CROSBY TOWNSHIP — Most followers of Major Division men's slow-pitch softball expected Perkins Roofing and Cooper Sports/Specialty Vending to meet Saturday in the winners' bracket final of the Metro tournament at Rumpke Park.

        But first-round upsets dropped both teams into the losers' bracket.

        Perkins, the tournament defending champion, had to win one game and Cooper two just to get to their Saturday matchup.

        Perkins powered nine home runs, three by second baseman John Steele, on the way to a 22-7 win stopped after four innings.

        “We expected to play them in the winners' bracket, but we both lost to two great teams,” Cooper manager Mike Cooper said. “Today, we got beat by a team that could easily win the whole thing.”

        Perkins defeated Batesville Knights of Columbus 22-7 Saturday night and will play the winner of today's 12:30 p.m. game between EMR Worth and Southern Rental in the losers' bracket at 3:10 p.m. today. The loser will be eliminated.

        Perkins must win four more games to defend its title, including consecutive wins over the winners' bracket survivor. The first game of that series is scheduled to start at 7p.m. today against either Western Hills Windows or Alpine Mortgage, the winners' bracket finalists.

        The “A” Division winners' bracket final between Raw Talent and Taylor Made/Royal Athletics/Custom Cutts/BW3 is scheduled for 2p.m. today. The winner is scheduled to meet the losers' bracket representative at 8:15 p.m. Monday.

        The “B” Division winners' bracket final is scheduled for 4:20p.m. today, with the final at 8:15 p.m. Monday. Sideline Cafe and Tom's Renegades were playing one bracket semi Saturday and JSA/Nasty Boys/Worth was playing Sullivan Group/Design in the other.

        In the “C” American Division, Archies Sportco, Oil Cans, Central Light/Huss and Principled Chiro were the winners' bracket semifinalists. That bracket final was scheduled for 12:30p.m. today, the division final at 4:20p.m.

        Kidwell/O'Charley's/MSM, C&M Outlaws, Moose Malones and Trimex Trucking were “C” National Division winners' bracket semifinalists. That bracket's final was scheduled for 12:30p.m. today, and the division final was scheduled for 5:30p.m.

        Kneflin Insurance, Prout Printing, TJ's Lounge and Edge Inn/Royal Athletics were the “D” American Division semifinalists. That bracket's final was scheduled for 11:20a.m. today. The division final was scheduled for 4:20p.m.

        Red Dogs, New Stout, Gangl Jewelers and Jake Sweeney were the “D” National Division winners' bracket finalists. That bracket's final was scheduled for 2p.m. today. The division final is 5:30p.m. today.

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