Wednesday March 27th, 2024
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North Carolina Major – Tournament Preview

"5th Annual Carolina Shootout"
July 30 – 31
24 Teams

The Conference USSSA plays its second to last regular season tournament at the Walnut Creek softball complex in Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend.   A real nice field of 24 teams including 9 Conference teams (5 of which are top 'A' teams) vying for their last precious points before the end of the season.

This will be my first trip to Raleigh and the games start at 8 AM on Saturday morning.   NC Bracket Link

In the top half of the bracket look for local B&B Sears, a veteran non-conference 'B' team, to give Primetime all they can handle in the second round.   Also look for Crusaders to take a shot at Shoppe.   I'll take Shoppe over B&B in the third round to go to the final 4.   I don't see Chente Granados on the Shoppe roster as rumored so maybe he decided to stay with Sonny's and the great year they are having.

I'll take Suncoast over Platinum Sports and Gas It in a close one over Deluxe Bakery then Suncoast over Gas It to face Shoppe in the final 4.  Gas It was falsely rumored to be disbanding.   Obviously untrue and I hear they are set to complete the season by playing in the Conference Championships and the 'B' World.

In the lower half lets go with Down2Earth over Sons of Legion and D2E to beat Darkside in a toss up to go to the final 4.   The how about Taylormade over Magic and 454 over Cedar Creek.    Lets go with the upset here and Taylormade over Team 454.   Have to have a few upsets.   I wonder if the Conference on base leader Wayne Habermehl (.846) will be playing with his new team 454?

In the final 4 I'll go with Shoppe over Suncoast and Taylormade over D2E with Shoppe winning the winner's final.

Final Picks
1) Shoppe
2) Team 454 to come out of the loser's bracket
3) Down2Earth
4) Taylormade
Tied 5) B&B Sears
Tied 5) Suncoast

All in all after the first round this tournament has an 'A' World flavor to it and a winner could definitely come from any of the 5 'A' teams and any of the 'B' teams could make a Sunday showing.

Weekend Weather
Saturday, July 30th – A t-storm late in the p.m. 101° Lo 76°
Sunday, July 31st – A couple of thunderstorms 95° Lo 73°
                                                           
Wow, 100 degrees.   We haven't seen that in the Conference this year.

I am hoping to do some broadcasting.   We'll play it by ear on the SoftballCenter.com homepage.   It is my understanding that they have some wifi there but no power down by the fields and no drop chords allowed by the city, so I will try to improvise and see what happens Saturday afternoon or evening and for the final games on Sunday morning.

  


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