SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Emerald City Softball Association hosted it's Emerald City Classic Softball tournament June 28 thru July 1.  This years tournament was the largest in Seattle's history at 52 teams. Teams came from across the U.S. and Canada to play - this included teams from Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Portland & Vancouver BC. 

 

The tournament hosted several off the field events during the tournament. It started off on Thursday Night with a Mr. ECC Jock contest at Changes. The Mr. ECC Jock winner was Aaron Valdiva. On Friday Night registration for the tournament play took place a R Place. Saturday Night saw a Pre Funk Party at Purr and a Red, White & Blue party The Cuff. The events of the tournament ended at the Awards Pizza party at Neighbours on Sunday Evening.

 

Tournament play began on Saturday Morning under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70's - perfect softball weather.  Games were played at Celebration Park, Steven Underwood Memorial Park and North Seatac Park. All three of these complexes will be used for play in the 2008 Gay Softball World Series which will be held in Seattle. Teams were all guaranteed 5 games each in the tournament. The Championship Games for 4 of the Divisions were played at Celebration Park late Sunday afternoon. 

The Open B Division Championship game saw the local Seattle Shock team taking on the Portland Haze. The Seattle Shock went through the tournament undefeated and beat the Portland Haze 15 to 6 in the Open B Division Championship Game. The Hollywood Patrol played the Atlanta Packers for the Championship of the Open C Division. The Packers took the first game 9 to 8 to force the "if" game for the Championship. The Hollywood Patrol cam back in the "if" game and defeated the Packers 16 to 6 to win the Open C Division Championship. The Texas Titans from Austin played the LA Rascals for the Championship of the Open D Division. The Rascal won the first game 10 to 7 to also force an "if" game for the Open D Division Championship. The Titans also came back in the "if" game to win 15 to 4 to win the Open D Division Championship. The Chicago Spin won the Championship of Open C Rec Sunday Surge Division by defeating the Seattle Thunder. The Portland Bears defeated the Seattle Dirty Dogs 27 to 9 to win the Championship of the Open D Rec Sunday Surge Division. The Women's Division game saw the Changes from Seattle play the Screaming Sirens from Seattle in a defensive struggle but Changes finally pulled away in the last inning to beat the Sirens 6 to 1 and win the Women's Division Championship.

 

Other awards given out at the tournament included:

 

    

Open B Sportsmanship	Vancouver Hellfish
Open B Spirit	Portland Yellow Pages
Open C Sportsmanship	Seattle Phoenix
Open C Spirit	Vancouver Titans
Open D Sportsmanship	Phoenix Mad Dogs
Open D Spirit	Dustin Diamonds
Women Sportsmanship	Seattle Goonies
Women Spirit	Vancouver Plan B
Best Uniform	LA Last Call
Open B MVP	Pat Estabrook - Shock
Open C MVP	Vaughan Belcher - Hollywood Patrol
Open D MVP	Dalila Soto (LA Rascals)
Women's MVP	Dottie (Changes)

  

 

Seattle will not be hosting the Emerald City Classic in 2008 as they will hosting the 2008 Gay Softball World Series in late August. The next Emerald City Classic will be on July 4th and 5th 2009.

 

Also over 200 pictures taken at the tournament can be found at this website.