CJ's looks for 10th straight 16-inch slow pitch title

CEDAR RAPIDS - CJ's Sports Bar and Grill has been a staple of the local slow pitch softball community.

The championship team has a chance to add to the accomplishments of the last decade.

Area teams will compete in the Amateur Softball Association men's 16-inch slow pitch District 3 tournament Friday and Saturday at Diamond Sports Park. Competition begins Friday at 6:30 p.m., concluding the night with a home-run derby and fastest-man contest. The first of two possible championship games is set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

CJ's is looking for its 10th straight district crown, beginning the streak in 2004, and 11th in last 12 years. Viking Lounge's Rat Pack was the last team other than CJ's to claim a district title, winning in 2003. CJ's opens with the winner of C.R. Thunder and Bushwood at 8:30 p.m. Friday. According to tournament organizers, other contenders in the 15-team field include Dug out, Area 319, Roto Rooter, Mr B's and Wild Hogs.

The performance has not been limited to district play. CJ's has won the last two Major state titles, breaking a 17-year drought by Metro teams with its first title in 2007. In that year, CJ's was the first Cedar Rapids Major champion since Cedar Rapids Budweiser in 1990.

Here is a complete list of district champions:

2012 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2011 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2010 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2009 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2008 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2007 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2006 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2005 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2004 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2003 - Rat Pack (Viking Lounge)

2002 - CJ's Sports Bar & Grill

2001 - Union Station

2000 - Union Station

1999 - Union Station

1998 - Union Station

1997 - Union Station

1996 - Union Station

1995 - Union Station

1994 - Car Connection/ Toads

1993 - Hupp Electric/ Sharks

1992 - Car Connection/ Toads

1991 - Castle Lanes

1990 - Hupp Electric

1989 - Hupp Electric

1988 - Hupp Electric

1987 - Hupp Electric

1986 - Hupp Electric

1985 - Intertrade Steel

1984 - Intertrade Steel

1983 - Intertrade Steel

1982 - Intertrade Steel

1981 - Chappies Lounge

1980 - Lancer Tops

1979 - Lancer Lanes

1978 - Mr Bubbles

1977 - Mr Bubbles

1976 - Zachar Realtors

1975 - Mr Bubbles

1974 - Paradise Lounge

1973 - Mr. Bubbles

1972 - Mr. Bubbles

1971 - Pizza Inn

1970 - Pizza Inn

1969 - Happitime/ Flecks

1968 - Happitime/ Flecks

1967 - Happitime/ Flecks

1966 - Happitime/ Flecks