2014 Michigan “Last Chance” Major tournament preview!
Miken
"Last Chance" Major
Nationwide Conference USSSA!
August 8-10
Tournament Preview
The Michigan "Last Chance" Major will be played this Friday-Sunday, August 8-10 in Sterling Hts Michigan just outside of Detroit at the Liberty Park of America. The tournament was named the "Last Chance" because in the old days of softball you had to be the highest finishing team that did not have a berth to get to the Major World Series and it was the last regular season qualifying event. Today, the "Last Chance" moniker still fits because it is the last chance for Nationwide Conference USSSA teams to score points and finish in the top 16 to be awarded a Major World Series berth. Teams that finish in the top 16 after Michigan also get to play in the Conference Championships over Labor Day weekend which is used as a 7th tournament for the points standings which could further affect a team's seeding for the World Series. And teams that finish 17th through 32nd get invited to the Conference Qualifier over Labor Day weekend where the winner is awarded a berth to the Major World Series as well.
The tournament weekend kicks off on Friday night with first round games at 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM followed by the traditional home run derby which is usually a 64 player bracket style elimination tournament. Play resumes on Saturday morning at 8 AM with a couple of key matchups and a big round of winners bracket games at 11 AM.
Team Breakdown:
32 Teams Overall
28 Nationwide Conference USSSA Teams (Most ever for the Last Chance. There were 21 Conference teams last year)
4 Major Teams
6 'A' Teams
14 'B' Teams
6 'C' Teams
1 'D' and 'E' Teams
Media Coverage
USSSALive.com will be streaming fields #2 and #3.
The SoftballCenter.com Chat Room will be open all weekend. For the big 11 AM eastern time winners bracket games I am going to turn on the Radio station on the Chat Room page and walk around to the 6 fields and give updates so tune in.
Let's take a look at the bracket:
There are some incredible first round matchups. 3rd Street and West Coast Newbreed. 4 The Fallen and Pure Romance. TG Brand and Bad Draw. Combat/Blockers and H. Auto. B&B Drywall and P&P 333. Taylormade and Xtreme. B&B Diamond&Ice and Broughton. And even better 2nd round matchups and beyond. But teams vying for one of the final major berths will have to make their points in the loser's bracket because the top 4 teams Resmondo, Laservision, Albicocco, and Baugh are playing almost too good to be upset early on.
In the top quarter of the bracket Team Albicocco will face the Precision vs 3rd Street/Newbreed winner to go to the final 4.
In the second quarter of the bracket Laservision should beat the TG Brand vs Line Drive winner.
In the third quarter look for Baugh Ford to take on the Backman vs Reds Astros winner (Seems like these two teams face off early in every big tournament).
In the bottom of the bracket Resmondo should await the Team Combat vs Taylormade or Xtreme winner.
Milk is our guest picker of the week as he took over the Pickem contests points lead:
1) Resmondo
2) Laservision
3) Albicocco
4) Baugh Ford
DW's final picks:
1) Resmondo-Specialty Tank Worth – they are looking to wrap up the #1 seed for the Major World Series.
2) Laservision/H Auto/JJ's/Easton – Been playing second fiddle lately.
3) Line Drive Sportz/R&M Metals/Easton – Due for a big weekend in front of home area sponsor.
4) Baugh Ford/Doerflinger/National Pawn/Klutch/Easton – Just because thats what they do, play on Sundays.
Tied for 5th) Team Albicocco – actually capable of winning this.
Tied for 5th) Red's Astros – have made deep runs the last two years in Michigan.
Voters are still hanging with Laservision about equal to Resmondo. For the season they are very close in both Conference points and SoftballCenter computer rankings.
Liberty Park Field Dimensions are all 300 feet deep with 6 foot high fences
33600 Mound Road
Sterling Heights MI 48310
Notes from around the Conference:
Vivid dropped back to 'B' from 'A'.
4 The Fallen re-classified to Major from 'A'.
3rd Street picked up infielder Brandon Hubbard.
Adiktive sponsor Mike Westfall has joined West Coast Newbreed.
Team Albicocco picked up Steve Allen.
Tailgaters picked up Bryan Lang.
B&B Drywall picked up Lyf Nimmo and Chris Potts.
Baugh Ford picked up infielder Kevin Lucas.
Team Combat picked up outfielder Josh Carter.Cash House picked up Marce Porcello
B&B/Diamond & Ice picked up pitchers Cam Byars and Kevin Johnson.
Broughton picked up Curtis Cornett, Chad Folsom, PJ Garcia, Jason Magnum, Tommy Melton, and Josh Wiggs.
There are a bunch of free agents at all positions with extensive Conference and world experience looking for teams. Hit me up at dw@softballcenter.com and let me know what you are looking for.
Note: Friday is the roster deadline so there could be more moves.
Weekend Weather
2013 Winner – Resmondo-Specialty Tank/Worth
2012 Winner – Resmondo-Specialty Tank/Worth
2013 Michigan tournament report link
2012 Michigan tournament report link
2011 Michigan tournament report link
2010 Michigan tournament report link
The main fields with some HR distances posted
2013 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-Specialty Tank Worth
2 IN-B Reds Astros/Slugger/Stucco/Dirty
3 MI-A Line Drive Sportz/SSS/Miken
4 NY-A Albicocco/The Scene/Easton
2012 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank worth
2 TN-A SHOPPE / TEAM TPS / ELITE
3 IN-B Reds Astros/tps/sports den
4 IA-A R&M Metals/troupe/pipac/s&r/easton
2011 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank / worth
2 IA-A R&M metals/troupe/tcp/easton
3 VA-A Team 454 Emerald/Worth
4 WA-M Team combat/laservision/d2e/supreme
2010 Results
1 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse
2 FL-M Resmondosport/specialty/phonemaster
3 TN-A Jean shoppe-easton-down2earthsports
4 WA-A Team combat / laser vision
2009 Results
1 MN-M Long haul/miken/phonemasters
2 TN-A Jeanshoppe/chaneys/easton/sports55
3 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank-worth
4 MI-A Bud light/tps/linedrive/sports55
2008 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/specialty tank/worth
2 CA-M Dan smith/menosse/benfield/combat
3 MN-M Long haul/phonemasters/miken
4 IL-A Ropeclub/hennessys/onqclub/easton
2007 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo Softball
2 FL-M Bellcorp/belcher/tai/backman
3 TN-A JEAN SHOPPE / WORTH
4 GA-A Aubrey's/elite sports/phone masters
2006 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo – KME Softball
2 MI-A Northwest pipe/bud light/3n2/easton
3 FL-M Bell corp/taylor/belcher/easton
4 WA-M Team Combat
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