Last month kicked off a busy tournament season for softball in Bowling Green as the city hosted numerous state, regional, and national events in conjunction with the Amateur Softball Association (www.softball.org).  The 6 and Under and 8 and Under State Tournaments, the 12 and Under and 14 and Under Regional Qualifiers, the 16A Northern National Qualifier, and the 18 and Under National Qualifier  ran  at Michael Buchanon Park and  Ephram White Park.

An estimated thirty teams from Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky participated.  In addition to the players and staff, many families travel with these youth sporting teams during the summer making it a weekend vacation according to Brenda Petty, Deputy Commissioner of Kentucky ASA (www.kyasa.org) and Supervisor for Buchanon Park.  The winners of the national qualifiers receive a berth to the ASA Nationals, the equivalent of the World Series for softball.

July will be packed with more tournaments as the Girls’ A 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U Fast Pitch State Tournaments hit Bowling Green July 9-11.  This state tour had about sixty teams participating in 2009.  The following weekend, July 15-18 will bring the 6U and 8U National Invitational to the area with two teams from Arkansas already committed.

Four days later, the 16A Northern National takes place at Buchanon Park with 80 to 100 teams here from Wednesday through Sunday, July 28- August 1.  Many hotels are already full for the prestigious event that will include an opening ceremony at Western Kentucky University’s Diddle Arena.

Then the first week of September, an event comes for the first time ever to Bowling Green and the state of Kentucky.  The Men’s C Fastpitch National Tournament will be September 3-6 at Buchanon Park.  This event will be great for spectators due to the players’ high level of skill and athleticism. 

Petty and Amy Cardwell, the Sports Marketing Director for the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.visitbgky.com), attend ASA Council Meetings to present tournament bids and maintain a positive relationship between the organization and the city.  The Amateur Softball Association is the National Governing Body of softball in the U.S.  ASA conducts over 90 Championships annually in three categories of competition; slow, fast and modified pitch.

“These tournaments add up to have a very significant economic impact on our city and county besides just filling up the hotel rooms,” Cardwell said.  “They do have some free time, so the players and fans all receive our area Visitor’s Guide with information on our great attractions and suggestions on where to dine and shop,” she continued.

September 10-12 will be the return of the Special Olympics State Softball Tournament (www.soky.org) that will bring another 35-40 teams to Bowling Green for the weekend games at Buchanon Park.  More than 400 athletes participated in last year’s tournament with the Bowling Green Cadets taking home the B-2 Division gold medal.