First Joint Tourney Qualifies 41 Teams For SSUSA's & SPA's Worlds

April 1, 2023

By Donna McGuire 
Softball News Report

     NASHVILLE, TN -- Wet weather dampened the first joint-qualifying senior softball tournament established through a new partnership between Senior Softball-USA and the Softball Players Association. 

     Forty-one teams from 11 states entered The Proton Sports SSUSA/SPA Music City Classic played March 15-19 at two Nashville-area complexes in Tennessee. 

     Poor field conditions forced all teams to play Saturday games at the four-field Cane Ridge Park in Antioch. Some teams moved to the second four-field park, Cedar Hill in Madison, for Sunday games. 

     Under the joint SSUSA/SPA arrangement, teams could use this tournament to qualify their rosters for either association’s World Championships. Because SSUSA ran the Music City event, the teams followed SSUSA rules. 

Results:

     Men’s 40+ Masters Gold: Southern Illinois Lightning, an AAA team, lost the first championship game 24-18 but rebounded to nab the crown 16-12 over ABC 40s, a Major team from Missouri. Tennessee Select, also a Major team, finished third in the three-team division. 

     Men’s 50+ Major: After losing the winner’s finals 14-5, Father Time/Red Athlete of Kentucky returned through the elimination bracket to again face Walker Brothers/JXL of Alabama. Father Time double dipped Walker 13-12 and 15-12 for the title. Third place in the five-team division went to 615 Honored of Tennessee. 

     Men’s 50+ AAA: NSC Heroes 50s of Nebraska lost the winner’s bracket finals 8-6 but returned to double-dip Tennessee Select/LP Sports 14-11 and 13-11 in the championship games. Our Dirt of Kentucky won three elimination games to finish third in the seven-team bracket. 

     Men’s 55+ Major: K&I 55s of Indiana won the title over the Southern Illinois Lightning 55s in the two-team bracket. 

     Men’s 55+ AAA: Cotton Eye Joe of Tennessee defeated the Peacemakers of Tennessee 15-11 for the title. The Georgia Renegades finished third in the seven-team bracket. 

     Men’s 60+ Platinum: The Montgomery Swarm defeated the Omaha Silver Bullets/Minleon of Nebraska 7-0 for the title. Both are Major teams. Monster Softball of Mississippi, a Major Plus team, finished third in the four-team bracket. 

     Men’s 60+ AAA: Lumber Kings of Tennessee lost the first championship game 19-10 but won the second 13-12 over Team Illinois. Southern Boys of Georgia finished third in the four-team bracket. 

     Men’s 65+ AAA: The Power of Tennessee became champions after the other division teams forfeited. 

     Men’s 70+ Major: REI Nation of Tennessee became champion over Columbus LXX of Georgia, which forfeited both bracket games in the two-team division.