J.K. Inc/Miken 50 (CA) and Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates (PA) Claim Triple Grand Slam Titles as Men's 50 Compete During Session Three

Oct. 1, 2017

LAS VEGAS – The sixth annual LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships resumed with the Men’s 50 division Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Despite being just a single age group, the Men’s 50 division was the second largest session of the tournament with 152 teams. The bulk of the teams were accounted by the Men’s 50 AAA division, which featured 85 teams, the largest division, by far, in tournament history.

With such a large division, the 85-team Men’s 50 AAA division was split into four pods, Red, White, Blue and Green.

Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates (PA), which defeated Calhoun/Michael’s Toyota (WA), 12-5, in the U.S. National Championship game, locked up the top seed in the Red pod and rode their top billing all the way to championship Sunday.

Joining Roadhouse Blue/BP & Associates in the winner’s bracket on championship Sunday were Straight Gas (VA) from the White pod, 805’s PE Class (CA) from the Blue pod, and Top Gun 50s (CA) from Green pod, who all escaped their respective pods unscathed. The remaining eight teams reaching the final day of bracket play through the elimination side of the bracket included Team 757 (VA), Buc’s (TX), Gaithersburg Rental (MD), Graywolves (NM), Team O50 (IL), Elite/Scrap Iron (CO), Grayed & Confused (UT) and Trinity Rizzo’s (NY).

Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates continued their solid play on Sunday, winning their first two games to reach the championship game. Straight Gas, who fell to Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates in their first game on Sunday 20-12, won four straight elimination games, including a 21-17 win over Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates in the championship game. The win by Straight Gas avenged their loss earlier in the day to Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates, and forced the “if” game.

Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates bounced back from their loss in the championship game, to take the “if” game 19-16 securing the Triple Grand Slam. Rounding out the top four teams were Top Gun 50’s, third place, and Team O50, who won three straight games to eventually finish in fourth place.

In the 12-team Men’s 50 Major Plus division, J.K. Inc/Miken 50 (CA), would also earn the distinction of Triple Grand Slam, defeating Mid-Atlantic Softball (VA), 27-9, in the U.S. National Championship game, before rolling four straight wins in bracket play, including a 24-17 victory over Team USA (MD) in the championship game.


J.K. Inc/Miken 50 - Men's 50 Major Plus Champions

After losing their first game in bracket play, TSC Miken Reloaded (GA) rattled off five straight wins in the elimination bracket en route to their third-place finish. Texas Mavericks also made a run through the elimination bracket with three straight wins to finish in fourth place, rounding out the top four finishers.

Continuing with the 49-team Men’s 50 Major division, which was split into two pods, American and National, Team Texas/Wood Law, West Coast Water 50s (NV), NorCal Thunderstruck (CA), and Elmwood Sports Center (RI), all reached the final day of play undefeated in the championship bracket. In addition, eight squads from the elimination side of the bracket were still alive at that point.

Of the four unbeaten teams that were in the driver’s seat to win it all, needing to lose twice to be eliminated, it would be NorCal Thunderstruck completing the perfect weekend with three straight wins, including a 28-17 triumph over Elmwood Sports Center in the championship game. West Coast Water 50s finished in third place, while Team Texas/Wood Law finished in fourth place.

KM Sportz (CA) defeated Ohio Elite/A&B in the U.S. National Championship game 38-29, but would be unable to complete the Triple Grand Slam, going 2-2 in bracket play.

The final division of the group was the six-team Men’s 50 AA division, as Fifty GZ (TX) defeated Gray Ghost 50 (IL) 17-13 in the “if” game. Following an 0-2 record in seeding play and dropping their opening game in the bracket, Gray Ghost won five straight games, including a 14-13 win over Fifty GZ in the championship game. Trailing 13-11 heading into the open inning, Gray Ghost scored three runs in top half of the inning to go ahead 14-13, and held Fifty GZ scoreless in the bottom half of the inning to preserve the win and force the “if” game.

Top seed Advil Knights finished in third place, while Big Horn Construction/Life Fitness (MN) finished in fourth place.

FINAL RESULTS

Third Session (Men's 50)

Men’s 50 Major Plus
1. J.K. Inc/Miken 50 – TOC / Triple Grand Slam (Western National/U.S. National/World Masters Champion)
2. Team USA (MD)
3. TSC Miken Reloaded (GA)
4. Texas Mavericks

Men’s 50 Major
1. NorCal Thunderstruck (CA) – TOC
2. Elmwood Sports Center (RI)
3. West Coast Water 50’s (NV)
4. Team Texas/Wood Law
KM Sportz (CA) – U.S. National Champion

Men’s 50 AAA
1. Roadhouse Blues/BP & Associates (PA) – TOC / Triple Grand Slam (Eastern National/U.S. National/World Masters Champion)
2. Straight Gas (VA)
3. Top Gun 50s (CA)
4. Team O50 (IL)

Men’s 50 AA
1. Fifty GZ (TX) - TOC
2. Gray Ghost 50 (IL)
3. Advil Knights (CA)
4. Big Horn Construction/Life Fitness (MN)