Tampa Bay Kick Off Recap
GREAT LAKES claim Tampa championship
Tampa Bay Kick Off Recap
We proudly launched the first Police Softball tournament of the year with the Tampa Bay Kickoff Classic, held in the beautiful Tampa Bay, Florida. This marked the first year that Center Mass had the privilege of hosting a tournament in its own backyard, and the weather could not have been more perfect.
On behalf of Center Mass, we extend our sincere gratitude to all the teams who participated in this inaugural event. It was an honor to welcome not only the players but also their families to the Sunshine State. The relationships we have built over the years through this incredible police softball circuit mean the world to us, and we are truly grateful for this community.
The opening ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. The event commenced with a powerful performance of the National Anthem by renowned vocalist, songwriter, and performer Rubi Mar, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard Team presenting the colors. We were also privileged to have the Honorable Judge Robin Fuson—former professional baseball player and current judge of the Hillsborough County 13th Judicial Circuit Court—along with Captain Stacie Molina of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deliver the ceremonial first pitch at this inaugural event.
The tournament’s introductions were led by the talented Natalie Zfat, a respected social media creator, video host and journalist, with stunning photography captured by the skilled Alyssa Strong.
We extend our deepest appreciation to all those mentioned above for their unwavering support of the Center Mass Police Softball Team and the Law Enforcement Community. Your dedication and commitment make events like this possible, and we look forward to many more successful tournaments in the future!
First Annual Tampa Bay Kickoff Recap
Majors Division:
Day 1 of the tournament began with four games at 9:00 AM, followed by a brief pause at 10:30 AM for the opening ceremony. Pool play featured numerous competitive matchups, with several teams showcasing their strength.
Miami.50 dominated their pool, finishing 3-0 with impressive victories over MDF, South Florida, and Center Mass. The Dawgz and Great Lakes also asserted their dominance, each securing a perfect 3-0 record. Meanwhile, 305 Elite delivered strong performances, defeating Necessary Force, North Florida, and Polk County to also go 3-0 in pool play.
In bracket play, Great Lakes continued their winning streak, securing victories over Center Mass and Miami.50 to advance to the winner’s bracket final. The Dawgz battled past Midwest Heat and South Florida to claim their spot in the final as well. The highly anticipated showdown between Great Lakes and The Dawgz lived up to expectations, as both teams exchanged blows in a thrilling contest that extended into the ninth inning. The Dawgz ultimately outlasted Great Lakes with a hard-fought 29-26 victory, sending them to the loser’s bracket.
In the loser’s bracket, Great Lakes awaited Center Mass, who had an impressive run by defeating North Florida, South Florida, and Miami.50 in consecutive matchups. Despite their momentum, Center Mass fell to Great Lakes, setting up a championship rematch with The Dawgz.
The championship game saw Great Lakes rise to the occasion, defeating The Dawgz to force a decisive “if” game. In a closely contested battle, The Dawgz left everything on the field, but Great Lakes emerged victorious with a 14-12 win, claiming the title of First Annual Tampa Bay Kickoff Champions!
Congratulations to Great Lakes on an outstanding performance!
All-Tournament Selections
Great Lakes
• Joe Saunders
• Alex Neufeld
• Justin Rzeszutko
Dawgz
• Nick Sammarco
• Hunter Grimm
Gold Division:
After an intense pool play round, Garden State and NYPD Finest emerged as the top two seeds, earning first-round byes. The opening matchups saw #3 Necessary Force face #6 Lake County, while #4 MDF took on #5 Polk County. Led by the legendary Donnie Meyer, Lake County pulled off an upset against a restructured Necessary Force team. Meanwhile, MDF secured a victory over first-time PS.com participants, Polk County.
In the semifinals, Garden State defeated MDF, while NYPD Finest overcame Lake County, setting up a highly anticipated showdown between two rising teams on the circuit. In a hard-fought battle, Garden State prevailed, securing their spot in the championship game. NYPD Finest, sent to the loser’s bracket, rebounded with a victory over Necessary Force to earn a rematch against Garden State in the final.
In the championship game, NYPD Finest gave an all-out effort, but a well-rested and surging Garden State capitalized on their momentum to secure their first tournament championship as a team. Congratulations to Garden State on a remarkable debut victory!
All-Tournament Team
• Tim Manolt – Garden State
• Jake Gillis – Garden State
• James Rogers – NYPD Finest