Peaches and Champions at the 2023 Southern Championships

Aug. 1, 2023

Riverbend Park, opened in 2022, host of the Southern Championships in Dalton, GA.

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Seven teams hailing from five states earned berths to the 2024 Tournament of Champions by nabbing titles during the Senior Softball USA Southern Championships held Aug. 11-13 in Dalton, Ga., the Peach State.

It marked the second year in a row for the Southerns to take place on the turf fields at the nearly new Riverbend Park Softball Complex run by Whitfield County Parks and Recreation.

Only one team managed to repeat as champions. Monster Softball of Mississippi (photo below), which won the 60/65+ Platinum division in 2022, captured the 60+ Major Plus title this year by sweeping Next Level/Incrediwear of Georgia 7-0 and 19-4 in a best-of-three format.

Other results:

Men’s 50/55+ Gold division: Mitchell’s 55 of Florida (photo below) won six games in a row, including 14-11 and 23-17 championship game victories over Roof Masters of Alabama. That gave Mitchell’s the 55+ Major TOC berth while Roof Masters nabbed the 50+ AAA berth. Walker Brothers/JLX of Alabama finished third in the seven-team division, which was the tournament’s largest.

Men’s 55+ AAA: Peacemakers of Tennessee (photo below) capped a 5-0 tournament with a 14-4 championship victory over the Holy City Hitmen of South Carolina. The Georgia Renegades finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 60+ Major: Second-seeded Montgomery Storm of Georgia (photo below) also went 5-0, including a 24-11 championship victory over top-seeded Darrell Harris & Associates of Georgia. DT Express of Georgia finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 60+ AAA: Mobley Brothers Roofing of Tennessee (photo below) lost its first bracket game then won three in a row, including 16-8 and 22-21 title game victories over Lumber Kings 60 of Tennessee. Southern Boys of Georgia finished third in the three-team bracket.

Men’s 65/70+ Gold: Top-seeded DT Express of Georgia (photo below) defeated Georgia Alabama Seniors/GAS Softball of Alabama 21-9 for the title. Columbus LXX of Georgia took third in the four-team division.