Record 60 Teams Compete at 2024 Tidewater Classic

April 1, 2024

Neptune Statue on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Thanks to a strong turnout of men’s 40+ Masters teams, the SSUSA Tidewater Classic drew a record 60 teams to Virginia Beach, Virginia, this year.

Nearly a third of the teams played in either the 40+ AAA or the 40+ Platinum divisions. Though winners of both those divisions finished unbeaten, very few other teams pulled off that feat.

Overall, teams from 10 states gathered at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex for the five-day event, which concluded April 7. Champions hailed from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Illinois and Delaware.

Participants battled not only each other but also the elements.

“Four solid days of heavy wind made for some interesting play,” Tournament Director Tim McElroy said. “No fly ball was routine.”

Eleven teams earned berths to the 2025 Tournament of Champions in Polk County, Florida, by winning their divisions.

Results:

Men’s 40+ Masters Platinum: Fifth-seeded Detwiler Roofing/Treedem NE, a Major team from Pennsylvania, capped a 7-0 tournament with a 24-18 title game victory over third-seeded Bob Johnson/Roc Nation of New York. Sixth-seeded HDI/Rapid Fire of Virginia won five elimination games – including three by one run each -- to place third in the 14-team division, the tournament’s largest.

Men’s 40+ Masters AAA: Top-seeded Sarafis Painting & Construction of Pennsylvania capped a 5-0 tournament with a 24-16 championship victory over third-seeded F3 40s of Virginia. Fourth-seeded Y’All Next of Maryland took third in the five-team division.

Men’s 50+ AAA: Second-seeded Racehorse Tavern/Old Skool/GTS Sports of Pennsylvania finished 5-1 and avenged a pool game loss to top-seeded BACKSIDE of Virginia with a 14-10 title game triumph. Potomac Sports of West Virginia finished third in the four-team division.

Men’s 50/55+ Platinum: Fifth-seeded Half Century, a 50+ Major team from North Carolina, defeated second-seeded Deluxe Bakery/Phoenix Tube of New Jersey 20-12 in the title game to finish 5-1 overall. Fourth-seeded Excel Masonry/Red Athlete of Virginia won three elimination games to finish third in the seven-team bracket.

Men’s 55+ Major: In the tournament’s closest championship game, fourth-seeded Bob Johnson/Rizzo’s of New York edged sixth-seeded BACKSIDE of Virginia 20-19 to finish 5-1 overall. Seventh-seeded East Coast Excavation of Virginia finished third in the nine-team division.

Men’s 55/60+ Silver: Top-seeded Team Illinois, a 60+ AAA team, lost the first title game 16-11 but won the second 22-18 over sixth-seeded Longshoremen 55 of Virginia. DHF Contractors 60s of Virginia took third in the six-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ Major: Fourth-seeded Carolina Legends 60 of North Carolina lost the first title game 19-17 but won the second 13-9 over top-seeded Diamondblade of Maryland. Estes/Rheem of Virginia finished third in the five-team division.

Men’s 65/70+ Gold: Fourth-seeded Hudson Valley Cyclones lost their first bracket game then won four in a row, including 21-17 and 7-0 championship games over Northern Virginia Force 70s, which also won a TOC berth as the top-finishing 70+ Major team. Northern Virginia Force 65s finished third in the four-team bracket.

Men’s 70+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three format, the Long Island Jaguars 70s White team (photo below) swept the Syracuse Cyclones of New York 15-13 and 13-6.

Men’s 70/75+ Gold: Robinson’s Furniture/OTX of Delaware finished 5-0 and earned a 70+ AA berth to the TOC by defeating the Long Island Jaguars 75s 21-17 in the title game of the three-team division. Northern Virginia Force 75 placed third.