Orlando, Atlanta teams take Gasparilla titles

Orlando teams once again dominated a Florida-based softball event, but Atlanta kept the Central Florida Softball League from sweeping the entire tournament.

Teams from Orlando took first place trophies in the A, B and D-Divisions, and second place in the C-Division. No Tampa teams placed in the 16th Annual Gasparilla Softball Classic, held over President’s Day weekend at four softball facilities spread out from Brandon to the USF area to Carrollwood.

The C and D-Division brackets were closed nearly a week before the tournament, with a maximum of 26 teams registered beforehand. The A and B-Divisions had smaller caps of 10 and 16 teams, respectively. Some registered teams were no-shows due to winter weather in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

It wasn’t that much warmer in Tampa. Players bundled in layers to prepare for the 40-degree temperatures during morning games.

In A-Division play, the Orlando Force took first, followed by second place Fort Lauderdale Alibi Sun Devils and third place Atlanta Venom GATF.

The Orlando Broadway Crush won the B-Division, while the Fort Lauderdale Orzel Eagles took second and the Chicago Spin Rock Stars placed third.

The C-Division title went to the Atlanta Hit Mob. Orlando RPM took second, and the Nashville Force placed third.

In the D-Division, the Orlando Tattoo Lounge Blue Devils finished first followed by the Fort Lauderdale FlaminGoGos and the Orlando Precious Little Miracles.

Get full results and brackets. LGBT league play in both Orlando and Tampa begins in March.