The player party on Friday night was moved last minute to a new venue called VooDoo Bayou near the host hotel. It had a cool vibe and allowed us all to enjoy seeing everyone and enjoy some great comradery.

Saturday morning brought bracket play. 3 brackets of 5, with a 5 game guarantee. After some great games and beautiful weather, the top seeds in each bracket were the Hounds, TBL and Max Elite. With odd teams in each bracket, we did things a little different and gave the top 3 seeds in each bracket a 4th game (one was a throw away).

In Bracket A, the Hounds lost to the Dawgs in bracket play but threw that game out allowing them to win the bracket. Dawgs lost 13-12 to Shields PSC in pool play, which was their only loss of the tourney. The Shields consisted of the several of the old Ohio Lawmen studs, led by Bobby Mcghee. Great seeing them again in West Palm Beach, even though they were shorthanded and banged up like many other teams they came to play. Hounds, Dawgs, Shields went to Major division.


Bracket B, Suffolk County beat SFL in game 1 and after many close games TBL came out on top. TBL, NFL, Suffolk County and SFL advanced to Majors. This bracket was deep and had many close games allowing 4 to advance.

Bracket C, Max Elite came out on top and continued their early season surge. I say it every year, they have got to be the most consistent playing and winning team in every tourney they go over the long-haul. Great seeing them always. Terry Dugan’s Lockdown was loaded but ran into some well-oiled teams in Max and Miami 5-0 (don’t sleep on them, buzz is legit). Max Elite, Lockdown, Miami 5-0 to Majors.

Once double elimination began, the top 3 seeds, in Majors were Max Elite, TBL and Hounds. The most anticipated first round game was Hounds vs Miami Dawgs. This has become a great rivalry over the last couple years especially in West Palm. They are both loaded and have two of the best infield defenses in the circuit. The Dawgs won for the second time in the tourney and advanced to play TBL. We played until 9pm on Saturday night before the rain came. Sunday morning, we started back with double elimination as a 1 pitch tourney due to rain that was coming in the afternoon. This definitely made things different and allowed the pitchers to dictate the games a little more. Some teams thrived, some hated it. But it worked out like it should have most teams got their games in except the last 4.

In the end, the Miami Dawgs prevailed by beating Hounds, TBL, and Max Elite. Murders row, for them to take out.
Gold Division consisted of Center Mass, shorthanded and not a lower team, Necessary Force, Metro Dade Enforcers, Dayton Metro and Warfare (Kyle’s team).

Center Mass went undefeated and played a game Dayton Metro in the ship. If you don’t know Ryan and the Dayton Metro guys well, they are a great group of men and extremely classy. Great job to you all. Larry, from Metro Dade Enforcers, thank you for hooking up the Onyx bats for prizes and the moonshine. I appreciate you.

The best collection of teams I have seen here in a long time. Thank you all for attending for contributing to Kyle and playing hurt and shorthanded. I know many teams played without studs.

People I must thank outside of South Florida Lawmen:
-Becky Meyer and Lisa Amblin from NFL, you were rock stars helping with our raffle and beer donation (Donnie), thanks so much.
-Bart Limas Onyx Bats for donating four bats as a prize package.
-Steve, Dunkin Donuts, for the free food and cash donation to Kyle.
-UC Apparel, Damian and his donation of shirts
-The many teams and managers who don’t want to be named but get a lot of credit for donating and helping me with this tourney, you all know who you are. Thank you.

The below sums it up and I didn’t write it…

Miami Dawgz CHAMPIONS. "Clearly one of the top 10 teams in the nation. Beat Hounds twice and Max Elite. They were good before, now they are outstanding."

2. Max Elite. "Another great showing, and another reason to consider them the top overall team in the EC."

3T. Hounds and Thin Blue Line. "Both teams looked solid as usual."

5. South Florida. "Finished above where most expected. They are building a strong team once again."

6. Miami 5-0. "Should be a contender for Mid Majors championship in Vegas."

Some surprises outside the top 6.

The Shield. "Looked like they had talent but could not get it going."

Lockdown Lawmen. "Collection of top players from all over did not gel as a team. Lost some very close games. No Biscuit pitching so that could explain it."

Suffolk. "Great to see them back. Looked promising early, but still rusty as a team."

North Florida. "Not sure what happened to them but they will be fine."

"CENTER MASS won gold, but they are Mid Majors caliber. Don't let them tell you otherwise."

Miami Dawgs (MAJOR CHAMPS):
MVP: Robbie Nelson
All Tourney: Jorge Gutierrez, Julio Fernandez, Brandon Canizares, Robbie Nelson
2nd Place, Max Elite, all tourney: Craig Sears, Mike Delvecchio, Andy Lopez
3rd Place, TBL, all tourney: Brian Marr, Adam McGlovin Becker, Brian Debo Mickens
3rd Place, NY Hounds, all tourney: John Cena Kassebaum, Mike Tansey, Sal Pipes Trovato


Center Mass (GOLD CHAMPS):
MVP: Jay Rimes
All Tourney: Robert Garcia, Jay Rimes, Mike Durig, Jon Wright