Press Release: National Softball Association

Virginia State Softball Championship Coming to the Historic Triangle -- Sports Williamsburg Secures 2012 Championships in Addition to Seven 2011 Tournaments

February 5, 2011

Williamsburg, VA -- Sports Williamsburg, a committee of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance, today announced that the National Softball Association (NSA) will hold its 2012 Virginia State Championships in the Historic Triangle.  Additionally, the NSA will conduct seven girls fastpitch softball tournaments here in 2011.  These youth sports events are expected to generate a potential 8,000 room nights over the two years.

Frank Rachubka, NSA youth director for this area, expressed his pleasure in working with Sports Williamsburg on securing the 2011 and 2012 schedules, as well as for the continued support of the area’s three Parks & Recreation Departments and WJCC facilities personnel.  "NSA is excited by the recognition that youth sports is a serious economic benefit to the tax base," said Rachubka.  "The Sports Williamsburg collaboration and grant program funded by the Alliance is a great step in making this area a sports destination.  Costs to run events such as these continually increase, and without support like this grant program or more sponsorships, we cannot provide the level of quality service NSA requires, and the great experience teams expect."

Players in the NSA girls fastpitch softball tournaments are in age groups from eight to 23 years of age.  Participants are generally elite travel teams.  Commitments to compete in the 2011 tournaments have already been received from teams in Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as throughout Virginia. 

Tournaments will be played at facilities that include Quarterpath Park, Kiwanis Park, James City County Recreation Center, York County Sports Complex and several WJCC school fields. All teams play three games on Saturday throughout the day and then return on Sunday for single elimination games.

The 2011 tournament schedule is confirmed for the following weekends:

April 9-10 Williamsburg Spring Fling
October 1-2 Williamsburg Fall Festival
June 4-5 Crowne Plaza Colonial Invitational
October 8-9 Hampton Roads Challenge
June 25-26 Historic Triangle Battle Summer Classic
October 22-24 Season Fall Finale
August 6-7  Busch Gardens Williamsburg Classic

The NSA Virginia State Championships will be played in the Historic Triangle on the weekend of June 16-17, 2012; dates for the year's other seven tournaments in the Historic Triangle currently are being finalized.   

NSA held its first tournament in Williamsburg in 2001 with 12 teams.  In 2010, it held six events in the Historic Triangle, with the largest, the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Classic, attracting 96 teams from eight states.  The schedule announced today is expected to bring more than 775 teams to the area over the two-year period.