Area continues award-winning tradition of hosting ASA softball tournaments
Ninety-five teams are playing in the ASA/USA 18/U Girls Fast-Pitch Softball National Championship that started July 29 in Johnson City.
The teams represent 28 states including those from as far away as California, Idaho and Wisconsin.
The games are being played at Winged Deer Park as well as White Top Park in Bristol.
The championship game will be played Sunday, Aug. 5, at Winged Deer Park.
The tournament, organized by the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau and Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Johnson City Parks and Recreation Department has been held locally for more than 14 years.
It brings an estimated 4,000 visitors to the area with an economic impact of approximately $2.5 million, according to CVB leaders.
Johnson City has hosted various ASA softball tournaments since 1993 including 15 ASA Nationals; 3 of which were ASA/USA Nationals and even an ASA Mens Super National, a prestigious event with the top 16 teams in mens softball.
There are 5 ASA/USA Nationals (10, 12, 14, 16 and 18) plus 18 Gold. These are the most prestigious girls fast pitch softball nationals in the U.S. because ASA is the governing body for softball and the Olympic team comes from this organization.
Weve been very successful hosting these tournaments, says Karen Hubbs, CVB director of sports development. We have won The Amateur Softball Association of America James Farrell Award of Excellence 14 times. Its an award for a tournament being named one of the highest rated tournaments of the year.
It takes several area businesses willing to step-up to be sponsors, it takes hundreds of volunteers, and it takes a friendly community to give a good impression of the area to our guests.
One new aspect of the tournament this year is that many of the games will be streamed live online for the first time in the tournaments history.
Sponsorships from Century Link and the Washington County Economic Development Council will pay for the live stream.
It will be shown on the tournaments website at http://johnsoncityasanationals.com.
Information on brackets and ticket prices are also available on the website.