Kansas City Metro SSL Hosts 13th Annual 2023 Wes Weddle Classic

May 1, 2023

By Clint Berger & Nic Francois
Softball News Report

LEE’S SUMMIT, MO.. and OLATHE, KAN. – 38 teams, representing six states, competed in the 2023 Wes Weddle Classic, May 18-21.

This year’s annual Wes Weddle marks the 13^th anniversary of this tournament, sanctioned by Senior Softball USA back in 2011. The tournament’s namesake is Wes Weddle, the founder of the Kansas City Metro Senior Softball League, which hosts the Wes Weddle Classic.

The first session of the tournament was the victim of Mother Nature’s rain which started around 10 o’clock Friday morning and continued through the end of the day. Some divisions were revised to shortened games and some were cancelled with the winners declared, whichever teams was in the lead at the time of cancellation.

Session two remained unaffected by weather and was “able to provide a more detailed listings for the Saturday/Sunday division games,” according to Tournament Director and President of the K.C. Metro League Clint Berger.

Results:

Men’s 50+ Major: This championship was captured by Senior Dogs (MO) with a narrow 21-20 win over Minleon-Maher (NE) in a best 2 out of 3 game format.

Men’s 50+ AAA: KC Vintage (MO) won this division 24-23 as a result of a 3-run walk-off home run in the IF game against the second-seeded SSC/Persuaders (KS) who worked their way through the elimination bracket. Suncoast Midwest 50s II (MO) took third place.

Men’s 55+ Major: Vectra International/Big Biscuit (KS) came through the elimination bracket to face KC Elite (MO - photo below) in the championship game.  Vectra won the 1st championship game 25-7, but then lost to KC Elite 18-17 in the IF game via a solo-shot walk-off home run in the bottom of the open inning. Team Mission (MO) took third place out of four teams.

Men’s 55+ AAA: The fight for this crown came down to Alliance/Scrap Iron 55 (CO) and KC Stampede (MO). Alliance/Scrap Iron won the IF game, 17-10, with KC Stampede finishing as the finalists. Shockers (MO) finished in last place.

Men’s 60+ Major: Dudley Lightning 60 (MO - photo below) came through the elimination bracket to face Swingcoast Roofing (MO) in the Championship game. Dudley won 21-17 and then successfully double dipped Swingcoast Roofing, despite Swingcoast hitting two home runs in the open inning, making it close, 23-22. KC Elite finished third.

Men’s 60+ AAA: This six-team division was the largest in the tournament. Second-seeded Triple Crown (MO) went undefeated in the brackets, winning over Minnesota Thunder, 22-21. KC Stampede (MO) took third in a close 3^rd place game against the finalists, Minnesota Thunder.

Men’s 65+ Major: Minnesota Masters/Ancell was the lone, undefeated team in the championship bracket at the time of cancellation due to the weather and therefore the champion. The finalists, Dudley Lightning 65s (MO), were the last surviving team in the elimination bracket and was due to play Minnesota Masters/Ancell before the cancellation. Blue Speed AV (MO) came in third.

Men’s 65+ AAA: Big Daddy’s Donuts 65 (MO - photo below), again, were the lone, undefeated team in championship bracket at the time of cancellation due to the rain and were therefore the champion. Scrap Iron Xplosion (CO) was the last team to enter the elimination bracket and finished as the finalists. Third place went to 50 Caliber 65s (MO) as the last team to survive in the elimination bracket at the time of cancellation.

Men’s 70+ M-AAA: Due to the rain out, this division has Co-Champions – KC Kids (MO - Major) and Midwest A’s 70s (MO - AAA) as they were the two teams scheduled to play in the championship game when the tournament was cancelled. Carriage Homes Patriots (OK - AAA) finished third.

Men’s 70/75+ AAA-AA: As with the 70s division, Co-Champions – KC Kids (MO – 75AAA) and Not Dead Yet (KS – 70AA) were the two teams scheduled to play in the winner’s bracket’s next game when the tournament was cancelled. OK-ARK (OK – 75AAA) finished third.