Teams from Alaska to Florida Join the Rocky Mountain Champs in Colorado

Sept. 1, 2023

SSUSA Umpires at 2023 Rocky Mountain Championships, left to right: Reggie Weathersby (TX), Marcus Bodie (TN), and Greg Jones (TX). 

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

A record 87 teams from 17 states converged on Auora, Colo., in mid-August to compete in the Rocky Mountain Championships.

Eighteen of them emerged from the Aug. 17-20 event with berths to the 2024 Tournament of Champions in Polk County, Florida.

Though lightning and rain interrupted play on two of the tournament’s four days at the Aurora Sports Park, teams enjoyed mostly sunny weather with temperatures peaking in the low 90s daily.

Spirited competition abounded, including one 82-run game. Alliance/Scrap Iron defeated Texas Rush 44-38 in that 50+ AAA pool game, which had been shortened to five innings following a long Friday evening lightning delay.

Another Friday highlight involved the induction of Penne (Penelope) Adams into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame, a joint hall that represents all national senior slow-pitch softball organizations. Senior Softball USA is the largest of those groups.

Left to Right: Pene's Daughter, Beck Adams, Pene Adams and Pene's Husband, Dave Adams.

Adams began playing senior softball in 2004, the year her team Colorado Hot Flashes finished second in the National Senior Games. She also has played on teams that won national championships, world championships, and Huntman Senior Game gold medals. She entered the Hall of Fame in the pioneer player category.

The Rocky Mountain Championships also included a Friday skills competition organized by the Scrap Iron organization.

Teams from as far as Alaska, Minnesota, Texas and Florida competed in the tournament, which has become one of SSUSA’s premier TOC qualifiers.

Results:

Men’s 50+ Platinum: Top-seeded Texas Steel/California Bats, a 50+ Major team, defeated fifth-seeded Scrap Iron Havoc 22-17 for the title of the five-team bracket. Rock N Legends of Texas finished third.

Men’s 50+ AAA: In a thrilling finish, top-seeded SSC/Persuaders of Kansas double dipped seventh-seeded Band of Brothers of Utah 18-17 and 10-9 for the crown. Texas Rush, which had been seeded 13^th, finished third in the 14-team bracket, the tournament’s largest.

Men’s 50+ AA: Playing a best-of-three format, the Lobos of Texas rebounded from an opening 14-13 loss to double dip Team 307 of Wyoming 12-4 and 8-6.

Men’s 55+ AAA: Top-seeded Alliance/Scrap Iron of Colorado capped a 6-0 tournament with a 15-9 title game victory over KC Stampede 55 of Missouri. ETX 55s of Texas finished third in the eight-team bracket.

Men’s 55/60+ Platinum: Texas Crush Sixties (photo below) earned the 60+ Major Plus TOC berth by winning the six-team bracket undefeated. Runner-up Damage Nevada captured the 55+ Major TOC berth. Top-seeded Scrap Iron Thunder of Colorado finished third in the six-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ Major: After all five teams went 1-1 in pool play, third-seeded Peak Softball/Storage Time/Scrap Iron 60s of Colorado (photo below) emerged as champions by defeating top-seeded Arizona Old School 14-3 in the finale. Minnesota Premier finished third.

Men’s 60+ AAA: Seventh-seeded Alliance/Scrap Iron defeated top-seeded Minnesota Thunder 15-5 to win the 10-team bracket. Fourth-seeded Arizona Blaze finished third.

Men’s 60+ AA: Third-seeded Lobos of Texas lost the first title game 28-26 but won the second 21-18 to capture the five-team division. Second-seeded Club Tilt/Haus of Colorado finished second. Top-seeded OKC Angels of Oklahoma took third.

Men’s 65+ Major: Top-seeded Scrap Iron High Octane (photo below) lost the first title game 15-4 but won the second 9-6 over the Minnesota Masters. Blue Speed AV of Missouri finished third in the three-team bracket.

Men’s 65+ AAA: Third-seeded Texas Legends (photo below) lost the first title game 7-5 but triumphed 21-17 in the second to win the five-team division. Second-seeded Scrap Iron Heavy Metal of Colorado placed second, and fifth-seeded Scrap Iron Xplosion took third.

Men’s 65+ AA: Top-seeded Duke City Dynamite of New Mexico (photo below) lost the first title game but won the second over the second-seeded Electrifiers of Texas to win the six-team division. Scrap Iron 65 Rockies finished third.

Men’s 70+ AAA: Sixth-seeded Scrap Iron 5280’ double dipped the top-seeded Texas Rattlers 18-14 and 23-19 to win the six-team division. The second-seeded Midwest As of Missouri played five one-run games and finished third.

Men’s 70+ AA: Top-seeded Not Dead Yet of Kansas (photo below) edged the Scrap Iron Diamonds of Colorado 16-15 in the championship game of the three-team division. R & D Leverage of Missouri finished third.

Men’s 70/75+ Major: Top-seeded and unbeaten KC Kids 70s earned the 70+ Major TOC berth by winning the overall bracket with a 18-12 title game victory over the 75 Scrap Iron Diamonds, which won the 75+ Major TOC berth. The Tri-State Diamondbacks of New Mexico finished third in the three-team bracket.

Men’s 75/80+ Gold: Top-seeded KC Kids 75s won the 75+ AAA TOC berth by double-dipping the Texas Raiders 20-13 and 18-10. The top-finishing 80s team, Scrap Iron 80s, finished third and snagged the 80+ Major TOC berth.