"Battle in the West" – California Major tournament preview

"Battle in the West"

Tournament Preview

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The "Battle in the West" begins tonight in Mira Loma, California at the Big Leauge Dreams park called Riverside.  29 teams from 4 different States fight it out.  Looks like 6 of the teams are from the Nationwide Conference USSSA league, led by #6 Sonny's-Louisville Slugger who desperately needs a tournament victory to move up the points rankings and qualify for the Major World Series.  Then there is #10 West Coast Doerflinger – Easton who just got bumped from the 'B' division to the 'A' divsion and picked up infielder Chris Hansen and they are playing on their home turf in southern California.  #15 SBS/Combat from Northern California should also make a play for the tournament title as they finished 2nd in Seattle and also came close to winning the winner's bracket finals in Euless, Texas a two months ago.

Address : 10550 Galena Street Mira Loma, California – Southern 91752

Lets take a look at the bracket.  Bracket link:
Sonny's should get past AZM to make the final 4.  AZM does have a quality defense and a punchers chance at this game. 

Victory Custom Athletic picked up The Scenes shortstop Chris Arredondo and third baseman Charlie Case and moved to the 'B' division.  They also have some other players with Conference experience including Ed Vega from the Long Haul Bombers tour.  I have Victory losing to SBS/Combat in the quarter finals.

OC Swats continues to tweak on their roster picking up veteran pitcher Bryan Martin and outfielder Matt Suder from 4 The Fallen.  It should be an interesting quarter final when the two teams meet.  Wow, tough pick.  I'll go with Swats in the upset to make the final 4 but if Fallen has all of their players this one could go either way. 

In the bottom of the bracket I like West Coast Doerflinger to beat a very good Classic Glass team.

My final 4:
1) West Coast Doerflinger/Easton (too much defense, home cooking)
2) Sonny's – Louisville Slugger (more than capable of winning here)
3) Classic Glass/Easton/DSS
4) SBS/Combat (long shot to win tournament)
Tied for 5th) AZM
Tied for 5th) OC Swats