Ford Austin in play on court 2
The 2023 ScissorTail Invitational was held June 22-25 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with two flights participating in the American Six Wicket event.
Conner Helms took first place in Championship Flight, with Matt Baird taking second place and Britt Ruby claiming third. In First Flight, Dale Jordan claimed first place with Carl Archiniaco in second and Suzanne Spradling taking third place.
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2014 Midwest Regional Champ George Cochran in action on day oneTULSA, OKLAHOMA -- The 2014 USCA Midwest Regionals held this past weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, nearly avoided rain, but with about 20 minutes left in the championship games the sky opened up.SHAWNEE, KS -- The final day of playoff action at the Nine Wicket Nationals in Kansas City saw steady rain, but the players battled through. In championship singles, Matt Smith knocked of Billy Bob Breeden to make the final, while Matt Baird took out George Cochran to advance.
In the final match, Baird got the first break but stuffed number five. That let Smith set up his break which he ran all the way out to the penultimate wicket. He then turned it over to his partner and finished with a double peel to claim the 2011 singles national championship.
In doubles championship play, Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell battled Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith in the final. Baird and Caldwell took a tight match 32-25 to claim the doubles title.
In the first flight singles playoff, #4 seed Jason Cole knocked off #1 Greg Adams in the semifinals. In the other semi-final, #2 Barry Dupuy beat #4 Ron Millican to advance. Cole won the final over Dupuy to claim the first flight national championship.
Video report will be available later today.
The rain hit Nine-Wicket Nationals on Saturday, but play continued on with both championship and first flight doubles action. First flight wrapped up their segment with Greg Adams and Troy White taking first place in the round-robin format. Ron and Debbie Millican took second place in the flight.
This morning is playoff and championship action, but there is steady rain falling, likely making for miserable condition's at the courts in Shawnee, Kansas. Championship singles semi-finals were scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. with Matt Smith set to face Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Baird slated to take on reigning champ George Cochran.
Four teams of eight advanced to the knockout in championship doubles on day two. The semi-finals were played mid-afternoon and Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith knocked off Matt Smith and Nick Zink 31-23 to advance to today's final against Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell. Baird and Caldwell advanced by defeating Bill Martin and John Warlick 29-26.
The first flight singles playoff is also scheduled for the morning with Greg Adams taking on Jason Cole and Barry Dupuy facing off against Ron Millican.
Day One Photo Gallery
Day one was played under gray skies and cool conditions, but for the most part rain was avoided. Championship singles block play concluded and round one of the playoffs was held at the end of the day (results below). Saturday starts doubles play.
Quarterfinals
Matt Smith 32-17 over Don Brooks
Billy Bob Breeden 28-25 over Jeff Caldwell
Matt Baird 27-26 over Greg Clouse
George Cochran 32-26 over Matt Griffith
Semi-Final Matchups
Matt Smith vs Billy Bob Breeden
Matt Baird vs George Cochran
TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- Players didn't so much notice the 95 degree heat today as the real battle was against the wind. The wind claimed the pop-up tent on court four and at times gusted enough to move stationary balls. No matter what it made everyone a little un-easy on hoop shots. Eight players each from the championship and first flights advance to tomorrow morning's playoff round. Matt Smith and Matt Baird took the top two seeds in the championship flight.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- Day three of action at the 2011 USCA Midwestern Regions kicked off singles play. The event is taking place on four courts at LaFortune, Park in Tulsa. Weather on Saturday was warm with occasional cloud cover.
George Cochran on his way to another singles titleFINAL DAY PHOTOS
SHAWNEE, KANSAS -- George Cochran picked up his second national title in nine-wicket singles Sunday afternoon with a 28-18 (unofficial) win over Bill Martin. It was Cochran's second nine-wicket national championship title as he also won in 2008.
Cochran actually had an early mishap when his black ball was un-intentionally placed deep in the jaws of wicket one. Martin was unable to get both yellow and black into the game and was unable to take the early advantage.
Cochran got the early break and ran out to the 11-point wicket. He followed a little later with his partner ball and had control of the game as Martin had trouble generating offense. Cochran did get hung up with both balls for the 14-point wicket and that allowed Martin to generate a late run with red, but he was not able to establish a three-ball break coming out of the turn.
In other action Sunday, Matt Smith and Nick Zink claimed their second straight doubles national championship with a win over Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell.
FINAL STANDINGS
Championship Singles
1 George Cochran
2 Bill Martin
3 Billy Bob Breeden
3 Nick Zink
5 Matt Baird
5 Jeff Caldwell
5 Matt Smith
5 John Warlick
9 Greg Clouse
9 Eric Sawyer
10 Don Brooks
10 Pat Garner
10 Don Oakley
10 Dylan Goodwin
14 Matt Griffith
14 Jason Cole
Championship Doubles
1 Matt Smith/Nick Zink
2 Matt Baird/Jeff Caldwell
3 George Cochran/Don Oakley
3 Matt Griffith/Billy Bob Breeden
5 Bill Martin/John Warlick
5 Don Brooks/Johnny Nichols
First Flight Doubles
1 Greg Adams/Troy White
2 Don Millican/Deborah Millican
3 Eric Sawyer/Caren Sawyer
3 Jodi Adams/Debbie Breeden
5 Pat Garner/Jason Cole
Nick Zink (left) and Matt Smith (right) received doubles champion trophies.
Tournament director Matt Griffith (center) presented.
Six partner teams battled it out starting at 8:00 a.m. on the final day of the USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals, but in the end Matt Smith and Nick Zink of Warrensburg, Missouri made a comeback win to take the doubles title over Matt Griffith and Billy Bob Breeden in a 27-23 thriller (more details to come on this match later).
In the first round, John Warlick and Paula Mol were able to advance with a win over George Cochran and Howard Menzel. In the other match, defending doubles champs Matt Baird and Art Parsells defeated Don Brooks and John Nichols.
In the semi-finals, Warlick and Mol battled Smith and Zink, but lost a close one 23-20. On the other field, Griffith and Breeden survived against Baird and Parsells 30-29. It featured an interesting final turn with Parsells needing to score 14-point wicket and 15PW for the tie. Hitting the stake would have secured a win. After splitting his partner yellow ball and clearing 14PW, Baird and Parsells discussed and opted for a takeoff to 15PW. Unfortunately the takeoff was a little long and created a short angle shot that Parsells attempted but missed. That secured the one-point victory for Griffith and Breeden.
In the third place game Baird and Parsells defeated Warlick and Mol.