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53rd Annual USSSA Major World Series!
Viera, FL
October 11-14
The 53rd annual USSSA Major World Series began on Wednesday morning October 11th at 9 AM at the Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida as well as the Red Marucci field back in the baseball quad. It was an 18 team double elimination tournament played over 4 days in decent weather with just a little bit of rain and a lightning delay or two and the temperatures were in the low 80’s for the most part. The most prestigious tournament in slow pitch softball used a good batch of the Dudley Stadium ZN balls, the all turf field dimensions were 325-365-385-365-325, and there was no home run limit. The higher seeded team in each game was automatically made the home team based on the seasons long Conference points standings.
Major World Series Videos and Links
2023 Men’s Major World Series Results & Bracket Link
2023 Major World Series Picture Album link (863 pictures)
2023 Major World Series Condensed Games link
2023 Major World Series archived livestreamed games link
Men’s Major Day #1 Video Highlight Clips link
Men’s Major Day #2 Video Highlight Clips link
Men’s Major Day #3 Video Highlight Clips link
Men’s Major Day #4 Video Highlight Clips link
Bloopers, odd plays, strikeouts from the 2023 Major World Series video link
Team List
Link to the Day #1 Game by Game Recap
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Click the link above for in depth report on Day #1 with box scores, reporting, pictures, and condensed game video links.
Greg Downing robs a game winning homer in the bottom of the 7th.
Bay Area and LSR played a “play in” game back in the Red Quad fields which are the same field dimensions as the stadium 325-365-385-365-325. LSR began a comeback in the bottom of the 3rd on a 2 out 3 run homer by Zach Goleniak and then Bishop Harris had a bases loaded 2 run single in the bottom of the 4th to give LSR their first lead 12-7 and after adding 6 more runs in the bottom of the 5th LSR went on to win 18-9, out homering Bay Area 3-1.
Chick-fil-a opened up the Major World Series in the stadium and Cody Collins hit the first home run of the tournament in the top of the 1st inning as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the 2nd. In the bottom of two “Rookie of the Year” Joey Capparelli got Nitro Circus on the board with a homer and then Erik Kanaby added a 3 run shot to make it 6-4. Chick-fil-a got a nice pitching performance out of their sponsor John Natolly as they blanked Nitro Circus in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th innings and found themselves leading 22-9 and they held on to win.
The other “play in” game back in the Red Quad was played by Epic and NFM, two offensive minded ‘A’ teams. Epic’s Robert Lanham and lefty slugger Sean Ulmer got things started in the top of the 1st inning big RBI doubles and they led 5-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd. In the top of the 5th Epic’s Robert Lanham and Sean Ulmer struck again, this time with 2 run homer’s and Epic went up 11-3 and they went on to win 13-6 after blanking NFM Lending in both the 6th and 7th innings.
Back in the stadium Smash It Sports and JBL, ‘AA’ teams, were having a shootout as the ball started to fly. Smash It jumped out to an 11-0 lead and they scored at least two runs in every inning and held off JBL 36-31.
At mid day it was a matchup between ‘AA’ teams S&E and Sports Reach who both had made runs at the Evansville Dual back in August. Sports Reach in the bottom of the 7th got a home run from Tommy Melton and a walk off gap shot double by Brad Sheffield to win the game 14-13!
Brad Sheffield walks off S&E in the bottom of the 7th.
At 2:15 PM it was Classic Glass who recently won the Conference Championship tournament in Indiana vs America’s 2nd favorite team Roofx! Classic Glass with their 2023 reputation as being a strong baseball field team gave Roofx the recent ‘AA’ champs all they could handle as both teams scored in every inning. In the 7th inning Classic added 5 runs on a game tying single by veteran Sal Formosa and grabbed a 2 run lead on Greg Downings 2 run homer 22-20. In the bottom of the 7th, Roofx playing their 10th game in the 4 days (AA Worlds) got a solo homer from Arlis Miller, a Jeremy Fry double, and then Terry Lambright hit what appeared to be a walk off homer that Classic right fielder Greg Downing robbed it in true ESPN highlight fashion! But the very next batter Brandon Yoder hit one just out of the reach of Downing and Roofx won in dramatic fashion 23-22!
Brandon Yoder walks off Classic Glass in the bottom of the 7th on a home run that Greg Downing just missed robbing in RF.
In the late afternoon the Major teams who were the top 4 seeded teams began play starting with the #4 seed MPT Rentals vs Westpoint a ‘AA’ team out of Indiana. Westpoint got off to a slow start going down in order 1-2-3 in the top of the 1st. MPT came in and jumped out to a 9-0 lead on 3 run homer’s by John Williams and Ben Dunn. In the top of the 2nd Westpoint came to life scoring 7 runs led by lead off hitter Nick Canfields grand slam! But in the bottom of the 2nd MPT answered again with 10 runs including a Daniel Cayton 2 run triple and another John Williams 3 run homer and MPT, bolstered by a Ben Dunn grand slam in the 4th and another 2 run homer by Williams in the bottom of the 5th, won by the run rule 31-16 when Orlando Castillo left Westpoint on the field with a 2 run homer. Big John was 4-5 with 3 HR and 8 RBI in the win as MPT out homered Westpoint 7-4 and 5 different players recorded 4 hits each.
In the first night game Epic who had won their “play in” game over NFM Lending earlier on Wednesday took on the #2 seed Sonny’s. This one was all Sonny’s as Heath Barnes hit a 2 run inside the park homer in the bottom of the 1st, Josh Fyffe and Jeremy Yates hit 2 run homer’s in the bottom of the 3rd, and Sonny’s added 6 more in the 4th before winning by the run rule 21-2 without having to bat in the 5th. Sonny’s out homered Epic 9-1 as lead off hitter Austyn Dawe set the table 4-4 with 4 singles.
The Major teams continued to roll as #1 Resmondo began their 1st game against LSR who had won a “play in” game earlier in the day. LSR got a solo homer from Andrew Hall in the top of the 1st to go up 1-0 but they struggled offensively the rest of the game. Resmondo was led by Greg Connell who homered in the bottom of the 1st, Buddy Wolf who hit a 2 run homer in the 2nd, Kevin Bazat a 2 run homer in the 4th, and Josh Riley left LSR on the field 17-2 with a 3 run homer in the bottom of the 5th. Resmondo out homered LSR 7-1.
Resmondo’s Greg Connell was Offensive Player of the Game vs LSR going 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI.
In the night cap #3 seeded Competitive Edge went up 16-0 on Primetime as they got the 1st 9 Primetime batter’s out. Kyle Pearson (OG) and Billy Sanders leading the way offensively for CE. Primetime broke Faron Miller’s perfect game up in the 4th and scored 3 in the top of the 5th but Competitive Edge homer’s from Bubba Mack in the bottom of the 5th and Kyle Pearson in the bottom of the 6th ended the game by the run rule 18-3. Competitive Edge out homered Primetime 5-0 and held Primetime scoreless in 5 of the 6 innings. Bubba Mack was Offensive Player of the Game 4-4, 1 HR, 4 RBI.
Link to the Day #2 Game by Game Recap
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Click the link above for in depth report on Day #2 with box scores, reporting, pictures, and condensed game video links.
Day #2 of the Major World Series began at 8 am with a pair of “play in” loser’s bracket games followed by the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket and then the semifinals. It was another beautiful day for softball!
Heath Barnes scores on a 3 run inside the park homer.
The quarterfinals began at 11:30 AM with Chick-fil-a and #2 seed Sonny’s. A heavy wind affected the outfielders in this one and a 7 run top of the 2nd gave Chick-fil-a a 7-1 lead. But Sonny’s held CFA scoreless in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th and that is too many zero’s and Sonny’s put CFA away with 4 in the bottom of the 6th and a great catch by Tyler Storey in the top of the 7th to win 15-11. Sonny’s was actually out homered 6-4 but Austyn Dawe led the way in the win going 3-4 with a single, double, and triple.
Tyler Story robs another home run in the 7th.
In the 1:45 PM quarterfinal Sports Reach took a shot at Resmondo but Resmondo was focused and scored 16 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning getting 12 hits, a Josh Riley grand slam, some loonngg home runs by Phil Matte and Bradley Jones and they made Sports Reach pay for some errors on their way to a 26-11 5 inning victory. Bradley Jones was 4-4 with 2 HR in the win.
Tyler Ervine hit 4 HR in this one.
In the 3 PM quarterfinal Competitive Edge and SmashIt/Bay Area battled in the early going trading 2 and 3 run homer’s. But SIS blanked in the top of the 3rd, Comp Edge scored in every inning, and when SIS blanked again in the top of the 6th, Comp Edge pounced and left SIS on the field 32-17 after scoring 12 runs in the bottom of the 6th! Tyler Ervine came up big for Comp Edge 4-4 4 HR 8 RBI.
In the 4th quarterfinal game Roofx and MPT went at it with Roofx using solo homer’s and great defense to get out to a 14-2 lead. Remember it is unlimited home runs at the Major World Series. MPT then came to life in the bottom of the 3rd scoring 7 runs all on 2 outs and 4 homer’s and then they added 14 more in the bottom of the 4th with some 2 out homer’s by Filip Washington and Donnie Walsh and a key averted 3rd out on the bases when Roofx third baseman had tagged out Orlando Castillo trying to take 3rd and the ball popped out of his glove. That would have been a huge 3rd out. Instead MPT went on to take a 23-21 lead and then blanked Roofx in the top of the 5th and went on to win 29-23. MPT’s Andrew Collins was 5-5 with 3 HR and 5 RBI.
Austyn Dawe hits one of his four homer’s in the game.
The 1st semifinal game between Competitive Edge and Sonny’s was all homer’s as the two teams combined to hit 25 of them. Sonny’s got off to a slow start scoring zero in the 2nd and 3rd innings. But then they scored 9 in the 4th and Comp Edge only scored 2 runs down the stretch and Sonny’s squeaked by with a 20-18 victory. Sonny’s leadoff hitter Austyn Dawe again led the way with 4 HR and 7 RBI.
At 9 PM the #1 seed Resmondo played the 2022 Champ MPT Rentals in the 2nd semifinal game. Another great weather night for softball and a small softball playing crowd. Resmondo though out homered MPT 16-8 and held MPT to just 1 run in 3 of the 4 innings they batted. Thus Resmondo won again by the 20 run rule 31-10! Phil Matte was 4-4 3 HR 5 RBI and Greg Connell ended the game with a grand slam!
Greg Connell setting records at the Major World Series.
Link to the Day #3 Game by Game Recap
Friday, October 13, 2023
Click the link above for in depth report on Day #3 with box scores, reporting, pictures, and condensed game video links.
Daniel Herren beats Sports Reach in the loser’s bracket on a walk off homer.
The loser’s bracket played out most of the day Friday which you can read about in the game by game summary. And the winner’s bracket finals started later Friday night between Sonny’s and Resmondo.
Smash It’s Jason Martel hit 4 HR himself to S&E’s 3 to win one of the loser bracket games Friday.
#2 Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete (NC-Major)
vs
#1 Resmondo/SIS/All-American (FL-Major)
Conference Season Awards were given out before the winner’s bracket finals.
Kyle Pearson won the batting title. Bradley Jones won the Offensive MVP. Heath Barnes won the Defensive MVP.
The winner’s bracket finals was played Friday night again in perfect weather under the lights! #2 seed Sonny’s got off to a rough start as one player went down on strikes in the top of the 1st and Heath Barnes trying to stretch a single into a double was thrown out by Bradley Jones. Then Resmondo came in and scored 21 runs in an inning that resembled a home run derby more than it did a softball game. Sonny’s put up a zero in the top of the 2nd and Resmondo scored 12 in the bottom of the 3rd winning by the 20 run rule in the 4th 35-15 without even having to bat in the bottom of the 4th. Josh Riley and Kyle Pearson were each 5-5 with 3 HR and Resmondo out homered Sonny’s 15-7.
Phil Matte continues a huge bottom of the 1st for Resmondo.
Link to the Day #4 Game by Game Recap
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Click the link above for in depth report on Day #4 with box scores, reporting, pictures, and condensed game video links.
The USSSA Major continued on Saturday, October 14th at 8 am with 6 games in the loser’s bracket and 7 teams all with one loss playing down to the championship game Saturday night where undefeated Resmondo waited under the lights with the weeks largest crowd! You can read about the great run Roofx made through the loser’s bracket Saturday here at this link.
Championship
#2 Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete (NC-Major)
vs
#1 Resmondo/SIS/All-American (FL-Major)
The championship began after 8 PM Saturday night in perfect weather with no humidity, the stadium field with its 325-365-385-365-325 outfield fence dimensions, and a really good Dudley Stadium ZN ball. And for me to do justice and write about the championship and what happened inning by inning would be a dis-service to softball because it was quite frankly a laser light show fireworks display that has never been seen before! Sonny’s and Resmondo were tied at 7-7 after one inning and then Sonny’s UNLEASHED 23 runs on 21 hits and 12 home runs in the top of the 2nd to go up 30-7. Resmondo answered with 10 in the 3rd and 9 in the 4th but Sonny’s put the favorite away 51-26 by scoring 18 in the top of the 4th and holding Resmondo scoreless to win by the run rule and force the “if” game. Sonny’s out homered Resmondo 30-13 and Jon Nelson led the offense 6-6 5 HR 8 RBI.
Bradley Jones retrieves his glove from the other side of the fence.
Jon Nelson was 6-6 with 5 HR
Game #35 Recap – 8:00 PM
Pearson set the tone in the “if” game going 7-7.
#1 Resmondo/SIS/All-American (FL-Major)
vs
#2 Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete (NC-Major)
In the “if” game Resmondo was visitors and again the laser light fireworks show began as Resmondo scored 15 on 17 hits and 9 home runs in the 1st and 17 on 15 hits and 10 home runs in the 2nd to go up 32-3 and they cruised to the Major World Series title winning 46-11 in 4 innings. They out homered Sonny’s 27-6 and the batting title champ Kyle Pearson led the way 7-7 3 HR 5 RBI. Congratulations to Resmondo for a dominating season and another World Championship! And thank you to Sonny’s for giving us that “if” game because that crowd did not want to go home early.
Major World Series Results and Awards
MVP was Resmondo pitcher Travis Clark
Defensive MVP was Roofx 3rd Baseman Jon Troyer
Offensive MVP – Resmondo 1st Baseman Kyle Pearson
Team by Team Notes
1st Place – Resmondo/SIS/All-American/Menosse
FL-Major Record 5-1
Resmondo won the Major after having the highest team on base percentage in the history of the Conference during the regular season, winning the HOF, Las Vegas, Smoky, Myrtle Beach and more. They dominated the regular season and accept for the hiccup in the 1st championship game played just as well in the Major. Pearson, Marshburn, and Travis Clark put up huge numbers, 6 players hit double digit home runs, and Brett Helmer’s team added another one to Travis Resmondo’s trophy case!
MVP Travis Clark finishes off Sonny’s!
The Resmondo sponsorship group gets the hardware!
2nd Place – Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete
NC-Major Record 5-2
Sonny’s struggled against Resmondo in 2 out of the 3 meetings but gave us a memorable championship by run ruling them to force the “if” game that the crowd so desperately wanted!
Jeremy Yates hit 12 to his “yard house”
Sonny’s left fielder Tyler Storey was a finalist for the MWS defensive player of the tournament with a number of great catches.
3rd Place – Roofx/Revolution/Albicocco/AllHustle
IN-AA Record 5-2
Roofx put on a show at the Major just like they did in the AA just a few days prior. Justin Mucciarelli on the mound was a candidate for Defensive Player of the Tournament as he held one AA team to just 4 runs. Jeremy Fry led the offense at .839 with 11 HR and 24 RBI and the hustle and defense was incredible. Roofx moves up to Major in 2024!
4th Place – MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics
NJ-Major Record 3-2
MPT the 2022 Major World Series champs just didn’t have “it” in 2023. They didn’t win a single tournament and couldn’t get over the hump against Resmondo or Roofx (the 2nd game) at the major. They are retooling with younger players for 2024.
Tied 5th – Classic Glass/Easton
CA-AA Record 3-2
Another great run on the baseball fields for Classic Glass!
Ryan Ramirez, Dan Kirkwood, and Shannon Smith combined for 14 HR, 46 RBI and 43 runs scored!
Tied 5th – Competitive Edge/Suncoast/FBI/Olmito
FL-Major Record 2-2
Tied 7th – Nitro Circus/Candy Shop/Ataraxis
MD-AA Record 2-2
What a play by Nick Day!
Tied 7th – SmashIt/BayAreaLegends/BaughFord/BD
CA-AA Record 2-2
.
Tied 9th S&E/Baugh Ford/Proton (NC-AA)
S&E made some great defensive plays, Rich Racobaldo led the offense, and we would like to thank the S&E sponsor manager Elvin Herring on the culmination of a great career in slow pitch and hope to see him back at the field soon!
Tied 9th Sports Reach/DeMarini/CT/LLS (KY-AA)
Tied 9th Chick-fil-a/Slugger/BAF/Shore Irrigation (VA-AA)
Chick-fil-a with John Natolly the sponsor pitching had a big win to open their Major on Wednesday but came up a little short defensively against Classic Glass Saturday night. The softball world thanks John for his sponsorship over the years and we hope to see him at a field again soon.
Tied 9th JBL/D1/Tailgaters/Ignite (OH-AA)
Tied 13th LSR/TG/BAF/Nitro Circus (IN-A)
Tied 13th Epic/Haymak/Kilmans/FLS/Koval/Pure (SC-A)
Tied 13th WestPoint (IN-AA)
Tied 13th PrimeTime/Easton (GA-A)
Tied 17th NFM Lending/4TheFallen/KBasInc/Lund (AZ-A)
Tied 17th Bay Area Legends (CA-A)
Steven Lopez gets a hit in the last at bat of his bigtime softball career!
Faces in the Crowd / More Pictures
The beer tower eventually crashed.
Sprinkler
Josh Kirsten and Jason Rowe did a great job announcing the play by play and color commentating for the Major!
Mama Flip in the house!
2023 Conference Awards
A list of who won Conference and World events in 2023.
Final 2023 Computer Rankings
Come play at the Spacecoast Complex in 2024! Baseball, Softball, Fastpitch.
DW (me) on the camera for a late game
