Southern California Hosts its First Qualifier of 2026 With Top Gun Winter Classic

March 1, 2026

By Nic Francois
Softball News Report

WEST COVINA, Calif. – 46 teams competed in Southern California’s first 2026 qualifier, held Feb. 27 to March 1 at the West Covina Sportsplex.

All but two of the teams were from California, with Team SMS 55s and Family 70s crossing the border from Nevada to play.

“The weather was perfect all weekend long, around 85 degrees on average for the three days,” said Tournament Director Jerry Smith.

“We had some close games in all of the divisions,” he added. The Men’s 55+ AAA division saw an elimination game between Top Gun Storm (CA) and Top Gun Legends reach the 8^th inning after several ties; and the Men’s 60+ AAA and Men’s 60/65+ Platinum divisions needed IF games to decide the victor.

Overall, 16 teams earn first place awards and all 46 teams qualified for the 2026 annual SSUSA World Championships, Sept. 17 – Oct. 4 in Las Vegas.

Click here for more details and game scores on Who I Follow. Who I Follow provides live scoring updates for Senior Softball USA's premier qualifiers.

Results:

Men's 40+ Major:
1. No Mercy (CA)
2. AlwaysReppin (CA)

Men's 40+ AAA:
1. Wasted Talent/ TheLAEmpire
2. TWS (CA)

Men's 50+ Major:
1. Diamond Dogz (CA)
2. Diablos/El Bandido Tequila (CA)

Men's 50+ AAA:
1. Viejos So Cal
2. Rancid (CA)
3. G-Force/Epic Athletics (CA)

Men's 55+ Major Plus:
1. Redeemed (CA)
2. L.A.F. 55 (CA)

Men's 55+ Major:
1. CA Premier 55
2. Top Gun Diamonds (CA)

Men's 55+ AAA:
1. No Warning Shots (CA)
2. Team SMS (NV)
3. Top Gun Storm (CA)

Men's 60+ AAA:
1. Fossil Fuel 60 (CA)
2. Top Gun Fury/ Written in Red (CA)
3. Weakened Warriors 60 (CA)

Men's 60+ AA:
1. Jokers (CA)
2. California Coast Plumbers 60

Men's 60/65+ Platinum:
1. Top Gun Warriors (CA) - 60+ Major Champions
2. Samurai 65 (CA)
3. SoCal Kamikaze/BFAD 60s

Men's 65+ Gold:
1. So Cal Braves 65 - Major Champions
1. Top Gun Stars 65s (CA) - AAA Champions
3. Wongs 65 (CA)

Men's 70+ Major:
1. Samurai 70 (CA)
2. Wongs 70 (CA)

Men's 70+ AA:
1. Lights Out 70 (CA)
2. Family 70s (NV)

Men's 70/75/80+ Gold:
1. Top Gun Over The Edge (CA) - 75+ Major Champions
2. Top Gun 80 Gold/JSquared (CA)
3. Cut Loose 70s (CA)

Men's 75+ AAA:
1. No Guts, No Glory (CA)
2. D & K 75 (CA)
3. Top Gun Olde Dawgs 75 (CA)