Despite a furious comeback attempt that included two goals in the last two minutes the U 19 Snipers fell one goal short and the NFL Possums took home the championship.  Both teams looked sharp in the run up to the championship game in a division that proved to be very competitive.

The Possums won by one over the Tampa Bay Fire in the Semi-Final game and the Snipers got past Team Miami by two in their quarter final game. Two out-of-state teams battled for the U19 B Championship.  The South Carolina Excel Select team battled the Atlanta Coyotes to a 7-4 victory.  The U17 A division was also won by the North Florida Possums who rolled past the O-Town Elite 12-1.  Team Talon beat Team Miami 11-2 for the B division championship. In another S.C. vs. Georgia final the Top Left Loggerheads of Greenville, SC won a 6-4 decision over the Atlanta Coyotes for the U15 A Championship. The Blue Devil Elite beat Tampa Elite 6-5 for the U13 A championship and the “Chico’s Bail Bonds” Jokers looked like anything but the Bad News Bears as the won the U13B Championship in a thrilling Braveheart Victory over the Top Left Loggerheads. U11 Champions were Blue Devil in the A divisions and the Swarm in the B division and the U9 championship went home with the Snipers. The Father’s Day Invite included a girl’s division for the first time this year and the OC Storm won the inaugural HS A Championship over the Naples Braveheart by a score of 6-4.  Orlando Braveheart beat the St. John’s Starz 7-5 to win the B division.  St. John’s PAL won the Middle School Division over the OC Storm 11-2.

The tournament was a huge event featuring 150 teams playing on four different complexes.  Every team was guaranteed five games even if they didn’t qualify for the play-offs. We must ask, “What is up with teams bailing out on their consolation games and heading out early?”  Parents and coaches, here’s a tip.  If you sign up for a tournament with a five game guarantee then you will have five competitors who have also been promised five games.  When you decide to bag your consolation game and head home without telling anyone there are 20-25 kids and 50 or so parents schlepping their gear to some field only to find out that you quit.  Quite possibly the worst thing you can do in sports is fail to show up.  To not answer the bell.  To the parents and coaches of these teams – get over yourself.  Everyone has to drive home on Sunday evening.  Driving to and from tournaments and spending your weekends sweating and waiting to play  or watch your kids play is part of the game.  Two weekends in a row the same club, which won’t be mentioned THIS TIME, has left the Jokers Lacrosse Club one game short. However, in a great show of the true spirit of lacrosse, Jim Piggot’s Team Miami and the Top Left Loggerheads invited the Jokers U19 guys to come and join their consolation game.  It looked like chaos with three different uniform colors out there at the same time but the players had a great time and everyone got their last run of the weekend and made some new friends.  Too bad the club that failed to answer the bell missed out on all the fun. It was a great weekend for a great cause.