State Softball Tournament Returns to Owensboro

The State Softball Tournament will return to Owensboro for the first time since 2007 when teams will hit the fields at Jack C. Fischer Park Sept. 6-8.

Teams will qualify to compete in the bracketed State Tournament via Regional Tournaments in Paducah (Aug. 3), Georgetown (Aug. 9-10) and Louisville (Aug. 9-10). More than 30 teams will advance to the State Tournament. Teams that do not qualify for the State Tournament have the option of competing in the Team Skills Competition, where each athlete is scored for the completion of skills including hitting, baserunning and throwing and catching. This will be the first time that the Team Skills Competition has ever been held in Owensboro. The competition was developed after the Tournament moved to Bowling Green in 2008.

Games will get underway on four fields at 6:30 pm (CT) on Friday night. Games will continue starting at 9 am on Saturday with the Tournament concluding by 4:30 pm. The Team Skills Competition will take place on Friday night starting at 6:30 pm.

Jack C. Fischer Park has been completely redone since our last trip to Owensboro in 2007. It now features four fully artificial turf fields, central and individual field PA systems and an improved concession area.

“One of the things we strive for, especially with our state championships, is to give our athletes the opportunity to compete at top quality venues and in communities that we know will support them,” President and CEO Trish Mazzoni said when the move was announced last October. “This move provides both. The park is absolutely tremendous and ensures that we can play in almost any weather situation. This is one of if not THE best facility in Kentucky.”

Softball is the second most popular team sport in the Special Olympics Kentucky program with more than 900 athletes competing annually.

The State Softball Tournament and Team Skills Competition is sponsored by The Owensboro Department of Parks and Recreation, Visit Owensboro and Special Olympics Kentucky Year-Round Partners Texas Roadhouse and Toyota Motor Corporation.

For information about the State Softball Tournament or the Special Olympics Kentucky softball program, or to find out how you can get involved, contact Chris Oldham at 502-695-8222 or [email protected].