As all of the contestants lined the fields for the traditional Roll Call and tribute, The son of Slain Detroit Officer Brian Huff was escorted to the pitchers mound to a standing ovation, and threw in the first pitch to Chris Harwood of Metro Detroit’s Finest (Seen in the photo). The tournament was able to raise over $5000 this year for charity with a check being donated to Mi-Cops for $3,700 at the opening ceremony. Thanks to all who came to the tournament and made that possible.

During the ceremony, several awards were given out. Tom Sidleicki was named the Sterling Hts. tournament “Sportsman of the Year”, Tom has been a mainstay at the tournament almost since the beginning and is noted as one of those guys that will get a team by hook or by crook to show up to an event. When others are quitting or taking the easy road, Tom refuses to take that route. Congrats Tom.

Also recognized for a new category, the Sterling Hts. tournament “Lifetime Achievement” Award, was Dennis Mckee of the Wayne Oakland Police Softball Club. Dennis started his team back in 1972 and has been a mainstay in the circuit even since. Dennis had a part in the original LESA circuit and was one of the most respected Managers in the country. He was an example of war on the field and sportsmanship right after the last out. Dennis has given countless players their start in police softball, and the friends and memories that were made in that time are forever. Dennis received his award with the support of numerous players from “the old days” who came to the park Friday night for a Wayne Oakland Reunion. Thanks you Dennis for all you have gave to the sport.

A new player was inducted to the PoliceSoftball.com Hall of Fame Friday night at the park. Greg Beck of Cincinnati was brought in by his Son Joe during the ceremony. Greg was even given a swing later in the tourney and like in the old days came through, hitting a single and getting an RBI out of it. Who did he knock in other than his son Joe. Way to go Greg, and welcome to the Hall of Fame!!

Once the ceremony was over, the games began. Unlike in the past where there were a couple round robin games to determine seeding in the other brackets, the format was a single elimination tournament with all of the teams in the mix. This would determine the final rankings of the tournament, as the next day the teams would be divided into two divisions. What use to be a couple semi meaningless games turned into a hard fought tournament over the next six hours. The night was capped off with a marathon game between the Ohio Lawmen who had just defeated the Michigan Lawmen in a close game, and Wayne Oakland who edged out TKO to get to the finals.

Ohio jumped out to an 11 run lead in the top of the first and it looked like the traditional route by the #1 team in the East, but Wayne Oakland stormed back with 16 runs of their own. The Home run derby was going to have to wait 2 ½ hours for the dust to settle, as the teams slugged it out to a 45-39 instant classic victory by the National Champs and now USSSA World Champs, Ohio Lawmen.

The home run derby followed late into the night with Chicago Slugger Shawn White beating out Wayne Oakland’s Mike Oglioruso to capture the title and a new bat donated by Line Drive Sports. Congrats Shawn White.

Saturday was no different for the play. The teams were divided up and off they went. In the open division with six teams, it came down to Ohio and Michigan in the finals. Ohio went through TKO and Michigan, while Michigan beat MDF and Wayne Oakland.to get a crack at Ohio in the finals of the winners bracket. In a heated battle with teams getting a little “chippy” at the end over a potential rules violation, Ohio Lawmen outlasted the Lawmen in a 3 run race to capture the winners bracket. Michigan went on to defeat TKO to get another crack at Ohio. Ohio held off Michigan to win the second leg of the tournament and make no question of who the best team of the weekend was.

A Flight MVP’s

Mike Oglioruso- Wayne Oakland
Jamie Givens - TKO
Chris Jones -TKO
Doug Schwartz -TKO
Erik Christenson.- Mich law
Jimmy Black -Mich Law
John Zintak- Mich law
Bobby Mcgee- Ohio law
Josh Ulery- Ohio law
Jake Negray- Ohio law
Mvp defense- Scott Mckenna Mich Law
Mvp Butch Castor- Ohio Lawmen

In the B Flight, there were 8 teams participating, and plenty of great games to watch. Warren Co Ohio cruised through the winners bracket undefeated and looked very strong all weekend. Chicago Metro led by Hall of Famer Stu Hoskins made it back to the finals, avenging an earlier beating by eventual 3rd place finishers Green County. Chicago needed to double dip Warren Co. and two games later, mission completed with Chicago winning the B Flight tournament. New comers FOP#102 from Grosse Point Mich made some noise this weekend in their first ever tournament and vowed to return to the tourney and make a better showing next year.

B flight MVP’s
Tony Vitale. Greene County
Luke bristor Greene County
Ryan Halburnt Greene county
Tony Peck Warren County
Bob Marchiny Warren County
Justin Camper Warren County
Jon Hand Chicago Metro
Jeff Myszak Chicago Metro
Keith Jarosz Chicago Metro
Stu Hoskins- Chicago Metro ( Hall of Famer)
MVP Defense Joe Banks Warren County
MVP Shawn White Chicago

Final Tournament Rankings determined by Fridays combined bracket tournament:

1- Ohio Lawmen
2- Wayne Oakland
3- TKO
3- Michigan lawmen
4-Motor City Blues
4- Metro Detroit’s Finest
5- Chicago Metro
6- Warren County
7- Green County
8- Detroit Masters
9-FOP#102
10- Macomb County Sheriffs
11-Sterling Heights
12- Warren PD