The Temecula fields at Paloma Del Sol Park, Birdsall Park, and Ronald Regan Sports Park since Friday have been jam-packed with fans, families, and the fast pitch American Softball Association (ASA) Softball All Stars for the annual Temecula Old Town Shoot Out All Star Tournament.
The Temecula fields of Paloma Del Sol Park, Birdsall Park, and Ronald Regan Sports Park have been jam-packed with fans, families, and the fast pitch American Softball Association (ASA) Softball All Stars for the annual Temecula Old Town Shoot Out All Star Tournament. (Ashley Ludwig/SWRNN)
“The shoot out runs from June 15 to June 17 this year. We have 71 ASA Teams are entered in the tournament– 8U to 14U– and 64 are from out of town,” Tournament Director Marc Terrazas said.
“The girls have come from as far as Santee and Imperial Beach, and as far north as Jurupa, California. These are our recreational all stars, not the traveling teams, and it’s each league’s opportunity to shine and show their best players in a single elimination bracket tournament.”
Each team has the opportunity to play two games before entering the bracket competition for the championship in a win-or-go-home elimination—bracketed games are played Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 2012.
“There are gold and silver brackets for the top seeded, and next ranked players,” Terrazas said, “and each bracket will have a champion.”
Of the largest annual fundraiser for the ASA organization, Terrazas said: “These are tough economic times. Sponsorship is down, but the entrance fee didn’t change. We try not to turn anyone away, if girls want to play. Funds raised will offset fees for families in need.”
Family involvement is high priority for the tournament teams, with over 300 volunteer parents in the league.
“We have phenomenal support for our players, with families taking on as much as eight-hour shifts during the tournament,” said Terrazas.
Even though not all players made the All Stars team, fans and friends were out in droves to support their players.
(Ashley Ludwig/SWRNN)
Catcher Devyn Cope of the Temecula Sonic Boom helped her team win both of their first round games on Friday with four throw-outs for the day. The Sonic Boom scored resounding victories with scores of 12-2, and 14-2.
“We had a great time, and everyone played awesome,” Devyn said. Her mother, Suzanne Cope agreed. “Everyone brought their bats today!”
“So far, so good,” smiled Devyn’s coach Jose Gutierrez. “We’re one of the host teams, so we wanted to step up. Bracket play starts Saturday, so I’m advising everyone to rest up and be ready for the big day.”
Late in the day on Friday, as shadows lengthened, fans settled onto the bleachers at Paloma del Sol Park to watch the San Marcos Challengers and the Lakeside All Stars go to work. Challenger grandmother Francine Lalicata didn’t have far to travel to watch her third-base granddaughter Sydney Adame.
“We live in Temecula, so this is great.” Lalicata said. “(Sydney’s) dad’s the coach, and we’ve been going to these games for years. We’re here today, and on to Ronald Regan Sports Park to watch Sydney’s sister. Ready for a long weekend of softball.”
For more information on the ASA Fast Pitch Softball League or to see how the brackets wrapped up, visit: http://tvgsa.vicid.net/custpage.php?cid=1858&teamid=.
Ashley Ludwig is a local writer and regular contributor to SWRNN.
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