Tournaments Cancelled in Hawaii and York, Pushed Back in 5 Cities; Reno Update

May 1, 2020

Trying to schedule senior softball tournaments in multiple states with different restrictions that change almost daily is a lot like painting with water colors in the rain, according to Senior Softball USA officials.

Just since the Newsletter last week, SSUSA has had to cancel tournaments in York, Pennsylvania, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

In addition, SSUSA moved several tournaments later into the season, including:

• The Oil City Classic in Tulsa, OK., from May 14-17 to June 18-21.
• The Bobby Chapp Memorial in Lansing, MI., from May 16-17 to July 11-12.
• The Steve Simmons / Mosquitoland Classic in Little Canada, MN., from June 4-7 to Sept. 10-13 (it will be a non-qualifying warmup to the World Masters Championships).
• The Quad Cities Classic in Rock Island, Ill. from June 20 - 26 to July 14 - 19.
• The Connecticut Masters Games (SSUSA runs the softball portion) from June 27-30 to the fall (dates to be announced).

And there is the ever-changing Rock ‘n’ Reno Challenge Cup in Nevada.

The original dates of Rock ‘n’ Reno were May 22-31 and they have changed dramatically more than once.  There is still no certainty from the governor of Nevada.  This is not unusual.  The governors of all states are doing a delicate balancing act between public safety and opening their economies.

SSUSA officials were hoping to hold the Men’s 40 Division and Women’s Divisions in Carson City on May 29-31. However, SSUSA was informed by Carson City on Tuesday (5/5) that fields would not be available until mid-June. SSUSA officials are looking for alternative weekends for later in the season for the Men's 40's and Women's Divisions.

“We moved the 60 division to weekdays along with the 65-85 Divisions – and we pushed all of those divisions back one week, to June 2-4 in Sparks and Reno,” said SSUSA Executive Director Fran Dowell. “There was not enough room on the weekend for the 60s because of very limited field space."

“On the June 5-7 weekend, we were able to get the four-field Reno complex,” she said. “We have moved the Men’s 50 and 55 Divisions to that weekend, on a space available basis."

SSUSA has moved back the entry deadlines and will let teams know as soon as the situation is clarified in each of the states.  If the situation is not clarified within two weeks of the start of each tournament, SSUSA will cancel or postpone the tournament and notify teams.

At this time, SSUSA recommends that teams do not send in entry fees or make hotel and flight reservations until we have confirmed the tournament.

STATE-BY-BY STATE BREAKDOWN
Here is a State-by-State breakdown of where SSUSA tournaments stand until the end of June:

Nevada - Order in place through 5/15
June 2 - 7: ROCK 'N RENO CHALLENGE CUP - Reno, NV

CLICK HERE for for more information on Nevada's Road to Recovery.


Oklahoma - State order expired 4/30
June 18 - 21: Oil City Classic Tulsa, OK (NEW DATES)

SSUSA was informed by the City of Tulsa and the Parks and Recreation department that city-owned sports complexes and organized sports activities with more than 10 people will remain closed through June 1.

Due to this, the Oil City Classic has been re-scheduled for June 18-21.

For more information on the Oil City Classic, please contact Will Rogers, via email: willsharkdaddy@aol.com or phone: 816-916-7891.

Michigan - Order in place through 5/15
June 27 -  28: Holiday Classic Sturgis, MI
July 11 - 12: Bobby Chapp Memorial Lansing, MI (NEW DATES)

The Bobby Chapp Memorial, scheduled for May 16-17, has been rescheduled for July 11-12. Location and fields remain the same.

The Summer Swings for Rings in Detroit, which was also scheduled for July 11-12, has been cancelled.

For more information on the above tournaments in Michigan, please contact Mike Dembicki, via email: mdembicki@capitaltire.net or phone: 586-202-8376.

Pennsylvania - Order in place through 5/8
May 16 - 17: Battle of the Roses York, PA (CANCELLED)

The Battle of the Roses has been cancelled. No new dates are available at the moment.

The State of Pennsylvania is set to open in phases. Beginning on May 8, 24 counties are scheduled to move from the Red Phase into the Yellow Phase. York County, the location of the Battle of the Roses, is not part of those 24 counties. Organized sporting events are scheduled to resume in the Green Phase.

New Mexico - Order in place through 5/15
May 16 - 17: High Desert Duel Albuquerque, NM (CANCELLED)
June 27 - 28: Women's Western Classic Las Cruces, NM

As was noted last week, the High Desert Duel in Albuquerque has been cancelled. No new dates are available at the moment.

The Women's Western Classic in Las Cruces is still on as scheduled.

Arizona - Order in place through 5/15
May 30 - 31: 40s Mountain Madness I Flagstaff, AZ (CANCELLED)
June 13 - 14: Mountain Madness I Flagstaff, AZ
June 20 - 21: 40s Cool Country Classic I Prescott, AZ

As was stated in last weeks newsletter, the 40s Mountain Madness I in Flagstaff has been cancelled.  No new dates are available at the moment.

We will know more by May 29 on the status of the tournaments in June.

For more information on these Arizona tournaments, please contact Rick Seifman, via email: tournsport@aol.com or phone: 623-776-2143

Missouri - State order expired 5/3
June 4 - 14: Missouri Open Columbia, MO

The park director in Columbia, MO has been in contact with tournament director Will Rogers and informed him that it is approved to go ahead at this point.

For more information on the Missouri Open, please contact Will Rogers, via email: willsharkdaddy@aol.com or phone: 816-916-7891.

Maryland - No end date, indefinite
May 29 - 31: CRABTOWN CLASSIC Glen Burnie, MD
June 13 - 14: The Old Line State Showdown Westminster, MD

The beach and boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, are scheduled to reopen Saturday. No masks are required; however, social distancing remains in effect. SSUSA is waiting for confirmation on fields being open.

SSUSA National and Mid-Atlantic Director TIm McElroy has been in contact with the complexes in Maryland.

Minnesota - Order in place through 5/18
Sept. 10 - 13: Steve Simmons Memorial/Mosquitoland Classic Little Canada, MN (NEW DATES)

The Steve Simmons Memorial/Mosquitoland Classic has been rescheduled for Sept 10th-13th.

The tournament will be a tune-up for the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships and will NOT be a qualifier.

Texas - Sate order expired 4/30 
June 4 - June 7: DFW Classic Grapevine, TX

Texas hair salons, barbershops, nail/tanning salons can reopen May 8 and gyms will be allowed to reopen at reduced capacity on May 18.

For more information on the DFW Classic, please contact tournament director Keith Parker, via email: txhcc@yahoo.com or phone: 903-315-6374

Hawaii - Order in place through 5/31
June 11-14: Hawaii Qualifier (CANCELLED)

The Hawaii Qualifier has been cancelled. The tournament will not be rescheduled.

SSUSA will waive the requirement for Hawaiian teams to play in a qualifier for the LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships. Hawaiian teams will need to submit their roster to Hawaii State Director, Jeffrey Kimoto, jeffreykimoto@gmail.com, who in turn will submit the roster to SSUSA to determine skill level.

California - No end date, indefinite
June 12 - June 17: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Sacramento, CA
June 16 - June 21: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Hemet, CA

California's stage 2 of reopening will begin on Friday, May 8.

Washington - Order expired 5/4*
June 13 - June 14: Northwest Cup Lacey, WA
June 25 - June 28: Inland Empire Classic Spokane, WA

*Llifting of restrictions will be coordinated with the governors of Oregon and California.

SSUSA should know more by May 25.

For more information on the above tournaments in Washington, please contact tournament director Butch Jones, via email: katstang7@gmail.com or phone: 360-791-3862.

Florida - Order expired 5/4
June 19 - June 21: Sunshine State Showdown Ft. Myers, FL

Florida has entered its first phase in reopening.

For more information on the Sunshine State Showdown, please contact Tim McElroy via email: PotomacSports1@gmail.com or phone: 301-514-2676.

Illinois - Order in place through 5/30
July 14 - 19: Quad Cities Classic Rock Island, IL (NEW DATES)

CLICK HERE for Illinois' five-phase reopening plan.

In response to Illinois' plan, the Quad Cities Classic has been pushed back to July.

For more information on the Quad Cities Classic, please contact tournament director Kenny Chard, via email: klchard@yahoo.com or phone: 309-721-9633.

Connecticut - Order in place through 5/20
June 27 - 30: CT Masters Games (POSTPONED - NEW DATES TBA)

The Connecticut Sports Management Group (Nutmeg State Games and CT Masters Games) has postponed all sporting events to the fall. New dates TBA.

Be sure to visit https://seniorsoftball.com/?events for all up-to-date information regarding SSUSA tournaments.