Salem Hosts Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships For Third Straight Year

July 1, 2018

SALEM, Ore. – The 2018 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships was held here at Wallace Marine Park Softball Complex with 43 teams in action, July 10 – 15.

The Northwest Championships honors the late Jim Sherman, a long-time national director, umpire-in-chief, national safety director and the first player inducted to the SSUSA Hall of Fame.

The tournament kicked off July 10 – 12, with nine teams competing in the Men’s 65 – 80 age divisions.

Beginning with the Men’s 65 Major Division, Enviro-Vac Marauder 65 (BC, Canada) swept Oregon Crabs by scores of 21-20 and 21-13, respectively, in a best two-out-of-three games series.

In the three-team Men’s 65 AAA Division, top seed Aro Glass Clubbers (WA) defeated Scrap Iron 5280 (CO), 19-10, to start bracket play, and then defeated the team again, 20-17, in the championship game. Stagecoach Saloon (OR) finished in third place.

Codgers/BCT (ID) defeated General Equipment (OR) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 70/75 Platinum Division. General Equipment struck first, taking game one, 21-8; while Codgers/BCT evened the series with a 18-10 victory in game two. In the third and final game, Codgers/BCT took the rubber-match, 13-8.

Suburban Auto Group (OR) swept Fairway Ford (CA) by scores of 18-17 and 24-9, respectively, in the best two-out-of-three game series for the Men’s 75/80 Gold Division.

The tournament resumed July 13 – 15 with 34 teams competing in the Men’s 40 – 60 age divisions.

Starting with the Men’s 40 Major Plus Division, Team Haras (WA) swept Cody Staffing/Dirty Sports (WA) in a best two-out-of-three game series by scores of 29-22 and 21-16, respectively.

No Limit/Fay’s Sports (CA) rebounded from its 16-9 loss in the championship game of the six-team Men’s 40 Major Division against J&L Athletics (WA), with a 28-15 win in the “if” game. J&L Athletics won four straight elimination games, including their win in the championship game, before falling short in the “if” game. Top seed NorthWest Legends 40 (WA) finished in third place. No Limit/Fay's Sports played with heavy hearts, as the team received some heartbreaking news the day before leaving for the touranment. The father of one of their teammates, Jeff (Cookie) Cook, passed away, losing his battle with cancer. The team dedicated the victory to the memory of Mr Cook. The team they defeated, J & L Athletics, had a similar adversity and has a player, who is currently in a battle with cancer. 

No Limit/Fay's Sports (CA) and J&L Athletics (WA) pose for a post game photo

Top seed PDX 50/DeMarini (OR) posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 21-18 win over Hara’s/Jersey Lilly 50s (OR) in the championship game of the four-team Men’s 50 Platinum Division. Washington Legends finished in third place.

Top seed Westcoast Athletics (WA) took the seven-team Men’s 50 AAA Division, going 2-0 in seeding play, before posting a 3-0 record in the bracket, including a 20-14 win over Calhoun/Michael’s Toyota (WA) in the championship game. Vancouver Connection (WA) finished in third place.

CornerStone (OR) defeated NW Legends (WA) in a best two-out-of-three game series for the Men’s 55 Major Plus Division. After forfeiting their first game of the series, CornerStone came back to win games two and three by scores of 23-8 and 27-9, respectively.

The Men’s 55 Major Division also featured a best two-out-of-three game series, with Doerflinger (WA) getting the better of WPI/Wilson & Sons (ID). WPI/Wilson & Sons got on the board first, scoring a 25-21 win in game one; while Doerflinger took game two with ease, 21-11, to even the series. Doerflinger completed the come-back with a commanding 39-19 win in the third and final game.

The Men’s 55 AAA Division similarly saw a best two-out-of-three game series, as Trachsel Auto Body 55’s (OR) took care of business against Rogues (OR). With Traschsel Auto Body taking game one (14-12) and Rogues taking game two (24-23), the division would come down to a third decisive game, with Trachsel Auto Body earning the 24-18 victory to seal the championship.

Goodman Racing (WA) won the four-team Men’s 60 Major Division going 3-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 13-12 win over Bulldogs 60’s (OR) in the championship game. Scrap Iron High Octane (CO) finished in third place.

Northwest Softball Club/Underdogs (WA) defeated Senior Bend Elks (OR), 20-15, in the championship game of the five-team Men’s 60 Silver Division. Vancouver USA-Wooly’s (WA) finished in third place.

CLICK HERE for complete game-by-game scores.