Two Triple Grand Slam Winners Highlight Session 1 of the 2020 WMC

Sept. 1, 2020

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The 2020 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships (WMC) began with the Men’s 55 and 60 age divisions on Sept. 17 here at The Canyon’s Complex, The Fields at Little Valley, Bloomington Park, and Archie H. Gubler Park.

A total of 136 teams, representing 26 states, played across eight divisions over a four-day span.

All but one division featured a U.S. National Game - which pits the winner of the Eastern National Championships against the winner of the Western National Championships.

In the seven games, the Western Champs held a 4-3 advantage over the Eastern Champs.

Winners of the Eastern/Western National Championships, the U.S. National Championship Game, and the World Masters Championship, complete the elusive Triple Grand Slam.

Two teams, Michael's Automotive Group 55 (WA) and LPC/Dudley 60 (CA), went on to complete the Triple Grand Slam; while three others posted runner-up finishes, falling just short.

Men’s 55 Major Plus (9 teams)

In the nine-team Men’s 55 Major Plus Division, San Antonio Softball (TX) defeated Ohio Elite/R Sports 37-32 to win the U.S. National Championships. The win locked up the top seed for the Western National Champs.

In bracket play, San Antonio Softball would go on to reach the championship game; however, the team would come up just short, falling to Sommerville Softball (CA) 31-25 in the championship game.

Sommerville completed a perfect tournament, going 2-0 in seeding, and 4-0 in bracket play. For Sommerville, this marks the team’s third straight World Masters Championship win.

Kelleher Firm/LeMay/Blue Mountain (FL) finished in third place after winning four straight elimination games, while Ohio Elite rounded out the top four.

Men’s 55 Major (25 teams)

Pope Transport (WI) player trots home to score.

The 25-team Men’s 55 Major Division featured a bit of déjà vu in the U.S. National Championship, as WPI/Wilson Auto (ID) and Ameriprise FL Legends slugged it out for a second straight year.

In 2019, WPI edged out Ameriprise, 17-16; while this year, Ameriprise returned the favor, with a thrilling one-run win of their own, 16-15.

Neither team would make it to Championship Sunday, as Scrap Iron/Rocky Mountain Thunder (CO) polished off a perfect four-day stretch, going 2-0 in seeding and 6-0 in bracket play, including a 33-16 win over Pope Transport (WI) in the championship game.

Pope Transport won three straight elimination games to reach the championship game, before running out of gas.

Vandals (CA) finished in third place, while Bad Seed (CA) made a valiant run through the elimination side of the bracket with six straight wins, en route to their fourth place finish.

L.A.F (CA) and Rock N Legends 9 (TX) rounded out the six teams that advanced to Sunday.

Men’s 55 AAA (31 teams)

Bond 1234/OSS/Phil's Painting (MA) firstbaseman awaits the throw.

In the 31-team Men’s 55 AAA Division, Michael’s Automotive Group (WA) completed the Triple Grand Slam. The Western National Champs defeated Old Stars (IN), 19-8, in the U.S. National Championship Game, and then went on to post a perfect 5-0 record in bracket play, including a 16-2 in in the championship game over Bond 1234/OSS/Phil’s Painting (MA).

After dropping their first game in bracket 19-17 against Graywolves (NM), Bond 1234/OSS/Phil’s Painting rattled off an incredible eight straight victories to reach the championship game.

Trachsel Auto Body (OR) finished in third place, while Old Stars rounded out the top four.

Overall, eight teams advanced to Championship Sunday, with Six Five O’s (CA), KC Vintage (MO), Texas Heat, and STL Road Dogs (MO) accounting for the other four.

Men’s 55 AA (4 teams)

So Cal Riptide (CA) posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a thrilling 14-13 win over top seed Arizona Blaze in the championship game of the Men’s 55 AA Division.

Spin Tees (WA), the U.S. National Champion by default, finished in third place.

Morris Clark Roofing & Siding (WA) rounded out the four-team division.

CLICK HERE for full game-by-game scores of the Men’s 55 Divisions (make sure to refresh your page).

Men’s 60 Major Plus (4 teams)

The Men’s 60 Major Plus Division featured a Triple Grand Slam winner.

Western Champ LPC/Dudley (CA) defeated Eastern Champ Omega IT Services, LLC (VA) 24-8 in the U.S. National Championship Game to complete the second leg.

In bracket play, LPC/Dudley cruised to the championship game, where they dropped a slugfest, 48-46, against Omega. The Western Champs would avenge that loss with a 29-14 victory in the “if” game.

The win continues a dominant run for LPC/Dudley, as the win marks the team’s fourth straight victory in the Men’s 60 Major Plus Division (2017-2020), and second Triple Grand Slam title (2017). The team also won the Men’s 55 Major Plus Division in 2016.

Texas Crush Sixties finished in third place, while Samurai (CA) rounded out the four team division.

Men’s 60 Major (20 teams)

Minnesota Merchants player up at bat in the championship game.

In the U.S. National Championship game in the 20-team Men’s 60 Major Division, Chicago Prime (IL) knocked off Vegas Elite (NV), 16-11.

Setting its sights on the Triple Grand Slam, Chicago Prime advanced to the championship game, but fell just short, losing 31-26 against Minnesota Merchants.

After going 0-2 in seeding play to enter bracket play as the No. 18 seed, Minnesota Merchants regrouped and posted a perfect 6-0 record en route to the championship victory.

The No. 19 seed, Scrap Iron/Rocky Mountain Thunder (CO) finished in third place following an impressive run through the elimination side of the bracket with six straight wins.

Arizona Elite finished in fourth place after winning three straight eliminaiton games.

Six teams in total advanced to Championship Sunday, as Houston Fire (TX) and Dudley Lightning Midwest (MO) were the other two teams.

Men’s 60 AAA (27 teams)

Weekend Warriors (CA) player up at bat in the championship game.

In the 27-team Men’s 60 AAA Division, the U.S. National Championship Game was a nail-biter, as Vecter Scorpions (FL) squeaked out a 20-19 win over Sidewinders (AZ).

In bracket play, Vecter Scorpions would eventually finish in fourth place, falling short of the Triple Grand Slam.

Coming from the No. 18 spot, 50 Caliber Silver St. Louis (MO) went 6-0 in bracket play, including a 14-9 win over Weekend Warriors (CA) in the championship game.

Scrap Iron Heavy Metal (CO) finished in third place.

Eight teams advanced to Championship Sunday, as Yeahoos (WA), Scrap Iron Xplosion (CO), Trachsel Auto Body (OR) and Sidewinders were the others.

Men’s 60 AA (16 teams)

In the 16-team Men’s 60 AA Division, Full Throttle (AZ) defeated NoVa STORM (VA) 27-21 in the U.S. National Championship Game.
 

Full Throttle reached the championship game; however, they would fall short of the Triple Grand Slam, losing the 16-5 against Texas Legends.

Texas Legends went 2-0 in seeding, and completed the perfect weekend going 5-0 in bracket play.

Buck Run Farms (NE) won four elimination games to eventually finish in third place, while MN Lumberjacks rounded out the top four finishers.

Scrap Iron Rockies (CO) and Tri City Legends (WA) were among the six teams that advanced to Championship Sunday.

CLICK HERE for full game-by-game scores from the Men’s 60 Divisions (make sure to refresh your page).