BEST OF THE BEST COMPETE AT 14TH EDITION OF THE ORIGINAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Feb. 1, 2020

POLK COUNTY, Fla. - The 14th annual original Tournament of Champions, the often imitated, but never duplicated crown jewel of Senior Softball, held here Feb. 5-9, hosted 107 teams - representing 28 states and Canada.

Teams earned a berth to the TOC by winning one of 22 premier tournaments.

In conjunction with the actual games at the TOC, numerous festivities were run, including a hitting clinic and All-Star Game; skills contests across four categories (Precision Hitting, Home Run, Speed, and Pitching), an optional team practice, and a sit-down gala banquet and finally, the Louisville Slugger Warriors vs. TOC All-Stars game on Feb. 8.

For a full recap of all the pre-tournament festivities that surrounded the Original TOC, please see next month’s Spring Edition of Senior Softball News.

During tournament play, 20 divisions competed across four complexes in Winter Haven and Lakeland, with 30 champions crowned.

Of the 30 champions, 12 would come from the Sunshine State. New Jersey and Minnesota were also well represented crowning four champions each, while the states of Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, California, Hawaii, Delaware, Wisconsin, and New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario also took home titles.

Beginning with the Women’s 40 Major Division, Kryptonite (FL), the 2019 Spring National and Eastern National Champions, edged out Colorado Ohana, the 2018 Winter World Champions, in a hard-fought best of three series.

Kryptonite (FL) hitter swings for the fences

Colorado Ohana gathers for a quick team meeting

Kryptonite took the opening game, 23-14; while Colorado Ohana rebounded with a thrilling 12-11 victory in game two. The rubber-match saw Kryptonite take the decisive game, 16-4.

The Women’s 40 AAA Division also featured a best two-of-three series, as Firestyx (NJ), the 2019 Eastern National Champions, swept Fireballs (MA), 2019 U.S. National Champions, by scores of 20-13 and 6-2, respectively.

Firestyx (NJ) batter looks to drive home some runs

Fireballs (MA) attempts to start to a double play

The third and final Women’s Division of the TOC, the Women’s 50 Gold Division (Major/AAA), was also determined with a best of three series between Unfazed (VA) - Major, the 2019 Eastern National Champions, and Motown Magic (MI) - AAA, the 2018 Winter World Champions, which would go the distance.

Both teams earned automatic first place awards for their respective divisions.

The opening game was secured by Unfazed, 19-17, while Motown Magic came back to even the series with an 18-13 win in the second game to force the “if” game.

In the final game, Motown Magic completed the comeback with an 18-8 win.

In the Men’s Divisions, the seven-team Men’s 40 Platinum Division (Major Plus/Major) saw top seed S2S/.40 CAL (FL), the 2019 Southern Champions, complete a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 32-28 win over Suncoast Adidas (FL), the 2018 Winter National Champions and 2019 U.S. National Champions, in the championship game.

As the lone major plus team, Suncoast Adidas would also earn first place awards.

Bouncing back from an 0-2 showing in seeding play, as well as an 0-2 start in bracket play (three-game guarantee), NorthWest Legends (WA), the 2019 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Champions, came back with a pair of wins to eventually finish in third place.

Thunderboldts (ON, Canada), the 2019 Slo Pitch National (SPN) Champions, also entered bracket play following an 0-2 showing in seeding, and finished bracket play with a 3-2 mark en route to a fourth-place finish.

S2S/.40 CAL (FL) pitcher leads team to victory

In the four-team Men’s 40 AAA Division, Mission: Possible (PA), the 2019 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions, posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a one-run thriller over top seed Y’All Next (MD), the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions and Atlantic Coast Champions, 26-25, in the championship game.

Gigantes O.C. finished in third place.

In the seven-team Men’s 50/55 Platinum (Major Plus/Major) Division, CPD/Ancell (MN), 50 Major, the 2019 Eastern National Champions, put up a flawless 4-0 record in bracket play, including an 19-1 win over Brickyard Classics (IN), 50 Major, the 2018 Winter National Champions.

Brickyard Classics escaped the elimination side of the bracket with back-to-back walk-off victories (12-11 and 13-12), before running out of gas in the championship game.

Walkoff (MD), 50 Major, the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions, finished in third place; while top seed Deluxe Bakery (NJ), the 2019 Spring National Champions and Atlantic Coast Champions, finished in fourth place.

The 10-team Men’s 50 Silver Division (AAA/AA) saw Finance of America (NJ), the 2019 Northeast Champions, go 4-0 in bracket play, including a 25-15 win over top seed High Street Bucs (MD), the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions and Eastern National Champions, in the championship game.

After starting going 2-0 in seeding play, High Street Bucs got off to a rough start dropping their first two bracket games. Facing elimination the rest of the way, High Street Bucs regrouped with a valiant run by rattling off five straight wins (including four straight on Championship Sunday) en route to their eventual runner-up finish.

Bond 124/RDD (CT), the 2019 Atlantic Coast Champions, finished in third place, while Grayed & Confused (UT), the 2018 Winter World Champions and 2019 Spring World Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest Champions, rounded out the top four.

Manifest (TX), the 2019 Texas State Champions and Rocky Mountain Champions, the lone AA team, earned an automatic first place award for their respective division.

The eight-team Men’s 55/60 Platinum Division (Major/Major Plus) featured a team making an even more impressive run through the elimination side of the bracket by Speedwerx (MN), 55 Major, the 2019 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions.

After falling in their opening bracket game against Rock N Legends 9 (TX), 55 Major, the 2019 Texas State Champions and Rocky Mountain Champions; Speedwerx completed the gauntlet run with seven straight wins, including five straight on Championship Sunday.

The incredible run was capped off with a double-dip over Olympian Athletics (PA), 55 Major, the 2019 Northeast Champions, in the championship (25-10) and “if” game (22-21).

Rock N Legends finished in third place, while Ameriprise FL Legends, 55 Major, the 2019 Spring National Champions and Eastern National Champions, powered by three straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket, rounded out the top four teams.

As the lone 60 Major Plus team, Florida Stingers, the 2018 Winter National Champions, would go on to earn automatic first place awards.

Vecter Scorpions 55 (FL)

In the nine-team Men’s 55 Silver Division (AAA/AA), Vecter Scorpions (FL), the 2018 Winter National Champions, posted a perfect 4-0 record in bracket play, including a 23-12 win over New England Merchants (MA), the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions, in the championship game.

Arizona Scorpions, the 2018 Winter World Champions, finished in third place following back-to-back wins in the elimination bracket, while Team Illinois, the 2019 ISA Senior World Series Champions, made a valiant run through the elimination side of the bracket with three straight wins, before falling short in the fourth-place game.

Top seed A.D.S/Woodlawn Hitting Club (FL), the 2019 Spring National Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions (as Globe Trailers), and 55 GZ (TX), the 2019 Texas State Champions, rounded out the six teams that advanced to Championship Sunday, tying for fifth place.

The lone AA team in the division, Advil Knights (CA), the 2019 Southern California State Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions, earned automatic first place awards.

The eight-team Men’s 60/65 Platinum Division (Major/Major Plus) highlighted the farthest traveling team, Hawaii Five-0, 60 Major, the 2018 Winter World Champions, which took the crown.

Opening bracket play with a 13-12 loss against Levin/Ameriprise (FL), 60 Major, the 2018 Winter National Champions; Hawaii Five-O, would go on to make the most of its trip to the mainland, as the team would not drop another game the rest of the weekend.

With a perfect 7-0 record, including five straight on Championship Sunday, Hawaii Five-O completed a marvelous run by double-dipping Cardot/Madalena Construction (NY), 60 Major, the 2019 Eastern National Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions, in the championship and “if” game in dramatic fashion, with a pair of walk-off victories, by scores of 27-26 and 21-19, respectively.

Hawaii Five-O 60

New Jersey Hitmen 65, the 2019 Eastern National Champions, finished in third place, and as the lone Men’s 65 Major Plus team, earned automatic first place awards. Winning three straight games in the elimination bracket, Windy City Softball (IL), the 2019 ISA Senior World Series Champions, rounded out the top four teams.

New Jersey Hitmen 65

The Men’s 60 AAA Division featured nine teams, with RedHawk Nation (FL), the 2019 Spring National Champions, posting an unbeaten 4-0 mark in bracket play, including a 27-20 win over top seed Scrap Iron Heavy Metal (CO), the 2019 Jim Sherman Memorial/Northwest Champions, in the championship game.

Following a 15-13 loss against eventual champion RedHawk Nation to begin bracket play, Long Island Jaguars (NY), the 2018 Winter National Champions, won five straight games en route to their eventual third place finish.

Berkley Home Remodeling (NJ), the 2019 Atlantic Coast Champions and Northeast Champions, rounded out the top four teams.

In the seven-team Men’s 60 AA Division, top seed The Starboard/OTS (DE), the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions, completed the perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play, and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 26-14 win over Syracuse Cyclones (NY), the 2019 Northeast Champions, Eastern National Champions, and U.S. National Champions, in the championship game.

The Starboard/OTS 60 (DE) 

The Starboard/OTS extracted some revenge on Syracuse Cyclones, as the Cyclones defeated Starboard in the “if” game at the Eastern National Championships.

Scrap Iron Rockies (CO), the 2019 Southern California State Champions and Western National Champions, finished in third place, while Texas Legends, the 2019 Texas State Champions and Rocky Mountain Champions, finished in fourth place, rounding out the top four teams that advanced to Championship Sunday.

The seven-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum Division (Major/Major Plus) also saw a team run the table, as top seed Venom 70 (FL) went 2-0 in seeding and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 28-8 win over Slug-A-Bug 65 (FL) in the championship game.

Venom 70 (FL)

For Venom, their 2020 TOC Championship concludes an impressive 2019 campaign, which includes the 2018 Winter National Championship, 2019 Spring National Championship, 2019 Atlantic Coast Championship, 2019 Eastern National Championship, and 2019 U.S. National Championship.

As the highest finishing Men’s 65 Major team, Slug-A-Bug, the 2019 Spring National Champions, would also go on to earn first place awards for its respective division.

Pill & Pill 65 (WV), the 2019 Eastern National Champions and U.S. National Champions, finished in third place after winning three-straight games in the elimination side of the bracket, while Gonzalez Insulation 65 (TX), the 2019 Texas State Champions, finished in fourth place.

The trend of top seeds winning it all continued in the eight-team Men’s 65 AAA Division, as Brantford Nissan Seniors (ON, Canada), the 2019 Northeast Champions, took the championship to North of the Border, going 2-0 in seeding and 4-0 in bracket, including a thrilling 14-13 win (nine innings) over FL Mustangs, the 2019 Spring National Champions, in the championship game.

Brantford Nissan Seniors 65 (ON, Canada)

Trailing 12-9 heading into the bottom of the open, Brantford Nissan Seniors got the three runs it needed to tie the game on a three-run homerun, the lone homerun of the game.

Heading into extras, each team notched a run in their half of the eighth, as the game would head to the ninth.

Turning a near impossible 5-4 triple play, aided on a runner-interference call at second (which led to an errant throw to first), Brantford Nissan Seniors held FL Mustangs scoreless in the top of the ninth. The defensive effort left the door open for Brantford’s walk-off win in the bottom half of the ninth, as the team plated the lone run it needed.

MP Components/Bomb Squad (MI), the 2019 Northern Champions, was the third-place finisher, while Spring Ford (PA), the 2019 Atlantic Coast Champions, rounded out the top four teams.

In the three-team Men’s 70 Major Division, Handeland Flooring (WI), the 2018 Winter National Champions, came out of the elimination side of the bracket to double-dip Bradford White/Jersey Masters (NJ), the 2018 Winter National Champions and 2019 Eastern National Champions, by scores of 13-6 (championship game) and 25-14 (“if” game).

Handeland Flooring 70 (WI)

Life Guard Financial/Pepco (OH), the 2019 Northern Champions, finished in third place.

Another three-team division, the Men’s 70 AAA Division, saw top seed Lane Construction (FL), the 2019 Spring National Champions, take the championship with a 29-8 win over Syracuse Cyclones (NY), the 2019 Tidewater Classic Champions, Atlantic Coast Champions, Northeast Champions, and U.S. National Champions, in the title game.

Lane Construction 70 (FL)

Chicago Strikers (IL), the 2018 Winter World Champions and Northern Champions, finished in third place.

Florida Investment Properties, Men’s 80 Major Plus, the 2018 Winter National Champions and 2019 Eastern National Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions, defeated Monkey Joe’s Big Nut Co. (NJ), Men’s 75 Major, the 2018 Winter National Champions, 19-9, to win the Men’s 75/80 Platinum Division.

Florida Investment Properties 80

As the lone Men’s 75 Major team, Monkey Joe’s Big Nut Co. would also go on to earn automatic first place awards.

Monkey Joe's Big Nut Co. 75 (NJ)

In the three-team Men’s 75 AAA Division, Syracuse Cyclones (NY), the 2019 Spring National Champions and Northeast Champions, came back to win the “if” game, 5-4, over Hill Contracting (TX), the 2019 Texas State Champions, after falling in the championship game, 11-5.

Syracuse Cyclones 75 (NY)

Arizona Outlaws, the 2018 Winter World Champions and 2019 Spring World Champions and LVSSA/SSUSA Southwest Champions, rounded out the three team division.

The elder statesmen of the game always highlight the TOC, as all 80s and 85s teams are automatically invited to participate in the tournament.

The four-team Men’s 80 AAA Division featured a full three-game round robin to determine the champion.

With a perfect 3-0 record, Minnesota Masters, the 2019 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions, won the division.

Minnesota Masters 80

With a 2-1 mark, Chicago Geezers (IL), the 2018 Winter National Champions, followed with a second-place finish, while Bucs and Bulls (FL) placed third with a 1-2 mark. New York Statesmen rounded out the four-team division with an 0-3 record.

The Men’s 85 Major Division featured a head-to-head matchup between Center For Sight (FL), the 2019 LVSSA/SSUSA World Masters Champions and Triple Grand Slam winner, and ProHealth Legends (MN), the 2018 Winter National Champions.

ProHealth Legends swept the three-game series by scores of 26-20 and 17-11, respectively.

ProHealth Legends 85 (MN)

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the 2020 Original Tournament of Champions