NY) while VENOM’S 11-man contingent had 10 from FLORIDA and one from KENTUCKY.
Members of the champion SUPERIOR SR SOFTBALL team are; C.BALLARD JR, PHIL BIEDRONSKI, GEORGE CHANCE DON CLATTERBOUGH, MEL COLWELL, CHARLES CREGAR, JOHN DAVIDE, THOM DOMMEL SR, JAMES MCLAMB, JOHN SCRUGGS, WILLIAM TIPTON, THOM TUDOR, RAY WIMBROUGH, ANDREW ZITNAX and JAMES SEARS.
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.
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.