Tournament Dates Announced
March 25, 2011 - The AAABA directors' meeting took place earlier this month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to prepare for the 67th annual national tournament to be held this August in Johnstown. Representatives from all of the national franchises and committee members were on hand for the two day event. From the meeting, the dates for the two regional tournaments and the national tournament were announced, as well as the competing teams.
Altoona Regional
In Altoona, six teams will compete in the regional--the most teams since 1999. That year, Washington defeated Altoona in the 7-team regional finals. In a strange twist, those two teams also met in the national tournament final that year with the same result. The six teams for this year are Altoona, Buffalo, Cleveland, Maryland State, New York City, and Schenectady. Registration is on July 29th and games begin on July 30th in the double-elimination bracket. Host Altoona and the regional champion (or runner-up if Altoona wins) qualify for the national tournament in Johnstown.
Altoona has won 4 of the last 7 regionals, including 2008 and 2009. Philadelphia eliminated Altoona last year and then defeated Miami twice, winning three games in one day and earning a berth in the national tournament.
This will be Schenectady's first visit to Altoona since 1994 and Cleveland's first since 1993. Maryland State won the 2006 regional, but went 0-2 in 2009. Buffalo was runner-up in the 2008 regional, and New York City was runner-up in both 2005 and 2006.
Last year, both Cleveland Maryland State left Johnstown winless. Altoona's sole win at nationals was a 13-inning affair with New Brunswick. Buffalo was 2-2 with victories against Zanesville and Toledo, and losses to Philadelphia and Johnstown. Schenectady did not compete.
Zanesville Regional
In Zanesville, five teams will compete in the regional for only the third time ever and the first since 1995. Host Zanesville will be joined by Chicago-Metropolitan, Chicago-South Shore, Columbus and Toledo. Registration is on July 29th and games begin on July 30th in a double elimination bracket.
Chicago-Metro made a triumphant return to Johnstown last season as the new Des Plaines Patriots went 3-2, including a win over Toledo.
Toledo won the 2009 regional with an impressive 3-0 sweep during their inaugural season. The Glass City gang is 5-4 in the national tournament.
Columbus last competed in Zanesville in 2006 and is coming off a pair of 1-2 showings in Johnstown.
Chicago South Shore will look to rejoin the competition for the first time since 2006. The crew from Chicago was scheduled to compete in the 2009 Zanesville regional, but did not arrive because their bus broke down. The franchise has not won a game in Johnstown since 1995.
Host Zanesville has yet to win their own event and have only 4 wins in the past 8 regionals. Following a string of competitive entries in Johnstown, the Junior Pioneers were bounced out 0-2 last year.
67th Annual AAABA National Tournament
The AAABA national tournament returns to Johnstown for the 65th year. Registration is on Sunday August 7th and games begin Monday August 8th. Fourteen teams are already qualified for the national tournament: Altoona, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Elk County, Flood City, Johnstown, Lansing, Livonia, Miami, New Brunswick, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Youngstown, and Zanesville. The winners of the two regionals will qualify for the remaining two spots in the 16-team double-elimination bracket.
Johnstown will once again have two representatives in the national tournament. Delweld is looking to win an unprecedented fifth consecutive city league championship. The new Miami franchise will makes its first appearance in Johnstown. In their inaugural 2010 showing, the Florida Bombers were runners-up in the Altoona regional. Defending champion Baltimore and perennial favorite New Orleans are both returning.
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