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Approximately
150
teams
came
to
Seattle
in
late
August
from
across
the
U.S.
and
Canada,
including
Fort
Lauderdale,
for
the
annual
NAGAA
gay
softball
World
Series,
dubbed
“Northwest
Quest.”
The
teams
played
in
four
divisions
of
open
play,
plus
a
separate
women’s
division.
“The
Series
is
always
a
fun
event,
if
only
because
you
get
to
see
so
many
people
from
other
cities.
That’s
one
reason
I
really
enjoy
the
event,
aside
from
traveling
with
my
teammates,”
said
Abe
Hasbun,
commissioner
of
the
South
Florida
Amateur
Athletic
Association
(SFAAA)
Open
Division
who
served
as
the
World
Series
coach
for
Rosie’s
Blue
Ice,
which
competed
in
the
C-Division
and
ultimately
finished
ninth
out
of
47
teams.
SFAAA
sent
five
other
teams
to
Seattle,
including
Alibi
C5
of
the
top-ranked
A-Division.
Scandals
Maulers
and
Bill’s
Filling
Stations
Raptors
each
played
in
the
B-Division,
while
the
Sidelines
Cyclones
competed
alongside
Blue
Ice
in
C
and
Taladin’s
Knights
were
in
the
D-Division.
“Even
if
your
team
doesn’t
do
very
well,
the
experience
makes
up
for
[your
team’s
results],”
said
Hasbun,
34,
a
past
Series
player
on
multiple
occasions.
“The
World
Series
is
the
best
of
the
best.
Being
a
competitive
person,
you
want
to
go
out
there
and
be
the
best
in
the
nation.
The
competitive
juices
really
flow.
“The
event
is
really
well
organized
and
there
truly
was
a
sense
of
camaraderie
among
the
Fort
Lauderdale
teams.”
Several
SFAAA
players
had
exceptional
Series
showings,
such
as
catcher
Ryan
Schmuck
(Cyclones),
infielder
Michael
Koch
(Blue
Ice)
and
third
baseman
Bobby
Hovey
(Knights).
Each
of
the
three
was
named
MVP
for
their
respective
teams.
In
addition,
the
Blue
Ice
claimed
the
C-Division’s
Sportsmanship
Award.
“To
win
the
Sportsmanship
Award
really
means
a
lot.
I
think
that
award
truly
shows
the
character
of
the
team.
The
team
was
very
proud
of
that
award,”
Hasbun
said.
“The
team
was
extremely
happy
with
the
result,
though
we
lost
to
the
Dallas
team
that
won
(the
C
championship).”
The
SFAAA
last
hosted
the
World
Series
in
2006.
The
2009
action
will
be
held
in
Milwaukee,
then
in
Columbus,
Ohio,
in
2010.
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