Area braces for softball tourneys

THOMSON -- This summer could be a busy one at Sweetwater Park.

The Thomson-McDuffie Recreation and Leisure Services Department has scheduled many baseball and softball tournaments for this summer, hoping to create some out-of-town interest in McDuffie County.

According to department director Bob Howard, the most exciting event this summer will be the United States Specialty Sports Association boys baseball 8-and-under machine-pitch World Series on July 15-20.

"With the World Series they can come from anywhere in the United States," he said. "When you've got participants of that age, the parents are usually not going to let them come over by themselves, so usually we've got parents, grandparents, all sorts of family members attend. They rent buses and they come in by the busload. That's a whole week of revenue for the county. They're going to spend money here."

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That mentality was why the recreation department decided to bid on several baseball and softball tournaments for this summer.

"If you're hosting a world series, more spectators -- grandparents, parents -- and with the adults playing, you don't get as much of a participation, but it certainly benefits the community as far as economic impact with the motels, hotels, and restaurants," said Howard.

Sweetwater Park has held many world and state tournaments since 1996, with at least one such event each year.

For ticket information, contact the Thomson-McDuffie Recreation and Leisure Services Department at 595-2152.

Upcoming Events

June 23-25 Georgia Recreation and Park Association District One Senior Girls Fast Pitch Tournament

June 26-29 USSSA Baseball Machine Pitch State Baseball Tournament

June 27-29 USSSA Boys Slow-Pitch State Tournament

July 11-12 USSSA State Church Tournament

July 15-20 USSSA Boys Baseball 8 & Under Machine Pitch World Series

August 15-17 USSSA Men's A Church World Series; USSSA Women's Church World Series

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