Tournament of Champions features softball teams from around the nation
AUBURNDALE — More than 100 softball teams are coming to Polk County with a single goal: to be crowned champion.
For more than four days, these men and women from around the world will take to the fields at various Polk County softball complexes for clinics, skills competitions, All-Star Games and a banquet. The Senior Softball USA Tournament of Champions will be in Polk County from Feb. 7 to Feb. 10.
What makes us unique is that
this is a tournament of champions.
No one offers a tournament that even comes close.Terry Hennessy
Chief Executive Officer
Senior Softball USA (SSUSA)
But visitors won’t forget the reason why they are here – to determine the best of the best.
“What makes us unique is that this is a tournament of champions,” said Terry Hennessy, chief executive officer of Senior Softball USA (SSUSA). “No one offers a tournament that even comes close.”
Estimates are that the Senior Softball USA Tournament of Champions has roughly a $2 million economic impact on Polk County.
The other game changers include free rings for the winners, special edition bats for MVPs, a free polo shirt for every player, gift bags for every manager, a gala sit-down banquet for 1,500 players and their families held at the RP Funding Center, and clinics on everything from hitting and pitching to fielding, skill contests, and even an All Star Game on Wednesday evening. An added bonus is that the winning team from Wednesday’s All Star Game will get to take on the Louisville Slugger Warriors, a team comprised of amputee combat veterans, on Saturday night.
But while the bling and the banquet are fun, tournament organizers know the real reason why teams strive to be invited.
“It’s a battle of tournament champions taking on tournament champions to determine which team is truly the top team of the year,” he said. “There’s really nothing like it and that’s why teams go all out to come back each year.”
Games this year will take place at the Auburndale Sports Complex, the Diamond Plex Softball Complex in Winter Haven, and the Loyce Harpe Sports Complex, the Southwest Softball Complex and the Westside Softball Complex, all in Lakeland.