World Series XX 2025

Missouri Lawmen Majors Division World Champions!

The second weekend of October marked our 20th Anniversary of the World Series.  World Series XX and once again the event went off seamlessly. 

Since it was our 20th Anniversary we went out of our way to celebrate. Guests were first treated to a hosted players reception at the Troy Bar at the Golden Nugget.  Justin Witt secured a sponsor to cover the social gathering which was well attended.

Our Opening Ceremony was held on Friday evening and we had to work quickly as a storm was rapidly approaching.  During the ceremony we honored those who were in attendance at WS I in Palm Springs, Ca. in 2005.  Twenty years later, we recognized these veterans and PS.Com co-founders, Anne Marie Blair & Michele Todd presented each of them with a PSWS  XX challenge coin:

Donny Meyer NY Metro/NFL

Brandon West SFL/SFL

Craig Singleton Ohio Lawmen/Kentucky Blue

Jeff Graus Michigan Lawmen/Great Lakes

Dave Braun LAPD Blue/LAPD Blue

George Reyes RSO Red/LAPD Blue

Mark Jackson Hardcor/Connection

Scotty Sizer-St. Louis Top Guns/Missouri Lawmen

Dave Masi- New Jersey G-Boys/Max Blues

Jim Gomez DEA Combo/DEA Combo

Dave Rodriguez- San Diego Heat/BP Arsenal

Ed Leal- San Diego Heat/BP Arsenal

Anthony Costanzo- Sac Razorbacks/PS.COM

Benji Lehner- Minnesota Lawmen/Minnesota Lawmen

Grant Johnson- Minnesota Lawmen/Minnesota Lawmen

Toby Sanders- Ohio Lawmen/JCats

Dennis Leonard- South Florida Lawmen/PS.COM

Ray Ghiliotti- RSO Black/RSO Force

Pablo Gaddis Sac Razorbacks/Sac Razorbacks

Bill Judd - Officers Only/Northwest Shakedown

Marty Campbell Michigan Lawmen/MDF-Dayton

Damian Hull-Michigan Lawmen/MDF-Dayton

Andy Kunz- NYPD Blues/Retired

Dickie Malek- NY Metro/Max Elite Blues

Mike Valente- NY Metro/Max Elite Blues

Andy Wurm- Colombus/Toronto Takedown

Doug Schwalbach- Tri County Lawmen/Toronto Takedown

Todd Clancy- South Florida/South Florida

 

Season End Award Winners were presented with plaques courtesy of the Deputy Sheriff Association of Sacramento and their president, Nate Segar and event sponsor Mickey Jannis (on behalf of Brett Helmer) from Marucci Sports.

 

Dan Spinelli 52 Strong:

Brandon West from South Florida Lawmen

 

Del Pickney Lifetime Achievement Award:

Jim Gomez from DEA Combo

 

Sponsor of the Year:

Josh Hudson of Optimize U sponsor of the East Coast Championship and Kentucky Blue softball team

 

Shevy Wright Sportsman of the Year:

Marieo Foster from The Brotherhood 

 

Walt Conry Manager of the Year:

David Braun from LAPD Blue 

 

Defensive Player of the Year

RD Lyons from Center Mass

 

West Coast Player of the Year

Robert Mason from DEA Combo

 

East Coast Player of the Year

Ryan Theiss from New York Empire 

 

Our Hall of Fame committee chairs Dennis Leonard and Tyson Becker were recognized for their efforts and we invited every active Hall of Fame member onto the field to welcome this years inductees.  Every new inductee was presented with a PS Hall of Fame challenge coin by Dennis:

 

EAST

James Gnew- NYPD Blues

Todd Clancy- South Florida Lawmen

Mike Kletzky-South Florida Lawmen

Jeremy Whaley- Minnesota Lawmen

Luke Watson- Northern Lawmen

Justin Camper-Kentucky Blue

Tommy Eldridge- Connecticut Lawmen

 

WEST

Paul Steffanauer- Team Texas

Chris Hutchenson- State 48

Steve Wrathall- Sacramento Razorbacks

Ray Gioletti -SoCal Alliance

Ryan Coe- SoCal Alliance

 

After the inductions, Ryan Coe and Michele Todd said goodbye to their management duties at policesoftball.com.   Michele, a founding member had decided to close this chapter of her life while moving into the next.  Ryan, a partner since the passing of Del, stepped down in order to focus on his new career as a Deputy Chief in Keller, Texas.  It was a bittersweet goodbye as both Michele and Ryan will be sorely missed.

 

We had a traditional wood bat All Star game scheduled, but it was starting to drizzle so we skipped the game and  instead called each of the All Stars out onto the field for recognition on their accomplishment.  They were all presented with a custom PS.COM WEST or PS.COM  EAST All Star hat:

 

West All Stars

 

Manager LAPD BLUE- David Braun

1st Base Coach RELOADED- Jake Denobriga

3rd Base Coach ANGEL ARMOR-Derrick Keeton

1.The Connection- Chais Fuller 3B

2.LA Empire- Kyle Heinen P/3B

3.State 48 - Matt Barnes 1B

4.172 Combo- Darrin Takade INF

5.DEA Combo- Robert Mason P/1B

6.Houston Heat- Blake Ellisor

7.Sac Razorbacks- Nick Pasquale SS/5M

8.San Antonio Law- Elliott Escamilla IF/OF

9.South Texas Gunslingers-Alberto Gonzalez 1B/P

10.Lonestar- Kevin Murphy 2B, B, OF

11.Arizona Desert Connection- Charlie Hernandez P/1B

12.WC Lawmen- Isaac Ortiz- SS/5M

13.Utah Metro- Austin Rowberry INF/OF

14. Angel Armor- Brennan Garr SS

15. Reloaded- Jordan Franks 1B/EH

16. LAPD Blue-Danny Higa SS/MI

 

 

East All Stars

 

Manager KENTUCKY BLUE- Justin Camper

1st Base Coach 305 ELITE- Andrew George

3rd Base Coach MIAMI 5.0- Anthony Garcia

1.Miami Metro Dawgz- Rob Pence 1B/C

2.Max Elite Blues- Dave Masi 1B

3.New York Empire – Tyler Theiss IF

4.Missouri Lawmen - Justin Beal 3B

5.The Brotherhood- Colby Brooks OF

6.North Florida Showdown- Spencer Craven

7.Suffolk Combo- Billy Boyd OF

8.Center Mass- RD Lyons CF

9.Great Lakes- Travis Perkola OF

10.TBL Outlaws- Desean Estep INF

11.Minnesota Lawmen- Jeremy Whaley P

12.Northern Lawmen- Matt Pine IF

13.Chicago Metro- Travis Morgan SS

14.Miami 50- Adrian Gonzalez OF

15. KY Blue- Steve Edwards INF

16.SoFlorida- Mike Faul INF

17. 305 Elitie- Julio Gonzalez

 

We barely got through the All Stars when the sky opened up and it started pouring.  We were determined to complete the HR derby finals after more than 100 hitters cycled through the preliminary rounds earlier in the day.  Justin Witt and his private company, Police Security Services were sponsoring a ridiculous prize package including $1,000 cash AND an additional $1,000 toward a charity of the winners choice.  With $2,000 in prize money on the line, the show had to go on.  It was raining sideways and the wind was blowing out to right field which helped the left handed hitters.  A new player to police softball, Alex Porcillo from Suffolk Lawmen endured the conditions and took home the title of HOME RUN KING.  His teammates joked that Alex was so new to our sport that he has no idea how big his accomplishment actually was.  Special thanks are due to the efforts of:  Norm Coe, Pablo Gaddis, Anthony Costanzo, Justin Witt and those who helped shag balls and ensure the derby was a success.  By the end of the derby, these volunteers looked like they had just got out of a swimming pool, fully clothed. 

 

Unfortunately, the rain continued and for the first time in 20 years we had a weather delay as all of the Friday evening games were cancelled and pushed back to Saturday. 

 

Gold Division:

 

The Gold Division was the biggest division in the World Series since we separated Majors/Gold in 2009 (that was a 54 teams).  There were 44 teams battling for the chance to dance in the champagne and there were some favorites going into the event including:  NYPD’s Finest, South Texas Gunslingers, 305 Elite, NY Express and Mid Major drop down teams such as Northern Lawmen, Border Patrol Arsenal, I80 Cartel, and Chicago Metro. 

 

Most of these teams performed up to expectations and there were no Cinderella stories this year.  Although, the West Coast Lawmen weren’t in the discussion as being favored to win the championship, they have been one of the top Gold teams in the West for the past several years and have competed in the Majors Division in the local tournaments.  Seeing them go undefeated was not a shocker for anyone familiar with this team.  Everyone recognizes the talent on their roster and on this weekend, they put it all together as a unit and were collectively dominating.  They were pushed to their limits several games, but they gutted them all out and ran through the Gold Division undefeated to win their first World Championship.  That accomplishment has earned them a promotion to Majors next season just as the previous Gold division winners, Reloaded did the year prior.  The team received the coveted Obelisk trophy, rings, medals, custom champion hats, Elite script and a lucrative prize package including bats and backpacks from Marucci Sports. 

 

West Coast Lawmen Award Winners

MVP- Dustin McClanahan

Pat Hill Inspirational- Teddy Pacheco

Defensive MVP-Issac Ortiz

All World- Ivan Perez, Brandon Pizzo, Junior Castellon

 

I-80 Cartel Award Winners

All World-Tim Tefft, Cory Buckley, Zach Ahrens

 

Northern Lawmen Award Winners

All World-Scott Corby, Matt Koopman

 

Gold Results

1 WC Lawmen

2 I-80 Cartel

3 Northern Lawmen

4 305 Elite

5T Lethal Dose

5T South Texas Gunslingers

7T Nitro 2 Go

7T Utah Metro

9T NYPD Finest

9T Desert Connection

9T MDF Dayton

9T Honolulus Finest

13T NY Express

13T Lonestar

13T Team Louisiana

13T BP Arsenal

17T LASD Slaps

17T RSO Force

17T Norsemen

17T Oakland

17T Lock & Load (Texas)

17T Midwest Heat

17T Garden State

17T PAPD Twins

25T Portrunners

25T Aftermath

25T Marylands Finest

25T KC Guns

25T SB Hit Squad

25T Degenerates

25T SD Lockdown

25T State 48

33T Houston Hustle

33T Guard Dawgz

33T Darkside

33T Sac Razorback Gold

33T J Cats

33T PA Enforcers

33T NW Shakedown

33T Omerta

33T Necessary Force

33T Texas Fugitives

33T Chicago Metro

33T Toronto

 

Silver Division

 

16 teams participated in the single elimination Silver Division.  For these teams, it was a fresh start after exited early from the Gold bracket.  One team nobody expected to see in Gold was former 2-time Gold Champions and former Majors contenders, Chicago Metro.  Chicago was delt a lemon and decided to make lemonade.  Chicago cut through the Silver Division like butter and earned yet another championship to their already crowded fireplace mantle.  One team that made a name for themselves was the San Bernardino Hit Squad who finished 2nd, but put on quite an offensive display.  If they can find a way to get their defense up to the level of their offense, they will be Gold contenders next season.  Chicago received a hefty prize package including an Obelisk, rings, hats, jackets and Elite Script.

 

Chicago Metro Award Winners

MVP-David Levy

Pat Hill Inspirational- Scott Waxweiler

Defensive MVP-Colin Hoag

All World-Travis Morgan, Mark Kane, Mike Abel

 

San Bernardino Hit Squad Award Winners

All World-Ralph Mendoza, Christopher Sanders, Ryan Rosas

 

Silver Results

 

1 Chicago Metro

2 SB Hit Squad

3T Texas Fugitives

3T J Cats

5T Houston Hustle

5T Sac Razorback Gold

5T NW Shakedown

5T KC Guns

9T Toronto

9T Guard Dawgz

9T Darkside

9T Necessary Force

9T Omerta

9T PA Enforcers

9T State 48

9T Portrunners

 

Majors Division

 

Our Majors division has downsized into only 24 teams but all would likely be competitive in the USSSA B division.  Teams such as LAPD Blue and Kentucky Blue were having players fly in from the USSSA worlds in Florida just before the event.  The way things are progressing, no team will ever “accidentally” get hot and win Majors.  These teams are all fully loaded and the players are hardened by competing in the civilian circuit year round.  The one team that has ushered in that change has been the LAPD Blue which boasts 8+ players with USSSA conference experience on their resumes.  As a result, they have won the past 2 world championships and 4 of the last 5!  This year, they were trying to do something unprecedented and that was to be the first team to “threepeat.”  SoCal Alliance and LAPD Blue have both gone back-to-back twice but neither team was able to pull over a threepeat.  On social media, one of the LAPD Blue players even commented, “A threepeat is impossible.”  He might have just been providing motivational fodder for his players, but his words would later ring true.

 

There were no big surprises in the round robin as most of the projected top seeded teams handled business and earned a first-round bye.  As the bracket play progressed most of the usual suspects were advancing as planned with the exception of Great Lakes who were fully loaded but lost a couple of close games and exited earlier than expected.  LAPD Blue and NY Empire were heavily favored going into the event and both were on a collision course…UNTIL…the Missouri Lawmen entered the picture.  Missouri was fresh of a huge tournament victory at the St. Louis Show Me Classic and they were cutting through teams like a buzzsaw.  It is hard to call it an “upset” but they sent the LAPD Blue into the loser bracket after meeting in the undefeated game.  The NY Empire faced LAPD Blue in the 3rd place game and both teams looked flat.  It almost felt like both teams were waiting for the other to thrust the proverbial dagger into their collective hearts but that never occurred.  In a less than stellar game for both teams, LAPD Blue prevailed over the Empire.  As the saying goes, good teams find a way to win ugly games and that is exactly what LAPD Blue accomplished by eliminating NY Empire.

 

Even though Missouri had the hot hand and would need to be double dipped, the overall feeling in the crowd was that LAPD Blue would likely force an “if” game.  The game was a back-and-forth affair with neither team taking a commanding lead until late in the game when Missouri jumped up by 10 going into the top of the 7th.  Knowing the LAPD Blue, a 10-run lead was not necessarily safe, but Missouri on this day was a team of destiny.  They held the Blue to 3 runs and ended up winning by 7.  Both teams fought a hard, clean game and afterward there was clear mutual respect between these two heavyweights.  For Missouri, they won their first World Championship and it marked the first time since 2017 that a team from the East won the heavyweight crown.  Missouri coach Joe Monanhan was nearly in tears and he hugged his teammates and celebrated in a champagne shower during the post-game celebration.  Missouri finished 2025 as the undisputed BEST POLICE SOFTBALL TEAM IN THE NATION. 

 

Missouri Lawmen Award Winners:

MVP-Matt Smallen

Pat Hill Inspirational-Shane Monnig

Defensive MVP-Greg Kranz

All World-Dallas Johnson, Kevin Trott, Jeremy Brown

 

LAPD Blue Award Winners:

All World-Daulton Cabacungan, Andy Gonzales, Michel Dacken

 

NY Empire Award Winners:

All World-Kyle Greene, Daniel Settoducato

 

The Missouri Lawmen received a kings ransom in prizes including the coveted stone obelisk, medals, rings, champion hats, a defensive MVP watch, script from Elite along with bats and backpacks from Marucci Sports. 

 

Majors Results

 

1. Missouri Lawmen

2. LAPD Blue

3. NY Empire

4. Miami Dawgz

5T. LA Empire

5T. South Florida Lawmen

7T. Kentucky Blue

7T. Connection

9T. Sac Razorbacks

9T. SA Law

9T. Great Lakes

9T. Angel Armor

13T. Miami 5.0

13T. The Brotherhood

13T. DEA Combo

13T. Suffolk Lawmen

17T. 172 Combo

17T. Houston Heat

17T. Minnesota Lawmen

17T. North Florida Showdown

17T. Center Mass

17T. Reloaded

17T. TBL Outlaws

FF. Max Blues

 

Mid Majors Division

 

Eight teams competed in the Mid Majors and some very good teams found themselves facing off in this single elimination event.  Mid Majors is a way for the best teams in the nation to salvage what would have otherwise been a disappointing weekend by getting a fresh start and a chance to play up to 3 more competitive games against other top teams.  One team that stood out were the Minnesota Lawmen who circled the wagons and went on a tear by peeling off 3 consecutive victories culminating with a championship game win over Tampa Bay’s Center Mass.  It was a very close game, but Minnesota was on a mission and it is safe to say, it was mission accomplished.  Minnesota celebrated and added more rings to their team history (granted most of these guys were not on the team that dominated the NPSC back in the 90s and early 2000s.)   This younger, revitalized Minnesota team should continue to be a force for years to come under the leadership of Hall of Famer Benji Lehner.

 

Minnesota Lawmen Award Winners:

MVP-Jake Reuvers

Pat Hill Inspirational-Jalen Sneddeker

Defensive MVP-Jerod Powell

All World-Jeremy Whaley, Adam Keeler, Corey Laplant

 

Center Mass Award Winners:

All World-Matt Kelley, Alex Genao, RD Lyons

 

Special Recognition goes out to all those who make the event a success.  As you all know, it takes a village to raise a child, and our collective child is this event.  From the volunteers who helped us set up at 5:30 AM to those doing the important but mundane task of checking ID’s and issuing wristbands such as Kevin Schoch, Perry Moore, Jay Stewart, Dennis Leonard, Big Tone, and Pablo Gaddis along with spouses.  Announcers Mike O’Neill and Kevin Schoch did an amazing job spinning tunes between innings and giving us play by play updates throughout the weekend.  Since we have to be at the complex by 5:30 AM and the games extend past midnight we need a graveyard shift to relieve our duties as tournament director and Big Tone and Pablo Gaddis were a blessing. 

 

Our sponsors are nothing short of amazing.  Brett Helmer and Marucci Sports has been with us since day one and we will forever be loyal to him.  His representative, Mickey Jannis was a perfect addition to the team along with long time supports:  Ronni Saucedo, Marieo Foster and Jason Kendrick of Rawlings, Carlos and Jennifer Vega of Elite Sports, Brittany D’Anda of Med Lounge/Optimize U, the Sacramento Deputy Sheriff Association, Las Vegas Metro Color Guard, and Jason Reeves of Blueline Productions.  Dan Potter and his umpire crew were awesome all weekend.  It is rare to hear anyone compliment the umpires, generally you only hear complaints but on this weekend there were few (if any) complaints and many received praise.  

 

For World Series XXI (21, expect a blackjack theme) we will once again be hosting the event at the SOON TO BE RENOVATED Big League Dreams facility on Oct. 8-11, 2026 (Thu-Sun) with the same format.  Construction is set to being in mid November and you can expect turf in the infield and outfield along with new facades and other capital improvements.  Policesoftball.com will continue to move forward, even in the absence of Ryan Coe and Michele Todd.  Jeff and his wife Anne Marie will continue to run the organization and have hand selected Justin Witt as our “right hand man.”  Witt will join the management team effective immediately and will have decision making ability, the ability to speak on behalf of PS.Com and associated duties.  Our first collective decision was to create the TRIPLE CROWN SERIES including the ECC, WCC and WS next season and there will be significant incentives to those teams who attend all three.  More to follow….

 

 

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2025 West Conference Player of the Year: Robert Mason, DEA Combo