Chicago was well represented at the annual Gay Softball World Series, played Aug. 14-18 in Minneapolis, as two of the five teams returned home with third-place trophies.
The Chicago Menace, competing in the top-tiered, 11-team A-Division, had their best showing ever. The team finished fifth in the tournament last year and seventh in 2010, its first year of play.
"We had really high expectations; we thought we had put together a team that this year could take it all, and I think we could have. It just came down to hitting in a timely fashion; that's always an issue at that level. Unfortunately, we didn't do it in a couple of games," said Menace captain Cameron Turner. "Overall, we're happy, but we want to improve next year."
Chicago Sidetrack, meanwhile, was in the six-team 50-and-over Master's Division.
"I thought it was a pretty well-run, successful tournament. The weather, for the most part, was pretty cooperative," Turner said. "I know the Sidetrack Blues [in C-Division] had a really good showing overall, same for Roscoe's Reapers."
The Menace was eliminated by the Phoenix Toros, 15-4. The Atlanta Sluggers ultimately won the A-Division, defeating the Toros.
"I think we were right there, right with the first- and second-place teams," Turner said.
The Menace was led by Charles Piper and Kevin Ball, "who were absolutely amazing," during the Series, Turner said. "Charles was hitting lights-out throughout the Series. Every at-bat, it seemed like he was hitting a triple or home run. He had an amazing, amazing offensive tournament. Plus, he played great defensively in left field. Kevin Ball hit amazingly, too, and he battled defensively as the team's pitcher, especially after breaking a finger on Friday."
Chicago Sidetrack lost twice on Saturday, ultimately falling to the Los Angeles Gang Grey, 19-9.
The Chicago Dragons finished 17th in the 34-team B-Division.
The Chicago Sidetrack Blues finished 17th in the 53-team C-Division, ultimately being eliminated by the Boston Rebels, 8-5.
The Chicago Roscoe's Reapers finished 13th overall in C-Division. Despite winning four straight in the Losers' Bracket, the Reapers were eliminated by the Atlanta Menace, 12-6.
Shawn Albritton, the former president of the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA), was one of the umpires in the Seriesand also was selected to work a championship game.
A Division
1st: Atlanta Sluggers
2nd: Phoenix Roscoes Coors Light HP2 Toros
3rd: Chicago Menace
4th: Fort Lauderdale Noize
B Division:
1st: Long Beach Rounders 2.0
2nd: San Diego Spikes
3rd: Boston Cafe Club Angels
4th: Portland Brewers
C Division:
1st: Tampa Venom
2nd: Orlando Royalty
3rd: Atlanta Menace
4th: Houston Toros
D Division:
1st: Seattle Inferno
2nd: Tulsa Razors
3rd: Philadelphia Honey Badgers
4th: Twin Cities Titans
Masters Division:
1st: Seattle Strokes
2nd: LA Gang Grey
3rd: Chicago Sidetrack
4th: Twin Cities Line Drive