Wilmington Tournaments!!

How Many OFC members know that their are tournaments being held in Wilmington, Ohio this Spring and Summer? ;D

8739!!!

They have tournaments in Wilmington? :-?

Wilmington ,Del :-/ :-/

Where did you see that? This is news to me. ?:-?

The Phoenix 14U team experienced a tournament there last fall and it was great. It is going to be a new and great place to hold tournaments. The park has nice shade trees, ample room to warm-up and it is located in the middle of the business district. No need to look far for a place to eat you can walk to most of the restaurant from the park. I think everyone needs to put the Wilmington Tournaments on your list this year!!!!

Great prizes too. We will be wearing new upgraded uniforms this year due to our win in the fall. Thanks Wilmington and I hope more teams take advantage of the hospitality that they are offering!!!! We'll be back!!

I have receieved 2 emails about their schedule of tourneys this year... It looks like they are getting the word out!

I was late putting out the schedule this year as I thought I would be changing shifts at work and would not be able to conduct some tournaments this year . ?We held a few last fall to entice teams to come to Wilmington as it was something new and some teams are weary about something new... or in this case...somewhere new.

I'm sorry that it was late ?getting out the schedule but I couldn't help it.

We were USSSA Last Year ? and this year we went to NSA so to give the teams in Southern Ohio a chance to enjoy NSA tournaments as all knows this area in southwestern Ohio is mostly USSSA. ?I have been with USSSA since 1987 and decided to go differently for the girls. ?Not for myself, but for the girls. ?You can check out our tournament threads under the NSA Tournament section in this OFC. ?I advertise six states out. ?Last year we had teams from Indiana, Indiana NItro 16u here. ?Late in the Fall a team from New York, ?who is tired of playing the same teams along I-90 corridor and even when they go south into PA.. they play the same teams.... kept trying to come.

We are located right smack in the middle of Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus as well as easily accessable to teams from the East, such as the Phoenix girls from Lancaster. ?Tim, I can't wait to see the girls in their new teal uniforms this year. ?Their comeback win in the finals ?of last year's ?College Showcase/Uniform Blowout was a great win for them. ?Hard fought with 2 outs in the seventh.

The Heatin Up tournament coming the first weekend in JUne is closed off, I think, due to the response of the teams and the hard work of the coaches of the Heat team over the winter. ?Over 40 teams....

This city is opening up their arms to the girls. ?Overnight stays are really not needed for we are an hour from all . ?Maybe add another half hour, for some teams.

I hold tournaments for the girls... period. ?Not to stuff my pockets. ?One tournament last year...we gave every player on every team a tournament t-shirt with the winners also getting sweatshirts (Cincy Gold 14u) who won the 16u division. Chillicothe Chill won sweatshirts as well. ?I think the parents were surprised that we did it. ?The Uniform tournament had four teams per division, per age group, on two separate days. ( I still have three bounced checks from last Fall .. so if you think I made money..ha ha.)

Phoenix, Miami Valley X-Press won the two 14u tournaments. ?The Heat (who is holding the June tournament) won the 12u with only three teams. ?Their share was $450.00 prize money for uniforms. Even the two (2) 16u teams played three games for $250.00 prize monies..

Over the winter, when cities have budget hearings, I met with the mayor to ask for more funding for the park, especially the thought of having more dirt put on the fields. ?Good dirt. ?We have it in the budget and hoping the weather breaks soon to put it on. Trying this spring to hold tournaments to be able to buy temp fencing and have ready for our friend's tournament , the Heat , in June.
Hollywood bases, well, those expenses are high per field but I am working on it for the girl's safety. The Park bought seven (7) double first base Hollywood bags for the girls so we are trying to find the money for the second and third base Hollywood bags for seven fields.?We have a lot of pro-girls ?softball businesses in this area. ?That's the good thing. ?

I'd really appreciate it if some teams can get in this early spring ( 10u, 12u, 14u ) to help buy these temp fences for the girls. It only makes it better. And with the gas crunch this year, well we are centrally located for teams and the teams can save money by not having to stay the night if they don't want to do so. ?But, even the motels are giving deep discounts for the girls. ?Three major ones in a four block area from the Park.

So, all I can do is offer it up for the girls. ?Your decision to come to Wilmington is your own. ?But, if you do come, I truly believe that you will have a wonderful experience here. ?There are no gate fees and parking is everywhere. ?Tennis courts (3), basketball courts (2) pond with new stocked fish and many, many walking trails and playgrounds for all to enjoy. ?Safe and secure area and well patroled by Wilmington's finest.

That's my thoughts.

Tim Cleaver

We have 6 diamonds here. ?3 at 300 ft. fence ?(reason for buying temp fencing), one at 190 and another at 225 and another ?with no fence for the 10u teams. ?There is another fenced diamond in the back that is new and needs some work on it before opening it up. ?Hopefully, as I volunteer there at the Park during the day...as I drive a truck overnight ... I can help getting that field ready for use come June. ?They all have lights. ?The City gives me these fields for free and this helps me give back to the girls. ?Really, it is the reason I can. ?The concessions is run by a group called "Friends of the Park" and 35 percent of their profits go back into the Park to make it better....

I know I have been late getting these tournaments online and I have sent out over 3000 e-mails in six states..... but I surely hope some of you come down for our Spring tournaments so we can be able to buy the temp fences for the girls.

This year, look for the prizes that will be posted for the June 28-29 tournament as I am working on the tournament details as we speak. ?May 10th and 11th is in the thread now. ?I know for certain this year's College Showcase , which is held in Chillicothe this year, will have JUGGS guns for the winners. ?The same format as last year will be in effect as well...... 4 teams per each division, per age group, ?each day. ?Win three games or the division... and win a JUGGS gun. ?The City Chamber of Chillicothe is a great big help in that. ?All teams at last year's event is first invited back. ?Then the spots that are open will be filled beginning in late August.

8749!!!

We have an organization in its fourth year here in Southern Ohio. We are looking for as many local tournaments as possible to reduce costs for families with kids on these select teams. I will be following up to find out what is available and how that fits into our current schedule layout. THX

With the NSA Worlds in Columbus, Ohio this year.... This can give the teams a chance to play in a World Series locally... as some teams don't get the chance in playing in one when they are far away. You'll love the park and the fields... the thing is just getting teams to try a new place. Actually, some teams kind of like the smaller tournaments as it is easier to win the prizes ;D I don't really attempt to overcrowd the tournaments actually. Medium sized is what some teams are looking for in most cases.

Check out the prize list for the June 28-29 tourney in the NSA Tournament thread. Went over the figures, saved some money back for diamond dry in case of rain and come up with the prizes. I think you might want to get in this tournament as a team. Format listed as well. I think this one will fill fast after it gets out on the wire. Ohio Heat's Blast 12u jumped into three (3) tournaments in Wilmington......Come join them.

Saturday, May 10th will be a one day only event and will have a round robin format with a maximum 4 teams per division

Open to 8u 10 12u 14u and 16u (if available)


Sunday will be the same one day format.

Fortmat and team entries listed under NSA Tournament thread

We went this direction as there were some out of state teams wishing to enter a one day event to save on hotel and motel costs in traveling to Wilmington to play.

We are centrally located within one hour from Dayton, Cincinnati and the Columbus area.

Deadline is Tuesday, May 6th at 7pm sharp


Entry Fee is $275.00 with first place winners receiving a World Series Berth and $250.00 dollars travel monies.

was there last year in the fall it was good. thanks

Well, thank you. This week we hope to have the new dirt on the diamonds and begin working on the infields on the 7th diamond. A friend of the park is going to "laser" the fields when they spread out the dirt and we are installing "french dry wells all over the infield for drainage... but the diamonds drain great now... this just helps and might as well be done before putting down the new mix.

Hopefully, by Fall we can put down the red clay surface. Need a break in the weather.... Beautiful over the weekend.....

If anyone gets rained out over this weekend... which seems a possibility according to weather reports... as now it is suppose to rain in Southern Ohio until late afternoon on Saturday and possible showers on Sunday.... we have a NSA W.S. Qualifier in Wilmington on Saturday, May 10th starting at 9:00 a.m.