|
 The
rains came and went, however the humidity lingered for the entire week
which, being that it was Washington, D.C., is pretty much a typical
August.
A record number of teams (157; 99 in the
Open Division/57 in the Women’s) converged on our nation’s capital
during the week of Aug. 18-23 to compete in the world’s oldest gay
sports championship, the Gay Softball World Series. After five days
of intense competition, many new teams were crowned champions,
including teams competing in exhibition in the newly formed Women’s
Recreational Division. However, it was the top team in the
tournament, the Los Angeles Stray Cats, making the most noise out of
everyone. The Cats battled through an incredibly tough Open A
Division, and were taken to the brink of losing by the runner-up DC
Metz, to win a phenomenal 10th consecutive World
Championship.
Starting in
1994, the Stray Cats began a streak unequalled in most sports.
They can easily be called the greatest gay sports team of
all-time (with all due respect to the LA Heat gay basketball
team,
ranked the best team in 2002 on Outsports). They are to gay
athletics what the New York Yankees are to baseball …virtually
unstoppable. With this 10th championship now
accomplished, the questions have already started swirling about
their (once again) possible retirement from the game. If they
do make that choice, they will have definitely left on the
highest note possible and I, for one, will be sorry to see them
go.
As for the other
competition during the week, several cities had multiple teams finish
in the Top 4. Atlanta had the most with five teams (Packers, Comets
and Woof Wackers in Open Division; Force and Mary’s in the Women’s
Division), LA was next with four (Stray Cats, Bandits and Knights in
Open Division; Outlaws in Women’s), followed by D.C., Dallas, Long
Beach and Seattle each with three teams, Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale
were next with two, and finally Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul and
Norfolk each had one.
Several wonderful
notes accompany this year’s results: the Stray Cat continuing their
dynasty; the LA Bandits winning eight straight games to finish second
place in their first year of C-Division play (they rose from the ranks
of D/Recreational); the Long Beach Women’s Division dominance (three
teams in the top 3 overall, and several other strong finishes);
Seattle’s strong B-Division (both teams finishing in top four), along
with their first championship team in nearly a decade (Seattle R-Place
Monarchs).
The most important
thing is that nearly 5,000 ballplayers, coaches, fans, and volunteers
all came together in the spirit of sport and camaraderie to compete,
socialize and make new friendships. This is sometimes an all too
often used phrase, but they all were truly winners.
Now, there’s a brief
break before several cities begin fall/winter ball and, before you
know it, the 2004 Gay World Series will be upon us.
Dallas, Texas, will
be the site for the 2004 Series (the 28th annual affair).
You can visit their
Web site.
Start making your plans now because this should be one wild Texas
affair.
The 2003 season was a
great one and 2004 should be even better. Until the fall/winter
seasons begin, here’s too all of you in the softball world. Have a
great off-season, and keep those balls warm and ready to go.
FINAL RESULTS FROM
27th Annual NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series
Washington, DC
OPEN DIVISION
(note: Numbers next to Champs & 2nd Place denote score of final game)
A CHAMPS - LA Stray Cats 6
2nd Place - DC Metz 5
3rd Place - Houston Force
4th Place - Dallas TMC Fuel
B CHAMPS - Seattle Monarchs 9
2nd Place - Chicago Spin Devils 4
3rd Place - Ft. Lauderdale Mystery
4th Place - Seattle Rein Fire Ranch Rainiers
C CHAMPS - Chicago Cougars 13
2nd Place - LA Bandits 11
3rd Place - Atlanta Packers
4th Place - Atlanta Comets
D CHAMPS - LA El Dorado Knights 13
2nd Place - DC PSS Rams 7
3rd Place - Atlanta Woof Wackers
4th Place - Dallas Ron’s Place Angelboys
WOMEN'S DIVISION
(note: Numbers next to Champs & 2nd Place denote score of final game)
COMPETETIVE CHAMPS - Minnesota Rebels 7
2nd Place - Dallas Front Runners 6
3rd Place - Long Beach Yes I am
4th Place - Atlanta Force
ALTERNATIVE CHAMPS - South Florida Storm 7
2nd Place - Long Beach/Orange County Title IX 1
3rd Place - DC Storm
4th Place - LA Outlaws
RECREATIONAL** CHAMPS - Norfolk The Crew 7
2nd Place – Long Beach Batgirls 6
3rd Place - Atlanta Mary’s
4th Place - Seattle Free Range Cycle Chicks |
