2021 USSSA 53rd Annual Smoky Mountain Classic tournament preview!
53rd Annual
Smoky Mountain Classic
Nationwide Conference USSSA!
July 9-11
Tournament Preview
2021 Smoky bracket and team list link
The 53rd annual Smoky Mountain Classic features 27 Nationwide Conference USSSA teams and 34 teams overall from 19 different states. The tournament will be played at 6 fields spread over 4 different parks in and around the cities of Maryville and Alcoa, Tennessee. The first two rounds of the Smoky winner's bracket are always played on Friday, this year beginning at 10:00 AM, and teams that win their first two games on Friday will find themselves playing on the show field Saturday in the prestigious "Final 8" of the winner's bracket. Pictures of the fields, history of the tournament, and live stream, stats, and chat room links are all listed in this preview page.
USSSALive.com will stream the tournament. My goal is to stream every minute of every game. Remember if the umpires forget to give the scores then the catchers should give them so your fans at home know what the score is. Thanks!
The Chat room here at softballcenter will be up all weekend
The Smoky Mountain Classic features unlimited home runs and non-standard 80 foot base lengths. On Friday, the biggest crowds are at diamond #3 at Sandy Springs Park which is the "show" field as the local fans watch their local teams take on the big boys.
On Saturday, park your chair in the shade at the show field and watch the top 8 teams in the country battle it out all day long in the winner’s bracket! The Smoky is unlimited homers but home runs are not free and players and teams often have a problem managing the 80 foot bases and seeing their opponent hit homers and think that everyone can just blast them out. When teams get out of their game and play their opponents game it often leads to run rules and one team having a low score. The bats will be tested at 240 compression for the first time in Smoky history so home runs and runs in the heat and humidity may be lower, we shall see.
With 27 conference teams (150 + (4 x 27) = 258 points) the winner should have the advantage in winning the conference points championship and the #1 seed for the USSSA Major World Series! Looking at the Smoky winners historically it does not look like any team ranked outside of the top 3 seeds has ever won the Smoky Mountain Classic!
2021 SoftballCenter Computer Rankings
Video Clip Playlist of the Smoky from 2009-2020
2021 Team and Player Stats Link
Anonymous Fan Commentary:
The 53rd annual Smoky Mountain Classic kicks off Friday morning with 4 local teams battling it out to play against the top two seeded teams in the tournament, #1 Resmondo and #2 Smash It/Newbreed.
They say that the season starts at the Smoky, and it is a preview of what could be one of the most competitive major world series in years. The conference has seen multiple winners and the "teams that should be winning" have their hands full. With that being said, let's highlight some of the top teams.
Rather than just picking the top team to win, let's bring some insight and look forward to some great games! The weather is heating up and now you have the true power hitters here that get to showcase their skills. It's all you can hit, and I believe this will be one of the more exciting Smokey's finishes.
The top 4 seeds are Resmondo, Smashit/Newbreed, Dan Smith/Proton, and SNI Thunder. Can these teams make it through the field to the final 4? Or will you see an upset like last year's Resmondo vs Sports Reach game?
Which of the 5-10 seeded teams can lock in and knock off one of the big 4? Look for MPT who was in the finals last year to make a run.
The rest of the field: no disrespect to these fine teams, but history has proved that these teams may be a bit overmatched. These teams have to stay within their own game, make all the routine plays, and not give away extra outs to the bigger fire power teams.
Albicicco, Xtreme, and Precision have all made some great runs after being sent into the loser's bracket in previous years. Resmondo is well rested and ready to win yet another Smoky. Helmer and company are primed and ready to let everyone know that they are the team to beat. Can Andy & company recover from last week's stumble at the Busch? You cannot ever count that bunch out, as they have the experience and know the task at hand.
Will Dan Smith/Proton's three-rotation pitching staff get it done against the big teams? The offense and defense are there. Dan is the most motivated he's been in years to put his team in the best position to win.
SNI/Thunder plays like no one can beat them. You've got to respect that confidence, and they've shown on the small fields that they can get it done.
It will be a great 53rd Smoky. Let's all hope for great weather, great games, and a great finish on Sunday. It will be fun to watch.
Team Breakdown:
34 Teams Overall
27 Conference USSSA Teams
4 Major Teams
6 'AA' Teams
12 'A' Teams
6 'B' Teams
8 'C, D, E' Local Teams
Weather
Smoky Weekend Weather
Shea Nations Picks
This weekend at the 53rd Smoky Mountain Major in Maryville, TN will have all 4 major, 6 AA teams, 12 A, 6 B, 1 C, 3 D and 2 E teams. The tournament will begin on Friday morning at 10 am with the 2 play-in games and first and second round games will all be played on Friday. Resmondo/Smash It/Menosse/Thunder is the #1 overall seed. The other teams looking to win are: SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3; MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics; and Dan Smith/Proton.
"The 53rd Smoky Mountain" Major Predictions: The Elite 8 starts on Saturday morning at 9:15 am with Seminoles versus Dan Smith followed by Smash It Sports versus S&E/Friendlys Trans/Worsham, Sports Reach versus Resmondo and MPT versus SNI. The "Final Four" starts at 4:30 pm and look for BIG crowds to watch the 4 Major teams Dan Smith versus Smash It Sports followed by Resmondo versus MPT. The winners advance to the undefeated game immediately following and should be a preview of the Major World Series Championship between Resmondo and Smash It Sports. In the loser's bracket, watch for Chick-fil-A / BAF Sports to use the momentum from the Busch Classic to possibly make a Top 5 showing. Can local teams like: Prodigy, Windy City Grille and Sniper pull off an upset?
Shea's Final Picks for the "Smoky Mountain" Major:
1. Resmondo/Smash It/Menosse/Thunder
2. SmashItSports/Newbreed/TDB/RF/BD/T3
3. Dan Smith/Proton
4. MPT Rentals/Juno Athletics
5. SNI/Thunder/Chosen/DeMarini
S & E/FRIENDLYS TRANS/WORSHAM
The Fields
Sandy Springs Park (Fields 4 to the left & 3 to the right) (Main Complex)
702 Best Street
Maryville, TN 37803
Field #4 Fences (310 – 310 – 270) and main field #3 (306 – 341 – 355 – 341 – 314)
Show field, Sandy Springs #3 with distances marked
Everett Park (Fields 1 and 2)
702 Burchfield Street
Maryville, TN 37804
Fences (310 – 297 – 290) and (284 – 291 – 296)
FIELD #5 DENSO MANUFACTURING FIELD!
Denso Manufacturing (Field 5)
1720 Robert C. Jackson Drive
Maryville, TN 37801
Fences (310 – 310 – 310)
Springbrook Park
1537 Dalton Street
Alcoa, TN 3770
Fences (274 – 303 – 300)
Past Winners
1st Place – Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith/FAI (CA-M)
2020 Smoky tournament report link
2020 Results
1 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith/FAI
2 NJ-AA Anarchy/MPT Rentals
3 KY-A Sports Reach/Crunchtime/H&H/Grizzy
4 SC-M Pure Sports/Infamous/EB
1st Place – Resmondo/SIS/Thunder/RDD/H.Auto/Easton
2019 Smoky tournament report link
2019 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/SIS/Thunder/RDD/H.Auto/Easton
2 NC-M TDB/Racks/Athlon
3 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith/FAI
4 SC-M Pure Sports
1st Place – Resmondo/RDD/H.Auto/All In/Sprizzi/Easton
2018 Smoky tournament report link
2018 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/RDD/H.Auto/All In/Sprizzi/Easton
2 NY-M Smashit/Thunder/Backman/Miken/Worth
3 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith
4 VA-A Rapid Fire Athletics/Sports Lounge
2017 Smoky tournament report link
2017 Results
1 NY-M Smash It/TDB/Miken/Worth
2 FL-M Resmondo/OA/H Auto/Specialty Tank/Easton
3 NY-M SIS/Thunder/Miken/Worth/Louisville
4 MO-AA Nightmare/Miken
2016 Smoky tournament report link
2016 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
2 IN-M Backman Louisville Slugger
3 NY-M Scene/Albicocco/Miken/Worth/Monsta
4 IN/OH-AA TG/Red's Astros/HDLNS/K&G/Worth
2015 Smoky tournament report link
2015 Results
1 NY-M Smash It Sports/Compound/H Auto/Easton
2 IL-A Precision/Easton/DO
3 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
4 IN-M Backman/Shoppe/Louisville Slugger
2014 Smoky tournament report link
2014 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
2 NY-M Laservision/H Auto/JJs/Easton
3 NY-A Team Albicocco/Scene/Elite/Easton
4 AL-A Baugh Ford/Doerflinger/National Pawn/Easton
2013 Smoky tournament report link
2013 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-Specialty Tank Worth
2 NY-M Laservision/desertfalls/boombah/easton
3 TN-M Shoppe / TYJA / Louisville Slugger
4 MI-A Line Drive Sportz/SSS/Miken
2012 Smoky tournament report link
2012 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank worth
2 NY-M Laservision/anni/supr/d2/easton
3 VA-A Team 454/Emerald/Worth
4 FL-A Demarini/dirty/3n2/atwldesigns
2011 Smoky tournament report link
2011 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank / worth
2 WA-M GTL Cartel/DeMarini
3 TX-A Wood law/mizuno/famous/easton
4 VA-A Team 454 Emerald/Worth
Here is the Championship game 1 from 2012
Here is the Championship game 2 from 2012
2012 video highlites
Historic Smoky Mountain Classic Winning Teams List:
2020 Results
1 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith/FAI
2 NJ-AA Anarchy/MPT Rentals
3 KY-A Sports Reach/Crunchtime/H&H/Grizzy
4 SC-M Pure Sports/Infamous/EB
2019 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/SIS/Thunder/RDD/H.Auto/Easton
2 NC-M TDB/Racks/Athlon
3 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith/FAI
4 SC-M Pure Sports
2018 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/RDD/H.Auto/All In/Sprizzi/Easton
2 NY-M Smashit/Thunder/Backman/Miken/Worth
3 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse/Steven Smith
4 VA-A Rapid Fire Athletics/Sports Lounge
2017 Results
1 NY-M Smash It/TDB/Miken/Worth
2 FL-M Resmondo/OA/H Auto/Specialty Tank/Easton
3 NY-M SIS/Thunder/Miken/Worth/Louisville
4 MO-AA Nightmare/Miken
2016 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
2 IN-M Backman Louisville Slugger
3 NY-M Scene/Albicocco/Miken/Worth/Monsta
4 IN/OH-AA TG/Red's Astros/HDLNS/K&G/Worth
2015 Results
1 NY-M Smash It Sports/Compound/H Auto/Easton
2 IL-A Precision/Easton/DO
3 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
4 IN-M Backman/Shoppe/Louisville Slugger
2014 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo Specialty Tank Worth
2 NY-M Laservision/H Auto/JJs/Easton
3 NY-A Team Albicocco/Scene/Elite/Easton
4 AL-A Baugh Ford/Doerflinger/National Pawn/Easton
2013 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-Specialty Tank Worth
2 NY-M Laservision/desertfalls/boombah/easton
3 TN-M Shoppe / TYJA / Louisville Slugger
4 MI-A Line Drive Sportz/SSS/Miken
2012 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank worth
2 NY-M Laservision/anni/supr/d2/easton
3 VA-A Team 454/Emerald/Worth
4 FL-A Demarini/dirty/3n2/atwldesigns
2011 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank / worth
2 WA-M GTL Cartel/DeMarini
3 TX-A Wood law/mizuno/famous/easton
4 VA-A Team 454 Emerald/Worth
2010 Results
1 FL-M Resmondosport/specialty/phonemaster
2 CA-M Dan Smith/Menosse
3 NY-A Albicocco's/the scene/worth
4 WA-A Team Combat / laser vision
2009 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo-specialty tank-worth
2 MN-M Long haul/miken/phonemasters
3 CA-M Dan smith-menosse-benfield-combat
4 FL-A T&R Stucco/Worth
2008 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo/specialty tank/worth
2 CA-M Dan Smith/menosse/benfield/combat
3 MN-M Long haul/phonemasters/miken
4 AR-A Fence brokers inc/laservision/worth
2007 Results
1 FL-M Bellcorp/belcher/tai/backman
2 FL-M Resmondo Softball
3 CA-A KME/CHANEY'S/EASTON
4 MD-A ABS/EASTON
2006 Results
1 FL-M Resmondo – KME Softball
2 VA-M Benfield/reece/shade/am las vegas
3 OH-M Specialtytank/ stucco/k&g /worth
4 FL-M Bell corp/taylor/belcher/easton
2005 Bell Corp/Backman/Taylor/Easton – Tampa, Florida
2004 Resmondo/Hague/Taylor/Sunbelt
2003 Hague / Resmondo / Taylor Brothers
2002 Dan Smith / Backman / Menosse / Easton
2001 Long Haul / Taylor Bros. / Shen Corp. / TPS
2000 Team TPS/Louisville, KY
1999 Team TPS, Louisville, Kentucky
1998 Sierra/TPS, Reno, NV
1997 Ritch's/Superior/Tri Gems/Beloli/TPS, Windsor Locks, CT
1996 Sunbelt/Easton, Centerville, GA
1995 Ritch's/Superior/TPS, Windsor Locks, CT
1994 Ritch's/Superior/TPS, Windsor Locks, CT
1993 Ritch's/Superior, Windsor Locks, CT
1992 Bell Corp, Tampa, FL.
1991 Bell Corp, Tampa, FL.
1990 Steeles Silver Bullets, Grafton, OH
1989 Superior-Apollo, Windsor Locks, CT
1988 Starpath Systems, Monticello, KY
1987 Steeles Sports, Grafton, OH
1986 Steeles Sports, Grafton, OH
1985 Elite Coatings, Gordon, GA
1984 Elite Coatings, Gordon, GA
1983 Elite Coatings, Gordon, GA
1982 York/Ken Sanders, York, PA
1981 Howards Western Steer, Denver, NC
1980 Jerry's Caterers, Miami, FL.
1979 Campbell's Carpet, Concord, CA
1978 Dave Carroll Sports, Sherrills-Ford, NC
1977 Howards Furniture, Denver, NC
1976 Howards Furniture, Denver, NC
1975 Nelson Painting, Oklahoma City, OK
1974 Howards Furniture, Denver, NC
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