There are numerous divisions of play within Men's Masters - Masters 35, Masters 40, Masters 50, & Masters 60 - each designating the youngest age a player must be in any calendar year in order to be eligible to play (though a limited number of 59 year olds may play Masters 60). State Tournaments are scheduled for each with the Masters 50 also having a Wood Bat division and Masters 60 solely playing Wood Bat.

As far as invitational tournaments are concerned, the Sam McQuade Sr./Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament offers brackets for Masters 35 & Masters 50.

At the national level, North Dakota has become a regular national tournament host over the last decade while fielding a number of national champions. The Men's Masters 35 and Men's Masters 45 National Tournaments were last played here in 2022.

The following rule changes were recommended by the Masters Committee and approved by the Executive Council:

• Masters 50/60 only: A substitute player may be inserted in the lineup in place of a “tie-breaker runner” who starts an extra inning on second base.
• Masters 50/60 only: If the 5-run limit prohibits the home team from getting within the run ahead rule for that inning, then the game shall be declared final with the visiting team winning by the score of the game at that time.
• POOL PLAY/ROUND ROBIN TIEBREAKERS: If after a team is removed from the tie and at least 2 teams remain tied, then the tiebreaker process restarts at step 1 for the remaining teams. “Head-to-head” requires that all teams involved in a tie have played each other the same number of times. “Common opponents” are any teams that all those involved in the tie have played the same number of times.

1. Head-to-head
2. Head-to-head run differential
3. Head-to-head runs scored
4. Run differential vs common opponents
5. Runs scored vs common opponents

• If still tied, use coin flip/card draw to determine advancement in the tournament or split awards (if applicable) when determining final placement.

Masters 35/40 – Three divisions of play.

• Division 1 - Any player though players C & above are limited to 3 per roster
• Division 2 –No players D or above allowed
• Division 3 –No players above Rec 2

Masters 50/60 - Any player meeting age requirements, regardless of classification.

The top 10% of finishers in Divisions 2 & 3 will be moved up to at least the next highest division the following season.

These are only guidelines; Masters Committee has discretion to move any team to a higher division, regardless of player classifications on rosters.

Masters Committee determines classifications, divisions of play and tournament format. 

RC Courtright, Vice Chairperson
Jack Lukes, MSP Commissioner
Richard Peterson, Wahpeton
Gordy Smith, Bismarck
Roger Weigel, Bismarck
Wayne Becker, Mandan
Hank Wierwille, Grand Forks

Men's Masters teams submit their state tournament registrations through their local league representatives. Teams may make up rosters specifically for Masters state tournaments, but must also submit an additional team registration fee for each roster. The team registration fees are as follows:

• Masters 35 & 40 - $65
• Masters 45, 50, & 60 - $25

Registration & rosters must be submitted by July 9, 2024.

May pickup 3 players, maximum 12 players total, including pickups. Must meet age requirements.

Masters 35 & 40

• Division 1 - Pickup players must be the same classification as the highest classified team in the bracket or lower. However, a team's limit of no more than 3 C or above players includes pickup players.
• Division 2 – Pickups must be Rec 1 or lower
• Division 3- Must be Rec 3 or lower.

Masters 50/60
Maximum pickup 3 players , maximum 20 players, including pickups