THE BUCKEYE CLASSIC HISTORY
THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC was started in 1999 as an independent tournament by FRED SCHORDOCK and the SILVER MASTERS softball teams.
In 2001 BOB DEKEN tokk over the tournament and gave it the name of “THE BUCKEYE CLASSIC”.
“I was looking for something with a catchy ring to it,” DEKEN said. “I saw Buckeye Classic and although the name was associated with numerous other sporting events like horse racing, hockey, woman’s fast pitch softball, etc; nobody had ever used it as a name for a senior softball tournament.”
DEKEN also decided to get off the independent status and try to hook up with a National Senior Softball program and approached Terry Hennessey and SSUSA about conducting a SSUSA qualifier.
“Terry gave us his blessings and we agreed on the first week of June for us to conduct our tournament’, DEKEN said.
The first year the tournament was held at Firestone Stadium in Akron but since that time Akron Cascade complex; Summit Lake; Colonial Salt and Barberton have all been the site of the Buckeye Classic.
The location hasn’t been the only thing which has moved, so have the tournament dates.
“It always seemed like the Buckeye Classic was always treated as second rate by SSUSA,” DEKEN said. “If somebody else wanted our dates, they got it. That happened to us a couple of times with a Louisville,Ky tournament and the last one was in Syracuse,NY”
During DEKEN's tenure THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC fluctuated between 25-to-35 teams as both majors and a woman's tournament played in the CLASSIC.
“I didn't mind the major teams,” DEKEN said, “But one year running a woman's tournament was enough for me.”
In 2009 DEKEN decided traveling back and forth from PHOENIX, ARIZONA to AKRON, OHIO each year to run the tournament wasn't worth it.
He first offered the tournament to the AKRON SILVER LEAGUE ORGANIZATION and when they refused he approached RED BOLE to see if he may be interested.
BOLE after getting HO HOFFMAN to agree to help him with THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC took over the tournament in 2009.
Still an SSUSA event, they drew TWENTY-THREE teams. In that first year THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC invited only 70's, 65's and 60's AA and AAA teams, thus establishing the format of “No Major Teams”
“It is something we (Red and I) decided,” Hoffman said, “We were both tired of traveling to tournaments and having to play major teams or teams out of our age group. If we were going to take over THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC, we wanted to make certain teams would only play other teams in their age and rating class. If we couldn't do that than we wouldn't run the tournament.”
In 2010, THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC and SSUSA parted ways and the tournament's name was changed to “THEE” from “THE” to avoid any future arguments over naming ownership.
In their first year as an independent tournament the attendance increased to 51 teams as a 75's. Division was added and THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC went to a round-robin format.
“The round-robin format worked great,” Bole said, “Teams were sure of six games against six different teams. It was the ideal situation for a travel team... lots of games against different teams.”
In 2011 THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC made the “BIG MOVE” in joining the SPA organization.
“That was probably the best move we made,” HOFFMAN said, “You can not believe the huge difference in being a tournament director between the two organizations. SPA puts the emphasis on offering the players and teams smaller local regional tournaments closer to their home as opposed to larger national events. Both organizations serve a purpose but we feel SPA not only keeps the players and team's interests in mind but also their tournament directors by not using a shotgun-schedule approach running small qualifier tournaments 200 miles apart in the same time frame.”
THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC added the 50's and 55's to the tournament in 2011 which helped increase its turnout to 70 teams.
The 2012 CLASSIC shared space with the 2012 SPA 75 WORLDS as the two combined their efforts to bring in twelve teams to the competition. It also helped THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC increase it's attendance to 75 teams.
For the first (and the last) time THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC went to a double-elimination tournament.
“It was a schedule nightmare,” BOLE said, “Teams were having to play four games in a day, we were running two hours behind on a couple of fields and in our opinion it was a disaster.”
As a result THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC has returned to what has made it the highest attended qualifier east of LAS VEGAS, round-robin with six games guaranteed (depending on the weather).
“We know that is the way to go,” HOFFMAN said, “I think in 2012 we sort of let our emphasis on the teams enjoyment slip as we concentrated more on getting games done. We have now returned to where a tournament's efforts should be..on the teams and the players.”
It must be working, in 2013 THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC drew 83 teams and in 2015 are expecting 93 teams, keeping it the highest attended senior qualifier east of Vegas.
THEE BUCKEYE CLASSIC TEAMS AND RESULTS UNDER BOLE AND HOFFMAN
2009 (SSUSA) – 23 TEAMS
60 GOLD 1. Rochester Classics; 2. Mike Pruitt
60 SILVER 1. Silverado's; 2. Akron Property Boys
65 AAA 1.Brantford Nissan; 2. Cossa 65's; 3. Akron Silver Masters; 4. Michigan Spirit
65 AA 1. Raymond James; 2. Olde D's; 3. Mississauga Legends; 4. Dayton Legends; 5. Kaiser Permanete.
70 AAA 1. North Coast; 2. Back Office Associates; 3. Peachtree Restaurant; 4. Dorcxhester Canadians; 5. W. Tailgaterz
70 AA 1. Akron 70's; 2. Columbus 70's; 3. Ontario Elder Dogs; 4. Virginians; 5. CFI
2010 (INDEPENDENT) 51 TEAMS
60 AA 1. The Bomb Squad 2. Sylvania 60's; 3. Dayton Legends 60's; 4. Carr's Shell; 5. Firestone Grill and Pub; 6. Central Pa 60's; 7. Barracuda's
60 AAA 1. Windsor Chiefs; 2. ECSM Property Boys; 3. Silverado's; 4. Rochester Classics; 5 Brantford Nissan 60's; 6.Bathtub Billy's
65 AA 1. Olde D's; 2. COSSA 65's; 3. Jim and Joe's; 4. Akron Silver Masters; 5. Mississauga Legends; 6. Barracuda's; 7. Michigan Spirit
65 AAA 1. Donnetbrool Legions; 2. Brantford Nissan 65's; 3. Western Michigan; 4. Dayton Legends; 5. Hamel 65's; 6. Kaiser Permanente
70 AA 1. Akron Brennan's; 2. Indy Crowns; 3. Ontario Elder Dogs; 4, Silver League All Stars; 5. Burlington Classics; 6. Leiden's Legends; 7. Dayton Legends
70 AAA GREY1. Chicago Geezers; 2. Fedele's Brookhouse Restaurant; 3. Michigan Lakers; 4. Peachtree Restaurant; 5. Michigan Masters
70 AAA SCARLET 1. Boys of Summer; 2. Michiana Merchants; 3.Dorchester Canadians 70's; 4. Barracuda's; 5. SSL 70 Seahawks
75's 1. Pro Health Care; 2. Nami Construction; 3. Pfeiffer Gray Sox; 4. Indiana Silver Foxes; 5. Essense of Louisville 80's; 6. Magnolia Springs Louisville; 7. Karousel Kids; 8. Silver League All Stars.
2011 (SPA) – 70 TEAMS
50 SCARLET 1. Strabane SNPJ Lodge #138; 2. Sylvania Allshred Services; 3. Best's Dayton Legends 50's; 4. Shannon Fence
50 GREY 1. Vickers' Dayton Legends 50's; 2. Buckeye Classics; 3. Chicago Prime; 4. Universal Mechanical
55's 1. Windsor Chiefs; 2. Wholesale Builders; 3. Dayton Legends 55's; 4. (tie) Brantford Nissan; 4. (tie) Minutemen/SFS; 4. (tie) Chicago pride.
60AA SCARLET 1. The Bomb Squad; 2. Mississauga legends; 3. (tie) Dayton legends 60's; 3. (tie) Magic City Sports cards
60 AA GREY 1. Cavco; 2. Sylvania 60's; 3. Miller Time; 4. Firehouse Grill and Pub
60 AAA SCARLET 1. Silverado's; 2. Steel Dawgs; 3. Brooklin's 60's; 4. (tie) U.S. Utility; 4. (tie) Rochester Classics
60 AAA GREY 1. Windsor Chiefs; 2. Hawks Nest; 3. (tie) Brantford Nissan; 3. (tie) Doc Martens; 3. (tie) Atria Senior Living.
65 AA 1. Hamel Builders; 2. Dayton Legends 65's; 3. Donnetbrook Legions; 4. COSSA 65's; 5. Columbus Silver Sticks; 6. Mississauga Legends
65 AAA 1. Olde D's; 2. Hawks Nest; 3. (tie) Pronio Sports; 3. (tie) Brantford Nissan; 3. (tie) Windsor Chiefs; 6. KFC of Champaigne
70 AA 1. Barracuda's; 2. Brantford Nissan; 3. (tie) Green Diamond Grill; 3. (tie) Indy Crowns; 3. (tie) Olde D's; 6. Michigan Masters; 7. Dayton legends 70's
70 AAA SCARLET 1. Chicago Geezers; 2. Indiana Classics; 3. Syracuse Cyclones 70's; 4. Peachtree Restaurant; 5. Jim's Boys
70 AAA GREY 1. Hamel Cavaliers; 2. Pittsburgh Gold; 3. (tie) Fedele's Brookhouse Restaurant ; 3. (tie) Brennan's Akron 70's; 5. Michigan Lakers
75 AA 1. CFI; 2. Indiana Silver Foxes; 3. Ohio Tile ; 4. Visit Akron.com
75 AAA 1. Nami Construction; 2. Jimmy's 75's; 3. (tie) Antiques of KC.; 3. (tie) Hamel's 75's.
75 MAJOR 1. Pro Health Care
2012 (SPA) – 75 TEAMS
50 SCARLET 1. Dayton Vickers; 2. Capp's Steel 3. K Sheeran 4, Buckeye Classics
50 GREY 1. Universal Mechanical; 2. Strabane SNPJ Lodge #138; 3. Sylvania 50's; 4. Silver League 50's.
55 AAA 1. Dayton Legends 55's; 2. Minutemen/SFS; 3. Brickyard legends; 4. Silverado's
55 GOLD 1. Windsor Chiefs; 2. Wholesale Builders
60 AA SCARLET 1. Mississauga Legends 60's; 2. Zeppelin's; 3. Central Pa; 4. Northeast Ohio
60 AA GREY 1. Carr's Shell; 2. Cavco; 3. Maumee Bay; 4, Miller Time; 5. The Bomb Squad
60 AAA SCARLET 1. Syracuse Merchants; 2. Windsor Chiefs; 3. Indiana Legends; 4. Silverado's
60 AAA GREY 1. Steel Dawgs; 2. Dayton Legends 60's; 3. Brickyard Classics; 4. Miamai Lake; 5. U.S. Utility
65 AA 1. Cossa 65's; 2. Mississauga Legends 65's; 3. Kentuckiana 65's; 4. Dayton legends 65's ; 5. Sylvania 65's; 6. Silver Sticks
65 AAA SCARLET 1. Windsor Chiefs; 2. Kaiser Permanente; 3. George Mitchem Transportation; 4. Hamel's 65's
65 AAA GREY 1. Rochester Classics; 2. Rush Trucking; 3. Brantford Nissan 65's; 4. Western Michigan; 5. Chicago Strikers.
70 AA 1. Brantford Nissan; 2. Dorchester Canadians; 3. Olde D's; 4. Mississauga Legends; 5.Mich-Indy; 6. Central Ohio
70 AAA SCARLET 1. Pittsburgh Gold; 2. Direct Employers; 3. Carolina Cardinals; 4. Brennan's Akron 70's; 5. Barracuda's
70 AAA GREY 1. Indy Classics; 2. Peachtree Restaurant; 3. Chicago Geezers; 4. Pepco Electric; 5. Fedele's Brookhouse Restaurant.
75's AA 1. Akron 75's; 2. CFI; 3. Indian Silver Foxes
75's AAA 1.Syracuse Cyclones; 2. Pro Health Care; 3. Indy Crowns; 4. Hamel's 75's; 5. Nami Construction; 6. Louisville Thunder; 7. Antiques of KC; 8. Barracuda's; 9. Texas Greyhounds
2013 SPA - 83 TEAMS
50'S SCARLETT DIVISION - 1. MICHELEE'S BOYZ; 2. CHICAGO PRIME; 3T. WINDSOR FOG DEVILS; 3T. BUCKEYE CLASSICS; 5. CAPP'S STEEL
50'S GRAY DIVISION - 1. EAST WEST OUTLAWS; 2. OG'S; 3. UNIVERSAL MECHANICAL; 4T. STRABANE SNPJ; 4T. SYLVANIA EAGLES.
55 DIVISION - 1. GOLDEN VIPERS; 2. MINUTEMEN; 3. RIVER ROOM POKER CLUB; 4' SYLVANIA ALL SHRED; 5T. DURHAM SILVER STICKS; 5T. DAYTON LEGENDS 55'S
60AAA DIVISION- 1. SYRACUSE MERCHANTS; 2. BRICKYARD CLASSICS; 3. MINUTEMEN PEPCO; 4. DAYTON LEGENDS 60'S.
60 SCARLET DIVISION - 1. CAVCO; 2.OHIO SILVERADO'S; 3. BOMB SQUAD; 4. PRONIO SPORTS
60 GRAY DIVISION - 1. BRANTFORD; 2. MAUMEE BAY RAPTORS; 3. N.E.OHIO; 4. INDY FOG
65 AA DIVISION - 1. JIM & JOE'S; 2. CHICAGO STIKERS; 3. U.S. DOT JOBS; 4. BRANTFORD NISSAN; 5. MISSISSAUGA LEGENDS; 6T. KENTUCKIAN; 6T SYLVANIA 65'S.
65 AAA DIVISION - 1. CUSTOM GRAPHICS; 2. RUSH TRUCKING; 3. UNIVERSAL MECHANICAL; 4. HAMEL'S 65'S; 5T. PRONIO SPORTS; 5T. STAHL POST #30; 5T. ROCHESTER CLASSICS
70'S AA GOLD DIVISION - 1. DORCHESTER CANADIANS 70'S; 2. SYLVANIA 70'S; 3. MTX; 4. MICHIGAN SPIRIT; 5. RAINBOWS.
70'S AA SILVER DIVISION - 1. BRANTFORD NISSAN 70'S; 2. CENTRAL OHIO; 3. MISSISSAUGA LEGENDS 70'S; 4. MICH-INDY; 5.OLD D'S
70'S AAA SCARLET DIVISION - 1. MICHIANA; 2. MIKE'S RAIDERS; 3. MICHIGAN KNIGHTS; 4. JERSEY JAGUARS; 5T. PITTSBURGH GOLD; 5T. BAILEY'S TALENT CAVALIERS.
70'S AAA GRAY DIVISION - 1T. MONKEY JOE'S BIG NUT COMPANY; 1T. SILVER SNEAKERS; 3T. INDIANAPOLIS CLASSICS; 4T. FEDELE'S BROOKHOUSE RESTAURANT; 5T. CAROLINA CARDINALS; 6. BRENNAN'S AKRON 70'S.
75'S AAA SCARLET DIVISION - 1. HAMEL'S; 2. PEPCO; 3. BACKOFFICE ASSOCIATES; 4. PFEIFFER'S AUTO; 5. PROHEALTH CARE.
75'S AAA GREY DIVISION - 1. CHICAGO GEEZERS; 2. PEACHTREE RESTAURANT; 3. MICHIGAN MILLERS; 4. INDY CROWNS; 5. LOUIVILLE THUNDER
75'S GOLD DIVISION - 1. DELAWARE DIAMONDS; 2. MICHIGAN LAKERS; 3. NEW YORK STATESMEN; 4T. NAMI CONSTRUCTION; 4T. INDIANA SILVER FOXES; 6T AKRON 75'S; 6T. CFI
2014 SPA - 77 TEAMS -
50'S SCARLET DIVISION - 1. PDC (MICH); 2. BUCKEYE CLASSICS (OH); 3. CAPP STEEL (OH); 4. DURHAM SILVER STICKS (ONT,CAN).
50'S GREY DIVISION - 1. FLYTIME (MICH); 2. WINDSOR FOG DEVILS (ONT,CAN); 3. BOMANI SPORTS RESEARCH (OH); 4. COMPUTER TIME (OH).
55'S DIVISION - 1. ALLSHRED SERVICES (OH); 2. BANKER AND MANN SOFTBALL CLUB (IND); 3T. BSN/DECLAIRE/PMB (MICH); 3T. WINDSOR CHIEFS (ONT,CAN); 3T. GOLDEN VIPERS (MICH); 6. RIVER ROOM POKER CLUB (OH).
60'S SCARLET DIVISION - 1. SYRACUSE MERCHANTS (NY); 2. OHIO SILVERADO'S (OH); 3. GOLDEN VIPERS (MICH); 4. WINDSOR CHIEFS (ONT,CAN).
60'S GREY DIVISION - 1. MINUTEMEN/PEPCO/SFS (OH); 2. BRICKYARD CLASSICS (IND); 3. PRONIO SPORTS (OH); 4. CAVCO (ONT,CAN).
60'S SILVER DIVISION - 1. FRANCHELLI'S ENT/ROADHOUSE BLUES (PA); 2. UNIVERSAL MECHANICAL (OH); 3. THE BOMB SQUAD (MICH); 4. BRANTFORD NISSAN (ONT,CAN); 5. RIVERSIDE LONGSHOTS (MD); 6. AA CHAMPS MISSISSAUGA LEGENDS 60'S (ONT,CAN); 7. DAYTON DIAMOND DOGS (OH).
65'S SCARLET DIVISION - 1. U.S. DOT JOBS (IND); 2. SPICER PROPERTIES (VA); 3. NEW JERSEY MASTERS (NJ); 4. BRANTFORD NISSAN 65'S (ONT,CAN); 5. MICHIGAN LAKERS (MICH); 6T. ROCHESTER CLASSICS (NY); 6T. NEO SENIORS (OH).
65'S GREY DIVISION - 1. MAGIC CITY SPORTS CARDS (OH); 2T. (AA CHAMPS) SYLVANIA 65'S (OH); 2T. STAHL POST #30 (DE); 4. MISSISSAUGA LEGENDS 65'S (ONT,CAN); 5. DAYTON LEGENDS 65'S (OH); 6. ROCHESTER ROYALS (NY).
70'S GOLD DIVISION - 1. MICHIANA MERCHANTS (MICH); 2. CENTRAL OHIO COSSA (OH); 3. PITTSBURGH GOLD (PA); 4. JOB CENTRAL (IND); 5. NEW JERSEY MASTERS (NJ).
70'S GREY DIVISION - 1. BRANTFORD NISSAN (ONT,CAN); 2. AKRON BRENNAN'S (OH); 3. DORCHESTER CANADIANS (ONT,CAN); 4. HAMEL'S 70'S (MD); 5. BROOKHOUSE RESTAURANT (NY).
70'S SCARLET DIVISION - 1. FRICKER'S SPORTS BAR (OH); 2. INDIANA CLASSICS (IND); 3. MISSISSAUGA LEGENDS 70'S (ONT,CAN); 4. COLUMBUS SILVER STICKS (IND); 5. OLDE D'S (MICH); 6. GREEN DIAMOND GRILLE (OH).
75'S SCARLET DIVISION - 1. PROHEALTH CARE 75'S (WIS); 2. ANTIQUES (KS); 3T. INDY CROWNS (IND); 3T. CHICAGO GEEZERS (IL); 5. PEACHTREE RESTAURANT (PA); 6. MICHIGAN LAKERS (MICH); 7. BACKOFFICE ASSOCIATES (MASS).
75'S GREY DIVISION - 1. JERSEY JAGS (NJ); 2. NEW YORK STATESMEN (NY); 3. AKRON 75'S (OH); 4. PFEIFFER'S AUTO (MICH).
75'S GOLD DIVISION - 1. NAMI CONSTRUCTION (NJ); 2. LOUISVILLE THUNDER (KY); 3. INDIANA SILVER FOXES (IND); 4. MICHIGAN MILLER'S (MICH).
80'S DIVISION - 1. PROHEALTH CARE 80'S (WIS); 2. HAMEL'S 80'S (MD); 3. AKRON 80'S (OH)
2015 results under secondary TOURNAMENT HISTORY (CAPS)
