Announcements

We are rapidly approaching the end of our summer.  This weekend we have the Gulf Coast Championships.  Next weekend, the South State Tournament.  Then I get a life back… It’s been a great year in many respects.  But also one of the hardest years on record.  We get through next weekend, there will be time to reflect and figure out how we do it all better next year. Below are brackets for this weekends 2023 Gulf Coast Championships.  Tee Ball and 16U will just play Saturday.  But it’s a Saturday/Sunday affair for most.  The tournament will be held at the Woolmarket Sports Complex, 16520 Switzer Park Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532. Tournament Entry Fees are TB $150, CP $225 and FP $250. This is a rostered event.  Attached is a roster form that each team will need to complete and turn-in at registration.  We’ve had such a bad time with accusations of teams picking up players that didn’t participate in league play that we are requiring the respective league president certify that all the rostered players are eligible for All Star play.  Teams should start collecting birth certificates and pictures.  If there is an age eligibility protest, then I’ll need to verify birth age.  There will be a 100% birth certificate check next week. As a reminder, here’s some basics: This is All-Stars. If they player did not play in at least 7 (50%) of league games for a team in your league, they are not eligible for All-Stars. If a player played on middle school or high school, then wanted to pickup on All-Star team so they can play. They cannot be on an All-Star team unless they meet the minimum game criteria. This mostly affects 12U and 16U. A player can only play on one team per weekend. They can play 12u one weekend, then 16u the next weekend, and then go back to 12u if they are age eligible. But they are locked into the team they first played with on a weekend. No pickups even from your own league are allowed once the first game has started. Tee Ball and Coach Pitch will play no new inning after 55 minutes.  Fast Pitch will be no new inning after 65 mins.  10U will play 3 outs or 7 runs.  All tie games at the end of regulation will use the international tie break rule.  Any If Games will be a two inning shootout. Also below is a copy of the Zero Tolerance Policy. There is no need to have a policy if it’s not going to be enforced.  Umpire abuse is a national epidemic and our member leagues have taken a strong stance on coach misconduct.  Head coaches should be aware they are responsible for their players, coaches and fans. Let’s all work to make this a great weekend for the kids.  Please have them start hydrating on Friday night.  It’s going to be a hot one.  Also watch out for grandpa’s and grandma’s this week as they can be quickly effected by the heat. Thank you for Playing USA Softball! Brackets  --- Roster Form --- Zero Tolerance Policy … [Read more...] about 2023 Gulf Coast Championships

Below are updated brackets for this weekend's Long Beach Invitational Tournament.  Bracket times were changed for 10u and 16u.  Then an adjustment to Tee Ball was made for one team that couldn't play on Friday. Updated Brackets … [Read more...] about 2023 Long Beach Invitational Updated Brackets

Below are brackets for this weekend’s Biloxi Invitational. We have an amazing 48 teams playing this year. It has to be close to a record. We are full to the gills and then some. That in itself poses some challenges… but there are a number of other conditions we have to manage around. Fast Pitch games will play Saturday and Sunday. We can’t play enough on Friday to not play on Sunday. Tee Ball and Coach Pitch will be Saturday only. No pool games, sorry. With especially big brackets, it’s probably not wise to overwork the pitchers with a practice game anyway. We can use both the baseball and softball side; so that helps. Field 1-4 are on the softball side (left). Field 6-10 are on the baseball side (right). By city ordinance, we cannot start a new inning after 10:00pm and we must suspend play at 10:30pm. With that in mind, our last scheduled game time is 8:00pm on Saturday night. If we run out of time on Saturday, we’ll re-start on Sunday morning. Game times will be no new inning after 55 min in Tee Ball and Coach Pitch. Fast Pitch will play no new inning after 65 minutes. Given the limitations above.. we have to stay on time. If necessary games will be a two inning shootout in all age groups. TB and Coach will play two innings.. if it’s tied, they will play another inning until we have a winner. Fast Pitch will play the same format.. but using International Tie-Break procedure. This is an All-Star tournament and will use the rules for Tournament Play.. They can be found at https://usasoftballsouthms.com/?page_id=4084. The address to the A.J. Holloway Biloxi Sportsplex is 765 Wells Drive, Biloxi. It’s supposed to be very hot on Saturday and Sunday. It’s imperative the girls star hydrating on Friday night. I’ll also ask everyone to watch out for grandma’s and grandpa’s too.. they don’t realize how hot it is out there. They get be highly sensitive to the heat. Finally, I’ve had a number of emails, texts and phone calls this week about teams, eligibility and poor sportsmanship. Everything from she is too old, she isn’t on that team, she didn’t play in that league, etc… I ask everyone to 1) worry about your team and getting them better and 2) adhere to ethical coaching standards; not just doing whatever for a trophy.. 3) provide a role model for these young athletes. Frankly, I’ve got way too much going on to tolerate too much foolishness. It’s been a really tough week for me personally. Both my mom and dad are in the hospital. The news isn’t good and and there will be more difficult weeks ahead. I’m stretched to the absolute limit. The good lord doesn’t give you more than you can handle.. Well the good lord thinks a lot of me… If you’re so inclined, please say a prayer for them.. They need all the support they can get. Thanks for Playing USA Softball! Brackets … [Read more...] about 2023 Biloxi Invitational Brackets

Below are brackets for this weekend Memorial Day Classic.  We have an amazing 38 teams competing in this event.  That causes so major issues in getting a workable schedule.  The plan is to play Friday and Saturday night.  Ms Carolyn heard from so many that just don’t want to play on Sunday.  We also had to eliminate pool play.  We’ll go straight to bracket play.  Just no time for it. Time limits for tee ball and coach pitch will be no new after 55 minutes.  Fast pitch games will no start a new inning after 65 minutes.  Please keep track of the game ahead of you… games can start as soon as the game ahead has been completed. It’s supposed to great weather for softball.. hot and dry.  So please hydrate your kids.  The first couple of weekends are rough until the kids get acclimated.  Watch out for the elderly also. Address to the fields is Bayou View Sports Complex at 4300 Hewes Av, Gulfport, Mississippi, 39507.  The entry fee is $100 for Tee Ball, $175 for Coach Pitch and $200 for Fast Pitch per team.   Gate fees are $7 per day or $10 per weekend for adults 12 and older.  Kids ages 6 to 11 are $5 per day or $8 per weekend.  And Kids 5 and under are free.  Thank you supporting the Gulfport Youth Sports Association. All the proceeds this weekend goes to help their kids. Wishing you an amazing Memorial Day Holiday.  Please remember those that sacrificed it all so we could have this time together. Thank you for Playing USA Softball! Brackets … [Read more...] about 2023 Bayou View Memorial Day Classic Brackets

Below are brackets for this weekend’s East Central Invitational. This is the first All-Star tournament off the year. The address to the fields is Lum Cumbest Park, 18417 Hwy 613, Moss Point, MS 39562. The tournament entry fee is $100 for Tee Ball, $175 for Coach Pitch and $200 for Fast Pitch per team. The entry fee is payable to the East Central Girls Softball League. Thank you supporting the East Central Girls Softball program. Thank you for Playing USA Softball! Brackets … [Read more...] about 2023 East Central Invitational Tournament Brackets