Record 52 Teams Compete in Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships

July 1, 2019

SALEM, Ore. - The 14th annual Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships was held here for a fourth straight year, hosting 52 teams at Wallace Marine Park Softball Complex, July 9-14. Timber Linn Park in Albany was also used for overflow of games.

The Northwest Championships was renamed after Jim Sherman in 2010 following his death. Sherman, who served as the chief safety officer for the Seattle Fire Department for 30 years, also served as SSUSA’s National Umpire-In-Chief/Safety Officer. Sherman was instrumental in developing SSUSA’s safety program in CPR/defibrillator training for umpires and directors.

Sherman was a member of SSUSA’s inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2009.

The 2019 edition of the Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships began July 9 with 14 teams from the Men’s 65-75 age divisions in action.

The opening day featured seeding play, while the majority of Wednesday’s games were rained out, before returning with bracket play on the final day on Thursday.

The only games that were played on Wednesday was the best of three series in the Men’s 70 AAA Division between 4 Seasons Screen Printing (OR) and Sims (WA).

4 Seasons Screen Printing took the opening game 13-3, before Sims battled back to even the series with a 16-8 win in game two.

The rubber-match saw 4 Seasons Screen Printing take the division with an 18-13 win.

Continuing the tournament with the five-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum Division, the top two seeds squared off in the championship game.

Building on its momentum following their convincing 18-3 win against top seed Auto Accessory Distributing 65 (OR) to get into the championship game, Last Call 65 (NV) edged out Auto Accessory Distributing in a thriller, 23-22, in the championship game.

Last Call 65 (NV) - 65 Major - Men's 65/70 Platinum Champions

Facing a 17-15 deficit heading into the open inning, Auto Accessory Distributing plated seven runs to go ahead by five, 22-17.

Needing six to complete the walk-off, Last Call did just that in their half of the final inning to take the division, 23-22.

After winning back-to-back elimination games, Enviro-Vac Marauders 70 (BC, Canada) finished in third place.

In the four-team Men’s 65/70 Gold Division, top seed Vancouver USA-Wooly’s 65 (WA) registered a perfect tournament. The team began with a 2-0 showing in seeding play, followed by a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 23-20 win over Aro Glass Clubbers 65 (WA) in the championship game.

As the highest finishing 65 AAA team, Aro Glass Clubbers would go on to earn a TOC berth for their respective division.

Grey Sox 65 (WA) finished in third place.

In the three-team Men’s 70/75 Gold Division, top seed General Equipment 75 (OR) went 2-0 in seeding play, and 2-0 in bracket play, including a 13-10 win over Silver City Brewers 70 (WA) in the championship game. W.E. Ruth Realty 75 (WA) finished in third place.

General Equipment 75 (OR) - 75 Major - Men's 70/75 Gold Champions

The remaining 38 teams in the Men’s 40-60 age divisions began the second session of the tournament, playing July 12-14.

In the seven-team Men’s 40 Platinum Division, two teams entered bracket play with undefeated records, as Smash It Sports Northwest (WA) and NW Legacy (WA) each went 2-0 in seeding.

Of the two teams, NW Legacy continued its perfect play, going 4-0 in bracket play, including a 20-1 win over NorthWest Legends (WA) in the championship game.

NW Legacy (WA) - 40 Major Plus - Men's 40 Platinum Champions

As the highest finishing 40 Major team, NorthWest Legends would also go on to earn a TOC berth for their respective division.

BulletProof/Beus Excavation (ID) finished in third place.

In the three-team Men’s 40 AAA Division, Northwest 40 (WA) went 3-0 in bracket play, including a 25-10 win over The Place to Be (WA) in the championship game. Armstrong Transport (WA) finished in third place.

NorthWest 40's (WA) - Men's 40 AAA Champions

In another seven-team division, the Men’s 50/55 Platinum Division, top seed Easton Reds went 2-0 in seeding play, before rattling off three straight in the bracket, including a 20-12 win over PDX/DeMarini (OR) in the championship game.

Washington Legends (WA) finished in third place after winning three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket.

In the five-team Men’s 50 Silver Division, Oregon Contractors Mobile App (OR) took the No. 1 seed after going 2-0.

The team continued its winning ways in bracket play, going 3-0, including a 24-19 win over VC/Miken (WA) in the championship game.

As the highest finishing 50 AAA team, VC/Miken would also go on to earn a TOC berth for their respective division.

Joe’s Sports Bar (OR) finished in third place.

In the three-team Men’s 55 Major Division, Doerflinger (WA) came out of the elimination side of the bracket with a 22-17 win over Srcap Iron-Colorado Home Fitness in the third place game, before posting back-to-back wins over Trachsel Auto Body (OR) in the championship (20-12) and “if” game (19-14).

In the five-team Men’s 60 Major Division, Goodman Racing (WA) entered bracket play as the top seed after going 2-0 in seeding play. However, in bracket play, it would be Wolfpack (WA) who would go undefeated, as the team posted a 3-0 record, including an 18-7 win over Goodman Racing in the championship game.

Wolfpack defeated Goodman Racing earlier in the bracket as well, 28-21, to reach the championship game.

Bulldogs (OR) finished in third place after winning a pair of games in the elimination side of the bracket.

In the four-team Men’s 60 AAA Division, Senior Bend Elks (OR) entered bracket play as the No. 1 seed following a 3-0 showing in seeding play. The team continued its strong play in the bracket, winning their first two games to reach the championship game. However, Senior Bend Elks was unable to complete its undefeated run, as Scrap Iron Heavy Metal (CO) earned back-to-back wins, taking the championship (16-10) and “if” (20-17) game.

Scrap Iron Heavy Metal (CO) - Men's 60 AAA Champions

Scrap Iron Heavy Metal fell to Senior Bend Elks, 28-15, to drop down into the third-place game. The team would rebound with a 28-14 victory over Cascade Thunder (OR) to secure their spot in the championship game, setting up their championship run.

In another four-team division, the Men’s 60 AA Division, Vancouver-Wooly’s (WA) ran three straight in the bracket, including a 24-21 win over Pastimers (WA) in the championship game.

Vancouver-Wooly's (WA) - Men's 60 AA Champions

Pastimers won two straight elimination games to en route to their runner-up finish.

Top seed East West Aircraft Sales - Two (ID) finished in third place.