Two States Host 2020 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships

Sept. 1, 2020

SACRAMENTO – The 9th annual LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships will have a much different feel to it this year.

Due to the continued shutdown in Nevada from the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be the first time that the joint LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Championships (which began in 2012) will not be held in Las Vegas.

Instead, the WMC will relocate to the neighboring states of Utah (St. George) and Arizona (Kingman, Mesa and Glendale).

Arizona (Phoenix) was previously a long-time host of the World Championships prior to the partnership with LVSSA and the creation of the World Masters Championships – which has become the largest slow-pitch softball tournament of any age group in the nation.

For three straight years – 2017-2019 – the WMC has attracted more than 600 teams.  Tournament officials had originally forecast about half the teams – 300 – for the 2020 WMC because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.  However, the tournament is now expected to draw close to 450* teams.

There are 316 teams scheduled for the first three sessions: Men’s 55 – 85 / Men’s & Women’s 40. *The deadline for the fourth session (Men’s and Women’s 50 Divisions) has been extended to Oct. 8, due to the change in dates to Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, so there won’t be a final count until after that last deadline.

Session I

Men’s 55 & 60 (136 Teams)
St. George, UT (Sept. 17 – 20)

The 2020 World Masters Championships officially kicks-off today, Thursday, Sept. 17 in St. George, UT, with the opening session - Men’s 55 and 60 age divisions.

A total of 136 teams representing 26 states will play across eight divisions on four complexes.

Seven U.S. National Championship Games will highlight the first session:
Men’s 55 Major Plus: San Antonio Softball Club (TX) vs. Ohio Elite/R Sports
Men’s 55 Major: WPI/Wilson Auto (ID) vs. Ameriprise Florida Legends
Men’s 55 AAA: Michael’s Automotive Group (WA) vs. Old Stars (IN)
Men’s 60 Major Plus: LPC/Dudley (CA) vs. Omega IT Services, LLC (VA)
Men’s 60 Major: Vegas Elite (NV) vs. Chicago Prime (IL)
Men’s 60 AAA: Sidewinders (AZ) vs. Vecter Scorpions (FL)
Men’s 60 AA: Full Throttle (AZ) vs. NoVa Storm (VA)

The largest division of the first session is the 31-team Men’s 55 AAA Division.

Session II

Men’s 65 – 85 (95 Teams)
St. George, UT (Sept. 21 – 23)

The World Masters Championships continues in St. George with session two on Monday, Sept. 21, as the elder statesmen of the game – the Men’s 65 – 85 age divisions, take the field.

A total of 95 teams representing 22 states will play across 13 divisions on four complexes.

Three U.S. National Championship Games highlight the second session:
Men’s 65 Major: Top Gun Elite (CA) vs. New Jersey Hitmen
Men’s 70 Major Plus: OMEN (CA) vs. Venom (FL)
Men’s 75 Major: Tharaldson’s (NV) vs. Venom (FL)

The largest division of the second session will be the 18-team Men’s 65 Major Division.

Every game counts in the Men’s 75 Major (6 teams), 75 Silver (7 teams), and 80/85 Gold (6 games) divisions, as a full round robin will be used to determine the champion.

Michael Smieja, 91, member of ProHealth Care (MN), the lone 85-year-old team in the WMC, is the oldest competitor in the tournament.

Session III

Men’s & Women’s 40 (85 Teams)
Kingman, AZ (Sept. 25 – 27)

After seven straight days (Sept. 17 – 23) in St. George, SSUSA Directors, UIC’s, and Umpires will travel 230 miles south to Kingman, AZ, where the Men’s and Women’s 40’s Divisions will get their turn at bat starting Sept. 25.

A total of 85 teams representing 16 states will play across five divisions on two complexes.

Two U.S. National Championship Games highlight the third session:
Men’s 40 Major Plus: LCP/Prestige Softball (CA) vs. LB/Spirits West/SMC (MD)
Women’s 40 AAA: Hafta Play (CA) vs. Firestyx (NJ)

The largest division of the third session is the 36-team Men's 40 Major Division.

The City of Kingman has placed specific rules and regulations on its facilites.

Please CLICK HERE to read them.
 

Session IV

Men’s & Women’s 50
Mesa/Glendale, AZ (Oct. 29 – Nov. 1)
Entry Deadline – October 8

Oct. 29 - Nov. 1: Men’s 50 Major and AAA Divisions (Mesa)
Oct. 30 - Nov. 1: Men’s 50 Major-Plus, Men’s 50 AA and Women’s Divisions (Glendale)

50s Managers, please be sure to contact the SSUSA office to get your team in for the tournament. The team list is posted on the touranment page. CLICK HERE.

If your team can no longer attend, please also be sure to inform us.

You can contact the SSUSA office at any time via email at info@seniorsoftball.com. You can reach the SSUSA office via phone (916-326-5303) Monday – Thursday, 8:00 am – Noon (Pacific).

12th Annual LVSSA Bullhead City Fall Classic

The Las Vegas Senior Softball Association (LVSSA) will be hosting its 12th Annual Bullhead City Fall Classic, Oct. 30 - Nov. 8, at Bullhead City Rotary Park in Bullhead City, AZ.

When the fourth session of the World Masters Championships for the 50 division was forced to move to the Phoenix area, it fell on the same dates as The Fall Classic.  Fortunately, only the 50 division is playing in the WMC, so SSUSA and LVSSA are urging other age divisions to grab the chance to play in Bullhead City.

Men's teams, CLICK HERE to register.

Women's teams, CLICK HERE to register.