Barons Control the Land

After years of repeat softball champions, the past two have brought new blood to the winner's circle.

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A contingent of 14 wheelchair-softball teams from across the country converged in view of the state capitol building in downtown St. Paul, Minn., August 14–16, to determine a 27th national champion.

What was once an annual event typically dominated by one team, the National Wheelchair Softball Tournament (NWST) in the new millennium has become a wide-open affair with a different champion in each of the past three seasons—St. Paul Saints (2000), St. Paul Rolling Thunder (2001), and Chicago (RIC) Cubs (2002). In addition to these clubs, only a relative neophyte would overlook TC United (last year’s runner-up) and the Nebraska Barons as top-five 2003 contenders.

Larry Labiak takes you through all the action leading to the Barons' nail-biting 8–7 Division I victory over the Minnesota Twins–East Metro. (The EPVA Mets claimed Division II.)

The Nebraska Barons clinched the Division I title in the 2003 National Wheelchair Softball Tournament	Nebraska's John Morse catches the Twins' Steve Welch with the tag.
In the Division II championship game, Jeremy Lade (Wisconsin Badgers) makes the catch.	Eddie Jorge of the Division II champion EPVA Mets takes a swing.
TC United's John Winters knocks the ball loose from St. Paul Rolling Thunder's Tim Thode.	Chicago Cubs shortstop Jorge Alfaro foces out TC United's Callahan.

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