National Sanction League Championship Tournament

by Jerry Smith, 3rd VP, Sanction League Director

The National Sanctioned League Championship Tournament was held on September 30th and October first at the NHPF Hall of Fame Building in Wentzville, Missouri.  The 20 teams battled for over $3,500.00 in prize funds over the two days of pitching.  The three person teams were cross seeded into two classes, the Scarlet and the Gray.  Each three-person team played another team each round in a round robin format.  Games were 50 shoe count-all and were handicapped at around 92%.  Any team winning two or three of the games in a round were awarded a bonus point for their efforts.  The winning teams from each class played each other for the Championship.  The Scarlet division finished in a tie for first place with the Cedar Rapids and Rice Park teams each scoring 23.5 points.  This required a set of playoff games and the Cedar Rapids team managed to win two out of the three games when Glenn Warden and Larry Purcell picked up wins.  Susan Fulton won for Rice Park making the playoff exciting and competitive.  The Scarlet division also had a three-way tie for third place.  Since the tournament pay-outs go down four places, total points were used to separate third, fourth, and fifth place.  The standings were as follows:

GRAY DIVISION

1. Jim’s Four Courts-AR                   29 pts

              Wendy Hayes

              Hiram Chaffin

              Jim Brandenburg

2. Effingham-IL                                 22.5 pts

3. West Des Moines-IA                    20.5 pts

4. Shep’s Crew                                 20 pts

5. Bonner Springs-KS                       18 pts

6. Missouri #1-MO                           17.5 pts

7. Quail Ridge Wedsday Nighters   14.5 pts

T8. Marengo IA                                13.5 pts

T8. Heart of America-MO                13.5 pts

10. Beloit Ringers-WI                      11 pts

SCARLET DIVISION

1. Cedar Rapids-IA                    23.5 pts (Won playoff)

       Bert Logsdon

       Glenn Warden

       Larry Purcell

2. Rice Park Ringers-KS                           23.5 pts (Lost playoff)

3. Topeka-KS                             20.5 pts

4. Springfield-IL                                       20.5 pts

5. Missouri #2                                         20.5 pts

6. Crossville-TN                                       17.5 pts

T7. Nelson County-KY               16.5 pts

T7. The Good Guys-MO                          16.5 pts

9. Arkdale-WI                                          9.5 pts

10. Waterloo-IA                                      7.5

In the Championship games, Jim’s Four Courts (AR) squared off against the defending champions, Cedar Rapids (IA).  In Class One, Wendy Hayes (AR) bested Bert Logsdon (IA) 106 to 82 as the playoff game may have worn Bert down a little.  Wendy pitched 60% in the win and Bert shot an even 50%.

In Class Two, Glenn Warden (IA) shot 66.0% and beat Hiram Chaffin (AR) 114 to 103. Hiram shot 58%.

In Class Three, Jim Brandenburg (AR) got the best of Larry Purcell (IA) 108 to 95.  Jim shot 64% and Larry shot 56%.

With two wins, Jim’s Four Courts from Arkansas won the 2017 National Sanctioned League Championship.  $75.00 was awarded to the pitchers in each class who threw the highest percentage game above their average.  Hiram Chaffin from Arkansas won the Gray class with a 21.24% game above his average.  Terry Cuthberson of Kansas won the Scarlet class with 20.57% above his average.

I wish to thank those who helped me with the tournament particularly; all those that kept score, David and Carla Sidles, Austin Bailey, Dalton Rakestraw and the entire Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club.  It was a great tournament as always as teams left either happy or not-so-happy, but hopefully all enjoyed themselves.

The 2018 Sanction League National Championships are scheduled for October 6th and 7th and the Wentzville Hampton Inn has been selected as the host Hotel.  The new hotel is located very close to the Hall of Fame facility and is very nice.  Plans are in the works to increase the prize fund next year if things work out.  As always, the first 20 teams to sign up get in to this fun tournament.  Make your plans early.