11th Annual Atlantic Coast Championships Set Record; Draws Close to 100 Teams

May 1, 2017

LOUNDOUN COUNTY, VA --- The 2017 Atlantic Coast Championships was held here in DC’s wine country for the 10th straight year, from May 16 – 21, and attracted a record 96 teams.

Three premier parks -- Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park (Leesburg), Brambleton Regional Park (Ashburn) and Potomack Lakes Sportsplex (Sterling) --  hosted one of the marquee Senior Softball-USA qualifiers east of the Mississippi.

As a Tournament of Champions qualifier, winners of each division from the Atlantic Coast Championships earn a berth to the crown jewel of senior softball held annually in February in Polk County, FL.

The Men’s 65 through 75 age divisions started off the first session of the Atlantic Coast Championships, May 16 – 18. Potomack Lakes Sportsplex hosted the entire first session with 22 teams in action.

                    

Action shots from Day 1 of ACC

In the four-team Men’s 65 Platinum (Major Plus/Major) division, Superior Senior Softball (VA) posted a perfect 3-0 record in bracket play, including a thrilling 15-14 win in the championship game over New Jersey Hitmen. Trailing 14-5 heading into the bottom of the open, Superior Senior Softball plated 10 runs to complete their come-from-behind walk-off victory. As the highest finishing 65 Major team, New Jersey Hitmen earned a TOC bid for that division. High Street Bucs 65 (MD) finished in third place.

In the seven-team Men’s 65 Silver (AAA/AA) division, Jersey Masters Red (NJ) rebounded from an 0-2 showing in seeding play and rattled off four straight wins in bracket play, including a 12-9 victory over Bradford White (PA) in the championship game. As the highest finishing 65 AAA team, Bradford White earned a TOC bid for that division. Northern Virginia Force finished in third place.

Jersey Masters 70 (NJ) defeated Bostonian 70’s (MA) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 70 Major division, winning the rubber match, 14-9, after the teams split the first two games.

Top seed Spicer Properties 70 (MD) took the three-team Men’s 70 AAA division, beating both Ed Hamels (MD), 13-8, and Syracuse Cyclones 70 (NY), 19-7.

The Men’s 75 Major division also featured a best two-out-of-three game series, as Hamel Builders 75’s (MD) swept Pittsburg Gold (PA).

In the four-team Men’s 75 AAA division, Bailey Talent Cavaliers 75 (VA) came back to defeat Monkey Joe’s Big Nut 75 (NJ), 15-11, in the “if” game, after falling in the championship game, 12-5. Syracuse Cyclones 75 (NY) finished in third place.

The second session featured the Men’s 50 through 60 age divisions playing May 19-21, with all three parks in use as 58 teams were in action.

            

Action shots from Day 2 of ACC

Starting with the four-team Men’s 50/55 Major Plus division, Blue Mountain/Team USA (MD) double-dipped Mid-Atlantic Softball (VA) by scores of 25-10 and 25-4, in the championship and “if” game, respectively. High Street Bucs 55 (MD) finished in third place and earned a TOC bid as the highest finishing 55 Major Plus team.

BH Maintenance (VA) went from worst to first in the six-team Men’s 50 Major division, going 0-2 in seeding play and bouncing back with a perfect 4-0 record in bracket play, including a 17-16 walk-off victory in the championship game over Mizuno/RB Lawncare (NC). In the championship game, Mizuno/RB Lawncare seized control, scoring early and often, jumping out to an 11-0 lead through four and half innings of play. BH Maintenance would eventually get on the board in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs. The teams would eventually head into the open inning tied at 15 all, with Mizuno/RB Lawncare scoring a lone run in the top of the open and BH Maintenance plating two runs in the bottom of the open to complete their comeback win. After dropping their first game in bracket play, top seed Elmwood Sports Center (RI) won three straight in the elimination side of the bracket to finish in third place.

In the largest division of the tournament, the 16-team Men’s 50 AAA division, Trinity Rizzo’s (NY) went undefeated, going 2-0 in seeding play and 5-0 in bracket play, including a 22-18 win over Gaithersburg Rental (MD) in the championship game. Trailing 18-17 heading into the open inning, Trinity Rizzo’s scored five runs in the top of the seventh to take the 22-18 lead and held Gaithersburg Rental scoreless in the bottom of the open to seal the win. Central Penn Caveman (PA) finished in third place after rattling off four straight wins in the elimination side of the bracket, before falling in the third-place game.

Building Innovation Group (NY) won the seven-team Men’s 55 Major division with a perfect 4-0 record, including a 23-22 come-back win over Action Auto Parts (RI) in the championship game. Trailing 22-21 heading into the bottom half of the open inning, Building Innovation Group scored the two runs they needed to complete the walk-off and claim the championship. Phoenix Tube 55 (NJ) finished in third place following a strong push through the elimination side of the bracket with three wins.

In the six-team Men’s 55 AAA division, Maryland Cougars came back to defeat Lynch Construction (PA), 15-8, in the “if” game, after falling 22-10 in the championship game. After dropping their first game in bracket play, RVA Softball (VA) scored three straight win en route to a third-place finish.

 In the 11-team Men’s 60 Platinum (Major Plus/Major) division, Cardot/Madalena Construction (NY) avenged their 16-10 loss to Omega IT Services, LLC (MD) in the championship game, with a 24-13 win in the “if” game. Trailing 13-9 heading into the open inning, Cardot/Madalena Construction scored 15 runs in the top half of the open to seal the win. Promotion (NJ) finished in third place.

In the eight-team Men’s 60 Silver (AAA/AA) division. Northern Virginia Force edged out Pill & Pill (WV), 13-12, in a thrilling championship game. With the game tied at 12 all heading into the open, Pill & Pill was held scoreless in the top-half of the open, while Northern Virginia Force scored the lone run it needed in the bottom half to win the championship. Chesapeake 60’s (MD) finished in third place.

The final session of the tournament featured the Men’s and Women’s 40 Masters divisions playing the weekend, May 20-21.

In the seven-team Men’s 40 Major division, PA Posse 40’s (PA) recorded a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in seeding play and 3-0 in bracket play, including a 25-9 win over Thunder/Giant Steel/Miken (NY) in the championship game. Following an early loss in bracket play, Thunder/Giant Steel/Miken registered four straight wins before falling short in the championship game. Wilson/Power Up (MD) finished in third place.

J.D. Oxfords/Bob Johnson Chevrolet (NY) swept Superior 40’s/Potomac Sports (MD) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Men’s 40 AAA division.

Chill 40 Below (MD) double-dipped Sweet Ladies Softball (NJ) by scores of 16-14 and 14-8, in the championship and “if” game, respectively, to win the four-team Women’s 40 Major division. The wins for Chill 40 Below avenged their loss against Sweet Ladies Softball, 11-6, earlier in the bracket. Team Works 40 (VA) finished in third place.

Lew’s Crew/Exceeding Expectations (MD) swept Fireballs (MA) in a best two-out-of-three game series in the Women’s 40 Silver (AAA/AA) division.