Several 'IF' Games Played in the 2023 Top Gun Tune-Up

May 1, 2023

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

Forty-five teams clashed during two sessions of The Proton Top Gun Tune-Up held in mid-May at the Big League Dreams ballpark in Perris, Calif.

All but one team hailed from California in competition that ranged from the 50+ to 75/80+ age groups.

The 65+ and older groups played a Monday-Tuesday schedule May 15-16. The younger teams opened play May 19 for a three-day weekend session.

The games showcased talented play and spirited competition, with many of the divisions requiring an “if” championship game to determine a winner, tournament director Jerry Smith said.

All the top-finishing teams were based in California.

Results:

Men’s 50/55+ Platinum: Asylum Ballers (photo below) lost the winner’s final by one run to the Top Gun Diamonds but rallied to double dip the Diamonds 22-7 and 21-6 in the championship games. Top-seeded Stadium finished third in the seven-team division.

Men’s 50+ AAA: Viejos So Cal (photo below) needed all three games of the best-of-three format to subdue the Top Gun Renegades 21-10, 13-17, 13-10.

Men’s 55+ Major: Showtime (photo below) entered bracket play as the third seed out of three teams but came out on top by double-dipping top-seeded Ink Games 22-15 and 29-28. The Top Gun Phantom, which scored 40 runs in a pool game, finished third.

Men’s 55+ AAA: Fourth-seeded Kamikaze (photo below) knocked off the top two seeds enroute to winning the title, including a 17-3 championship game victory over Top Gun Storm. Dirty Sox finished third in the six-team division.

Men’s 60+ AA: In a best-of-three format, Advil Knights (photo below) swept So Cal Riptide 21-11 and 20-16.

Men’s 60+ AAA: Harper Boys (photo below) won the tournament’s largest division by double-dipping Top Gun Fury 18-8 and 21-20 in the championship games. Weekend Warriors 60s finished third in the nine-team bracket.

Men’s 60+ Platinum: Express 60s (photo below) lost the first title game 22-15 but rebounded to take the second 21-18 over the top-seeded Enforcers. Top Gun Warriors finished third in the four-team division.

Men’s 65/70+ Gold: Top Gun Olde Dawgs 70 went 4-1 and won the “if” championship game 20-14 over Lights Out 65. Git-R-Done 70 finished third in the three-team division.

Men’s 65+ AAA: In a best-of-three format, Top Gun Stealth lost the first game 17-12 but then defeated the Weakened Warriors 16-6 and 11-4 to claim the crown.

Men’s 70+ Major: No Guts, No Glory and Over the Edge split the first two games of their best-of-three format and agreed not to play the finale because too many players needed to leave. Over the Edge won the first game 15-8. No Guts, No Glory won the second game 11-10.

Men’s 75/80+ Gold: Top-seeded So Cal Warriors (photo below) lost the first title game 9-8 but rebounded to win the second 14-10. SoCal Gusto, which played five games the final day, finished second. Top Gun Gold 80s took third in the five-team bracket.