Twenty Nine Teams Lock TOC Berths at 2019 Rock 'n Reno Challenge Cup

June 1, 2019

RENO/SPARKS/CARSON CITY, Nev. - The oldest and longest running Senior Softball-USA tournament, the Rock ‘n Reno Challenge Cup, hosted 195 teams here from May 24 to June 2.

Fifteen states, coming from as far east as Massachusetts and Florida, and outside of the continental United States - Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia, were well represented during the tournament.

As an official qualifier for the Tournament of Champions, 29 teams secured their berths for the TOC in Florida in February, 2020.

The tournament began over Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, with the Women’s 40-65 age divisions, and the Men’s 40 and 60 age divisions.

Starting in the Women’s 40 Major Division, Fun Bunch (CA) and Smack That (CA) played a best two-out-of-three game series. Smack That struck first, taking game one 25-23. Fun Bunch evened the series with a 30-22 win in game two, before completing the comeback with a nail-biting 21-20 victory in the rubber match.

In the eight-team Women’s 40 AAA Division, TABU (CA) ran the table unscathed, going 2-0 in seeding to lock up the No. 1 seed, and then 4-0 in bracket play to cap off the perfect weekend, including a 15-4 win over Country Club Villa (CA) in the championship game.

Country Club Villa fell to TABU earlier in the bracket, 14-2, to drop down into the elimination side of the bracket. Facing elimination, County Club Villa regrouped with three straight wins to reach the championship game en route to their runner-up finish.

Old Nasty Curves (CA) finished in third place.

In the Women’s 50 Major Division, Magic Stuff (MA) made the most out of its 2,800-mile trip from the Bay State to the Silver State, by sweeping B.O.O.B.S (CA) in the best two-out-of-three game series. Magic Stuff cruised to the game one win, 21-5, before earning the championship via a forfeit win in game two.

In the four-team Women’s 50/55 AAA Division, OnFire/Afoa Insurance 50 (CA) went 3-0 in seeding to secure the top seed, before rattling off three straight wins in bracket play, including a thrilling walk-off 20-19 win over Team Battleaxe 55 (OR) in the championship game.

Trailing 19-12 heading into the bottom of the open, OnFire/Afoa Insurance plated the eight runs it needed to complete the comeback victory.

NW Boomers 50 (OR) finished in third place.

In another four-team division, the Women’s 60/65 Division, AZ Castawaz 60 finished off the weekend with a perfect 6-0 overall record, going 3-0 in seeding play to earn the top seed and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 19-9 win over California Spirit 65 in the championship game.

California Rockers 65 finished in third place.

In the five-team Men’s 40 Major Plus Division, GTS (ID) rolled through the division, going 2-0 in seeding to take the top spot in the bracket, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a 30-14 win over CB Softball (CA) in the championship game.

After going 0-2 in seeding play and falling in their first bracket game against Kraze (CA) 34-33, CB Softball rebounded with three straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket to reach the championship game.

Prestige/Elite Sports Orange County Prestige (CA) finished in third place.

In the massive 25-team Men’s 40 Gold Division, the largest division of the tournament, Thunderstruck 40’s (CA) escaped without a loss.

The team began with a 2-0 record in seeding play to eventually earn the No. 3 seed, before running off five straight wins in the bracket, including a 16-11 win over TEAM F1RST (CA) in the championship game.

After falling to Cheap Suits/Republic Realty/CDZ Apparel (CA) 23-17 to drop down into the elimination side of the bracket, TEAM F1RST rallied with three straight wins to play its way into the championship game.

Cheap Suits/Republic Realty/CDZ Apparel finished in third place to round out the top three finishers, while Team Imua/Elite Sports (HI) finished in fourth place.

Notable mention goes to Bartz Builders/No Excuses (CA) and East Bay 40s/Kinders (CA), who both finished tied for sixth place. Both teams were among the eight teams to go 2-0 in seeding play.

Bartz Builders/No Excuses won five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket following its opening game loss to Torgi Trucking (WA), 26-14. The team would eventually be eliminated by Team Imua/Elite Sports.

East Bay 40s/Kinders also dropped its opening bracket game 23-19 against Cheap Suits/Republic Realty/CDZ Apparel, before winning four straight games in the elimination side of the bracket. The team would eventually be eliminated by TEAM F1RST.

In the Men’s 60 Major Plus Division, MTC/Dudley (CA) swept Summy’s (CA) in a best two-out-of-three game series by scores of 26-22 and 23-22, respectively.

In game two, MTC/Dudley trailed 22-20 heading into the bottom of the open and scored the three runs it needed to complete the comeback win.

Early in the championship game, MTC/Dudley plated seven runs in the third and fourth innings to fuel a commanding 19-10 lead; however, Summy’s scored four runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to eventually take a slim 22-20 lead.

In the seven team Men’s 60 Major Division, California Energy cruised to a 40-16 win in the championship game over top seed Last Call (NV). California Energy’s offense was on full display in the final game, as the team scored the maximum five runs in each inning, before plating 10 runs in the top of the open.

Last Call dropped their first two games in the three-game guarantee bracket, falling to Goodman Racing (WA) 28-27 and Bulldogs (OR) 33-27. Facing elimination the rest of the way, Last Call bounced back with three straight wins to reach the championship game.

Second Wind Resurrected (WA) finished in third place.

In another seven-team division, the Men’s 60 AAA Division, Alaska Kings came out of the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip Baker Boyz (CA) by scores of 17-16 and 21-14, respectively.

Baker Boyz won its first four games of the bracket, including a 19-14 win over Alaska Kings to reach the championship game.

Senior Bend Elks (OR) finished in third place.

The Men’s 60 AA Division featured a best two-out-of-three game series between Fresno Mayhem (CA) and East West Aircraft Sales - Two (ID).

East West Aircraft Sales - Two swept the series by scores of 19-14 and 19-8, respectively.

Following a break in play for Memorial Day, the tournament continued with the second session, as the Men’s 65 through 85 age divisions took the field, May 28-30.

Starting off with the Men’s 65 Major Plus Division, Enviro-Vac Marauder (WA) and Timberworks/Adidas (CA) played a thrilling best two-out-of-three game series that went the distance.

In the opening game of the series, Timberworks/Adidas pounded out 23 runs in the top of the open to cruise to a 36-15 win.

In game two, trailing 26-18 heading into the open inning, Enviro-Vac plated nine runs to take a one-run lead, 27-26. Enviro-Vac held off Timberworks/Adidas in the bottom of the open, holding the potent offense scoreless, to escape with the win and force the decisive “if” game.

Game three would see a mirror image of the previous game, as Enviro-Vac headed into the open inning, trailing 23-17. The team would again score the runs it needed, getting seven runs across the plate to take a one-run advantage, 24-23.

Holding the hammer for the second straight game, Timberworks/Adidas would once again get shut out, as Enviro-Vac completed the comeback win to take the division.

In the ten-team Men’s 65 Major Division, Incrediwear (CA) registered a perfect 4-0 record in bracket play, including a 19-16 win over Scrap Iron High Octane (CO) in the championship game.

Incrediwear began its run in the bracket in dramatic fashion, scoring a pair of walk-off wins. The team first knocked off Nor Cal Reds (CA) 12-11, scoring three runs in the bottom of the open. Incrediwear then edged out Oregon Crabs 10-9, scoring the lone run it needed in the bottom of the open.

Scrap Iron High Octane bounced back from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, to post a 5-2 record in the bracket, including three straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket on Thursday en route to their runner-up finish.

Sin City Stars finished in third place.

The 17-team Men’s 65 AAA Division, the largest division of the second session, would come down to the “if” game. Lincoln Hills Coyote (CA) came back to defeat top seed Game Time Sports (ID), 13-7, after dropping the championship game, 28-25.

Game Time Sports fell to Scrap Iron 5280 (CO), 16-12, to drop down in to the elimination side of the bracket. Beginning championship Thursday in the elimination bracket, Game Time Sports began the gauntlet, winning four straight games, including its win in the championship game, before running out of gas in the “if” game.

Scrap Iron 5280 finished in third place.

In the Men’s 65 AA Division, East-West Aircraft Sales (ID) and Out of Storage (CA) played a best two-out-of-three game series.

Out of Storage struck the first blow, taking game one, 21-17. East-West Aircraft Sales evened the series with a 19-16 win in game two, forcing the winner-take-all game three.

In the rubber-match, East-West Aircraft Sales held on for the thrilling 25-24 win to take the division.

In the Men’s 70 Major Plus Division, Omen (CA) swept Enviro-Vac Marauders (BC, Canada) by scores of 19-9 and 17-8, respectively.

The 11-team Men’s 70 Major Division saw R&R (CA) escape the elimination side of the bracket with a 19-18 walk-off win over San Antonio Silver Steaks (TX) in the third place game to punch their ticket to the championship game.

Trailing 18-13 heading to the bottom of the open, R&R plated six runs to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Building off its momentum, R&R continued their strong play in both the championship and “if” game, double-dipping Tri-State Diamondbacks (NM) by scores of 18-13 and 22-13, respectively.

Tri-State Diamondbacks defeated R&R earlier in the bracket, 22-13, earlier in the bracket to advance to the championship game.

San Antonio Silver Streaks made a valiant run through the elimination side of the bracket with four wins, en route to their third-place finish.

The 10-team Men’s 70 AAA Division also featured an “if” game, as top seed Please Don’t Bug Me (CA) defeated Last Call (NV), 20-15, in the winner-take-all final.

Last Call defeated Please Don’t Bug Me in walk-off fashion, 14-13, in the championship game to force the decisive final. Trailing 13-10 heading into the bottom of the open, Last Call scored four runs in the bottom of the open to complete the come-back victory.

Lincoln Hills Coyotes (CA) finished in third place.

The three-team Men’s 70 AA Division was made up of California Oaks, Valley Fog (CA), and Triple Play (CA).

In the end, Valley Fog avenged its 21-20 loss against Triple Play in the championship game, with a 15-8 win in the “if” game.

California Oaks finished in third place.

Omen (CA) swept Tharaldson’s (NV) in a best two-out-of-three game series to win the Men’s 75 Major Plus Division.

Top seed State Roofing Systems (CA) took the four-team Men’s 75 Major Division, edging out Sidewinders (AZ), 15-14, in a thrilling championship game to complete an undefeated week. General Equipment (OR) finished in third place.

In the four-team Men’s 75/80 Gold Division, San Francisco Seals 80 (CA), Major, and Triple Play 75 (CA), AAA, won the championship for their respective age divisions.

The Zone 75 (UT) finished in third place.

The eight-team Men’s 80/85 Gold Division played a full seven-game round robin with best record determining the champion.

Via its perfect 7-0 record, Scrap Iron Gray Berets 80 (CO) took home the top spot.

Redwood City Gold Rush 80 (CA), 6-1, and Git-R-Done 80 (CA), 5-2, finished second and third, respectively.

The tournament concluded with the third session, as the Men’s 50 and 55 age divisions took the field May 31-June 2.

Beginning with the 16-team Men’s 50 Platinum Division, Bad Seed (CA), the lone Major Plus team in the field, avoided the dreaded double-dip, avenging its 28-22 loss in the championship game against BR & Company (CA), with a 14-8 win in the “if” game.

Bad Seed had lady luck on its side to start bracket play, as the team won four straight one-run games, including three walk-off victories, to reach the championship game.

In their first bracket game, Bad Seed scored three runs in the bottom of the open to defeat Hara’s/LLR (OR), 21-20. In their next game, Bad Seed trailed Thunderstruck (AZ), 27-17 after six innings, forcing the flip-flop rule. Bad Seed scored 11 runs to take the 28-27 lead, and then shut out Thunderstruck in their half of the inning, to escape with the victory.

The dramatics continued for Bad Seed, as the team rallied with two runs in the bottom of the open against Smash It Sports Northwest (WA) for the 24-23 win; and then again, this time with a six-run bottom of the open against BR & Company to win 21-20, advancing to the championship game.

With their win, Bad Seed earns its TOC berth for the 50 Major Plus Division. As the highest finishing 50 Major team, BR & Company also receives a berth.

Top seed JayCo/ISP (ID) finished in third place.

Honorable mention goes to Battle Born Nevada, as the team won five straight games in the elimination side of the bracket, en route to their eventual fourth place finish.

No. 2 seed Joe’s Sports Bar (OR) made the ultimate gauntlet run in the 11-team Men’s 50 AAA Division, as the team won an incredible six games in a row on Championship Sunday, culminating with a double-dip of top seed Calhoun/Michael’s Toyota (WA).

After going 2-0 in seeding play, Joe’s Sports Bar was upset in its first bracket game, falling to Turn Two (CA), 18-15. The team rebounded with an 18-8 win over VC/Miken (WA) to advance to Sunday.

Entering Sunday needing to win out, Joe’s Sports Bar did just that, knocking off Mi Gente (CA), 19-15, Turn Two, 14-9, 805’s PE Class (CA), 15-10, Six Five O’s (CA), 22-16, and Calhoun/Michael’s Toyota, 18-9 and 21-18, respectively, in the championship and “if” game.

Six Five O’s finished in third place.

The six-team Men’s 55 Major Plus Division also saw a team run through the entire elimination side of the bracket to win the championship, as San Antonio Softball Club (TX) went 5-0 on Championship Sunday.

Entering bracket play as the No. 2 seed, San Antonio Softball Club fell to JU Ent (CA), 38-23, to fall into the elimination side of the bracket. The team bounced back with a 29-23 win over CornerStone (OR) to close out Saturday’s games.

On Sunday, San Antonio Softball Club eliminated L.A.F (CA), 37-20, CornerStone, 31-30, and JU Ent, 33-30, to punch its ticket to the championship game.

San Antonio Softball Club continued its solid run, double-dipping Nor Cal Warriors (CA) 26-15 and 32-31, in the championship and “if” game, respectively.

In the “if” game, with the game knotted at 31 heading into the bottom of the open, San Antonio Softball Club got the one run it needed to complete the walk-off victory.

JU Ent finished in third place.

In the 13-team Men’s 55 Major Division, Bad Seed (CA) recorded a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play to lock up the No. 2 seed, before running off four straight wins in bracket play, including a 28-13 win over Arizona Old School.

55 OH MY (CA) began the tournament on the wrong foot, going 0-2 in seeding play. The team then split their first two bracket games to drop down into the elimination side of the bracket, before running off five straight wins en route to their eventual third place finish.

The five-team Men’s 55 AAA Division saw Scrap Iron/Colorado Home Fitness go perfect on the weekend, earning the top seed via its 2-0 record in seeding play, before going 3-0 in bracket play, including a 32-14 win over Michael’s Automotive Group (WA) in the championship game.

Horn Softball (CA) finished in third place.