BEST OF THE BEST PLAY IN THE ORIGINAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

Jan. 1, 2021

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – 87 of the best senior softball teams in the country gathered here, Jan. 20 – 24, for the Original Tournament of Champions as more than 270 games were scheduled across four complexes.

Due to the current pandemic, the Original TOC had a different feel in 2021. Champions from any SSUSA qualifier in 2020, along with TOC qualifier champions from 2019, were all extended an invitation.

Additionally, a number of special events at the annual crown jewel of senior softball had to be cancelled, including the TOC All-Star Game, the sit-down gala banquet, and the Louisville Slugger Warriors vs. TOC All-Stars Game.

However, the hitting clinic, skills contests and optional team practices were all still held as scheduled.

The hitting clinic kicked off the festivities on Jan., 20; while the skills contests (see list of winners below) and team practices were held Jan., 21.

The TOC officially began play on Jan. 22.

The Women’s 40/50 Major Division featured a best-of-three game series between Kryptonite 40 (FL) and Unfazed 50 (VA).

Kryptonite swept the series by scores of 17-8 and 20-9, respectively.

As singleton teams, each team would earn first place awards.

A best-of-three game series would determine the champion in the Women’s 40 AAA Division, as Tharaldson Softball (NV) swept Firestyx (NJ) by scores of 22-8 and 14-12, respectively.

Tharaldson Softball (NV) - Women's 40 AAA Champion

The Men’s 40/50 Major Plus Division featured a sibling rivalry, with Suncoast Adidas 40s (FL) and Suncoast/Adidas/Shades 50s (FL) playing a best-of-three game series.

The younger Suncoast team swept the series by scores of 22-21 and 36-27.

As the only team in their respective division, each team would earn first place awards.

The five-team Men’s 40/50 Gold Division came down to the “if’ game, as top seed Midwest Titans 50 (IN) avenged its lone loss of the weekend, a 16-13 defeat in the championship game against CPD/Ancell 50 (MN), with a 28-21 victory in the deciding game.

50 Degrees (MO) finished in third place.

Harbor Stars 40 (WA), the lone Men’s 40 AAA team, earned first place awards for its respective division.

In the 14-team Men’s 50 Silver Division, the largest division of the tournament, Crawford Contracting (MI) was one of four teams to enter bracket play with a 2-0 record. The team continued its solid play in the bracket, going 5-0, including a 25-14 victory in the championship game over Daytona Beach Boyz (FL), completing the perfect weekend.

After being upset in their opening bracket game against Maher Homes Nebraska Elite, 20-19, top seed Gray Ghost (IL) rattled off five straight wins en route to their eventual third-place finish.

A.D.S/Woodlawn Hitting Club (FL) finished fourth, while Maher Homes Nebraska Elite and ETX rounded out the top six teams that advanced to Championship Sunday.

Manifest (TX) earned first place awards for the Men’s 50 AA Division over Team LBK (TX), due to posting a better record in bracket play.

The six-team Men’s 55 Major Division came down to the “if” game, as Larrys Tire/Michigan Wolf Pack (MI) avoided the dreaded double-dip, earning the 21-16 victory in the decisive game over Iowa Demons, following a 17-16 loss in the championship game.

Larry's Tire/Michigan Wolf Pack - Men's 55 Major Champion

Iowa Demons dropped its first two games in the bracket, before bouncing back with four straight wins, including forcing the “if” game, en route to their runner-up finish.

Action Auto Parts (RI) finished in third place.

The six-team Men’s 55 AAA Division also came down to the deciding “if” game.

After dropping its opening bracket game against Michael’s Automotive Group (WA) 20-11, top seed Team Illinois went on a run, winning five straight games, including a 19-18 win over Michael’s Automotive Group in the championship game, to force the “if” game.

Team Illinois would be unable to complete the gauntlet run, as Michael’s Automotive Group (WA) avoided the double-dip, taking the rubber-match, 26 -15.

Twin Tress (NY) finished in third place.

In the five-team Men’s 60 Major Division, Dudley Lightning Midwest (MO) dropped its opening bracket game against Levin/Ameriprise (FL) 19-9 before running off six straight victories, including five straight on Championship Sunday, capped off by a double-dip over Levin/Ameriprise.

Dudley Lightning Midwest won one-run thrillers in both the Championship and “If” game, by identical 22-21 scores.

Dudley Lightning Midwest (MO) - Men's 60 Major Champion

Olympian Athletics (PA) finished in third place.

The 10-team Men’s 60 AAA Division also saw a team come out of the elimination side of the bracket to win it all.

RedHawk Nation (FL) and Long Island Jaguars (NY) began Championship Sunday with 2-0 records in bracket play.

RedHawk Nation edged out an 18-17 win in the winner’s bracket final, to punch its ticket to the championship game, dropping Long Island Jaguars down to the third place game.

In the third-place game, Long Island Jaguars downed Vecter Scorpions, 23-15, to advance to the championship game. Vecter Scorpions had previously won four straight elimination games after dropping their first two bracket games.

Avenging their earlier loss in the day, Long Island Jaguars completed the comeback, winning both the championship (24-20) and “if” (13-7) game.

Long Island Jaguars (NY) - Men's 60 AAA Champion

In the seven-team Men’s 60 AA Division, the top two seeds battled it out for the title.

After falling to No. 2 seed The Starboard/OTS (DE), 23-11; top seed Bucks Run Farms (NE) defeated Texas Legends, 20-12, in the third-place game, and then avenged its earlier loss with a thrilling 14-13 win in the championship game over The Starboard/OTS, forcing the “if” game.

Bucks Run Farms completed the double-dip, winning the rubber match with another one-run thriller, 13-12, in the deciding game.

Bucks Run Farms (NE) - Men's 60 AA Champion

In the four-team Men’s 65/70 Platinum Division, Venom 70 (FL) completed the perfect weekend, going 3-0 in seeding play, and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 20-14 win over Slug-A-Bug 65 (FL) in the championship game.

Venom 70 (FL) - Men's 70 Major Plus Champion

As the highest finishing 65 Major team, Slug-A-Bug won first place awards.

New Jersey Hitmen 65 finished in third place.

In the eight-team Men’s 65/70 Gold Division, North Idaho Softball Club 65 polished off a flawless weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play, and 4-0 in bracket play, including a thrilling 15-14 win over top seed Florida Mustangs 65 in the championship game.

North Idaho Softball Club - Men's 65 AAA Champion

Florida Mustangs had previously won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their runner-up finish.

Texas Thunder 65 finished in third place.

As the lone 70 Major team, Handeland Flooring (WI) automatically earned first place awards.

Handeland Flooring (WI) - Men's 70 Major Champion

The Men’s 65 AA Division featured a best-of-three series between Bags Softball (IA) and Blue Chips (IL). Bags Softball swept the series, winning 26-16 and 16-15.

Bags Softball (IA) - Men's 65 AA Champion

In the five-team Men’s 70 Silver Division, Lane Construction (FL) completed an undefeated weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play, and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 23-7 win over MidState Seniors (IL) in the championship game.

MidState Seniors had previously won three straight games in the elimination side of the bracket en route to their runner-up finish.

Top seed Scrap Iron 5280 (CO) finished in third place.

As the lone AA team, STL Vision/Aces (MO) earned first place awards.

In the 75/80 Platinum Division, Venom 75 (FL) and Florida Investment Properties 80 each won first place awards for their respective age divisions.

The teams were scheduled to play a best of three series, with Venom taking the opening game, 19-12. No other games were played.

In the Men’s 75 AAA Division, Minnesota Masters swept Midwest Legends (NE) by scores of 25-8 and 20-21, respectively.

In the four-team Men’s 80/85 Gold Division, top seed Bucs and Bulls 80 (FL) posted a 3-0 record in seeding play, and a 3-0 record in bracket play, including a 15-7 win over ProHealth Care 85 (MN) in the championship game.

Center For Sight 85 (FL) finished in third place.

As the highest finishing 85 team, ProHealth Care 85 earned first place awards for their age division.

CLICK HERE for complete game-by-game scores.

2021 TOC Skills Contest Winners

The annual skills contest at the TOC features four events (Pitching, Speed, Precision Hitting, and Power Hitting), split into four age divisions (40/50, 60, 70/80, Women).

Congratulations to all winners!

Pitching Contest (winners receive glove)

Randy Flowers, 50 - Sin City Warriors
Lonnie Netzel, 60 - FL Mustangs
Mike Mileham, 70 - Full Throttle

Randy Flowers                  Lonnie Netzel

Speed Contest (winners receive shoes)

George Lacey, 50 - Team LBK
Carmen Loiacono, 60 - Olympian Athletics
Phil Ramsey, 70 - Bagbey's Softball
Cynthia Nelson, Women - Unfazed

George Lacey                    Cynthia Nelson

Precision Hitting Contest (winners receive bat)

Randy Mason, 50 - Sin City Warriors
Wes Wright, 60 - Buck Run Farms
Steve Wuetrich, 70 - Handeland Flooring
Cynthia Nelson, Women - Unfazed

Randy Mason                   Cynthia Nelson

Home Run Contest (winners receive bat)

Randy Flowers, 50 - Sin City Warriors
Mark Thomas, 60 - Team Florida/ Via Citrus
Pete Lawrence, 70 - Long Island Jaguars
Veronica Shaw, Women - Kryptonite

Randy Flowers                  Pete Lawrence                 Veronica Shaw

Visit EliteSportsUSA.net to get your official 2021 TOC Merchandise.