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Business News
Independence, MO —
Monday was for fun and festivities. The rest of the week? That’s for softball – and lots of it.
Tuesday marked the opening day of the USSSA Fastpitch Softball World Series Championship, which is being held at Adair Park in Independence and Blue Valley Rec in Overland Park, Kan.
On Monday, the party was started with opening ceremonies at the Independence Events Center. The 53 12U teams were greeted by Independence Mayor Don Reimal. The players participated in skills competitions throughout the day and the evening was capped with a Von Smith concert.
After a long season, this is the tournament where the summer culminates for many squads.
“The way we look at it, and I think some other people look at it, this is an appreciation of the 11 other tournaments we played this year,” Blue Springs Blitz coach Rod Burghart said. “This is a time to come out and compete and play hard, but also to appreciate what you’ve done all year and to come out here and end the season with a great tournament.”
Burghart’s squad, which competes in the B division, started pool play with a pair of losses – a 6-4 setback to Altoona (Iowa) SEP Sting and an 8-1 defeat to the Mt. Prospect (Ill.) Power.
In both games, a rash of early mistakes plagued the Blitz.
“The first game, it was errors that got us,” Burghart said. “(Against the Power) it was walks. Get rid of those and we’re looking a lot better.”
The tournament – which features five Blue Springs squads and three from Lee’s Summit – concludes pool play today. In the 12U-A division, the KC (Blue Springs) Elite will play Tulsa Elite ’99 at 9 a.m. at Adair Park. The Blue Springs O’s ’99 Attack will take on the Oklahoma (Skiatook) Wildcats at 12:30 p.m. at Adair.
The majority of today’s 12U-B bracket games will be played at the Blue Valley Rec. The Blitz continue with a 9 a.m. matchup with the KC (Lee’s Summit) Core. The Dolphins of Lee’s Summit play the Charleston (Ill.) Power at 10:45 a.m. and the K.C. Skinners at 2:15 p.m. The KC (Lee’s Summit) Core 99 take on the Olathe (Kan.) Fire & Ice Dynamite at 10:45 a.m. The Blue Springs Victory 00 meets the Johnston (Iowa) Jaguars Gold at 12:30.
Blue Springs Swing Builder Lighting-Walls plays the Topeka (Kan.) Toxic at 10:45 a.m. at Adair.
Monday was for fun and festivities. The rest of the week? That’s for softball – and lots of it.
Tuesday marked the opening day of the USSSA Fastpitch Softball World Series Championship, which is being held at Adair Park in Independence and Blue Valley Rec in Overland Park, Kan.
On Monday, the party was started with opening ceremonies at the Independence Events Center. The 53 12U teams were greeted by Independence Mayor Don Reimal. The players participated in skills competitions throughout the day and the evening was capped with a Von Smith concert.
After a long season, this is the tournament where the summer culminates for many squads.
“The way we look at it, and I think some other people look at it, this is an appreciation of the 11 other tournaments we played this year,” Blue Springs Blitz coach Rod Burghart said. “This is a time to come out and compete and play hard, but also to appreciate what you’ve done all year and to come out here and end the season with a great tournament.”
Burghart’s squad, which competes in the B division, started pool play with a pair of losses – a 6-4 setback to Altoona (Iowa) SEP Sting and an 8-1 defeat to the Mt. Prospect (Ill.) Power.
In both games, a rash of early mistakes plagued the Blitz.
“The first game, it was errors that got us,” Burghart said. “(Against the Power) it was walks. Get rid of those and we’re looking a lot better.”
The tournament – which features five Blue Springs squads and three from Lee’s Summit – concludes pool play today. In the 12U-A division, the KC (Blue Springs) Elite will play Tulsa Elite ’99 at 9 a.m. at Adair Park. The Blue Springs O’s ’99 Attack will take on the Oklahoma (Skiatook) Wildcats at 12:30 p.m. at Adair.
The majority of today’s 12U-B bracket games will be played at the Blue Valley Rec. The Blitz continue with a 9 a.m. matchup with the KC (Lee’s Summit) Core. The Dolphins of Lee’s Summit play the Charleston (Ill.) Power at 10:45 a.m. and the K.C. Skinners at 2:15 p.m. The KC (Lee’s Summit) Core 99 take on the Olathe (Kan.) Fire & Ice Dynamite at 10:45 a.m. The Blue Springs Victory 00 meets the Johnston (Iowa) Jaguars Gold at 12:30.
Blue Springs Swing Builder Lighting-Walls plays the Topeka (Kan.) Toxic at 10:45 a.m. at Adair.
