Good Weather and Record Number of Teams Define 2026 Atlantic Coast Champs

May 1, 2026

By Nic Francois
Softball News Report

RALEIGH, N.C. – A record-breaking 76 teams across 14 states descended upon Walnut Creek Softball Complex here May 12-17 for the 2026 Atlantic Coast Championships.

This beats the 2024 A.C.C. record of 75 teams since the tournament moved to Raleigh in 2021 from Loudoun County, Virginia.

"This week was simply fantastic,” said Tim McElroy, tournament director and SSUSA’s eastern vice president. “With nine well maintained diamonds and a centralized location, Walnut Creek offers teams one of the finest facilities on the East Coast.”

Walnut Creek Softball Complex, host of the Atlantic Coast Championships, in Raleigh, N.C.

“The A.C.C. featured large and competitive brackets with teams aged 40-80+ hailing from Florida to Connecticut to Wisconsin; everyone had the opportunity to face new opponents," he added.

Indeed, 15 teams from 9 of the 14 states earned berths to the invite-only 2027 Tournament of Champions, January 20-24 in Polk County, Florida.

The premier tournament also hosted two National Senior Softball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies: George Chance (pioneer player) and Roger Josey Sr. (player). See related story for more information and photos of their inductions.

Results:

Men’s 40+ Major: Top-seeded Turn 2 Electric 40s of host state North Carolina plowed through the six-team division undefeated, winning the championship game 24-18 against finalist, HDI/She Gone Sports of Virginia. Turn 2 Electric’s first bracket game wasn’t so easy, narrowly defeating second-seeded Sake of Maryland 23-22.

Men’s 40+ AAA: Top-seeded GGS/MBK of North Carolina (photo below) went undefeated in the six-team division, winning most bracket games by 10 or more runs until the championship game, a tight 26-25 win over finalist EPM/RAM 40s of Virginia. Fourth-seeded Hard Knocks Softball (HKS), also from Virginia, took third place.

Men’s 50+ Major: Fourth-seed Lyndsey Roofing/OTC ELITE of New York (photo below) had a come-from-behind victory, initially losing their two seeding games, but winning all four bracket games to clinch the title. Second-seeded HRS/OSS Apparel/Fat Chops of Rhode Island took the finalist position after losing their second bracket game to Lyndsey Roofing, 18-17, only to play again in the championship game, 23-22. Third-seeded AST/QTI/CF/GPOA/CCS of Virginia finished third in the five-team division.

Men’s 50+ AAA: After going 1-1 in seeding games, second-seeded Old Skool/Racehorse Tavern/Girard Club of Pennsylvania (photo below) won all bracket games by close margins of 4 or fewer runs. The championship game saw Old Skool win by one run, 14-13, against finalist Warpath 50 of Maryland, which was seeded fourth in the five-team division. Third-seeded Flatline/Van Metre Homes of Virginia took third.

Men’s 50/55+ Major Plus: Second-seeded BPA Sports of Pennsylvania went 2-1 for seeding games before winning all three bracket games to secure the 55+ Major Plus title, including the 30-14 championship game against finalist Deluxe Bakery of New Jersey. Deluxe Bakery was the last seeded team of the four-team division. Top-seeded MC Improvements from Wisconsin took third place after initially winning all three seeding games, but going 1-2 in the bracket.

Men’s 55+ Major: Third-seeded Caterbone/PHX TUBE of Connecticut (photo below) went undefeated in the bracket, finishing with an impressive 19-7 win in the championship game against finalist C3 Skids of Florida. C3 Skids was seeded second in the six-team division, before losing their second bracket game to Caterbone before working their way through the elimination bracket for a rematch in the champ game. Top-seeded Phoenix Tube-Glass House of Pennsylvania finished third.

Men’s 55/60+ Silver: The 11-team bracket saw third-seeded Holy City Hitmen of South Carolina (photo below) go undefeated in both seeding and bracket games to win the 60+ AAA title. Holy City Hitmen won each bracket game by 7 or more runs, including the championship game, 22-15, against finalist Turn 2 Electric of North Carolina, which was seeded fourth. Top-seeded Wicked Slice Pizza of Connecticut finished third after losing their second bracket game to Turn 2 Electric 15-9 and again in the third-place game, 29-16.

Men’s 60+ Major: In this year’s largest bracket of 12 teams, second-seeded E&E Metal Fab Inc/Jerich Co. of Pennsylvania (photo below) went undefeated in seeding and bracket games. E&E won the championship game by default after Hard Hat Café/Latella’s/ Caterbone of Connecticut forfeited the game to catch their flights home as the game times ran later than expected. Hard Hate Café accepted finalist awards and last seeded Estes/Rheem of Virginia took third place after losing the third-place game, 32-22.

Men’s 65+ Major Plus: Playing a best-of-three format, TRT of Florida swept The Bank of Delaware 13-12 and 31-13 to finish 5-0 to win the title.

Men’s 65+ Gold: In the three-team bracket, top-seeded Olympian Athletics 65 of Pennsylvania (photo below) went 2-2 in seeding before sweeping the bracket games 19-4 and 21-15 in the championship against finalist Holy City Hitmen II of South Carolina. Northern Virginia Force 65s finished third.

Men’s 70+ Silver: Second-seeded Northern Virginia Force 70 (photo below) saved off a double-dip attempt by top-seeded Syracuse Cyclones of New York. Virginia Force lost the championship game 22-17, but rebounded to claim the 70+ AAA title in a tight IF game, 21-20. Cyclones left as the finalists while third-seeded Oakes Grading Shockers of North Carolina took third-place in the five-team bracket, surviving three elimination bracket games before the third-place game.

Men’s 70/75+ Platinum: Top-seeded Venom 75s of Florida (photo below) dominated the mixed division, going 5-0 for games to win the 75+ Major Plus title and TOC berth. Finalist Talaga Construction 70 of Florida lost the championship game 14-8, but still earned a TOC berth by being the top finishing 70+ Major team. Last seeded Reality Check 70 of North Carolina took third-place in the five-team division.

Men’s 75/80+ Platinum: Playing a best-of-three format, top-seeded Hamel 80 of Maryland (photo below) successfully double-dipped Northern Virginia Force 75 for the 80+ Major Plus title. Hamel lost the first bracket game 21-13, before rebounding to win the title game, 21-11 and the IF game, 18-13.

Men’s 80+ Gold: Playing a best-of three format, Tennessee Thumpers went 2-1 in seeding games before winning the first bracket game, 19-7, against HTR of North Carolina. HTR forfeited the championship game, allowing Tennessee Thumpers to win the 80+ Major title.