Champions Compete in Senior Softball Crown Jewel

Feb. 1, 2019

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The 13^th edition of the Senior Softball-USA Tournament of Champions was held here Feb. 6-10 with nearly 100 teams looking to close out the 2018 campaign on a high note.

The tournament, which is the crown jewel of Senior Softball championships, drew 95 teams that had won titles nationwide over the past year with the goal of becoming the ultimate champion. Second place teams were not invited.

The often imitated, never duplicated, tournament began with several special events, starting off with the hitting clinic on Feb. 6. The TOC All-Star game was also held Wednesday. Thursday, Feb. 7 featured several events, including the skills contests, optional team practices, and the annual sit-down banquet, celebrating teams and players.

The annual highlight of the tournament, the exhibition game between the Louisville Slugger Warriors and TOC All-Stars played on Saturday, Feb. 9. In a special ceremony, Richard Ochampaugh and James Thomas were both officially inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame (NSSHOF.

For more information on each of these special events, click here:
Hitting Clinic
TOC All-Star Game
Skills Contests
National Senior Softball Hall of Fame Inductions
TOC Banquet
Louisville Slugger Warriors vs. TOC All-Stars Game

The tournament officially kicked off on Friday, Feb. 8, with two days of sunny, warm weather. On Sunday, heay rain washed out three of the five complexes used during the tournament - Walker Road Softball Complex, Southwest Softball Complex, and DiamondPlex Softball Complex. Several finals from the three washed-out complexes were moved to the two remaining complexes: Auburndale Sports Complex and Loyce Harpe Sports Complex.

Winners in each division received free quality, custom-made rings by Josten's, makers of rings for MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL. MVP's in each division were awarded bats.

Beginning with the three-team Women’s 40/50 Major Division, top seed Florida Girls got to Sunday’s championship game following a 22-20 win over Chill 40 Below (MD). Coming out of the elimination side of the bracket, Kryptonite (FL) avenged its 16-13 loss against Chill 40 Below with a 12-5 victory in the third-place game to reach the championship game.

With the championship game rained out, Florida Girls (50 Major), the 2018 Eastern National champions, and Kryptonite (40 Major), the 2018 Eastern National and U.S. National champions, were each declared champions for their respective division. Chill 40 Below, the 2018 Atlantic Coast champion, finished in third place.

Florida Girls - Women's 50 Major Champion

Kryptonite (FL) - Women's 40 Major Champion

In the four-team Women’s 40 Silver (AAA/AA) Division, Colorado Ohana defeated Dames Got Game (AZ), 23-14, before upsetting top-seed CCS Fireballerz (CA) 11-9 in the de facto championship game, as all other games were rained out. The game was played at Loyce Harpe Sports Complex, as Walker Road Softball Complex, where the teams had been playing, was lost due to the rain.

Colorado Ohana - Women's 40 AAA Champion

Colorado Ohana (AAA) was the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest champion, while runner-up CCS Fireballerz (AAA) was the 2018 Western National and U.S. National champion.

As the lone AA team, Dames Got Game, the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest and World Masters champions, earned first place awards for their division.

Dames Got Game (AZ) - Women's 40 AA Champion

Moving to the Men’s side, Suncoast Adidas (FL), 40 Major Plus, the 2017 Winter National, 2018 Spring National, 2018 Eastern National, 2018 U.S. National, and 2018 LVSSA/SSUSAS World Masters champions, and 2018 Triple Grand Slam winner, capped off an impressive season winning the three-team Men’s 40 Platinum (Major Plus/Major) Division.

Suncoast/Adidas (FL) - Men's 40 Major Plus Champion

S2S/.40 Cal, the 2017 Winter National and 2018 Eastern National champions and highest finishing 40 Major team, following its thrilling 24-23 win over Canadian champion, Homer Lovers (Ontario, Canada), also earned first place awards.

S2S/.40 CAL (FL) - Men's 40 Major Champion

In the three-team Men’s 40 AAA Division, top seed Y’All Next (MD), the 2018 Atlantic Coast champions, defeated Live! Casino (MD), the 2018 Eastern National champion, by a score of 17-14, in the championship game. Ponce Puerto Rico/First Capital (NY), the 2018 Northeast champions, finished in third place.

Y'All Next (MD) - Men's 40 AAA Champion - Honors fallen teammate, Wayne Gilmore #2, who tragically passed away during the Mid-Altantic Last Chance Qualifier in August.

Suncoast Adidas 50s (FL), the 2018 Eastern National and U.S. National champions, and RBC Wealth Management 55 (FL), the 2018 Eastern National Champion, played in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 50/55 Major Plus Division.

RBC took the opening game, 38-35; while Suncoast answered back with a 22-18 victory in game two. There would not be a third game, as both teams took home first place awards for their respective divisions.

RBC Wealth Management (FL) - Men's 55 Major Plus Champion

In the five-team Men’s 50 Major Division, Good Times/Clean Planet Foods (FL), the 2017 Winter National champion, posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 17-8 win over CPD/Ancell (MN), the 2018 Western National champion, in the championship game. CPD/Ancell made a strong push through the elimination side of the bracket with three straight wins, including back-to-back wins on Sunday to reach the championship contest, before running out of gas.

Good Times/Clean Planet Foods (FL) - Men's 50 Major Champions

Top seed OG (CA), the 2018 Spring World champion, finished in third place.

The eight-team Men’s 50 AAA Division was decided by the “if” game, as Finance of America (NJ), the 2018 Atlantic Coast champions, came back to defeat Lansing Legends Softball Club (MI), the 2018 Northern champions, by a score of 14-7, in the winner take all game, after falling in the championship game, 13-3.

Finance of America (NJ) - Men's 50 AAA Champion

Top seed No Shows (FL), the 2017 Winter National champion, finished in third place.

In the four-team Men’s 55 Major Division, Florida Automated Shade, the 2017 Winter National and 2018 Spring National champions, posted a perfect 6-0 record on the weekend, going 3-0 to lock up the top seed, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a 22-15 win over Arizona Old School, the 2017 Winter World champions, in the championship game.

Florida Automated Shade - Men's 55 Major Champions

Arizona Old School bounced back from an 0-3 showing in seeding play, going 2-2 in bracket play, with both losses coming against Florida Automated Shade, en route to their runner-up finish.

Buell Fuel (NY), the 2018 Northeast champs, finished in third place.

The top two seeds met up in the final of six-team Men’s 55 AAA Division, as Ameriprise FL Legends, the 2018 Spring National, Eastern National and U.S. National champions, edged out top seed GAP Sports (FL),  the 2017 Winter National champion, by a score of 15-14, in the “if” game. GAP Sports took a one-run thriller of their own, 12-11, in the championship game to force the decisive “if” game.

Ameriprise FL Legends - Men's 55 AAA Champions

Both teams met earlier in the bracket, with Ameriprise FL Legends upsetting GAP Sports, 22-12.

Kamikaze (CA), the 2018 Southern California State champions, finished in third place.

In the Men’s 50/55 AA Division, Gray Ghost 50 (IL), the 2018 Northern and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, and Longshoremen 55 (VA), the 2018 U.S. National champion, played in a best two-out-of-three game series. Gray Ghost took the opener 23-22, while Longshoremen came back to even the series with a 26-22 victory in game two.

Gray Ghost (IL) - Men's 50 AA Champion

Longshoremen (VA) - Men's 55 AA Champion

The teams would not play the rubber-match, as both squads earned first place awards for their respective divisions.

Continuing with the Men’s 60/65 Major Plus Division, Florida Stingers 60, the 2017 Winter National and 2018 Spring National champions, swept Timberworks/Adidas 65 (CA), the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest, Rock ‘n Reno Challenge Cup, Western National, U.S. National, and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, and Triple Grand Slam winner, by scores of 19-5 and 35-34, respectively, in a best two-out-three-game series.

Florida Stingers - Men's 60 Major Plus Champion

Timberworks/Adidas - Mens 65 Major Plus Champion

Levin/Ameriprise (FL), the 2018 Spring National champions, rolled through the six-team Men’s 60 Major Division, going 3-0 in mixed round robin play, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 13-12 win over Windy City Softball (IL), the 2018 ISA Senior World Series champions, in the championship game. The entire elimination side of the bracket was rained out.

Levin/Ameriprise (FL) - Men's 60 Major Champion

In the eight-team Men’s 60 AAA Division, top seed Northwest Softball Club/Underdogs (WA), the 2018 Jim Sherman Memorial Northwest champions, posted a perfect 6-0 record, going 2-0 in seeding play, before completing a 4-0 record in the bracket, including a 19-4 win over Playmakers (WI), the 2017 Winter National champion.

Baker Boyz (CA), the 2018 Spring World champions, finished in third place.

In another eight-team division, the Men’s 60 AA Division, Syracuse Cyclones (NY), the 2018 Tidewater Classic champions, put forth a flawless performance in bracket play with a 4-0 record, including a 14-13 win over top seed Ted Todd Insurance (FL), the 2018 Eastern National champion, in the championship game. The elimination side of the bracket was rained out.

Syracuse Cyclones (NY) - Men's 60 AA Champion

In the four-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum Division, Venom 70 (FL), the 2018 Spring National, Eastern National, U.S. National, and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, and Triple Grand Slam winner, took home the division following its 26-22 win over Carolina Cobras 65 (NC), the 2018 Tidewater Classic and U.S. National champions, to reach the championship game.

With the reminder of the bracket rained out on Sunday, Venom was crowned champion as the lone undefeated team, while Carolina Cobras was the runner-up.

In the 10-team Men’s 65 AAA Division, Brantford Nissan Seniors (ON, Canada), the 2018 Northeast champions, posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 10-6 win over Dallas Spurs (TX), the 2018 Midwest and Rocky Mountain champions, to reach the championship game, which would be eventually rained out.

As the lone unbeaten team in bracket play, Brantford Nissan Seniors took home first place honors, with Dallas Spurs as the runner-up.

Brantford Nissan Seniors (ON, Canada) - Men's 65 AAA Champion

The Men’s 65 AA Division featured a best two-out-of-three game series between Grey Sox (WA), 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, and Robinson’s Furniture/OTS (DE), 2018 Tidewater Classic champions.  

Robinson’s Furniture/OTS took game one, 22-12, which would eventually be the deciding game, as the remainder of the series was rained on out Sunday.

Robinson's Furniture/OTS (DE) - Men's 65 AA Champion

In the two-team Men’s 70/75 Platinum (Major Plus/Major) Division, All-American (MN), 70 Major, 2018 Midwest, Rocky Mountain and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, defeated Florida Legends, 75 Major Plus, the 2017 Winter National champions, by a score of 15-13.

Each team took home first place awards for their respective division.


All-American (MN) - Men's 70 Major Champion

Florida Legends - Men's 75 Major Plus Champion

In the four-team Men’s 70 AAA Division, a full three-game round robin was played to determine a champion. Going 3-0, Midwest Express (IA), 2017 Winter World champions, took top honors. Lane Construction (FL), 2018 Spring National champion, was the runner-up, going 2-1, while Windsor Chiefs (ON, Canada), 2018 Northern champion, 1-2, and Sacramento Islanders (CA), 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest, Western National, and U.S. National champions, 0-3, rounded out the rest of the division.

Midwest Express (IA) - Men's 70 AAA Champion

In the four-team Men’s 70/75/80 Gold Division, teams were also set to play a full three-game round robin set to determine the champion.

However, the teams would get just one game in apiece on Saturday, as rain would put a damper on the division, cancelling games on Sunday morning.

Via its 8-5 win over Monkey Joe’s Big Nut Co. 75 (NJ), the 2018 Northeast champions, Chadwell Supply (FL), the 2017 Winter National champions, took home the Men’s 75 AAA title as the highest finishing team.

Chadwell Supply (FL) - Men's 75 AAA Champion

As the lone representatives for their respective divisions, Chicago Hitmen (IL), 70 AA, the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, and Florida Investment Properties, 80 Major, the 2017 Winter National and 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, each took home first place awards.

Chicago Hitmen (IL) - Men's 70 AA Champion

Top seed New York Statesmen, the 2017 Winter National and 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, won the three-team Men’s 80 AAA Division as the entire bracket was rained out.

New York Statesmen - Men's 80 AAA Champion

Center For Sight (FL), the 2018 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters champions, downed ProHealth Legends (MN), 12-8, to win the Men’s 85 Major Division.

Congratulations to all teams who qualified for the TOC during the 2018 season, by winning one of the 21 designated TOC qualifiers held during the season.

Teams have already qualified for the 2020 TOC by winning the 2018 Winter Nationals and Winter Worlds this past November. Be sure to play in a TOC qualifier near you for your chance to play in the crown jewel of the sport.

CLICK HERE to view game-by-game scores from the 2019 TOC.