Only 3 out of 77 Teams Go Undefeated in 2022 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Championships

Aug. 1, 2022

   Only three of 77 teams that entered the 2022 Jim Sherman Memorial Northwest Championships this July pulled off an undefeated run through pool and bracket play.

   CornerStone out of Oregon won six games without a loss in the 60+ Major division.

   The Northwest Yeahoos of Washington pulled off the same feat in the 60+ AAA division.

   And Cascade Thunder of Oregon compiled a 5-0 mark to win the 65+ AA division.

   All other teams lost at least one game during the tournament.

   Except for two days when temperatures climbed into the 90s, teams enjoyed nice weather during the July 12-17 event played at two parks in the Salem, Oregon, area.

   Tournament directors received great feedback on the Wallace Marine Park fields in Salem. Park staff kept the place so clean it looked new every day, said Director Brian Pryor. The second complex, Bryant Park in Albany, proved to be an upgrade from previous years, Pryor said.

   Though doubling hotel prices kept some teams away, the tournament still grew by three teams from the previous record year of 74 entrants in 2021.

   “We hope to get more reasonable prices from the hotels next year,” Pryor said.

   The first session featured teams in the 65+ and older age brackets.

   In the four-team 65+ AAA men’s division, the top-seeded Gamers from Idaho (photo below) lost their first bracket game 10-8 and had to win their way through the elimination bracket to face Stor-A-Way/Grey Sox of Washington for the title. Gamers double dipped the Grey Sox 13-7 and 12-7. Last Call 65s of Nevada finished third.

   Three teams vied for the 65/70+ Platinum title won by top-seeded Oregon Crabs 65s, which defeated Timberworks/Suncoast of California 16-13 in the finale. REH Second Wind of Washington placed third.

   The Oregon Crabs 70s also nabbed a title by defeating Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia 15-8 in the championship of the three-team 70/75+ Platinum division. Omen 75 of California finished third.

   In the three-team 65+ AA division, the Cascade Thunder capped an unbeaten tournament with a 20-5 victory over runner-up VAN USA-Wooly’s of Washington. Northwest Silver of Washington placed third.

   In the four-team 70+ AAA division, Last Call of Nevada defeated Scrap Iron 5280’ of Colorado 12-9 to win the championship. Seattle 70 of Washington took third.

   Seven teams formed a combined 70/75/80+ Gold division. The Scrap Iron Diamonds of Colorado won the title by edging Mr. Plywood of Oregon 9-8 in the finale. W.E. Ruth Realty 75s of Washington finished third.

   The younger teams arrived for weekend play, with two women’s divisions joining the fun on the diamonds.

   Stayin’ Alive of Washington won the three-team Women’s 40+ Masters division by defeating Vintage 208 of Idaho 22-16 in the finale.  Idaho Spirit placed third.

   Snap Crackle Pop of Washington won the three-team women’s 50+ AAA title with a 14-5 championship game victory over Bend Blockbuster of Oregon. The Northwest Lady Warriors of Washington took third.

   In men’s play, eight teams battled in the 40+ Masters/50+ Platinum division. The Northwest Legends 40s of Washington lost both of its pool game but then ran unbeaten through the bracket, capped by a 23-17 title game victory over Smash It Sports Northwest 40s of Washington. The Northwest Legends scored at least 23 runs in each of the team’s four bracket games. Cody Staffing/A3, a 40+ Major-Plus team from Washington, finished third.

   The Rough Necks of Washington (photo below) won the six-team men’s 40+ Masters AAA division by defeating Style/Integrity/Sutton of Oregon 16-14 in the title game. GTR of Oregon finished third.

   Assured Products Group of California won the three-team men’s 50/55+ Platinum division. After surviving two one-run games earlier in bracket play, Assured defeated the Easton Reds of Washington 28-16 for the title. Cody Staffing/SIS/A3 of Washington placed third.

   A best-of-three format decided the two-team 55+ Major division. The Wolfpack/Washington Legends defeated Oregon Elite 24-16 in the first game, lost the second game 21-20, and won the rubber game 25-24.

   In the seven-team 50+ AAA division, second-seeded Northwest Jokers of Washington (first photo) defeated All-Quip/SOWC of Oregon (second photo, along with NW Jokers) in the championship game 23-16. Pro Vision/Café Elite of Washington finished third.

   Top-seeded VAN Connection of Washington won the four-team 50/55+ Silver division with a 21-8 title game victory over Stars & Stripes 55 of Oregon. VAN’s only loss was a one-run defeat in pool play. Third place went to Alaska 49ers/Residential Mortgage.

   Top-seeded CornerStone of Oregon won its games by an average of 12 runs until reaching the championship of the eight-team 60+ Major division, where the Washington Legends gave them a fight. CornerStone won that game 12-11. The Tri-State Kings of Alaska finished third.

   The Northwest Yeahoos defeated Chelu of Oregon 21-12 for the title of the four-team 60+ AAA division. Haulin’ N Ballin’ 60 of Washington placed third.

   The Spin Tees of Washington won the three-team 60+ AA division by double dipping Tri City/TimeShare of Washington 11-9 and 19-11. Mike’s Bar & Grill of Washington finished third.