ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - Senior Softball USA (SSUSA) made its way back to Elk Grove for the Western National Championships from Tuesday, July 28 through Sunday, Aug. 2. 

There were 130 teams competing in this tournament, in Lincoln, Roseville, Sacramento and Elk Grove. In Elk Grove it was at Hal Bartholomew Sports Complex. 

With this being one of the largest tournaments of the year, teams are traveling from Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington.  

This tournament had both a men’s and women’s division. The men’s age groups were 40 years old through 80 years old, while the women’s division started at 40 years old but only goes through 60. 

Each division started out with a five-game round robin, then a double elimination or a three-game bracket. Then the winners are able to qualify for the Tournament of Champions in late January 2027 in Polk County, Florida. 

Although there is a competitive aspect, playing softball in a league like this allows people who are getting older to continue to stay active and play a sport they love with friends and family. 

They also share camaraderie with the teams that have traveled out of state to play in this tournament. Being at the ballpark all day allowed each team to sit and talk with each other in between games, to connect with people that are not from the area or even the state. 

And the camaraderie even leaves the ballpark, as the teams that needed to stay in hotels are going to stay in the same hotel or area as the other teams. 

This allows for that to grow outside of the sport as well. And with people traveling from outside of Elk Grove and Sacramento, it brings a boost to the local economy. 

This was one of the last tournaments that SSUSA will be hosting in this area to qualify for the Tournament of Champions. The last tournament in the area will be Aug.15-16 (STPA Last Chance Qualifier) where it will qualify the team for the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The teams that win that tournament are going to be some of the last teams that qualify for the Tournament of Champions.