Florida Fields Bounce Back After Hurricane to Host 2024 Winter Nationals

Nov. 1, 2024

By Donna McGuire
Softball News Report

SSUSA’s Winter Nationals kicked off the 2025 playing season when 65 teams from 16 states converged on southwest Florida in early November.

Though sporadic rain caused multiple schedule adjustments, field crews and directors scrambled to make sure nearly all the originally scheduled games got played at parks in Fort Myers and Naples on Nov. 5-10.

“There was some great ball played at the Winter National earlier this month, but the Lee County Sports staff were the unquestioned All-Stars,” Tournament Director Tim McElroy said. “Just a few weeks removed from another hurricane, they delivered top-notch playing facilities and more. The staff takes pride in their parks and hotels but are quick to suggest restaurants and shopping options making this town, and this tournament one of my personal favorites.”

Rain caused the greatest impact on the 80+ AAA division, which switched from a round-robin format to a single-elimination format partway through the tournament.

Sixteen teams earned berths to the 2026 Tournament of Champions in Polk County, Florida, by winning their divisions.

Results:

Men's 40+ AAA: Playing a best-of-three format, the Black Kings of Maryland swept the SpamTown Sliders of Minnesota 24-18 and 19-13. The Black Kings finished 4-1 overall.

Men's 50+ AAA: Also playing a best-of-three format, Up in Smoke of Florida defeated Kons Trenching of Wisconsin 13-10, 14-26, 22-14.

Men's 55+ Major: Top-seeded Florida-Onyx swept all five games it played, including a 23-20 championship victory over third-seeded Tiffany's of Michigan. WALKOFF of Maryland finished third in the three-team division.

Men's 55+ AAA: Top-seeded Hex.COM of Ohio stumbled only once – in the first championship game, which it lost 21-19 to second-seeded Isle Edge Trucking of Wisconsin. Hex.COM recovered to notch a decisive 26-9 victory in the “if needed” title game. The third-seeded Invaders of Rhode Island finished third in the three-team division.

Men's 60+ Major: The third-seeded Hudson Valley Cyclones of New York capped a 4-1 tournament with a 16-14 title-game victory over top-seeded Team Mars of Florida. Fourth-seeded Team Florida/Phoenix Tube finished third in the five-team division.

Men's 60+ AAA: Top-seeded Phoenix Tube of New Jersey lost the winner’s bracket finals before winning the third-place game and then double dipping third-seeded Isle Edge Trucking of Wisconsin 25-18 and 20-18 in the championship games. Seventh-seeded Diamond Dawgs of Massachusetts nabbed third place in the eight-team division.

Men's 65+ Major Plus: Unbeaten in six games, top-seeded TRT of Florida knocked off second-seeded Prime Time of Illinois 22-8 in the championship game. MJ Fein/Ohio Elite finished third in the three-team bracket.

Men's 65+ Major: Third-seeded Levin Ameriprise II of Florida went 5-1 overall, including a 17-6 championship victory over the sixth-seeded Long Island Jaguars 65s Red. Top-seeded Hollis Appraisals of Florida finished third after losing its final game by one run.

Men's 65+ AAA: Fifth-seeded Steve Levin Ameriprise of Florida capped a 5-1 tournament by going 4-0 in bracket play, including two one-run triumphs. In the championship game, it defeated fourth-seeded Playmakers of Wisconsin 20-3. Second-seeded Fat Nancy of New York finished third in the seven-team division.

Men's 70+ Major: Top-seeded DEEP PURPLE of Massachusetts (photo below) won all five of its games by double-digits, including the 22-6 title game against second-seeded Slug-A-Bug of Florida. Third-seeded SFS/Minutemen of Ohio finished third in the three-team division.

Men's 70+ AAA: The top-seeded Long Island Jaguars 70s White of New York capped a 5-0 tournament with an 18-3 championship victory over second-seeded Spring Ford of Pennsylvania. The third-seeded Syracuse Cyclones of New York nabbed third in the five-team division.

Men's 75+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, unbeaten Venom of Florida swept Northern Virginia Force 19-9 and 23-8.

Men's 75/80+ Gold: The third-seeded 60+ Major team Vecter of Vero from Florida defeated the 75+ AAA team Long Island Jaguars of New York 26-16 in the title game, with both teams earning berths to the 2026 TOC. Fourth-seeded JAG-ONE/Jersey Masters finished third in the four-team division.

Men's 80+ AAA: After the format switched to a single-elimination bracket, Blaze/Ted Todd Insurance of Florida won three in a row, including the 15-13 championship game victory over the Indianapolis Classics. Cozy Grill of Rhode Island took third in the seven-team division.

Men's 85+ Gold: Playing a best-of-three format, Center For Sight of Florida swept Team Rehabilitation of Minnesota 9-8 and 22-12 to finish 4-0 overall.