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http://www.thecourier.com/Issues/20...11_story1.asp?d=062311_story1,2011,Jun,23&c=s
Girls Softball: 56 teams to chase ASA 16U state title
By NATHAN INNIGER
STAFF WRITER
Grab your lawn chair, some sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
The largest U-16 fastpitch softball tournament in the state of Ohio is coming to Findlay this weekend.
The Findlay Girls Fastpitch Softball Club (FGFSC) will host the 2011 U-16 Ohio Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) state championships.
The action will start with pool play at 2 p.m. today and end with the championship at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The top four teams from the tournament will receive bids to the ASA national championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. later this summer.
The state tournament, which features 56 teams, will be played at various fields around the Findlay area including the Marathon Diamonds, the Van Buren Sports complex, Findlay High School's Lady Trojan Field and Cooper, Rawson and Riverside fields.
Single-game admission is $5 or a tournament pass is available for $10.
The tournament will feature some of the top prep softball players from around the state.
According to tournament director Jim Welch, the tournament is one of the top showcases of future college talent in the state.
"This is the biggest tournament in the state of Ohio so all of the college scouts are coming this weekend and all of your local colleges will be here," he said.
This is the third year the FGFSC has hosted the tournament, which has grown from 17 teams in 2009, to 42 last summer and 56 this weekend.
The FGFSC has already won the bid for 2012 ASA U-16 state tournament as well.
"The biggest draw is the way the tournament is run, making accommodations and treating everybody well," Welch said. "The Marathon Diamonds and the Van Buren Sports Complex are a big draw for the players."
The 56 teams are divided into 19 pools and the teams' records from within pool play along with tie-breakers such as runs allowed will be used to seed the double-elimination tournament.
Tournament play will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at eight of the fields and continue across all 12 fields through Saturday.
On Sunday, all of the remaining games will be played at the Marathon Diamonds.
The host Hancock Heat, a local team comprised of players from Findlay, McComb, Liberty-Benton, Hopewell-Loudon and Mohawk, hopes to be one of the teams standing on the final day.
"We hope to qualify for nationals because we haven't qualified for a couple years," Welch said.
Several players from the team have played together for five years, so he is hoping that experience pays off this weekend.
The opening ceremony today will be at Field 2 on the Marathon Diamonds where Lydia Mihalik will throw out the first pitch and John LaRiche will present a $500 check on behalf of General Motors to FGFSC.
Fans will also have the chance to enter a national contest to win a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox and a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. All proceeds from the contest will be used to build the new Lady Trojan Softball Field.
"This is the largest tournament that we can bid on," Welch said. "(FGFSC) shoots for it as a group because it is a huge economic boost for Findlay. Everything about it is extremely positive for the city, the softball club and the sport."
U-16 ASA Ohio Softball Championships
pool a
Wizards Bouisselle vs. Valley Extreme Heverly, Marathon IV, Thursday, 4
Buckeye Heat 94 Clark vs. Wizards Bouisselle, Marathon IV, Thursday, 8
Buckeye Heat 94 Clark vs. Valley Extreme Heverly, Rawson, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool b
Cinci Doom vs. Valley Extreme Blue, Marathon IV, Friday, 8 a.m.
Valley Extreme Blue vs. Venom, Marathon IV, Friday, 10 a.m.
Cincy Doom vs. Venom, Marathon IV, Friday, noon
pool c
McMadness White vs. Tuscarawas County, Marathon II, Thursday, 2
McMadness White vs. Buckeye Heat McGee, Marathon III, Thursday, 6
Buckeye Heat McGee vs. Tuscarawas County, Van Buren III, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool d
Wizards Kujawa vs. Ohio Classics Black, Van Buren III, Thursday, 4
Ohio Classics Black vs. Ohio Outlaws, Van Buren I, Friday, 8 a.m.
Wizards Kujawa vs. Ohio Outlaws, Van Buren I, Friday, noon
pool e
NWO Buckeyes vs. OFC Blast, Marathon IV, Thursday, 4
NWO Buckeyes vs. Lake Erie Waves, Marathon V, Thursday, 8
OFC Blast vs. Lake Erie Waves, Marathon V, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool f
Ohio Swarm vs. Turbos Wisecarver, Marathon III, Friday, 8 a.m.
Tigerlillies vs. Ohio Swarm, Marathon III, Friday, 10 a.m.
Tigerlillies vs. Turbos Wisecarver, Marathon III, Friday, noon
pool g
Vipers vs. Ohio Hawks Jacobs, Marathon II, Friday, 8 a.m.
Vipers vs. Ohio Saphires, Marathon II, Friday, 10 a.m.
Ohio Hawks Jacobs vs. Ohio Saphires, Marathon II, Friday, noon
pool h
Hancock Heat vs. Ohio XS, Marathon II, Thursday, 4
Hancock Heat vs. Ohio Extreme, Marathon II, Thursday, 8
Ohio XS vs. Ohio Extreme, Cooper, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool i
Wizards Gold vs. S. Ohio Cyclones, Marathon IV, Thursday, 2
Marion Diamonds vs. Wizards Gold, Marathon IV, Thursday, 6
Marion Diamonds vs. S. Ohio Cyclones, Rawson, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool j
Explosive White vs. Buckeye Elite, Marathon IV, Thursday, 2
Buckeye Elite vs. W. Liberty Force, Marathon II, Thursday, 6
Explosive White vs. W. Liberty Force, Van Buren I, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool k
Cincy Static 94 vs. Ohio Stingrays Wiley, Marathon V, Thursday, 2
Ohio Stingrays Wiley vs. Ohio Hawks Pifer, Marathon V, Thursday, 6
Cincy Static 94 vs. Ohio Hawks Pifer, Van Buren IV, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool l
Lady Lasers Silver vs. Ohio Power, Van Buren IV, Thursday, 4
Lady Lasers Silver vs. Ohio Lady Lib Red, Van Buren II, Thursday, 6
Ohio Lady Lib Red vs. Ohio Power, Marathon V, Friday, noon
Pool m
EMR 94 vs. Extreme Heat, Van Buren III, Thursday, 6
Ohio Lasers Black vs. Extreme Heat, Van Buren III, Friday, 8 a.m.
EMR 94 vs. Ohio Lasers Black, Van Buren IV, Friday, noon
pool n
Mad Dogs vs. Wizards Eisenbrandt, Marathon V, Thursday, 4
Cincy Static Purple vs. Mad Dogs, Marathon III, Thursday, 8
Cincy Static Purple vs. Wizards Esenbrandt, Marathon V, Friday, 2
pool o
Championship Fastpitch vs. Buckeye Heat 95, Van Buren II, Friday, 8 a.m.
Championship Fastpitch vs. Tidalwaves 95, Van Buren II, Friday, 10 a.m.
Tidalwaves 95 vs. Buckeye Heat 95, Van Buren II, Friday, noon
pool p
Impact vs. Heart of Ohio Explosion, Van Buren II, Thursday, 4
Impact vs. Ohio Hurricanes, Van Buren IV, Friday, 10 a.m.
Heart of Ohio Explosion vs. Ohio Hurricanes, Van Buren III, Friday, noon
pool q
JABC Blitz vs. Miami Valley Express, Van Buren I, Thursday, 4
Impact Green vs. Miami Valley Express, Van Buren I, Thursday, 6
Impact Green vs. JABC Blitz, Cooper, Friday, noon
pool r
Ohio Lady Lib Blue vs. Ohio Ice 15U, Van Buren IV, Thursday, 6
Valley Extreme vs. Ohio Lady Lib Blue, Cooper, Friday, 8 a.m.
Valley Extreme vs. Ohio Ice 15U, Rawson, Friday, noon
pool s
Explosive Black vs. Ohio Ice Black 16U, FHS, Friday, 8 a.m.
Turbos vs. Ohio Ice Black 16U, FHS, Friday, 10 a.m.
Turbos vs. Explosive Black, Friday, noon
Girls Softball: 56 teams to chase ASA 16U state title
By NATHAN INNIGER
STAFF WRITER
Grab your lawn chair, some sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
The largest U-16 fastpitch softball tournament in the state of Ohio is coming to Findlay this weekend.
The Findlay Girls Fastpitch Softball Club (FGFSC) will host the 2011 U-16 Ohio Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) state championships.
The action will start with pool play at 2 p.m. today and end with the championship at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The top four teams from the tournament will receive bids to the ASA national championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. later this summer.
The state tournament, which features 56 teams, will be played at various fields around the Findlay area including the Marathon Diamonds, the Van Buren Sports complex, Findlay High School's Lady Trojan Field and Cooper, Rawson and Riverside fields.
Single-game admission is $5 or a tournament pass is available for $10.
The tournament will feature some of the top prep softball players from around the state.
According to tournament director Jim Welch, the tournament is one of the top showcases of future college talent in the state.
"This is the biggest tournament in the state of Ohio so all of the college scouts are coming this weekend and all of your local colleges will be here," he said.
This is the third year the FGFSC has hosted the tournament, which has grown from 17 teams in 2009, to 42 last summer and 56 this weekend.
The FGFSC has already won the bid for 2012 ASA U-16 state tournament as well.
"The biggest draw is the way the tournament is run, making accommodations and treating everybody well," Welch said. "The Marathon Diamonds and the Van Buren Sports Complex are a big draw for the players."
The 56 teams are divided into 19 pools and the teams' records from within pool play along with tie-breakers such as runs allowed will be used to seed the double-elimination tournament.
Tournament play will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at eight of the fields and continue across all 12 fields through Saturday.
On Sunday, all of the remaining games will be played at the Marathon Diamonds.
The host Hancock Heat, a local team comprised of players from Findlay, McComb, Liberty-Benton, Hopewell-Loudon and Mohawk, hopes to be one of the teams standing on the final day.
"We hope to qualify for nationals because we haven't qualified for a couple years," Welch said.
Several players from the team have played together for five years, so he is hoping that experience pays off this weekend.
The opening ceremony today will be at Field 2 on the Marathon Diamonds where Lydia Mihalik will throw out the first pitch and John LaRiche will present a $500 check on behalf of General Motors to FGFSC.
Fans will also have the chance to enter a national contest to win a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox and a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. All proceeds from the contest will be used to build the new Lady Trojan Softball Field.
"This is the largest tournament that we can bid on," Welch said. "(FGFSC) shoots for it as a group because it is a huge economic boost for Findlay. Everything about it is extremely positive for the city, the softball club and the sport."
U-16 ASA Ohio Softball Championships
pool a
Wizards Bouisselle vs. Valley Extreme Heverly, Marathon IV, Thursday, 4
Buckeye Heat 94 Clark vs. Wizards Bouisselle, Marathon IV, Thursday, 8
Buckeye Heat 94 Clark vs. Valley Extreme Heverly, Rawson, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool b
Cinci Doom vs. Valley Extreme Blue, Marathon IV, Friday, 8 a.m.
Valley Extreme Blue vs. Venom, Marathon IV, Friday, 10 a.m.
Cincy Doom vs. Venom, Marathon IV, Friday, noon
pool c
McMadness White vs. Tuscarawas County, Marathon II, Thursday, 2
McMadness White vs. Buckeye Heat McGee, Marathon III, Thursday, 6
Buckeye Heat McGee vs. Tuscarawas County, Van Buren III, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool d
Wizards Kujawa vs. Ohio Classics Black, Van Buren III, Thursday, 4
Ohio Classics Black vs. Ohio Outlaws, Van Buren I, Friday, 8 a.m.
Wizards Kujawa vs. Ohio Outlaws, Van Buren I, Friday, noon
pool e
NWO Buckeyes vs. OFC Blast, Marathon IV, Thursday, 4
NWO Buckeyes vs. Lake Erie Waves, Marathon V, Thursday, 8
OFC Blast vs. Lake Erie Waves, Marathon V, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool f
Ohio Swarm vs. Turbos Wisecarver, Marathon III, Friday, 8 a.m.
Tigerlillies vs. Ohio Swarm, Marathon III, Friday, 10 a.m.
Tigerlillies vs. Turbos Wisecarver, Marathon III, Friday, noon
pool g
Vipers vs. Ohio Hawks Jacobs, Marathon II, Friday, 8 a.m.
Vipers vs. Ohio Saphires, Marathon II, Friday, 10 a.m.
Ohio Hawks Jacobs vs. Ohio Saphires, Marathon II, Friday, noon
pool h
Hancock Heat vs. Ohio XS, Marathon II, Thursday, 4
Hancock Heat vs. Ohio Extreme, Marathon II, Thursday, 8
Ohio XS vs. Ohio Extreme, Cooper, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool i
Wizards Gold vs. S. Ohio Cyclones, Marathon IV, Thursday, 2
Marion Diamonds vs. Wizards Gold, Marathon IV, Thursday, 6
Marion Diamonds vs. S. Ohio Cyclones, Rawson, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool j
Explosive White vs. Buckeye Elite, Marathon IV, Thursday, 2
Buckeye Elite vs. W. Liberty Force, Marathon II, Thursday, 6
Explosive White vs. W. Liberty Force, Van Buren I, Friday, 10 a.m.
pool k
Cincy Static 94 vs. Ohio Stingrays Wiley, Marathon V, Thursday, 2
Ohio Stingrays Wiley vs. Ohio Hawks Pifer, Marathon V, Thursday, 6
Cincy Static 94 vs. Ohio Hawks Pifer, Van Buren IV, Friday, 8 a.m.
pool l
Lady Lasers Silver vs. Ohio Power, Van Buren IV, Thursday, 4
Lady Lasers Silver vs. Ohio Lady Lib Red, Van Buren II, Thursday, 6
Ohio Lady Lib Red vs. Ohio Power, Marathon V, Friday, noon
Pool m
EMR 94 vs. Extreme Heat, Van Buren III, Thursday, 6
Ohio Lasers Black vs. Extreme Heat, Van Buren III, Friday, 8 a.m.
EMR 94 vs. Ohio Lasers Black, Van Buren IV, Friday, noon
pool n
Mad Dogs vs. Wizards Eisenbrandt, Marathon V, Thursday, 4
Cincy Static Purple vs. Mad Dogs, Marathon III, Thursday, 8
Cincy Static Purple vs. Wizards Esenbrandt, Marathon V, Friday, 2
pool o
Championship Fastpitch vs. Buckeye Heat 95, Van Buren II, Friday, 8 a.m.
Championship Fastpitch vs. Tidalwaves 95, Van Buren II, Friday, 10 a.m.
Tidalwaves 95 vs. Buckeye Heat 95, Van Buren II, Friday, noon
pool p
Impact vs. Heart of Ohio Explosion, Van Buren II, Thursday, 4
Impact vs. Ohio Hurricanes, Van Buren IV, Friday, 10 a.m.
Heart of Ohio Explosion vs. Ohio Hurricanes, Van Buren III, Friday, noon
pool q
JABC Blitz vs. Miami Valley Express, Van Buren I, Thursday, 4
Impact Green vs. Miami Valley Express, Van Buren I, Thursday, 6
Impact Green vs. JABC Blitz, Cooper, Friday, noon
pool r
Ohio Lady Lib Blue vs. Ohio Ice 15U, Van Buren IV, Thursday, 6
Valley Extreme vs. Ohio Lady Lib Blue, Cooper, Friday, 8 a.m.
Valley Extreme vs. Ohio Ice 15U, Rawson, Friday, noon
pool s
Explosive Black vs. Ohio Ice Black 16U, FHS, Friday, 8 a.m.
Turbos vs. Ohio Ice Black 16U, FHS, Friday, 10 a.m.
Turbos vs. Explosive Black, Friday, noon
