PEORIA, AZ - NSA in Arizona is busy for State Director Rick Seifman and the teams as they head out on the tournament trail and a shot at World berths. The Bruce Meade has been a staple event in March; add to it the debut of the NSA Triple Crown Grand Slam, which played the final weekend of March and the fields, the Victory Lane Sports Complex and at the new Rio Vista Park in Peoria, were a a happening place. "We had 88 teams for the first leg of the Triple Crown, which is similar to other Series that are done in other areas," said Seifman. "You have the spring training aspect that brought three teams from Chicago and a team from Maryland. It’s the first qualifier for the Triple Crown Grand Slam finals October 16-17 at Victory Lane and is open to teams from any State. It’s a monster event and we have had to turn teams away. We have had a great response to Coed, which was just started last year. Add that to the Meade, which always draws big, and it’s been one very busy but good month. Both the Meade and Triple Crown are sponsored by Worth," adds Seifman.

The first berth to the Grand Slam finals in the Men’s C/DI division went to Hit or Miss who topped a 26-team field. "It was one of those tournaments where everybody hit. We averaged over 20 runs a game and "double dipped (Murphy’s Law) for the championship," said player/coach John Miller. Az/Clash Rawlings finished third.

Pub Run defeated the Grape Apes to top a 22 team Men’s DII/E Division. The women’s champions were Deprived in the upper bracket and the Gators in the lower. The Coed was popular with thirty teams in four divisions with the bragging rights going to Go Time, Smooth, Yard Dogs Boys Girls and Virus.

The Meade Invitational, a popular long time annual tournament, drew another huge field. In the big boys division Easton Smith (San Jose, CA) got by Arizona’s strong Az Heat for the B/C crown. Rever Liherc was the offensive MVP from Easton with Brad Medina, Larry Whitcomig, Jon Warren and John McLind. From Az Heat, Raith Adair (The Softball West Magazine Arizona Slowpitch Player of the Year in 2002-03) was the MVP, with Mark Lopez, Eric Chavez and Jim Campbell named All Tourney.

In Men’s D, LaNueve won the title clash over Az Crew. LaNueve’s David Rosales was the offensive MVP with Jason Reyes, Alex Garcia and George Romo Jr named to the All Tourney team. FTA A’s (Tucson) took another Men’s D crown. Named to the all tournament team were Richard Ramos (Offensive MVP), Manny Romero, Fernando Serna and David Canez (FTA A’s), Mark Jackson defensive MVP, Arnold and Jose Flores and Roman Carrilo from Terror Squad, Bo Baker and Gary Kirkman from the third place Az Bandits (Taylor) and Mike Potter (Az Clash).

The Enforcers (Peoria) took the D Gold with All Tournament picks Randy Crisgwell (.750), Tom Ochua and pitcher Roy Duarie.
In Coed, Krusy Crew (Tucson) won all four outings to win its bracket with Clint Elder/Matilda Bernal, MVP’s. Az Outlaws won their division led by Glen Davidson and Jen Ford, male and female MVP’s. The Mizuno Crows (Glendale) stayed hot on the tournament trail with a 5-0 record. Juan Martinez was named the MVP and was joined on the All Tournament team by Nicole Cage, Jim Campbell and Mark Lopez (who was also named All Tournament in a Men’s division). In Coed E, the Sandlot took the championship with MVP’s Shay Foose and Cindy Andrade named All Tournament. Honors also went to Geno Dacquista, Judy Setclin and Kamehla Pettis.