Oldest Senior Softball Tourney Reinvigorates Reno With 182 Teams

June 1, 2024

East/West Aircraft 70s had special jerseys made for 2024 Reno, with different pilot nicknames on the back of each jersey. From left to right: Ace, Wingman, Luckie, Jester, Elvis, Hollywood, Cloudy, Wingnut, Turbo, Goose, Skyking, Viper, Ghost.

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

SSUSA’s 36^th annual Rock ‘n’ Reno Challenge Cup, the oldest national qualifying tournament in Senior Softball, drew 182 teams from 14 states and Canada.

Players, umpires and directors basked in beautiful weather as teams competed in nearly 580 games spread across nine days of play at ballparks in Reno, Sparks and Carson City, Nev.

“The weather this year in Reno was some of the best I remember in more than two decades – every session had perfect weather,” said Terry Hennessy, SSUSA’s chief executive officer. “In addition, there were many tight games – and teams not only had large divisions but were able to play teams they seldom see.”

Twenty-six teams earned berths to the 2025 Tournament of Champions in Polk County, Florida, by winning their divisions in games played May 24 through June 2.

In addition, officials inducted Southern California’s Kevin Evans, 71, (photo below), into the Senior Softball National Hall of Fame for a wide range of accomplishments, including as a player and manager and for his leadership with the Top Gun organization. The ceremony took place during the first day of play at Golden Eagle.

Kevin Evans (center) accepts his National Senior Softball Hall of Fame plaque at Golden Eagle Softball Compex, along side Terry Hennessy (left) and Fran Dowell (right).

SSUSA officials moved games from the Shadow Mountain Complex to the Rancho San Rafael Complex in Reno on Sunday in the first session and Thursday in the second session.

“Unfortunately, we felt the quality of the fields had deteriorated and moved games on the two days on which we could find alternative fields,” Hennessy said.

Results:

Women’s 40+ Masters Major: Second-seeded Firestarter Oldies of Washington lost its second bracket game then won four in a row, including twin 14-13 championship victories over top-seeded Flash Mob of California, to win the seven-team division. Sixth-seeded Royal-T Real Estate/The LaFlamme Group of Washington took third.

Women’s 40+ Masters Silver: Top-seeded AAA team POP – Past Our Prime of California capped a 6-0 tournament with a 17-11 championship victory over the seventh-seeded AAA team Idaho Spirit. Three of POP’s bracket wins came by two or fewer runs. Fourth-seeded Eat It OG Babes of California finished third in the nine-team bracket. (Champions POP - Past Our Prime and finalists Idaho Spirit photoed below).

Women’s 50/55+ Gold: Fourth-seeded OnFire/Afoa Insurance, a 50+ AAA team from California, double dipped second-seeded Cali Gold Ladies 18-1 and 17-10 for the title. Top-seeded Takin’ Chances of California finished third in the eight-team division.

Women’s 55/60+ Seniors: Top-seeded and unbeaten Adrenaline 55s of Nevada edged second-seeded Wunder Wood, a 60+ team out of California, (both teams photoed together below), 11-10 for the championship of the four-team division. Vintage 55s of Oregon finished third.

Men’s 40+ Masters Major: Seeded last in a 20-team division, Supreme 40s of California won all six bracket games it played, capped by a 27-26 championship thriller over seventh-seeded Hara’s/J & R Wood Products, a Washington team that won five elimination games to reach the title bout. The third-seeded Silverbacks of California took third.

Men’s 40+ Masters AAA: Second-seeded Unloaded of California knocked off top-seeded Hella Nor-Cal (both teams photoed together below) twice in bracket play, including 20-14 in the championship game. T.N.T. (Tacos & Tequila) of California took third in the three-team division.

Men’s 50/55+ Platinum: The top-seeded 50+ Major team C.B.C. of California lost its first bracket game by one run then reeled off six consecutive victories, including 31-22 and 25-24 championship game wins over second-seeded Cali 50 Gold. The team that gave C.B.C. its first loss, Pacific Reign/DeMarini of Oregon, finished third in the eight-team division.

Men’s 50+ AAA: Top-seeded Arizona Thunder/Powered by 4himco.com capped a 6-0 tournament with a 24-14 championship victory over fourth-seeded Crossfire of Texas. Eleventh-seeded CaliGold finished third in the 15-team bracket.

Men’s 50+ AA: Playing a best-of-three format, Emerald City of Washington swept Doerflinger Athletics of Washington 19-6 and 21-6.

Championship game between Emerald City and Doerflinger Athletics, Men's 50+ AA division.

Men’s 55+ Major: Seeded eighth out of nine teams, Jayco of Idaho won five of its six bracket games, including 25-13 “if needed” championship game against fifth-seeded Damage of Nevada. The second-seeded NW Jokers/Dave Smith Motors of Washington finished third.

Men’s 55+ AAA: Fifth-seeded 805’s of California won all five of its bracket games, including a 15-10 title game against seventh-seeded All-Quip/SOWC-55 of Oregon, to finish undefeated at 7-0 overall. All-Quip won three elimination games to reach the title bout. Third-seeded Six Five O’s of California finished third in the 15-team division.

Men’s 60+ Platinum: Top-seeded and unbeaten D’Amore Law Group, a Major team from Washington, defeated the third-seeded Washington Legends 21-17 in the title game. Second-seeded Precision/Wolfpack of Washington took third in the seven-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ Silver: The 10^th-seeded 60s Desperados, a AAA team from California, won all five of its bracket games, including a 27-26 championship thriller over the fifth-seeded Tri-State Kings of Alaska. The third-seeded North Valley Seniors of California finished third in the 13-team division.

Men’s 65+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, Cal Energy defeated the Texas Crush Sixty Fives 33-22 in the first game, lost the second game 28-29, and won the finale 21-13 to finish as champions and 4-2 overall.

Men’s 65+ Major: The third-seeded NorthWest Stampede of Oregon (photo below) lost its first bracket game then won three in a row, capped by a 18-17 title game victory over New Dawn/Awning of California. Scrap Iron/Rocky Mountain Thunder finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 65+ AAA: The top-seeded and undefeated Gamers of Oregon defeated seventh-seeded It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere of California 23-20 for the title of the eight-team division. It marked the closest game played by the Gamers, which won four times by double digits. Fourth-seeded Team Fire/Mackin’s Auto Body of Washington finished third.

Men’s 65+ AA: Top-seeded East/West Aircraft 65s defeated third-seeded Classics of Utah 13-12 in the title game to finish 4-1 overall. Cascade Thunder of Oregon finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 70+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, Timberworks/Suncoast of California swept Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia, Canada, 27-15 and 18-8 to win the title and finish 4-1 overall.

Men’s 70+ Major: Top-seeded and undefeated R&R 70s of California averaged 22 runs a game and defeated the third-seeded Bulldogs of Oregon 20-8 for the title. New Dawn Awning Reds of California placed third in the seven-team division.

Men’s 70+ AAA: Seeded ninth of 10 teams, the 70 Sidewinders of Arizona won all five bracket games it played, including three by one run each. Two of those came against the top-seeded Texas Rattlers, which finished second after losing the title game 17-16. Third-seeded Pacific Storm of California took third.

Men’s 70/75+ AA: Top-seeded and unbeaten East/West Aircraft 70 of Idaho (photo below) defeated fourth-seeded Scrap Iron Diamonds 23-8 for the title. Second-seeded Proton/Spikes of Washington finished third in the six-team division.

Men’s 75+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, Omen 75 of California (photo below) swept Enviro-Vac Marauders of British Columbia, Canada, 22-14 and 23-13.

Men’s 75+ AAA: Unbeaten in five games, top-seeded Please Don’t Bug Me squashed second-seeded Triple Play 20-19 for the title. The Codgers of Idaho finished third in the five-team division.

Men’s 75/80+ Platinum: R&R 75s, a Major team from California, capped a 6-0 tournament with a 19-11 title game victory over third-seeded Last Call 75 of Nevada. Omen 80 of California finished third in the five-team division.

Men’s 80+ Major: Playing a best-of-three format, Scrap Iron 80 Proof of Colorado (photo below) swept Gold Rush of California 19-7 and 18-3 for the title and a 5-0 overall record.

Men’s 80+ AAA: Second-seeded Balance of Nature 80s of Utah (photo below) won all three of its bracket games, capped by an 11-5 title game victory over top-seeded Git-R-Done of California. The California Oaks 80 finished third in the three-team division. 

Men’s 85+ Major: The second-seeded Top Gun Blue Angels 85 (photo below) double dipped the top-seeded Scrap Iron 85 Legends 21-4 and 13-12 for the title. The Jaguars of California finished third in the three-team division.