Undefeated Teams Dominate the 2024 Northeast Championships

July 1, 2024

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Half of the champions crowned at the 2024 Northeast Championships in upstate New York compiled undefeated runs through pool and bracket play.

Combined, those six teams went 32-0.

Four of them won their games by an average of eight or more runs. The 40+ Major team Bob Johnson/Roc Nation of New York led the way with an average winning margin of 11 runs.

Other divisions featured closer competition. The 60+ AAA and 65+ Major divisions, for example, required “if needed” championship games to determine a winner.

The tournament drew 57 teams from 10 states and Canada to the Syracuse, N.Y., area. Games occurred at Hopkins Road Park in Liverpool and Legacy Park Fields in Clay.

Hopkins Road Park will be going through major renovations starting September 2024.

Though beautiful weather greeted second-session teams, first-session competitors had to dodge rain issues. Tournament directors moved some games from Thursday morning to Wednesday afternoon to beat incoming weather. After a delayed start Thursday, all games got played.

“The tournament really ran smooth,” Tournament Director Gayle Collins said.

Winners loved the green camouflage championship shirts, she added.

Overall, 12 teams earned berths to the 2025 Tournament of Champions in Polk County, Florida, by winning their divisions. Champions hailed from New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Ontario, Canada.

Results:

Men’s 40+ Masters Platinum: Top-seeded Bob Johnson/Roc Nation of New York (photo below) capped a 5-0 tournament with a 36-28 title game victory over third-seeded First Capital of New York. Mugshotz of New York finished third in the six-team division.

Men’s 50+ Major: Third-seeded Regeee’s Rams of Ontario (photo below) won its five games by an average of eight runs, capped by a 22-16 title game victory over top-seeded Deluxe Bakery/Phoenix Tube of New Jersey. Sixth-seeded Gashouse of New York finished third in the eight-team bracket.

Men’s 50+ AAA: Seeded last in a five-team bracket following pool games, Racehouse Tavern/Girad Club/Old Skool of Pennsylvania went unbeaten in bracket play and edged second-seeded That’s 50’s Show of Pennsylvania 23-22 for the title. Top-seeded Arooga’s/MVP of Pennsylvania finished third.

Men’s 55+ Platinum: Unbeaten in five games, top-seeded BPA/Miken/Worth/Easton of Pennsylvania earned the 55+ Major Plus title and TOC berth by defeating Bob Johnson/Rizzo’s of New York 20-5 for the title of the six-team division. Bob Johnson/Rizzo’s earned the 55+  Major TOC berth. Finance of America from New Jersey finished third.

Men’s 60+ Major: Second-seeded Building Innovation Group/TJ Plumbing of New York played mostly close games and won them all, including a 26-25 title game victory over the top-seeded Bandits of Ontario. Third-seeded Buell Fuel 60s of New York finished third in the five-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ AAA: The top-seeded Hudson Valley Cyclones, (photo below), which went 5-1 overall, lost the first title game 18-12 then rebounded to nab the second 24-18 over second-seeded Anchor Mechanical of Maryland. Angry Rooster Deli of New York finished third in the seven-team division.

Men’s 60+ AA: Playing a best-of-three format, the New York Capitals (photo below) swept a pair of close games, 17-16 and 16-14, against Pelley Stix of Ontario.

Men’s 65+ Major: Second-seeded Action Auto Parts 65s of Rhode Island and fourth-seeded DEEP PURPLE of Massachusetts met three times in bracket play. Action Auto Parts won two of those contests, including an 8-5 “if needed” title game victory after losing the first title game 16-8. Top-seeded Talaga Construction of Connecticut finished third in the six-team bracket.

Men’s 65/70+ Gold: Top-seeded Dinos of New Hampshire won three of its five games by double-digits – creating an average winning margin overall of nine runs – and captured the 65+ AAA title with a 22-15 title game victory over fifth-seeded Fat Nancy of New York. Spring Ford 65 of Pennsylvania finished third in the five-team division.

Men’s 70+ AAA: Top-seeded Spring Ford 70 went 6-0 with an average winning margin of nine runs, capped by a 17-9 title game victory over third-seeded Upstate Xtreme/Boombah 70s of New York. The Syracuse Cyclones finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 75/80+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three format, the Syracuse Cyclones swept the NorEasters of New York 21-6 and 18-11.