Pool play began and there were several close and competitive games with Missouri barely getting by United KC 9-7 and Texas Fugitive besting Midwest Heat 12-11. When pool play concluded, the biggest surprise was the 2019 Show Me Classic Champs, San Antonio Law, finishing at the #11 seed. Not so much of a surprise was the defending Champion Great Lakes finishing as the #2 seed, only behind Colorado’s Angel Armor at the #1 seed.

As bracket play began, everything played out as expected, except a slight upset early on, when L&I Express, the new Indiana/Kentucky combo, defeated the hometown team Missouri Lawmen, knocking them to the loser’s side of the bracket with a long road ahead of them. Great Lakes came out the last undefeated team, after putting up SIXTEEN runs in the last inning to erase a nine run deficit and beat Angel Armor 17-10.

In the loser’s bracket, San Antonio rattled off a couple wins against Midwest Heat and United KC, before running into their nemesis, L&I Express and being sent back to Texas. Missouri racked up five straight wins, once in the loser’s bracket, against Texas Fugitive, Minnesota Lawmen, I-80 Cartel, L&I Express and Angel Armor. This set up the Championship game between Great Lakes and Missouri. This Championship game was one with several defensive gems on both sides, but the Great Lakes eventually came out on top, with a 7-4 victory. Great Lakes has now won this event four times in the last nine years.

The first five teams that were eliminated from the double elimination bracket were moved to the Elle Management drop down bracket. Dayton knocked United KC out of the tournament, before Midwest Heat won two straight, beating Dayton and then Minnesota via forfeit. Minnesota had two heat related issues with players and a possible season ending knee injury to HOFer Ken Fry(hope to see you back soon Ken!). This left the Texas Fugitive and Midwest Heat to meet in the Final. The Texas Fugitives showed the 110 degree heat didn’t bother them, as they wore long sleeves, and were too strong on day two of the tournament shutting down the Midwest Heat (10-7), to win the Elle Management bracket and bringing that title back to Texas with them.
I would like to thank the staff, grounds crew, and management at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex, for all their hard work throughout the weekend to help make sure the event ran smoothly. There were several others who helped make this event a success, and who deserve big thanks… Corny with DeMarini, Cheryl with Mattingly’s, Terri with Elle Management, Greg with Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, Todd with LHM, Doug with Grey Eagle, Jason with Lohr, Marcus with PBR, Dan with Dynamac Sports Gear, Cullen with the St. Louis Cardinals, and all of our sponsors.

Also, thank you to all the teams and their families who traveled to St. Louis to be apart of the Annual Show Me “Humidity” Classic, and were able to enjoy a great stress-free weekend of softball. AND finally, congrats to the entire Great Lakes team on yet another dominant weekend!

Final Standings:
1st – GREAT LAKES/MIKEN
2nd – Missouri/Stephs Boyz
3rd – Angel Armor/Stag Arms
4th – L& I Express
T5th - San Antonio Law/Shields For Kids
T5th – I-80 Cartel
T7th – Minnesota Lawmen
T7th – United KC
T9th – Midwest Heat
T9th – Dayton Metro
T9th – Texas Fugitive

Elle Management Bracket:

1st – TEXAS FUGITIVES
2ND – Midwest Heat
3rd – Minnesota Lawmen
4th – Dayton Metro
5th – United KC

All-Tournament Team:

Great Lakes - Jon Tibaudo #28 (MVP)
Great Lakes - Ty Rubio #5
Great Lakes - Travis Perkola #8
Missouri - Greg Kranz #3 (DEF MVP)
Missouri - CJ O’Brien #12
Missouri - Brendan Gilbert #10
Angel Armor - Tony Ortiz #5
Angel Armor - Dan Millard #24
L&I Express - Josh Ulery #33
L&I Express - Jake Tranchard #2