More than 2,200 softball players, their parents, siblings, and friends invaded the Antelope Valley for the latest tournament brought in by Valley local cities to use municipal sports fields and help boost business at local hotels and eateries.
Cerritos and surrounding cities (Artesia) need to look into this.
Coming as far away as San Diego (this was a “B” tournament), some 150 teams are playing at ball fields around the area. They also are filling up shopping center parking lots with minivans and SUV’s, windows covered with names and cities from which they came, and shopping.
Based on prior years, a tournament of this size is expected to bring an estimated $975,000 in economic impact to the area.
Games are going on at 11 fields in the area with six age groups participating: 8 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under and 18 and under. Each division will hold its’ championship game on that Sunday with the winners going to the ASA National Championships in August.
We have 5 fields at the Regional Park, another four in Artesia and with the new fields at Fedde there will be two more. More than enough to host a large tournament.
Cerritos should take the lead on this and attempt to land a tournament here in the area.
We have several very good local girl’s teams-as some of you have seen in this paper-going to different State and National tournaments in August. (See page 10). Our local area boasted the ASA 18 and under National Champion a few years ago-the Artesia Punishers.
Seems odd that our area had a national champion and we have no tournaments.
Parks and Recreation Commission and Department should investigate, or they can see it first-hand just down the 5 freeway next year; the city of Irvine just secured the 2011 ASA Girl’s GOLD National Championship next August.
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