Spring Worlds Draws 127 Teams; 65-85s Session Rained Out

April 1, 2023

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

     ST. GEORGE (UT), BULLHEAD CITY (AZ), MESQUITE (NV) -- Sometimes, a simple gesture at the end of a Senior Softball-USA tournament can melt many hearts. 

     That happened during the 40+ Masters session of the Spring World Championships played in March in Bullhead City, Arizona. 

     After Legend Sports of Nevada won the 40+ Platinum title, the team interrupted the on-field awards ceremony to present one of its championship shirts to an opposing infielder, Paulino Gomez of the SoCal Misfits. (Legend Sports and SoCal Misfits pose together after awards ceremony, photo above).

     It was Legend’s way of honoring Gomez’ determination to continue playing softball while undergoing chemotherapy for colon cancer at age 47. The Misfits’ jerseys have a colon cancer ribbon on them, along with Gomez’s name in large letters on a sleeve.  

     “They wanted to say thank you to him for fighting and not giving up and still playing the game,” SoCal Misfits manager Phillip Colacion said. “He was overwhelmed that they did that.” 

     A Legend player also gave Gomez a military challenge coin. As the player explained, if you place the coin on the counter of a bar filled with veterans, anyone not carrying a challenge coin must buy a round of drinks. 

     “It touched me that they would do that,” said Colacion, who has managed Gomez for seven years. “Softball is not just about playing. We become family.” 

     Overall, SSUSA’s Spring World Championships drew 127 entries from 14 states, including Alaska. Games were divided into three sessions played at ballparks in three states. 

     Brisk mornings and only slightly warmer afternoons greeted the 10 teams of 40+ Masters players who took the field in Bullhead City, Az., on March 18-19. 

     Meanwhile, 23 teams of 60+ players enjoyed nicer weather March 17-19 while playing at two complexes in Mesquite, Nev. 

     Unfortunately, the 65+ and older teams ran headlong into a monsoon that dumped on St. George, Utah, where their three days of games were to have begun March 21. Instead, the entire session got washed out. 

     “It just wouldn’t stop raining,” Tournament Director Dave Dowell said. “It was ugly.” 

     The weather pattern shifted enough to allow the 50+ teams to play March 24-26 in St. George, where grounds crew members did a commendable job prepping the fields, Dowell said. The finals of the 50+ AAA division finished amid snow flurries. 

'Little League Girl' statue at The Canyons Complex in St. George, Utah. 

Tournament results:

     Men’s 40+ Masters Platinum: Second-seeded Legend Sports of Nevada capped a 6-0 tournament with a 13-8 championship game victory over the top-seeded SoCal Misfits. Smash It Northwest of Washington finished third in the 10-team bracket. All three are Major teams.  

     Men’s 50+ Major Plus: KB/Westcoast Elite 50s of Arizona (photo below) defeated Stadium of California 32-28 and 32-24 in a best-of-three format. 

     Men’s 50+ Silver: Scrap Iron Havoc of Colorado (photo below) compiled a 5-0 record that included a 7-0 championship game forfeit victory caused by travel issues for runner-up Vicious Cycle Softball of California. Minleon-Maher of Nebraska, which scored 43 points in one game, finished third in the five-team bracket. 

     Men’s 50+ AAA: Third-seeded All-Quip/SOWC of Oregon (photo below) double-dipped Thunder Buddies of Arizona 25-20 and 25-18 to win the title. All-Quip had lost 35-17 earlier in bracket play to Thunder Buddies. Lokahi of Arizona finished third in the nine-team bracket.

     Men’s 55+ Major: Top-seeded CANVAZ Softball of California (photo below) went 5-0 overall, capped by a 26-25 championship game nailbiter over Dave Smith Auto/Northwest Jokers/Demarini of Washington. CANVAZ dealt the Jokers their only two losses of the tournament, both by one run. Scrap Iron Thunder finished third in the seven-team bracket. 

     Men’s 50/55+ Silver: Top-seeded Scrap Iron Mile High (photo below) went 5-0 overall, capped by a 23-15 championship game victory over the Bootleggers. Both teams are from Colorado. Vegus Hui finished third in the six-team bracket. 

     Men’s 60+ Major Plus: Legacy Sports USA of Arizona capped a 4-0 tournament with a 21-6 title game victory over Express 60s of California. L.A.F. 60s of California finished third in the three-team bracket. 

     Men’s 60+ Major: Top-seeded Arizona Old School lost its first bracket game then reeled off five victories in a row, including 32-22 and 18-17 wins in the title games against Sidewinders 60s of Arizona. The Silver Stars of California took third in the seven-team bracket. 

     Men’s 60+ AAA: Third-seeded Lumberjacks Red of Minnesota (photo below) won the second championship game 16-8 after losing the first title game 22-14 to the Weekend Warriors of California. The Warriors won three elimination games to reach the championship. New Beginnings 60s of California finished third in the 11-team bracket.

     Men’s 60+ AA: Club Tilt/Haus of Colorado double-dipped Mike’s Bar & Grill of Washington 17-6 and 17-14 to claim this three-team division. Spin Tees of Washington finished third.