Attached are brackets for this weekend’s 2026 Vancleave All Star Invitational Tournament. The address to the field is 5500 Ballpark Road, Vancleave, MS. We have a very impressive 49 teams registered this weekend. This shatters the 2025 record of 35 teams. You don’t get these weekends back and it’s my goal to see every girl have a chance to play. We will be using both the softball and baseball complexes for a total of 7 fields. We squeezed in everyone wanting to play. This is a fundraiser for the Vancleave league.. This will provide some much needed funds to help their girls play this summer.
The weather has certainly been a challenge this season. It seems we’re dodging rain drops every weekend and having major schedule adjustments. This weekend seems like no exception. Everyone has been very patient through it all.. I ask for everyone’s to continue to be so supportive. I’m sure the good folks of Vancleave will do everything they can to run a great tournament. It’s scheduled as a Friday/Saturday. We’ve been mostly lucky.. hopefully that holds this weekend.
1. Time Limits. The fast pitch brackets have been running way behind schedule every week. Then we also have the challenges Mother Nature has presented us. So it’s going to be critical to try to run on schedule as best we can. Fast Pitch will be no new inning after 65 mins. Coach Pitch pretty much stays on time.. they will be no new after 55 mins.
2. Live Brackets. We had live brackets for the first time ever last weekend. The feedback was incredible. There was at least 2 dozen people comment about it. It will be interesting to see how this evolves over time. We’ll have paper brackets posted and then the live brackets online. If there is a difference between the online and the paper… the paper version rules…. I’ve found a few little differences that I’ve fixed. Here’s the link to where they will be when I get them loaded..
2026 Vancleave All Star Tournament Live Bracket
3. Birth Certificates. Every once in a while we encounter a situation where there is an age eligibility protest. Every team will need to carry a binder with a birth Certificate and recent photo of each player. We had a situation last weekend. Luckily the team was prepared.. It’s in the rules for each age group.. we just need to get them together.
4. ACE Certification. I’ve had a bunch of people asking about the ACE Certification. It’s required for South State… But the National Office website crashed earlier this year and that part has not be rebuilt. I’ve asked several times and no one has been able to answer when it will come online… For those of you registering for South State, just put the name of the Head Coach. I don’t believe we’ll have it in place in time.
5. Alcohol/Tobacco Policy. Just a reminder… No alcoholic beverages will be allowed inside the complex. No tobacco or tobacco like products are allowed (Nicotine pouches, coffee dip, vapes, etc) products inside the playing area or dug-outs. Persons under the under the influence of alcohol and/or illegal drugs will be requested to leave the premises.
Finally, some of each have seen each other for ten weekends in a row. Nerves get raw and tempers get short. Just a reminder that we are the adults. It’s our job to be the example for these kids. We can disagree without being disagreeable.. We will all need to be patient and considerate. I’ve not been contacted by any college coaches.. they won’t be scouting this weekend.. So we should all take a breath.. and enjoy being at the ball field with these kids.
Thanks for Playing USA Softball,,,