Best of Best Win Quality Rings At SSUSA's Original Tournament of Champions

Feb. 1, 2024

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Teams from Canada, Guam and across the United States converged on Polk County, Florida, in late January to determine the best of the best among Senior Softball USA champions.

Only teams that win their divisions in TOC qualifiers get invited to the SSUSA Tournament of Champions, which celebrated its 18^th annual showcase event this year.

Barkley Heating & Air/O.P.P. (DE) enjoying their championship victory in the Men's 40+ AAA division.

The 103 participating teams enjoyed mostly sunny and pleasant Florida weather during two days of special events and three days of games.

Ten teams compiled undefeated weekends. Twenty-eight champion teams earned free, quality Jostens rings for each player. In addition, each championship team’s MVP received a new Axe senior bat.

All-Star Umpire Staff at the 2024 Tournament of Champions. (Front: Tournament UIC Gayle Collins. Back, left to right: Umpires Jay Lugo, Bob O'Brien, Brad Tiedeken and Linda Weber).

Results:

Women’s 40+ Masters AAA: The Lady Panthers of Ontario, Canada, (photo below), double dipped Dynasty Sisters Mood Swings of California 5-4 and 16-2 in the title games, which allowed the Panthers to get revenge for their only tournament loss, 9-5 to Dynasty Sisters in the winner’s bracket finals. TM Force of Florida took third in the four-team division.

Women’s 40+ Masters AA: Playing a best-of-three format, the Arizona Desert Belles (photo below) swept FIGO Islanders of Guam 15-6 and 17-12 for the crown.

Women’s 50+ AAA: Also playing the best of three, Shots Fired of Rhode Island (photo below) swept Takin’ Chances of California 7-4 and 8-7 for the title.

Women’s 50/55+ Major: In another best-of-three bracket, undefeated Kryptonite of Florida (photo below) won the 50+ Major title by sweeping the Arizona Dream Team 55s 16-9 and 9-5.

Men’s 40+ Masters Platinum: Fourth-seeded BT Bombers/Six Pac of California (photo below) averaged 25 runs a game in bracket play and defeated First Capital of New York 26-17 in the championship game of the six-team bracket. Certified Ground Breakers of Maryland placed third. Suncoast/Adidas 40s of Florida, which went 5-0 playing against Major teams, won the Major Plus title.

Men’s 40+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three format, Barkley Heating & Air/O.P.P. of Delaware (photo below) defeated Gigantes O.C. of Maryland 20-14, 16-19, 32-23 for the title.

Men’s 50+ Platinum: Second-seeded Yeager’s/Max Batz of Florida (photo below) defeated Chi-Town Ballers 17-9 for the Major championship. Suncoast/Adidas 50s of Florida went 6-0 against Major and AAA competition and won the Major Plus title.

Men’s 50+ AAA: Second-seeded 4 Season Paint & Remodeling/Evil Sports/Sundial Cocktails of Massachusetts (photo below) went 5-1 overall and edged third-seeded SSC/Persuaders of Kansas 17-16 to win the seven-team division. Top-seeded Volusia Top Gun of Florida finished third.

Men’s 50+ AA: Top-seeded Emerald City of Washington (photo below) went 5-0, averaged 20 runs a game and defeated second-seeded NW50s/A-Affordable of Washington 25-23 in the finale. Lobos of Texas finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 55+ Platinum: Fourth-seeded Regeee’s Rams of Ontario, Canada, (photo below), won all its bracket games to finish 5-1, capped by a 20-4 title game victory over fifth-seeded Damage Nevada. Vectra International/Big Biscuit of Kansas placed third in the six-team bracket. Suncoast/Adidas of Florida claimed the 55+ Major Plus title with a 4-1 overall record.

Men’s 55+ AAA: Fifth-seeded Xtreme Home Improvements and Restorations/New York Fitness Club/Fredrick’s of Pennsylvania (photo below) finished 5-1, capped by a 12-8 title game victory over top-seeded D’Amore Law of Washington. Third-seeded Scrap Iron Mile High finished third in the eight-team bracket.

Men’s 55+ AA: Top-seeded So Cal Riptide/RMK Trucking of California (photo below) capped a 6-0 tournament with a 15-14 victory in the title game over California Coast Plumbers Inc. Buddies, Sampson’s, Mid-Michigan Merchants took third in the four-team division.

Men’s 60+ Major: Top-seeded Team Florida/Phoenix Tube (photo below) averaged nearly 20 runs a game and capped a 5-0 tournament with a 23-18 championship victory over third-seeded Hawaii Five-O. Top Dawgs of Florida finished third in the six-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ AAA: Top-seeded Team Mars of Florida (photo below) outscored opponents by an average of 10 runs a game, went 6-0 overall, and captured the title with a 19-3 victory over sixth-seeded CPOA Cleveland/Northern Ohio Printing. Fourth-seeded Hudson Valley Cyclones of New York took third in the eight-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ AA: Second-seeded Road Warriors of Arizona (photo below) capped a 5-0 tournament by exploding for a 24-9 title game victory over the fourth-seeded New York Capitals. Top-seeded Lobos of Texas finished third in the five-team bracket.

Men’s 65+ Major: Playing a best-of-three format, Empire Monroe of New York (photo below) defeated Prime Time of Illinois 23-24, 23-22, 16-11 for the title.

Men’s 65+ AA: In a best-of-three format, Shannon Fence/CPOA of Ohio (photo below) swept Scrap Iron Rockies 24-22 and 31-27.

Men’s 65/70+ Gold: Second-seeded Top Gun Stealth of California (photo below), a 65 AAA team, double dipped eighth-seeded Northern Virginia Force 20-9 and 31-15 for the title. Third-seeded Steve Levin Ameriprise of Florida took third in the nine-team bracket.

Men’s 70+ AAA: Playing the best-of-three, Northern Virginia Force defeated JAG-ONE/Jersey Masters Red of New Jersey 17-2, 16-17 and 18-12.

Men’s 70+ AA: Fourth-seeded Scrap Iron Diamonds of Colorado (photo below) turned a double play to end the championship game 23-20 against third-seeded Spikes of Washington. Top-seeded Doc Marten/Ropes Courses of Michigan placed third in the five-team bracket.

Men’s 75+ Platinum: Third-seeded Scrap Iron Diamonds (photo lower left) won the 75+ Major title by working their way through the elimination bracket and double dipping the second-seeded Midwest Fossils of Nebraska 19-11 and 21-5. Maverick Construction of Texas finished third. Venom of Florida (photo lower right) nabbed the 75+ Major Plus title with a 5-0 record.

Men’s 75+ AAA:  In a best-of-three format, JAG-ONE/Jersey Masters of New Jersey (photo below) finished 5-0 by sweeping the KC Kids of Missouri 15-10 and 16-15.

Men’s 80+ Gold: Top-seeded Bucs and Bulls of Florida went 5-0 and nabbed with AAA title by defeating the NorEasters of New York 24-9. Scrap Iron 80s finished third in the six-team bracket. Florida Investment Properties (photo below) eared the 80+ Major Plus title with a 5-0 record.

Men’s 85+ Gold: Center For Sight of Florida (photo below) earned the Major title and finished 5-1 overall with a 22-10 victory over Main Street Pub of Michigan, which won the AAA title. Team Rehabilitation of Minnesota finished third in the three-team bracket.