News story

TOC Adds All Star Game, Contests, Clinics

Oct. 1, 2008 – Senior Softball-USA

Softball News Report

POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA – Senior Softball-USA officials are adding two days of events before the most elite softball event of the year – The 2009 Tournament of Champions.

The events include an All-Star Game, free Hitting Clinic, free Skills Contest and a mini warm-up tournament. The events will take place on the Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 7-8) before the tournament begins. The TOC will be played Friday- Sunday (Jan. 9-11) here.

“These additions will make the most elite softball tournament of the year an unequaled event in the sport,” said Terry Hennessy. SSUSA’s chief executive officer. “Our goal is to make the TOC the Super Bowl of softball.”

Only teams winning SSUSA’s top Regional, National and World Championships are invited to the TOC. Winners of the ISA Senior Worlds and the Canadian SPN’s Senior Championships are also invited.

Here are the new events for 2009:

Hitting/ Fielding Clinic: The first new event will be a hitting/fielding clinic from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 7). These free clinics will give players a chance to warm up and to sharpen their skills before the tournament with some of the best hitters in the sport.

East vs. West All Star Game: Later Wednesday afternoon, at 5 p.m., there will be an East vs. West All Star Game. Each competing team will select one player to compete in the game. SSUSA will select two managers for each All Star team.

Skills Contests: On Thursday from 10 am to noon will be a skills contest including: Precision Hitting, a Home Run Contest, Speed (running contest) and a Pitching contest. There will be prizes for winners and no entry fee.

Mini-Tournament: Later Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a mini-tournament in which teams will have a chance to play short 3-inning (1/2 hour) practice games to warm up for the TOC, which begins Friday.

SSUSA, Polk County Sports Marketing and Miken Sports sponsor the Tournament of Champions.