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Day #1 – 2023 USSSA Major World Series
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
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 wind blew out to the right field corner in typical fashion on Wednesday at about 7 mph. The higher seeded team in each game was automatically made the home team based on the seasons long Conference points standings.
2023 Men’s Major World Series Results & Bracket Link
2023 Major World Series Picture Album link
2023 Major World Series Condensed Games link
2023 Major World Series archived livestreamed games link
Best plays from Day One of the 2023 Major World Series
Day #1 Condensed Games in chronological order:
Major World Series – Bay Area Legends vs LSR condensed game link
Major World Series – Epic vs NFM Lending condensed game link
Major World Series – Chick-fil-a vs Nitro Circus condensed game link
Major World Series – Smash It Sports vs JBL condensed game link
Major World Series – S&E vs Sports Reach condensed game link
Major World Series – Classic Glass vs Roofx condensed game link
Major World Series – Westpoint vs MPT Rentals condensed game link
Major World Series – Epic vs Sonny’s condensed game link
Major World Series – LSR vs Resmondo condensed game link
Major World Series – Primetime vs Competitive Edge condensed game link
Note: Games were not played in numbered order on the bracket.
Game #1 Recap – 9:00 AM
LSR hits against Bay Area back in the Red Quad “play in” game.
#17 Bay Area Legends (CA-AA)
vs
#16 LSR/TG/BAF/Nitro Circus (IN-AA)
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. Bay Area got off to a fast start getting a 2 out RBI triple from Grant Behic in the top of the 1st inning to go up 4-0 and they led LSR 7-1 after LSR put up a zero in the bottom of the 2nd. 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. Goleniak ended up with 2 HR, John Franklin 2 triples, and pitcher Daniel Olvera was 3-3 with 2 doubles in the win.
Game #6 Recap – 9:00 AM
#10 Chick-fil-A/Slugger/BAF/Shore Irrig (VA-AA)
vs
#7 Nitro Circus/Candy Shop/Ataraxis (MD-AA)
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 playing without their shortstop Matt Brady who was injured at work and playing short handed 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 going into the bottom of the 7th. Nitro Circus started a come back when Jared Hunt and Chris Greinert homered but they came up short 22-14 having been out homered 6-5 in a battle of ‘AA’ teams. Jacob Clifton was named Offensive Player of the Game 4-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI.
Game #2 Recap – 10:45 AM
#18 Epic/Haymak/Kilmans/FLS/Koval/Pure (SC-A)
vs
#15 NFM Lending/4TheFallen/KBasInc/Lund (AZ-A)
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. With the “jitters” gone NFM answered in the bottom of the 3rd on a 2 out 2 run homer by infielder Danny Higa. But 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. Lanham was 4-4 in the win with 5 RBI and middle infielder Ian Sidebottom went 4-4.
Game #8 Recap – 10:45 AM
Trey Porter was Offensive Player of the Game for Smash It – 5-6, 2 HR, 6 RBI
#11 SmashIt/BayAreaLegends/BaughFord/BD (CA-AA)
vs
#6 JBL/D1/Tailgaters/Ignite (OH-AA)
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 going into the bottom of the 2nd on 2 run doubles by rookies Josh McAdams and Craig Pellegrin in the 1st and home runs by Kyle Fisher, Jason Branch, and Trey Porter in the 2nd. Throw in some defense by middle infielder Luis Reyna who turned a double play and a nice play by pitcher Tom Bloom up the middle and Smash It was looking good to advance. But JBL, the recent ‘AA’ World runner ups answered in the bottom of the 2nd as Adam Ussery hit a backside homer and “Lazer” Dave Johnson hit a 2 runner to cut the lead to 11-6. In the 4th and 5th JBL hit a number of 2 and 3 run home runs to close the gap to 25-17 Smash It. Smash It continued to lead, scoring at least two runs in every inning and held off JBL 36-31 when JBL had a 7th inning home run barrage to make the score closer than it actually was. SIS out homered JBL 15-12 in the game as Jason Branch went 5-5 at lead off spot and veteran Jason Martel went 6-6.
Game #3 Recap – 12:30 PM
#9 S&E/Baugh Ford/Proton (NC-AA)
vs
#8 Sports Reach/Demarini/CT/LLS (KY-AA)
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. S&E was feeling good about their 4 run top of the 1st inning when Jacob Hoskins homered. But Sports Reach answered in the bottom of the 1st with a grand slam by shortstop Dagmar Pena and an 8-4 lead! There wasn’t much scoring in the next couple of innings but S&E “small balled” their way to a 3 spot in the top of the 4th to close the lead to 10-8. In the top of the 6th Edmund Locklear hit a 3 run homer for S&E to give them the lead 11-10 but Jason Gilfillan for Sports Reach tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the 7th S&E added 2 to go up 13-11 on RBI singles by Rich Racobaldo and Hunter Oliver but Sports Reach got a home run from Tommy Melton and a walk off gap shot double by Brad Sheffield to win the game 14-13! There were just 5 home runs hit in the game and Pena was Offensive Player of the Game 2-3 with a grand slam homer and 5 RBI.
Brad Sheffield walks off S&E in the bottom of the 7th.
Game #5 Recap – 2:15 PM
#12 Classic Glass/Easton (CA-AA)
vs
#5 Roofx/Revolution/Albicocco/AllHustl (IN-AA)
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. Both teams also hit 7 homer’s. Ryan Ramirez was 5-5 in the game for Classic Glass as he hit a two out grand slam in the top of the 2nd inning and later in the top of the 4th hit a 3 run homer into the wind in left field! The Classic defense made some misplays in the bottom of the 4th however and Roofx took advantage and grabbed a 13-12 lead. Classic pitcher Dan Bean who played the whole week with an injured hand hit a 2 run homer to give Classic the lead and Blake Lively hit a 3 run shot to put them up 17-13. Roofx answered with a 2 run shot by Kyle “Cheese” Miller and a 3 run homer by Arlis Miller to regain the lead 18-17 . 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 in true ESPN highlight fashion (pictured below)! But the very next batter Brandon Yoder hit one just out of the reach of Downing and Roofx won in dramatic fashion 23-22!
Greg Downing robs a game winning homer in the bottom of the 7th.
Brandon Yoder walks off Classic Glass in the bottom of the 7th on a home run that Greg Downing just missed robbing in RF.
Game #4 Recap – 4:00 PM
Westpoint’s All Conference pitcher Kyle Johnson leads them against MPT!
#13 WestPoint (IN-AA)
vs
#4 MPT Rentals / Juno Athletics (NJ-Major)
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.
“Johndre” the Giant Williams was Offensive Player of the Game 4-5, 3 HR, 8 RBI.
Game #10 Recap – 6:00 PM
#18 Epic/Haymak/Kilmans/FLS/Koval/Pure (SC-A)
vs
#2 Sonny’s/Worsham/RedAthlete (NC-Major)
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.
Sonny’ Josh Fyffe was Offensive Player of the Game – 3-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI.
Game #9 Recap – 8:00 PM
#16 LSR/TG/BAF/Nitro Circus (IN-A)
vs
#1 Resmondo/SIS/All-American/Menosse (FL-Major)
Drew Hall gets LSR on the board with a homer in the 1st inning.
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 – 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI.
Game #7 Recap – 10:00 PM
CE’s Ryan Honeycutt collects one of his 3 hits against pitcher Rod Armour.
#14 PrimeTime/Easton (GA-A)
vs
#3 CompetitiveEdge/Suncoast/FBI/Olmito (FL-Major)
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.
Competitive Edge pitcher Faron Miller takes one off the helmet.
