NEW NORTHWEST TOURNAMENT SERIES

March 1, 2010 – Shane Verley Olympia, WA Metro Director

We have been busy working to organize and promote Senior Softball here in the Northwest. We are so fortunate to have this new state-of-the-art facility, The Regional Athletic Complex (The RAC) in Lacey Washington. The Olympia Senior Softball League moved all league play to the facility in May 2009. We also had 3 very successful senior softball tournaments in 2009.

In November, only days after returning from Phoenix, I recommended to Bill Ruth that we request as many as 7 tournament dates for SSUSA events in 2010 at the RAC. Even Fran Dowell, Executive Director of SSUSA, commented that this was an ambitious plan.

Bill wasted no time assembling a group that met Thanksgiving weekend. I requested strategic dates at the facility from April to October. The group included Northwest Regional Director Mike Sisivic, National Director Jim Sherman, newly appointed Seattle Metro Director Joe Colella, JB Ruth, Art Eversole, umpire Ron Grassi, and myself. Sue Falash, RAC Facility Director graciously hosted the meeting in her new office building in Lacey.

Bill worked independently with Sacramento and Lacey Parks manager Lori Flemm to contract to bring The 2010 SSUSA Western National Championships to Lacey in July. The details can be viewed on the tournament page.