Forecasts Can't Stop the Atlantic Coast Championships 2022

June 1, 2022

By Donna McGuire

     Though a wet forecast prompted some teams to withdraw before play began, the 60 teams that participated in the Atlantic Coast Championships enjoyed mostly fine conditions in Raleigh, N.C., in mid-May.

   “The rain stayed away for the most part and the staff at Walnut Creek easily handled a Saturday afternoon downpour,” said Tim McElroy, the tournament director.

     Fifteen teams earned berths for the 2023 Tournament of Champions by capturing titles during the May 10-15 event.

     The 40s divisions bragged the tournament’s largest number of entrants with 13 and featured teams from seven states: Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

     South Carolina-based Killman’s/Lewis Lawn/Rockhill (photo below)raced through the 10-team 40+ Platinum division unbeaten in six games. Killman’s defeated HDI of Virginia 33-21 for the championship after dealing HDI its first tourney loss, 26-18, earlier in bracket play. Suncoast Adidas of Florida won four elimination games to place third, with its final three games decided by one run each.

     Three teams participated in the 40+ AAA division won by WarPath of Maryland (photo below), which defeated Smokin’ Aces/American Legion Post No. 327 of Virginia 15-10 in the title game. Autism Pride of Maryland took third.

     Old Skool/GTS Sports of Pennsylvania edged Born Free Softball of North Carolina 24-23 to capture the seven-team 50+ AAA division. That marked the second time Old Skool nipped Born Free by one run in bracket play. FFE/LBT of Maryland placed third after winning three elimination games.

     Two Virginia teams, BACKSIDE and Longshoremen, played a high-scoring, three-game thriller to decide the 50+/55+ AA winner. BACKSIDE, the 50+ team, won the first game 26-25 but lost the second 27-21 before earning a 21-14 victory in the finale.

     In the four-team 55+ AAA bracket, the Northeast Merchants of Maryland (photo below) capped a 6-0 tournament run with a 18-14 championship victory over Infoquest.com of Pennsylvania. The Holy City Hitmen of South Carolina finished third.

     Two teams earned TOC berths in the 50+ Platinum bracket when the 50+ Major Plus Florida team of Suncoast/Shades captured first place with a 24-13 victory over Ground Thunder/Triage of North Carolina. Ground Thunder earned the 50+ Major TOC berth. Covello Sanitation of Connecticut finished third in the three-team division.

     Dan Smith/Dudley of Georgia won the three-team 55+/60+ Platinum bracket by defeating the Carolina Legends of North Carolina 18-3 in the title game. Next Level of Georgia took third.

     In the six-team 60+ AAA division, champion Friendly Transmission of North Carolina (photo below) defeated top-seeded Hudson Valley Cyclones of New York twice in bracket play, including 13-10 in the finale. Curtis Engine of Maryland took third.

     In a nod to the closeness of the competition, no team finished pool play unbeaten in the four-team 60+ Major division. In addition, it took two championship games to decide the winner. The Bank of Delaware lost the first title game 10-9 before exploding to a 27-19 victory over Classics/Rheem of Virginia. Olympian Athletics of Pennsylvania finished third.

     Bassa/Old Skool of Virginia (photo below) never lost enroute to winning the four-team 65+/70+ Gold division. It defeated Spring Ford of Pennsylvania 20-16 in the championship. Both are 65+ AAA teams. The High Street Bucs 70+ Major team from Maryland finished third.

     Six teams battled in the 65+/70+ Platinum division won by the 65+ Major team Dan Smith/FAI/Dudley of North Carolina. Dan Smith edged the High Street Bucs, also a 65+ Major team, 18-17 in the finale. Superior Senior Softball of Virginia, a 70+ Major Plus team, finished third.

     The Northern Virginia Force 70s won the four-team 70+/75+ Gold division in a finale that pitted the first and second seeds, both of which are 70+ AAA teams. Northern Virginia, the top seed, notched a 23-14 victory over Scrap Iron 5280 in the title game. Spicer Properties of Maryland, a 75+ Major team, took third.

     Northern Virginia Force 75s swept Code Electric/Oaks Grading Cobras of North Carolina in a best-of-three bracket to win the 70+/75+ Silver title, 18-17 and 25-20.

     Two North Carolina teams also played a best-of-three bracket in the 80+ AAA division. Carolina Blue Sky swept the Blazers 16-8 and 21-6.