2014 – TN Fury 97, Whitwell, TN (held at Broken Arrow, OK)
2015 – Nebraska Gold Mizuno Heard, Lincoln, NE (held at Salem, OR)
2016 – Texas Bombers Gold, New Braunfels, TX (held at Broken Arrow, OK)
2017 – Florida Impact Feldman, Lithia, FL (held at Clearwater, FL)
2018 – Texas Glory Naudin, Frisco, TX (held at Plano, TX)
2019 – Tulsa Elite OKC Walde, Oklahoma City, OK (held at Plano, TX)
1994 – Gordon’s Panthers, Cypress, CA
1995 – Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA
1996 – Gordon’s Panthers, Cypress, CA (held at Stockton, CA)
1997 – Orange County Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (held at Oklahoma, OK)
1998 – Gordon’s Panthers, Cypress, CA (held at Phoenix, AZ)
1999 – So Cal Athletics Gold, Irvine, CA (held at Chattanooga, TN)
2000 – Katy Cruisers, Katy, TX (held at St. Louis, MO)
2001 – Katy Cruisers, Katy, TX (held at Marietta, GA)
2002 – OC Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (held at Broken Arrow, OK)
2003 – OC Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (held at Salem, OR)
2004 – Southern Force, Johnston City, IL (held at Marietta, GA)
2005 – Shamrocks, Vienna, VA (held at Salinas, CA)
2006 – OC Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2007 – Worth Firecrackers Rico, Huntington Beach, CA (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2008 – Gold Coast Hurricanes, Plantation, FL (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2009 – Sorcerer Gold Phil, Concord, CA (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2010 – East Cobb Bullets, Kennesaw, GA (held at Marietta, GA)
2011 – Team North Florida, Dunnellon, FL (held at San Diego, CA)
2012 – AZ Desert Thunder Gold, Tucson, AZ (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2013 – Atlanta Vipers Gile, Kennesaw, GA (held at Clearwater, FL)
2014 – Wagners Gold Dunn, Oviedo, FL (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2015 – Beverly Bandits, Grove City, OH (held at Hillsboro, OR)
2016 – Beverly Bandits DeMarini, Taylor Mill, KY (held at Oklahoma City, OK)
2017 – Virginia Unity Johnson, Spotsylvania, VA (held at Clearwater, FL)
2018 – Rock Gold Waye, Holland, PA (held at Plano, TX)
2019 – Excel Elite Williams, Sherman, TX (held at Plano, TX)
2011 held at Orlando, Florida on September 16-18.
Champion – Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/MAB/Easton, Cincinnati, Ohio
Runner Up – 1st Step/DCS, Miami, Florida
2011 USSSA MEN’S CLASS “B” WORLD TEAM
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/MAB/Easton, Cincinnati, OH (5-0)
2. 1st Step/DCS, Miami, FL (7-2)
3. Doerflinger/TSC/Pro-Coat/Combat, Seattle, WA (3-2)
4. Down2Earthsports.com/Worth, Baxley, GA (3-2)
5t. Checking/Worth, CT (4-2)
5t. Dave’s Place/Sports55/Miken, FL (3-2)
7t. Texas Miken Softball Club, TX (3-2)
7t. Fence Brokers/Gametime Supply/Worth, Bryant, AR (3-2)
9t. Deluxe Bakery, NJ (3-2)
9t. Primetime/Easton, Macon, GA (3-2)
9t. Gas It/Easton/Lewis Lawn Care, SC (3-2)
9t. Wiley’s/Supreme/Combat, FL (2-2)
13t. Team Demarini, CAS (2-2)
13t. PNH Softball, FL (2-2)
13t. Magic/National Gold/S&S/TYJA Sports, MA (1-2)
13t. Pipe/Players Warehouse/Dss/Easton, OH (1-2)
17t. Zamora’s All Out Sports/Team TPS, TX (1-2)
17t. A&K Tile/3rd St. Financial/TPS, OH (1-2)
17t. Line Drive/Triple SSS Sportscards, MI (1-2)
17t. T’s 13/Easton, Omaha, NE (1-2)
17t. Westshore Pizza, MI (1-2)
17t. The Scene/Easton, FL (1-2)
17t. Midwest Swing/Miken, IN (0-2)
17t. KTI/Cartel/DeMarini, WA (0-2)
25t. Joel’s Pizza/Reebok, FL (0-2)
25t. Team Evo, FL (0-2)
25t. Latinos De, Caracas, Venezuela (0-2)
25t. Doc A’s Team Combat, FL (0-2)
Blitz/Weller/Watanabe/MAB/Easton
1974 – Houston Blue Angels, Houston, TX
1975 – Loves Park Cougars, Loves Park, IL
1976 – Raiders, Sepulveda, CA
1977 – Citizens State Bank, Maryville, MO
1977 – Raiders, Sepulveda, CA
1978 – Ock Island County Rookies, Rhode Island, NY
1979 – Oklahoma City Jets, Oklahoma City, OK
1980 – Nor Cal Tremors, Fairfield, CA
1981 – Orcutt Express, Santa Maria, CA
1982 – Raiders, Sepulveda, CA
1983 – Santa Monica Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1984 – Santa Monica Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1985 – Santa Monica Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1986 – Inland Cities Raiders, Bellflower, CA
1987 – Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1988 – California Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1990 – Gordon’s Panthers, La Palma, CA
1991 – California Raiders, Santa Monica, CA
1992 – Orange County Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA
1993 – Gordon’s Panthers, Cypress, CA
1994 – OC Batbusters, Santa Ana, CA
1995 – California Waves, Santa Barbara, CA
1996 – Orland Park Sparks Red, Orland Park, IL (held at Eden Prairie, MN)
1997 –
1998 – Santa Fe Springs Rebels, Santa Fe Springs, CA (held at Sacramento, CA)
1999 – California Breeze, Sacramento, CA (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2000 – Blazing Angels, Bristol, PA (held at Normal, IL)
2001 – Arizona Alleycats, Green Valley, AZ (held at Salem, VA)
2002 – Sorcerer Softball, San Ramon, CA (held at Rockford, IL)
2003 – Sorcerer Softball, San Ramon, CA (held at Garland, TX)
2004 – Orange County Bat Busters, Santa Ana, CA (held at Clovis, CA)
2005 – Louisville Lady Sluggers, Louisville, KY (held at Columbus, GA)
2006 – Carolina Cardinals, Tobaccoville, NC (held at Owensboro, KY)
2007 – Artesia Punishers, Artesia, CA (held at College Station, TX)
2008 – Lemont Rockers DD, Lemont, IL (held at Owensboro, KY)
2009 – Tampa Mustangs, Tampa, FL (held at Las Vegas, NV)
2010 – Stone City Sharks, New Lenox, IL (held at Hemet, CA)
2011 – Indy Crush Walker, Indianapolis, IN (held at Normal, IL)
2012 – Central Florida Sting Black, Orlando, FL (held at Johnson City, TN)
2013 – Carolina Cardinals, King, NC (held at Salem, VA)
2014 – Tampa Mustangs, Tampa, FL (held at Montgomery, AL)
2015 – Windermere Wildfire Stutsman, Windermere, FL (held at Spartanburg, SC)
2016 – Carolina Cardinals Chandler, King, NC (held at Bloomington, IN)
2017 – Carolina Cardinals Chandler, Rural Hall, NC (held at Salem, OR)
2018 – Carolina Cardinals Chandler, King, NC (held at Salem, VA)
2019 – Alabama Sparks Elite Stewart, Harvest, AL (held at Montgomery, AL)
1989 – Batbusters, Fountain Valley, CA
1990 – Southern Cal Raiders, Valencia, CA
1991 – California Thunder, Covina, CA
1992 – Nighthawks, Anaheim, CA
1993 – Fresno Force, Fresno, CA
1994 – Gordon’s Panthers, Sylmar, CA
1995 – Batbusters, Anaheim, CA
1996 – Lady Sharks, San Jose, CA (held at Chattanooga, TN)
1997 – Fresno Force, Visalia, CA (held at Fresno, CA)
1998 – USA Athletics, Santa Ana, CA (held at Novi, MI)
1999 – California Cruisers, Buena Park, CA (held at Marietta, GA)
2000 – Tuff E Nuff, Los Angeles, CA (held at Garland, TX)
2001 – Case Batbusters, San Clemente, CA (held at Normal, IL)
2002 – Oregon Sun Supply, Beaverton, OR (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2003 – OC Batbusters, Yorba Linda, CA (held at Midland, TX)
2004 – Explosion, Cypress, CA (held at Bloomington, IN)
2005 – OC Batbusters, Orange County, CA (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2006 – OC Batbusters, Dove Canyon, CA (held at Seattle, WA)
2007 – Nashville Cruisers, Brentwood, TN (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2008 – Lady Magic, Elk Grove, CA (held at Owensboro, KY)
2009 – Northwest Blaze, Beaverton, OR (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2010 – OC Batbusters, Claremont, CA (held at College Station, TX)
2011 – The Next Level Delamater, Temecula, CA (held at Chattanooga, TN)
2012 – Tulsa Elite 95, Owasso, OK (held at Montgomery, AL)
2013 – Atlanta Vipers Berry, Sugar Hill, GA (held at Sunnyvale, CA)
2014 – Ohio Lasers Blue, Miamisburg, OH (held at Salem, VA)
2015 – Florida Fire 98, Brandon, FL (held at Chattanooga, TN)
2016 – Ohio Lasers Purple, Columbus, OH (held at College Station, TX)
2017 – Firecrackers Alabama Ingram, Moundville, AL (held at Normal, IL)
2018 – Washington Ladyhawks Breer, Puyallup, WA (held at Kent, WA)
2019 – Hotshots Platinum Knoop, Oviedo, FL (held at Salem, VA)
1973 – Sunflower Girls, Bluff City, KS
1974 – Oklahoma City Racers, Oklahoma City, OK
1975 – Bay City VIP’s, Bay City, TX
1976 – 7-Up Ladybugs, Topeka, KS
1978 – Roadrunners, St Louis, MO
1979 – Tulsa Archrivals, Tulsa, OK
1980 – Royal Aces, Eugene, OR
1981 – Lil’ Sports, Irving, TX
1982 – Shilos, Sylmer, CA
1983 – Inland Cities Panthers, Cypress, CA
1984 – Inland Cities Panthers, La Palma, CA
1985 – Gordon Panthers, La Palma, CA
1986 – Gordon Panthers, Buena Vista, CA
1987 – Batbusters, Fountain Valley, CA
1988 – Batbusters, Fountain Valley, CA
1989 – Crackerjacks, Santa Ana, CA
1990 – Crackerjacks, Santa Ana, CA
1991 – So Cal Outlaws, Huntington Beach, CA
1992 – Orange County Batbusters, Garden Grove, CA
1993 – So Cal Crunch, Chino, CA
1994 – So Cal Firecrackers, Irvine, CA
1995 – California Cruisers, Irvine, CA
1996 – So Cal Stealth Harris, Woodland Hills, CA (held at Midland, TX)
1997 –
1998 – Panther Gold, Sylmar, CA (held at Broken Arrow, OK)
1999 – Tuff-E-Nuff, Chino Hills, CA (held at Garland, TX)
2000 – California Cruisers, Tustin, CA (held at Panama Beach, FL)
2001 – San Diego Thunder, San Diego, CA (held at Broken Arrow, OK)
2002 – California Desperadoes, San Juan Capistrano, CA (held at Columbus, GA)
2003 – Corona Angels Red, Corona, CA (held at Normal, IL)
2004 – California Raiders, Corona, CA (held at Midland, TX)
2005 – USA Athletics, Cypress, CA (held at Owensboro, KY)
2006 – Smashers, Valencia, CA (held at Johnson City, TN)
2007 – American Athletics Naudin, South Orange, CA (held at Normal, IL)
2008 – Lakewood Ladies Black, Downey, CA (held at Midland, TX)
2009 – Victory USA Campbell, Cypress, CA (held at Marietta, GA)
2010 – San Jose Sting, San Jose, CA (held at Moline, IL)
2011 – Lasers Gold, Canton, OH (held at Midland, TX)
2012 – Tennessee Fury, Chattanooga, TN (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2013 – Texas Impact Gold Elder, League City, TX (held at Normal, IL)
2014 – So Cal Athletics Quarles, Cerritos, CA (held at San Diego, CA)
2015 – Southern Force Carroll, Paducah, KY (held at Salem, VA)
2016 – Lady Lasers Green, Columbus, OH (held at Sioux Falls, SD)
2017 – Tennessee Mojo 2021, Cookeville, TN (held at Dallas, TX)
2018 – Germantown Red Devils, Germantown, TN (held at Bowling Green, KY)
2019 – West Bay Warriors Gold, Foster City, CA (held at Roseville, CA)
1982 – Gordon’s, Buena Park, CA
1983 – Tri-City Gamblers, Buena Park, CA
1984 – Tri-City Gamblers, Buena Park, CA
1985 – Orange County Bat Busters, Los Angeles, CA
1986 – The Gamblers, Cypress, CA
1987 – Orcutt Mini Exp, Santa Maria, CA
1988 – Gamblers, Cypress, CA
1989 – So Cal Outlaws, Huntington Beach, CA
1990 – Bat Busters, Orange County, CA
1991 – Bat Busters, Garden Grove, CA
1992 – Arizona Storm, Phoenix, AZ
1993 – Cruisers, Irvine, CA
1994 – California Dynasty, Riverside, CA
1995 – So Cal Firecrackers, Santa Ana, CA
1996 – Southern California Stealth, Van Nuys, CA (held at Altamonte Springs, FL)
1997 –
1998 – Invasion, Anaheim, CA (held at St. Louis, MO)
1999 – San Diego Thunder Mateo, San Diego, CA (held at Fresno, CA)
2000 – Corona Angels, Corona, CA (held at Bloomington, IN)
2001 – American Pastime, Upland, CA (held at Garland, TX)
2002 – Minor’s Gold, Sun City, CA (held at Sterling, VA)
2003 – USA Athletics, Cypress, CA (held at Marietta, GA)
2004 – Minor’s Gold, Chino, CA (held at Moline, IL)
2005 – Lakewood Freeman, Lakewood, CA (held at Aurora, CO)
2006 – Synergy 93, Saugus, CA (held at Bloomington, IN)
2007 – Victory USA, Cypress, CA (held at Roseville, CA)
2008 – Corona Angels Smith, Corona, CA (held at Montgomery, AL)
2009 – Power Surge 96, San Diego, CA (held at Normal, IL)
2010 – Orange County Bat Busters Ray, Anaheim, CA (held at Bloomington, IN)
2011 – Firecrackers Brashear, Chino, CA (held at Montgomery, AL)
2012 – San Diego Power Surge 99, San Diego, CA (held at Moline, IL)
2013 – Texas Kaos, Missouri City, TX (held at Chattanooga, TN)
2014 – Arkansas Team Worth, Sherwood, AR (held at Bloomington, IN)
2015 – Texas Sudden Impact, The Woodlands, TX (held at Sacramento/Roseville, CA)
2016 – East Cobb Bullets 03 Heath, Newnan, GA (held at Salem, VA)
2017 – Illinois Force, Johnston City, IL (held at Dallas, TX)
2018 – Georgia Impact 2023 Lunsford, Lawrenceville, GA (held at Spartanburg, SC)
2019 – Tennessee Heat 06, Knoxville, TN (held at Normal, IL)
Q. I’ve heard Coors is sponsoring a national softball tournament. Can you give me more specifics
A. Coors has teamed up with the Amateur Softball Association (known as ASA and USA Softball) to create the Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series, the first comprehensive, nationwide, slow-pitch, amateur softball tournament.
Q. How do teams enter?
A. There are two ways for teams to enter the Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series: 1) Most teams will take a shot at scoring a direct berth in one of the 32 local championship tournaments held across the country by completing and mailing in entry forms to ASA between April 1 and April 26. Entry forms will be available nationwide on special Coors Light softball displays at participating retailers in March and April; 2) Teams also can enter by playing in a Coors distributor-sponsored qualifying tournament to be played in more than 300 towns across the United States beginning in late April. Winners of the qualifying tournaments advance to the local championship round.
Q. When will games take place?
A. Games will be played beginning in late April and will continue through the finals in October. There are four tiers of competition. From April to June, many Coors distributors will be sponsoring local qualifying tournaments. Winners of those tournaments will advance to 32 local championship tournaments played in June and July in major cities. Those 32 winners advance to eight regional playoffs which will be played in August and September. The eight finalists will battle for the Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series title in early October.
Q. Is it true there is prize money?
A. Yes. Winning teams of each local championship will receive $7,500. Regional playoff winning teams receive $20,000. The Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series final winning team receives $100,000. Only winning teams receive prize money or, as they say, winner takes all. There is no prize money at the local qualifying level.
Q. What exactly is the ASA?
A. Based in Oklahoma City, Okla., ASA – Amateur Softball Association (also known as USA Softball) — is the nation’s leading, and largest, amateur softball association and the national governing body of the sport. Its staff and more than 100 local commissioners sanction, organize and manage softball tournaments in all 50 states. ASA has more than 250,000 member teams and more than 50,000 member umpires.
Q. Do you need to be an ASA member team to participate in the tournament?
A. Any team can take a shot at entering. But if your team is chosen, there is a $175 team registration fee, which includes membership in the ASA.
Q. As a team progresses through the World Series, who pays for its travel expenses?
A. Each team is responsible for all its expenses, including travel.
Q. Even to the finals?
A. Yes, teams must pay for their own expenses to get to the finals.
Q. Is this a Coors Light brand promotion?
A. Yes. The Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series is Coors Brewing Company’s main or, as we say in the beer industry, “mega-promotion” for the spring season.
Q. It seems like quite a logistical undertaking.
A. Yes, it is. Most likely there will be close to 400,000 players taking the field in the Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series in more than 300 cities.
Q. Why did Coors choose softball?
A. Softball is the number one amateur participatory sport in the United States, with more than 40 million players. It is also a sport that demographically matches well with the marketing goals of Coors Brewing Company. Many softball players are beer drinkers.
Q. How much is Coors spending on this promotion?
A. Sorry, but for competitive reasons we don’t release promotional or advertising costs.
Q. This is a slow-pitch tournament?
A. Yes, men’s amateur Class C and D slow-pitch teams only.
Q. Are there any other player or team restrictions?
A. Yes. All team members must be legal U.S. residents and at least 21 years old by March 1, 1996. Each team is allowed a maximum of 18 members on its roster, including players, manager and coaches. All team members must be residents of the same state. Players cannot previously have participated on a class A or B team or played on teams that participated in A or B tournaments. As you can see, we want this to be a fair tournament and are trying to avoid entry or play by professionals, ringers or over-qualified teams.
Q. Last spring Coors had a round-the-world Concorde promotion. This year you’ve got a nationwide softball tournament. It seems you are developing some large and unusual promotions lately.
A. That’s true. We’re glad you noticed. Quite simply, Coors is dedicated to bringing consumers the most innovative and exciting promotions in the beer industry. Coors believes the Coors Light Presents USA Softball World Series will truly captivate and excite beer drinkers and sports fans. It will be exciting, and it will be fun.
Q. Why did you hook up with the ASA?
A. It’s simple. They are the sanctioning body of the sport.
Q. Then ASA manages the tournaments and games for you?
A. Yes. Through their staff, local commissioners and umpires, ASA manages the games and World Series. They run the events, Coors is the sponsor.
Q. What was the cost of your sponsorship with ASA?
A. Sorry, but Coors does not reveal its sponsorship or promotional costs.
Q. What marketing support will you be providing this promotion?
A. Coors will support the promotion with a complete line of exciting point-of-sale material, as well as radio advertising.
Q. I’ve also heard there is a special bottle to support the promotion?
A. Yes. To celebrate softball and its millions of players, as well as baseball in general, Coors is introducing the beer industry’s first bat-shaped bottle. The bat bottle is sure to hit a home-run with consumers and softball/baseball enthusiasts. The 18-ounce bottles, available in Coors Light and Original Coors, will hit retailers’ shelves nationwide in mid-March (not available in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama).
Q. Will there be TV advertising for the promotion or the bottle?
A. No, advertising will consist of radio only.
Q. Are there any cross-promotional offers or consumer tie-ins?
A. We will offer consumers, through our softball POS, the opportunity to purchase name brand softball equipment at very attractive prices. Items available include: Wilson softball glove; H&B; Louisville Slugger softball bat; H&B; batting gloves; Dudley softball; and Killer Loop sunglasses.
Q. Besides ASA, are there other companies working with you on this promotion?
A. Yes. Advantage International, a Connecticut-based marketing firm, is helping us manage the promotion. The Integer Group of Golden, Colo., designed the POS materials.
Q. If consumers want more information, especially on how to enter, what should they do?
A. For information on how to enter, consumers can call our toll-free softball hotline: 1-800-TO-COORS. But basically, consumers will need to obtain an entry form at a Coors Light softball display at participating retailers in late March or April, and mail their entry form to ASA between April 1 and April 26. Teams that don’t want to take a chance at entering the tournament through the mail, must enter via a Coors distributor-sponsored local qualifying tournament. Not all distributors are sponsoring tournaments.
Q. How will teams know if they have been selected for a spot in the local championship round?
A. The ASA will notify selected teams by mail on or about May 1. Others will be notified and placed on a waiting list.
Q. Will teams who mailed in entry forms be picked on a random basis in a drawing by ASA?
A. No. As clearly stated on the entry form, teams will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the order in which ASA receives their entry and request for registration form. Only entries post marked April 1 – April 26 will be considered.
Q. If your team is chosen, what then?
A. Your team manager will be notified and you will receive an official registration form which must be promptly returned with a registration fee of $175.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
August 10, 1996; Peoria, Arizona; Peoria Sports Complex
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 9:00am | Air Force Academy Flyers (USAF , CO) vs. Omaha Frame (Omaha, NE) |
| 10:30am | J.T. Zook’s (Phoenix, AZ) vs. N.U.T.S. (Ogden, UT) |
| 12:00pm | Championship Game |
August 17, 1996; Portland, Oregon; Portland Civic Center
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Stratford Homes (Couer d’Alene, ID) vs. Chateau Realty (McMinnville, OR) |
| 12:30pm | Smog Stop (Sacramento, CA) vs. Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) |
| 2:00pm | Championship Game |
August 24, 1996; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Three Rivers Stadium
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | B&L Painting (Mt. Airy, MD) vs. E-Jay’s/Bulls (Charleston, SC) |
| 1:00pm | ZoZo’s Softball (Pittsburgh, PA) vs. Fuddrucker’s (Richmond, VA) |
| 3:00pm | Championship Game |
September 14, 1996; Trenton, New Jersey; Mercer County Waterfront Park
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Astoria (Woburn, MA) vs. Frenchy’s Bar & Grill (Roselle Park, NJ) |
| 1:00pm | Jerry’s Softball (Wilkes-Barre, PA) vs. Investor’s Assoc. (Long Island, NY) |
| 3:00pm | Championship Game |
September 14, 1996; La Jolla, California, Triton Stadium
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | A-1 National Fence (Fresno, CA) vs. Sansone/TCS (Las Vegas, NV) |
| 12:30pm | Ruffnecks (Los Angeles, CA) vs. Balls Out (San Diego, CA) |
| 2:00pm | Championship Game |
September 21, 1996; Knoxville, Tennessee; Bill Meyer Stadium
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Kastaway’s (Marietta, GA) vs. Gremmels (Birmingham, AL) |
| 12:30pm | Paradise Christian (Miami, FL) vs. Extra Innings (Baton Rouge, LA) |
| 2:00pm | Championship Game |
September 21, 1996; Louisville, Kentucky; Cardinal Stadium
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Iron Horse Liquor (Owensboro, KY) vs. Mullinax Ford (Canton, OH) |
| 1:00pm | Oak Ridge Lndscpng (Ft Wayne, IN) vs. Granger’s (Milwaukee, WI) |
| 3:00pm | Championship Game |
September 21, 1996; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Driller Stadium
| Game Time | Teams |
|---|---|
| 11:00am | Braves (Ft Worth, TX) vs. Pending |
| 12:30pm | Oilfield Pipe (Bartlesville, OK) vs. Hustlers (Austin, TX) |
| 2:00pm | Championship Game |
It’s paradise on earth for the winner of the 1996 Coors Light.
After seven long months of competition, the first-ever Coors Light USA Softball World Series Champion has been crowned.
Paradise Christian School of Hialeah, FL emerged from a field of over 2,000 men’s C & D slow pitch teams from around the country that began the qualifying process for the event last April.
Teams qualified at local championships and then advanced through regional play picking up combined cash prizes totaling $400,000 along the way.
Eight teams ultimately advanced to Melbourne, FL with a shot at playing in the first ever Coors Light USA Softball World Series October 12. Along with the title, a grand prize of $100,000 was also awarded to the winner.
The eight quarterfinalists for the title included J.T. Zooks of Phoenix, AZ; Chateau Realty of McMinnville, OR; ZoZo’s Softball of Pittsburgh, PA; Astoria of Woburn, MA; Ruffnecks of Los Angeles, CA; Mullinax Ford of Canton, OH; Hustlers of Austin, TX; and Paradise Christian School of Hialeah, FL.
Quarterfinals
In the first day of competition, the field of eight was cut in half as Chateau Realty beat J.T. Zooks 24-7, Astoria beat ZoZo’s Softball 16-6, Paradise Christian beat the Ruffnecks 15-10 and Mullinax Ford blanked the Hustlers 13-0.
Semifinals
In the semifinals, Chateau Realty met Astoria to decide who would be the first team to reach the finals. Chateau Realty jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning before Astoria responded with eight runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by a 375ft. blast over the right center field fence by Jim Duran.
Astoria posted four more runs in the bottom of the third with a two-run triple by Dick Queen and a two-run inside-the-park home run by Scott Queen. After erupting for five runs in the second inning, Astoria held Chateau Realty scoreless and advanced to the finals with 15-5 win.
In the night cap semifinal, Paradise Christian faced Mullinax Ford for the remaining spot in the finals. Paradise took the early lead in the top of the first, scoring five runs and holding Mullinax scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
In the third, Paradise erupted for 11 runs after stringing together seven straight run scoring singles. Mullinax responded in the bottom of the third posting six runs, including a three-run home run by Rick Mast but still trailed 17-9. Paradise shut the door on Mullinax in the sixth by scoring 10 runs to take a 30-17 win. Joseph Someillan led the Paradise attack in the sixth with two triples.
Championship Finals
In the finals, in front of an estimated crowd of over 2,000, Paradise looked solid from the beginning posting two runs in the top of the first and four in the second to take a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the second.
Astoria responded with three runs in the bottom of the second to cut the lead in half. Both teams were scoreless in the third but Paradise struck for four more runs in the fourth to stretch their lead to 10-3.
Astoria managed only one run in the bottom of the fourth and was shutout in the final two innings. Paradise scored seven more runs to ensure their 17-4 victory.
“You could say somebody above was responsible for this,” acting coach Juan Stefano said. “Astoria comes in averaging more than 20 runs a game and they only get four runs. How can you explain that?”
Most teams would celebrate because they had just put $100,000 in their pockets but the Paradise team donated the money they had won during the tournament (a total of $127,000) to the Paradise Christian School. The school, which is located in Hialeah, FL, is for under privileged kids.
William Springer, who is the head master of the school and also team manager, was unable to attend the series because of an illness. The team mutually decided that the gift would be the best way to thank him for his support.
“This is very satisfying,” Paradise pitcher Charlie Graham said. “We play softball because we love it and have fun. But we wouldn’t be here without Springer, and this was a way of paying him back.”
Paradise didn’t leave empty handed as each team member received a trophy and a Coors Light USA Softball World Series leather jacket.
Ray Glisson of Paradise Christian was named the MVP of the World Series and was awarded a color TV and VCR, which he also donated to Paradise Christian School. During the series, Glisson went 8-11 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Runner-up Astoria also took home individual trophies and jackets as a consolation award.
After the success of the Coors Light USA Softball World Series in 1996, the program is expected to explode in an expanded version throughout the United States in 1997.
The finals of the World Series will be aired on ESPN on a tape-delay basis on Friday November 8 and on Friday, November 15 on ESPN2.
“From the concept stage forward we have been very excited about the potential of this great event. Now, after a full year of competition, we are especially excited to see how it has been received by the players. This program has the potential to become one of the biggest, most dynamic events to ever be a part of slow pitch softball. It’s something the players wanted and USA Softball is proud to be a partner with Coors Brewing Company in making it happen,” said Don E. Porter, ASA executive director.
| GAME 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chateau Realty (McMinnville, OR) | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 24 | 20 | 0 |
| J.T. Zooks (Phoenix, AZ) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 8 |
| GAME 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZoZo’s Softball (Pittsburgh, PA) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| Astoria (Woburn, MA) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 1 | – | 16 | 23 | 2 |
| GAME 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruffnecks (Los Angeles, CA) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 |
| Paradise Christian (Hialeah, FL) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 3 | x | 15 | 17 | 1 |
| GAME 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mullinax Ford (Canton, OH) | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Hustlers (Austin, TX) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| GAME 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chateau Realty (McMinnville, OR) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Astoria (Woburn, MA) | 0 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 15 | 17 | 1 |
| GAME 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Christian (Hialeah, FL) | 5 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 10 | – | 30 | 31 | 3 |
| Mullinax Ford (Canton, OH) | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 | 18 | 4 |
| GAME 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise Christian (Hialeah, FL) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | – | 17 | 18 | 1 |
| Astoria (Woburn, MA) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | 10 | 3 |
Championship Video – https://www.teamusa.org/usa-softball/video/2014/05/23/1996-coors-light-world-seriesvob?pg=12
