112 TEAMS TAKE PART IN SENIOR SOFTBALL CROWN JEWEL

Feb. 1, 2017

POLK COUNTY, FL. –  112 winners of the top SSUSA tournaments for 2016 competed here Feb. 8-12 in the Original Tournament of Champions vying for the right to be called champion of the champions.

Teams across 29 states and Canada convened in Winter Haven (Auburndale Sports Complex and Diamondplex Sports Complex) and Lakeland (Loyce Harpe Sports Complex, Southwest Sports Complex, and Westside Softball Complex) to compete in the annual crown jewel of senior softball.

Starting off the festivities of the TOC was the hitting clinic on Wednesday, which gave players a chance to dust off the rust of Winter, by warming up and sharpening their skills before the start of the tournament. Bobby Davis, Dave Reed, Alan Tanner, and Lee Trotter were all on hand to serve as instructors for the hitting clinic.

Wednesday evening saw some of the best players in the TOC hit the field for the annual TOC All-Star Game. Each TOC participating team selected one player to represent the team in the All-Star Game. The National team, managed by Terry Hennessey, SSUSA CEO, along with co-manager, Alan Gillespie, manager of Northern Virginia Force (60 and 65 AAA), defeated the American team, managed by Bill Ruth, SSUSA President, along with co-manager Randy Rowe from KC Kids (65 Major), 25-9.

The National All-Star team would play again on Saturday night in an exhibition against the Louisville Slugger Warriors, a highly-decorated service-connected softball tournament team made of US Military Veterans and Active Duty Personnel, who lost limbs or were injured in combat. The SSUSA National All-Stars defeated the Louisville Slugger Warriors in a thrilling game, 29-28, in extra innings.

Player from the Louisville Slugger Warriors reaches up to make the catch.


Player from the Louisivlle Slugger Warriors swings for the fences.

The Skills Contests (Precision Hitting, Home Run, Speed, and Pitching) highlighted Thursday’s activities, while the Mini-Tournament (short three-inning practice games) was also held on Thursday.

A maximum crowd of 1,500 players, family and friends flocked to the gala TOC Banquet at Lakeland Center Friday night.  The event recognized the winning managers and teams, the All Stars, Louisville Slugger Warriors, the winners of the skills competitions and honored Don Stratton, the chief executive of the Independent Sports Association who was inducted into the SSUSA Hall of Fame.

The Louisville Slugger Warriors auctioned two bats off for $3,000 and raffled three spots on their roster for the game against the All Stars for $5,500 at the banquet. The proceeds all go to help defray the travel expenses of the team.

Photo from the TOC Banquet

A rull recap of all of the festivities will appear in the next edition of the Senior Softball Newspaper, which is scheduled for release in mid-March.
 

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The games officially began on Friday morning with 22 divisions in action. For complete game-by-game scores (seeding and bracket play) for all of the divisions, please click HERE 

In the Women’s 40 Masters Major division, Kryptonite (FL) defeated Motown Magic Bachelors (MI), 14-2 in the championship game to complete an undefeated weekend. Team Works (VA) finished in third place.

Player from Team Works (left) looks to get on base, while player from Motown Magic Bachelors (right) looks to show off her arm.

Lew’s Crew/Exceeding Expectations (MD) swept Kat’s Bats (Canada) in a best two-out-of-three game series to determine the Women’s 40 AAA division, while Arizona Dream Team got the better of Dreamgirlz 50 (VA) in a best two-out-of-three game series for the Women’s 50 division. After dropping game one, Arizona Dream Team bounced back winning back-to-back games, 16-3 and 14-13, respectively for the championship. 

Player from Arizona Dream Team (left) stretches to get the out at first; while player from Lew's Crew/Exceeding Expectations (right) takes a healthy cut.

In the three-team Men’s 40/50 Platinum division, No.3 seed Team 1 Sports/Miken (FL) (50 Major Plus) posted perfect 3-0 record in bracket play to claim the title.  As the top finishing 40 Major team, NorthWest Legends 40 (WA) won first place awards.

The eight-team Men’s 50 Major division saw last seed KC Classics (MO) make a Cinderella run through the bracket, going 4-0 in the championship bracket, including a 21-20 nail-biting victory over Florida Automated Shade 50. After dropping their first game in the bracket, Florida Automated Shade won five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket, before falling in the final. Brickyard Classics (IN) finished in third place.

Top seed, Iowa Demons, came out of the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip previously unbeaten, No. 2 seed, Pacific Coast Alliance (CA), 14-13 and 17-11, in the championship and “if” games, respectively, to win the 12-team Men’s 50 AAA division. Iowa Demons had won their first two games in bracket play, before falling to Pacific Coast Alliance and dropping the team in the elimination bracket. After losing their first game in the bracket, Kamikaze (CA) made a valiant run to a third place finish, winning five straight before falling to eventual champion Iowa Demons.

Jackson Merchants (MI) won the six-team Men’s 50 AA division, going 4-0 in bracket play, including a 19-5 win over KSS (AZ). KSS lost to Jackson Merchant earlier in the bracket, dropping the team into the elimination bracket, where the team won four straight to reach the championship game. Manifest 50’s (TX) finished in third place.

In the eight-team Men's 55 Major division, Florida Automated Shade 55 rolled through bracket play until falling in the championship game, 21-18, against High Street Bucs 55 (MD). Florida Automated Shade would bounce back in the “if” game, avenging their loss against High Street Bucs with a 25-10 victory to clinch the title. High Street Bucs lost their first game in bracket play, also against Florida Automated Shade, 17-9, to drop the team down into the elimination bracket. With their backs against the wall, High Street Bucs rattled off six straight wins, including five in a row on Sunday, before losing steam and falling in the “if” game. Team Impact (FL) finished in third place. 

Building Innovation Group (NY) went undefeated over the weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play and 3-0 in bracket play, to win the seven-team Men’s 55 AAA division. TNT Sports Club (PA) took second place, while Windsor Can Am 55 Chiefs (Ontario, Canada) finished in third place. For Building Innovation Group, this is their second TOC victory. Under the name Roc City 55's, the team won the 55 AA division at the 2015 TOC. After being moved up to AAA for the 2015 season, the team will be playing Major in 2017. "We are privileged to play in SSUSA's tournaments, they are first class," said manager Sal Oddo. "I promise we will represent our area well in 55 Major."

Building Innovation Group - 55 AAA TOC Champions

Silver Foxes (FL) went 3-0 in bracket play in the Men’s 55 AA division, including an 18-10 win over Tucson Buds (Los Buds) (AZ) in the championship game. Longshoremen 55 (VA) finished in third place.

In the Men's 60/65 Platinum division, Clean Planet/A Special Taste (MI) won the division, edging out Promotion (NJ), 19-18, in the “if” game. After dropping their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, Promotion won four games in a row, including a 25-13 win in the championship game to force the “if” game. Hollis Appraisals 65’s (FL) finished in third place and was awarded first place awards as the lone 65 Major Plus team.

In a best two-out-of-three game series to determine the Men's 60 Major Plus champion, Hollis Appraisals 60’s (FL) and Minnesota Masters/White split the first two games, before Hollis Appraisals 60’s eventually finished off Minnesota Masters/White, 34-11. The TOC title for Hollis Appraisals caps an impressive 2016 campaign, which saw the team capture the Triple Grand Slam.

The eight-team Men's 60 AAA division was won by Northern Virginia Force, as the No. 5 seed posted a perfect 4-0 record in bracket play, including a 16-12 win over Slug-A-Bug (FL) in the championship game. FL Mustangs finished in third place.

No Stars (FL) ran the gauntlet on Sunday in the Men's 60 AA division, winning five straight games, including double-dipping Scrap Iron 60’s Rockies (CO), in the championship (18-14) and “if” game (23-10). No Stars fell to Los Vatos Viejos 60 (AZ), who eventually finished in third place, earlier in the bracket, dropping the team down into the elimination side of the bracket to start the games on Sunday..

In the five-team Men's 65/70 Platinum division, Southern State Services (FL) defeated Venom (FL), 11-7, in the championship game to take home the crown. As the lone 70 Major Plus team, Venom would also be awarded first place awards. HermTech (MA) finished in third place.

The 10-team Men’s 65 AAA division saw the top two seeds battle it out in the championship game, as top seed Over the Edge (CA) defeated Florida Mustangs 65, 18-17, in a thriller. Over the Edge completed a perfect weekend going 6-0. Doc Martens/Ropes Courses (MI) finished in third place.

Over the Edge - 65 AAA TOC Champions

Dallas Spurs 65 (TX) captured the Men’s 65 AA division with its 22-9 win over Long Island Jaguars 65 White (NY) in the championship game. Texas Rattlers finished in third place.

Dallas Spurs - 65 AA TOC Champions

Boca 70’s (FL) went 3-0 to win the Men’s 70 Gold division, including a 26-15 win over the Windsor Chiefs (Ontario, Canada). As the lone 70 Major team, Windsor Chiefs also won first place awards. Syracuse Cyclones (NY) 70 finished in third place.

Silver City Brewers (WA) swept Columbus Silver Sticks (IN) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 70 AA division, winning 26-23 and 16-15.

The Men’s 75 Platinum division also featured a best two-out-of-three game series, between Southeast Left-Overs (Major Plus) and Pfeiffer/Doc’s Boys (Major). Pfeiffer/Doc’s Boys swept Southeast Left-Overs by scores of 23-15 and 26-11. Both teams would earn first place awards as singleton teams.

In the four-team Men’s 75 AAA division, Minnesota Masters 75-Jimmy’s defeated Buffalo Wild Wings (FL), 23-20, in the championship game. Syracuse Cyclones 75 (NY) finished in third place.

Florida Investment Properties posted a perfect 6-0 record over the weekend to win the five-team Men’s 80 Gold division, including a 19-12 win over Jimmy’s MN Legends 80 in the championship game. Gray Sox 80’s (MI) received first place awards as the lone Men's 80 AAA team.

Player from Florida Investment Properties looking for the put-out.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 28 TOC CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS! 

As a ring award tournament, all players on winning teams at the TOC recieve a free championship ring, courtesy of Jostens!