SPA GIVES BACK TO PLAYERS AND WIVES AT MUSTANG TOURNAMENT

MUSTANG, OKLAHOMA – Add OKLAHOMA hospitality to Southern Hospitality and mix in a little bit of TEXAS “Howdy” and you will end up with a couple of great “Thank You “ hospitality events. Such was the case at the recent SPA MUSTANG CLASSIC.

SPA provided a warm welcome to the players and wives who were attending the tournament at MUSTANG, OKLAHOMA'S WILD HORSE PARK,with not one but two hospitality parties.

“ Sometimes people get so wrapped up in playing the games, we tend to forget some of the more important things in life,”RIDGE HOOKS, President and CEO of SPA said, “ Family is a major part of what we try to emphasis and this tournament offered us (SPA) the opportunity to say “thank you” to the wives who play a huge role in supporting their husbands in senior softball.”

Aided by his “adopted sons” KIP MEEK and SHANNON TAYLR, HOOKS was able to arrange a THURSDAY party for the 65, 70 and 75's and a SATURDAY event for the 50, 55 and 60's. Both functions were held at the MUSTANG SENIOR CENTER.

Thursday night saw MEEK, the Regional Marketing Director for SWADLEY'S BAR-BQUE handle the catering and set-up for the 65, 70 and 75's players and wives. Saturday night TAYLOR, the Marketing Manager for CHICKEN EXPRESS, took his turn at the catering “wheel” for the 50, 55 and 60's husbands and wives.

“The food was outstanding both nights, “HOOKS said, “I was proud of both my sons, they did a great job in setting everything up and following it through to the finish.”

“It was just a great time both nights, “ HOOKS said, “We put softball games on the back burner for a few hours and everyone got to mingle with the players and wives form the other teams. It just made us  all so much more appreciative for the time we get to share with each other because of softball”. 

EVELYN HAYES GOES DEEP NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AT PENSACOLA

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Move over BABE and HENRY and make room for the newest member of the history making “long ball club.”

EVELYN HAYES of the GOLDEN GALS 70'S Village team joined the group with a pair of shots over the 225-ft fence at  Pensacola, Florida's Exchange Park during the SPA WOMEN"S SPRING NATIONALS. The new “SULTANA of SWAT” also had a pair of ground rule doubles which one-hopped the fences.

“That is the first time any woman has hit it out at the SPA SPRING NATIONALS,” SPA National Women's Tournament Director JUDY LEE SCHREIBER said, “and EVELYN isn't on one of the 40-year young teams, she plays in the 70's Division.”

Hayes, who played thirty years with the Fort Lauderdale MIAMI DOTS in ASA competition before getting involved in senior softball six years ago, also added 15 RBI's and a .792 batting average to her fantastic tournament.

In addition it was a “no-brainer” to make HAYES the tournament MVP.

“That was a nice honor,” Hayes said, “But it meant more to me that we beat the SPORTACULARS (Ontario, Canada) to win the 70's championship. We had to go to an “IF” game to win the championship and that was a great feeling to win that game.”

Hayes did her part to beat the SPORTACULARS hitting her first home run in pool play against the ONTARIO team and nailing the second one in the “IF” game.

'The first one just barely made it over and I wasn't sure I had hit it out,” Hayes, who used a 27-oz ULTRA II for her homers, said, “The second one I knew was out when I hit it. It was one of the few good pitches I got to see after that first home run and I was waiting for any good pitch to tee-off on. The second one cleared the fence with plenty to spare.”

The GOLDEN GALS' right center fielder isn't even the team's clean-up hitter. Early in the tournament she hit in the third spot but was moved to the second hole in the “IF” game.

Although HAYES was the first woman to hit it over the fence, she thinks that it will eventually become a common thing in the women's tournament.

“That was one of the few times we (women) got to play on a woman's 225-foot fence field,” HAYES said, “Usually we play on 300-foot fence fields. Another thing is with SPA going all-out to improve and increase the woman's division, more teams and more players will be participating in SPA tournaments, so I think we will see more home runs but only if we play on the 225-foot fields.”

According to HAYES, the WOMEN'S SPRING NATIONALS was a high point of her softball career.

“To have my team win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP and for me to hit two home runs over the fence and be selected tournament MVP, it just doesn't get much better than that,” she said, “I really enjoyed the tournament and to be able to share the experience with my teammates made it that much more special.”

  MCMASTERS ATHLETIC COMPLEX HOSTS THIRTY-THREE TEAM EVENT

GEORGETOWN, TEXAS – It was nail-biting time at the 2012 SPA GEORGETOWN CLASSIC as the 33 teams saw thirty-four of the fifty games played decided by four runs or less in the nine division (50,55,60,65 GOLD, 65 SILVER,70 GOLD, 70 SILVER,75,80) tournament..

“It was unbelievable how close all the teams were which led to a ton of very competitive games, “ assistant SPA executive director and Georgetown Tournament Director Layla Bryan said,”We also had showed an increase from 27 teams in 2011, which shows we must be doing something right.”

“Except for a windy Thursday, the four-day event was played in “beach days” weather. It was warm and beautiful and just helped to make it a very enjoyable event..” Bryan added.

The 50's Division was a mirror of the entire tournament, especially in terms of its competitive nature. Check out these scores 15-14, 21-20, 24-21,28-25,26-25 and 27-26. The championship went to an “if” game with LONESTAR SOFTBALL besting WILLIE'S WOLVES 19-15 before falling 22-17 to WILLIES allowing the WOLVES to let out a big championship howl as they took the 50's crown... Finishing behind the top two were AUSTIN ROCK, BULLETS, OUTDOOR HOME and MIXED BREED.

GONZALES INSULATION has no skin left on its teeth as it squeaked by DALLAS SPURS 27-18, TEXAS LEGENDS 55'S 22-14, HOUSTON FIRE 18-16 and the TEXAS LEGENDS 55's in the championship game 13-11 to win the 55 DIVISION crown. HOUSTON FIRE was third followed by TEXAS CLASSICS and the DALLAS SPURS.

The TEXAS THUNDER came out of the loser's bracket to take the 60+ DIVISION trophy. After losing to TANEL/360/BUD LIGHT 21-20 in the bracket opener, the champs eliminated OOPS 21-20, got revenge by sending TANEL packing 22-15 and disposed of the DALLAS SPURS 26-14 to win the 60+ Division AAA crown. TEXAS MAKULI'S went undefeated in the AAA/MAJOR bracket to win the 60+ MAJOR DIVISION title.

In the 65+ SILVER DIVISION, the LEFTOVERS ran the table with three straight wins to take the five-team bracket award. HILL CONSTRUCTION claimed runner-up honors with the TEXAS GREYHOUNDS, HARRIS AUCTION and SAN ANTONIO REBELS rounding out the standings.

The TEXAS LEGENDS also ran the table in the 65+ GOLD DIVISION but it wasn't easy. The LEGENDS opened with a 24-23 win over the WILDCATTERS; followed by beating SAN ANTONIO LEGENDS 22-20 and wrapped up the championship with a 19-17 victory against the SAN ANTONIO LEGENDS. The WILDCATTERS took third place.

The RANGERS of NORTH TEXAS kept the “table-running routine” rolling by beating SAN ANTONIO CRACKERS 23-22, the TEXAS GREYHOUNDS 13-12 and the TEXAS GREYHOUNDS again in the championship game to win the 70+.GOLD DIVISION trophy.

In the 70+ SILVER DIVISION, HILL CONSTRUCTION beat the TEXAS CLASSIC 14-19, 26-25 and 25-19 for the championship.

The TEXAS GREYHOUNDS 75'S took the 75 DIVISION title followed by the CLEARWATER CRAWFISH and the TEXAN'S 75's.. The TEXAS CLASSICS 80'S were the 80 DIVISION champions.

“This was really an enjoyable tournament,” Bryan said, “ I always enjoy the first tournament of the year because you get to see all of the players and teams again. It is just like a big family reunion.'

All teams who finished first and/or second in the SPA GEORGETOWN CLASSIC earned spots in the inaugural SPA 2012 WORLD SERIES in JACKSONVILLE,FLORIDA October 31 and November 1,2 and 3.

The next SPA TOURNAMENT are the WOMEN'S SPRING NATIONALS, April 12-14 in PENSACOLA, FLORIDA; LONE STAR NATIONAL OPTIONAL RING TOURNAMENT, April 19-22 in PLANO, TEXAS and APRIL'S FINEST, April; 20-22 in CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA. Information on these events plus all 2012 SPA tournaments can be found on the SPA TOURNAMENT CALANDER SITE ::

http://www.softball-spa.com/SPAData/CalendarPrint.aspx

     MONTGOMERY'S LAGOON PARK SOFTBALL HOSTS SPA TOURNAMENT

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – The SPA SPRING NATIONALS held at LAGOON PARK SOFTBALL complex in MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA March 15-18 kicked off the 2012 SPA Tournament season with 34 teams battling for titles in the 50-60-65-70-75 age brackets.

The SPRING NATIONALS, which showed a gain from last year's tournament, was aided by perfect playing weather and a huge record-breaking turnout in the 50's Division where 16 teams were split into a GOLD and SILVER bracket.

“That was the most 50's teams we have had in the fourteen years of the SPA SPRING NATIONALS, “ tournament director NATALIE NORMAN said, “ We had a great group of teams participating in all the age brackets and we had outstanding weather, everyone seemed to have a great time.”

Alabama's AAA JAMES R. SMITH TRUCKING bested runner-ups Florida's DOC C's, AAA and the AAA MONTGOMERY SWARM for the 50's GOLD CROWN. HERO'S ENERGY SHOT from Georgia; LOUISIANA LEGENDS and the AAA LONGSHOTS from Georgia followed in the fourth spot with the MONARCH'S of Georgia in seventh.

The 50'S PLATINUM TITLE went to Louisiana Major team RANDY SMITH/LA SOFTBALL with South Carolina's TSC/HOWARD'S CONSTRUCTION earning runner-up honors. HOLLIS APPRAISALS from Florida finished third followed by Tennessee's AAA MONSTER SOFTBALL; Georgia Major SOUTHERN ELITE SOFTBALL; C&M SPORTINGS GOODS from Alabama; Georgia Major DT EXPRESS; Major TEAM ARKANSAS and CRYSTAL PHARMACY.

Georgia's COLUMBUS 55's swept fellow 55's AAA Division entry DIXIE SENIOR SOFTBALL from Alabama earning the 55's championship trophy.

FMSI a AAA team from Georgia claimed the top spot in the 60+ SILVER BRACKET while Florida's PENSACOLA 60's took second place. Two AAA teams the STRYKERS (Alabama) and MEMPHIS VETERANS (TENNESSEE) finished third and fourth.

In the three-team 60+ GOLD group EDGE SOFTBALL finished first followed by Alabama's AAA COLUMBUS LX and AAA GA/AL MASTERS.

The 65+ CROWN went to Georgia's SOUTHEAST 65's. AAA with SPORTS LETTERING from Tennessee and Alabama's AAA ORTHOPAEDIC MEDICINE finished second and third.

Three Major teams battled it out for the 65+ GOLD title with SENIOR MOMENTS from Florida winning the blue ribbon. Georgia's HUFFMAN ELECTRIC was second while third place went to Florida's PANHANDLE HITMEN.

ED'S ALUMINUM of Florida out dueled fellow major team SOUTHERN PRIDE of Alabama for the two-team 75+ title.

CENTRAL ALABAMA won the 70+ division with CRYSTAL PHARMACY taking the 60+ major crown.

“This was the first tournament we used the new on-line roster system to check-in players and it was great,” SPA Director on Site, DON CHERRY said, “It cut registration time almost in half and players didn't have to stand in line for an eternity to get registered”

“The whole tournament went smooth, NATALIE just did an outstanding job,”CHERRY continued, “You couldn't have asked for a better tournament atmosphere. The weather was in the 70's and low 80's; the competition was exciting; there was a great collection of teams; outstanding umpires; it was just a great all-around well run tournament.”

All teams who finished first and/or second in the SPA SPRING NATIONALS earned spots in the inaugural SPA 2012 WORLD SERIES in JACKSONVILLE,FLORIDA October 31 and November 1,2 and 3.

The next MARCH, SPA TOURNAMENT is the 2012 GEORGETOWN (TEXAS) CLASSIC followed by the SHAMROCK NATIONAL in DUBLIN, GEORGIA. Information on both events plus all 2012 SPA tournaments can be found on the SPA TOURNAMENT CALANDER SITE :

http://www.softball-spa.com/SPAData/CalendarPrint.aspx

MUSTANG, OKLAHOMA – Don’t be surprised if Softball Players Association (SPA) adopts the 1960’s Connie Francis song, “Where the Boys Are” as their official organization’s theme song. Nothing could be more appropriate to describe SPA’s tournament participation and team registrations for the 2011 season.

“This has been by far our best season,” Ridge Hooks, SPA president said, “We are up in all categories teams, players and tournament participation and I don’t mean up by just a little. These are major increases.”

Hooks credits SPA’s decision to concentrate on not flooding the market with small tournaments on same dates which constantly compete against each other for teams. In addition SPA tried to schedule tournaments within one tank driving distances from major population regions.

“We spent a lot of time this fall working on our schedule,” Hooks explained. “We used a 350 mile radius, for example in scheduling tournaments. We tried to avoid scheduling two tournaments on the same dates within that 350-mile radius.”

That concept along with one-tank tournaments has produced an increase team attendance at all qualifiers this year and especially in the mid-west and mid-east area.

“We  wanted to put a tournament package together that would be appealing to teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Canada, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia all which  would fall into that 350-mile radius for certain tournaments,” Hooks said,

One area which SPA spent a lot of time this fall lining up a schedule was the mid-west and the results have shown the effort to be worthwhile.

Starting with the initial SPA tournament in Dayton, Ohio with 20 teams; followed by THEE Buckeye Classic in Akron/Barberton’s 70-team event and Shelbyville’s 31 (maximum they could handle) team turnout the plan has worked well. Columbus, Ohio (in mid-July) is expecting at least 70 teams and Sylvania in August already is up to 40 teams.

“You have to have good tournament directors to make something like this go,” Hooks said. “All the directors have been working together to obtain teams and promoting each other’s tournaments in their mailers so the publicity and promotion has really been good.”

Another factor is all of the SPA Ohio/Shelbyville tournaments are AA/AAA only, which makes the attendance figures that much more amazing. However, Hooks still thinks the main factor has been location and the SPA reputation in the increase in teams and players.

“The opportunities for teams to play on a regional and then progress to the national level needed to be expanded,” Hooks explained. “S.P.A.is an organization driven by players and managers who are looking for new and exciting ways to play the game.”

“One of our main goals is to maintain the honesty and integrity of the game,” Hooks continued,” S.P.A. wants to give teams and players the opportunity to play closer to home and in a competitive setting.”

With the huge team registration numbers (only team registered from 2009-2011 are listed on the SPA rating site), the Dalton, Georgia National Tournament, September 8 – 18 should be the most attended ever.

“If team and player registration, as well as qualifier tournament entrees are any indication, this will be our biggest National tournament ever,” Hooks concluded, “God has really blessed our organization this year and He deserves all the credit and glory.”