Tournament Spotlight: Big Peach Softball Tournament

Posted on May 20, 2014 by misterdish

BigPeach

Hotlanta Will Be On Fire For Big Peach Tourney

 

Since 1985 gay softball players from the Southeast and around the country have made Atlanta their pre-summer stop on the NAGAAA tournament circuit and 2014 is no different.

The Big Peach Softball Tournament is sold out this weekend.  The tournament committee caps the number of teams at 50 over the C & D divisions.  This isn’t a new phenomenon for the Atlanta-based tournament as it has sold out for the last seven years in a row.  The Pool Play schedule has been released for the tournament with games slated to start at 7:30 am on Saturday morning.

Kyle Miller is the co-tournament director for the fourth consecutive year and he feels that the Big Peach is in a class all its own.  “We are the only Memorial Day weekend tournament that is sold out and I’m extremely pleased with our amazing committee who continues to put on a flawless tournament year after year,” said Miller.

The Big Peach staff gets their hometown league heavily involved with the tournament and it shows with their Thursday night registration bag stuffing party and beer bust at FROGS Cantina (early out-of-town players are welcome).  Registration begins on Friday night at two different locations separated by division.  The C Division registration festivities will be held at Burkhart’s Pub, while the D Division registration will be at the Hideaway.  The Metro Atlanta Softball Complex is the competition site for the Big Peach Softball Tournament.  The complex has 6 fields that will all be in use.  Food trucks will be available all weekend long at the complex to satisfy all of your hunger before, in between and after the games.

You won’t want to miss the 5th annual Mr. Big Peach contest on Saturday night at Blake’s on the Park.  Here is a link to last year’s Mr. Pig Peach winner (Caution: Possibly NSFW).  The contest stakes are higher than ever with up to $500 in cash and prizes being awarded.  Trophies will be presented on Sunday night after the games conclude at the Heretic.  The host hotel for the tournament is the gorgeous W Hotel in Midtown Atlanta.

The weather is looking good for the tournament with high temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s with low temperatures in the mid 60’s all weekend.  The tournament committee has announced a one umpire set up for pool play with a two umpire set up for double elimination games.  All teams are guaranteed 4 games over the weekend.  Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each divisions along with some other unique awards given out that get all the teams involved in the hardware department.  Awards will be given for the “Best Team Home Base” and “Team Spirit” giving teams a chance to set up shop at the fields and make the complex their own over the weekend along with rewarding teams that display a great attitude, willingness to have fun and those that display sportsmanship along the way.

The tournament committee is expecting over 1,000 players and fans to attend the tournament and the Big Peach staff appreciates their support.  “We know that players and fans have options for a tournament over Memorial Day weekend and we are thrilled that they continue to come back and enjoy what Atlanta has to offer,” said Kyle Miller, tournament co-director.

The Big Peach is literally jam-packed with events over this Memorial Day weekend, but if you can get away for a bit, the tournament is also offering discounted tickets to Six Flags Over Georgia to appeal to any players not getting enough thrills on the fields!  For updated information on the tournament check out the Big Peach Facebook page for details.

One thing is for sure, if you come away from the Big Peach without being entertained it’s your own fault.  There are just too many options in addition to the tournament competition over the weekend to go home without a story or two from your trip.

*The DD would like to thank Kyle Miller, Big Peach co-director for his contributions to this tournament spotlight.*

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Duel In The Desert – Pool Play Released

Posted on May 19, 2014 by misterdish

The Pool Play schedule for the 2014 Duel in the Desert tournament coming up this weekend in Las Vegas has been released.  Click on the link below to get the pdf copy!

Duel In The Desert

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NOLA Softball League Commissioner Resigns

Posted on May 15, 2014 by misterdish

NOLASoftballLeague

NOLA Softball League Commissioner Al Loupe has apparently resigned his position as the head man in charge of the league according to a post to his personal Facebook page.

Here is the text of the Facebook post from 5/14/2014:

Well…. A chapter in my life comes to an end.  I resigned as Nola Softball League commissioner today.  It has been a long and rewarding experience serving on the board, and I have learned a lot from my time.  I look forward to continuing to coach and play on Avita’s Hit Dats and managing Avita’s Tap Dats.  Thanks to everyone that has believed in me and has been a part of this experience.  I’m excited to see the continued forward motion of Nola Softball League.

With the apparent resignation of Mr. Loupe the NOLA Softball League will be on its third commissioner in about one year’s time.  Per Section 5.07 of the NOLA Softball League bylaws, the outgoing commissioner will appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the current term.  All indications point to assistant commissioner C.J. Davidson being appointed to that spot, but it seems as if anyone that is a member in good standing with the NOLA Softball League can be appointed to the position.

Mark Boline, founder of the NOLA Softball League and the first commissioner of the league resigned mid-season last year and appointed Loupe.  Now, the same scenario is playing out again one year later.

The DD has a request into the NOLA Softball League for comment on this situation.  We have no information at this time on whether or not Mr. Loupe’s decision to step down had anything to do with the less than flattering ratings issue that the NOLA Board of Trustees dealt with a month ago or not.  There has been no official confirmation from the league that the commissioner’s post has been vacated.  Here is a link to the Dish’s article chronicling the team that was effected –  http://wp.me/p4zalw-1K .

More to come on this situation as it develops.

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Tournament Spotlight: North Star Classic

Posted on May 14, 2014 by misterdish

NorthStarClassic

The 21st Annual North Star Classic Set For Memorial Day Weekend

It wasn’t that long ago that the softball community descended upon the Twin Cities for the 2012 Gay Softball World Series where players arrived to find well manicured fields, a surprisingly vibrant club scene and a well-organized tournament.  Luckily for this year’s North Star Classic field, the same beautiful softball fields, nightlife and Northern hospitality await.

Peter Plaehn is the first year tournament director for the North Star Classic and with 31 teams registered over two divisions he feels the tournament is as competitive as ever.  “We run a fun, efficient tournament that we’ve made a point of not overcomplicating,” said Plaehn.  The tournament will be contested at Northview Park in nearby Eagan, Minnesota.  Boasting 8 softball fields, Northview Park was one of the complexes used for the 2012 GSWS.

The tournament will be kicked off with a registration party at the always popular Saloon.  The Boston Beer Company has come on board as a sponsor for this year’s tournament and several of their signature beverages will be on special all weekend long including Sam Adams Boston Lager & Summer Ale along with Angry Orchard hard cider.  The closing ceremonies for the tournament will be held at the Eagle/Bolt Bar, which is a personal favorite of the DD.  Trophies will be given to the top three teams in both the C and D divisions at that time.

Communication is a key part of running a great tournament and the North Star Classic Tournament Committee recognizes that.  “Our Facebook page will be one point of communication before the weekend and during the tournament.  Also, our new website has a central communication hub for updates to managers and team captains,” said Peter Plaehn, tournament director.

Teams headed to the Twin Cities this Memorial Day weekend will be guaranteed five games and will see one umpire for all games in the tournament along with a two umpire set up for the semifinal and championship rounds in each division.  Normal weather conditions in late May for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area call for high temperatures in the low 70’s with low temperatures in the low to mid 50’s.

Regardless of how cool it might be temperature wise for the North Star Classic you can bet that the action on the field will be hot enough for all parties involved.

Registration is still open for the North Star Classic through midnight on Saturday, May 17.  If your team would like to participate in the tournament feel free to click on the North Star Classic link that appears earlier in this article for more details.

You can keep updated on all the happenings surrounding the 2014 North Star Classic on their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/northstarclassic?fref=ts

*The DD would like to thank NSC tournament director Peter Plaehn for contributing to this story.  Stay tuned for the next Tournament Spotlight coming very soon!*

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Tournament Spotlight: Duel In The Desert

Posted on May 7, 2014 by misterdish

Duel In The Desert Logo

The LVGSL Presents The 2nd Annual Duel In The Desert

After a successful inaugural tournament in 2013 the Las Vegas Gay Softball League is back at it again this Memorial Day weekend with their 2nd Annual Duel In the Desert tournament.  One thing is for sure the LVGSL isn’t shy about using their city’s world renowned entertainment status to attract teams from all over the country.  After all, who doesn’t love Las Vegas?

Dave Mondt is the tournament director for the Duel in the Desert for the 2nd year in a row and he told the DD that Las Vegas is the place to be.  “Our city sets itself apart (from others).  Few cities in the country can compete with the nightlife and dining options available in Las Vegas, particularly at our price point,” said Mondt.

The tournament will boast a five game guarantee to each team participating along with trophies given to the top three teams from each division.  The Duel will feature C and D division tournaments with a special gift given to the first team that registered to the tournament.  Last year, the Duel gave their earliest early bird team a prize too, a shiny new bat donated by DeMarini.  The giveaways and incentives don’t stop there as the tournament will also enter its tournament division MVP’s into a drawing for an air tour of the Grand Canyon too.

The Opening Party will be held at Charlie’s Las Vegas and along with being able to register, players will be able to get the party started with a $10 well/$20 premium liquor bust from 9 pm to Midnight.  If you aren’t hurting too bad from that liquor bust on Saturday at the Sunset Park complex there will be a beer tent and concessions available at the fields all weekend long too.

The softball community will converge on Las Vegas just 4 1/2 months after the always popular Sin City Shootout took place, which is run by the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA).  “We have a great deal of respect for the Sin City Shootout, but we believe that, as a destination city, Las Vegas is enough of a draw to support our tournament as well,” said tournament director Dave Mondt.  It looks as though Mondt’s opinion is now a reality with The Duel confirming 27 teams registered between the two divisions.

There will be one umpire for all games in the tournament with a two umpire set up for championship games.  If normal weather holds it will be spectacular softball weather with high temperatures in the high 80’s and temperatures holding steady in the high 60’s at night.

Check out all of the updated information on the Duel In The Desert’s official Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/LVGSL-Duel-In-the-Desert/484611571599656

*The DD would like to thank Duel in the Desert tournament director Dave Mondt for his time and contributions to this article.  Stay tuned for more tournament spotlights throughout the year.*

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Texas Shootout Bracketing Snafu Won’t Be Remembered For Long

Posted on May 7, 2014 by misterdish

Texas Shootout

 

The Dish was in Austin, TX this past weekend for the 2014 Texas Shootout to witness one of the most baffling displays of bracketing we’ve ever seen.

The final pool play games ended at around 1:00 pm central time on Saturday, May 3rd and with a tentative 3:00 pm start time for some tournament games teams, managers and supporters were anxiously awaiting the release of bracketing information that would set the stage for everyone at the fields for the remainder of the day/evening.

This is where the waiting started, stopped, started again, stopped and started again and then finally ended.  A few hours went by after pool play and still nobody knew when and where they were playing in the double elimination tournament.  At first teams were annoyed, then laughing it off and then just plain angry with many managers swearing that this was their last trip to Austin and after all the shenanigans it seemed that the Texas Shootout tournament committee was trying a little too hard to live up to Austin’s popular motto “Keep Austin Weird”.

So, what does this mean for the future of the Texas Shootout Tournament?  Absolutely nothing.  Mistakes are made and no tournament is perfect.  Stuff like this happens from time to time when you run a major regional tournament, which is what the Shootout has become.  Regardless of this bracketing snafu the DD predicts that the Austin based tournament will thrive for many years to come.  For one thing, the weather is absolutely beautiful for early May, which is just one reason why it is such a draw for teams from around the country as the tournament boasted teams from 6 states and pick up players from many more.  The tournament tried something new with a Home Run Derby and registration party at the complex on Friday night which was met with mixed reviews, but the DD gives the tournament committee kudos for trying something new.

On a serious note, the DD actually thought that the brackets themselves were great.  It was just the issue of getting teams in the correct seeding order to begin the tournament that was the problem.  The Texas Shootout had two huge banners commissioned with the brackets printed on them so that it was in large print making it easier for everyone to see where they were headed and who they would be facing.

Wrapping up our follow up coverage on the Texas Shootout, the DD would like to give a special shout out to Texas Shootout Tournament Director Brad Nicholl who posted a heartfelt and genuine apology on behalf of himself and the entire tournament committee about the glitches with the bracketing.  The tournament brass could have swept this issue under the rug and hoped that it would just go away, but instead they addressed it, owned that mistakes were made and invited everyone to come back next year to take part in the tournament again.  It was a classy gesture and the right thing to do and it deserves to be recognized accordingly.  Here’s to Brad and the tourney staff for an outstanding job well done this past weekend overall.

Here is the apology that was posted on the Texas Shootout’s official Facebook page:

To all teams, players and attendees of the 2014 Texas Shootout Open Division Tournament, thank you for your participation. The Texas Shootout has taken pride in our tournament’s reputation over the years. Unfortunately, we had some issues this past Saturday that are a stark contrast to what everyone has come to expect. I acknowledge all of the arrangements that every team made to be here this past weekend, and apologize that the tournament was not 100%.

Simply put, things went wrong with the seeding and brackets for C and D-Competitive Divisions on Saturday. In hindsight, we rushed to get them out and that is where the problems ensued. The true failure in all of this was the lack of communication to the teams. We all know from other tournaments, communication is key, and I did not communicate effectively at all. I take full responsibility for this and have and will deal with this now and moving forward.

In the coming weeks and months, I can assure you that the Texas Shootout Committee and Softball Austin will take the events of this past weekend and learn from them. We will document what happened, what was done and what was not. We will review that and we will make sure that all steps and precautions are taken to ensure that they are never repeated.

Huge kudos to everyone who volunteered hours this weekend. Their tireless long hours from planning to execution of this event were why we were able to host the tournament at all. Also, thank you to our Softball Austin board members, current and past who stepped up and help address the bracket issues and complaints at the fields.

Again, I apologize for the events on Saturday and the inconveniences that it brought on all players, coaches, managers, friends and family. Thank you to all the teams who came to Austin as well as our own local teams. We look forward to making the necessary changes to earn back your trust and our reputation.

Simply put to Brad and the tournament committee…….you don’t have to earn back trust because your acknowledgement of the mistakes that were made along with realizing certain items need work for subsequent tournaments has already earned back trust across the country.

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Big Peach Tournament – Pool Play Released

Posted on May 6, 2014 by misterdish

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Check out the 2014 Big Peach Tournament Pool Play Schedule that was released a few days ago.  Many intriguing matchups on the schedule.  The tournament is SOLD OUT and the DD will have an exclusive look at The Big Peach coming up later this week on the site.  Stay tuned!

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Texas Shootout Blog

Posted on May 3, 2014 by misterdish

5/2/2014

9:45 pm – Well “The Dish” made it to the Capitol of The Lone Star State!
The party is rocking at Oil Can Harry’s! We’ll see everyone at the fields tomorrow morning!

5/3/2014

11:15 am – Games have been underway since 8 am this morning! Beautiful weather and great fields here in Austin! Just a couple hours left of pool play before double elimination starts. We will have bracket info and score info starting with double elimination!

5/4/2014

11:00 am – Teams have been eliminated starting late last night. Due to a bracketing issue the double elimination tournament did not start for all divisions until 5 pm central time yesterday. Play began at 8 am and trophy time is approaching fast.

C Division is down to 8 teams remaining with DAL Synergy taking on AUS Power in the first winners bracket semifinal. The HOU Wild will be up against DAL Woody’s Wreckin’ Crew in the second semifinal.

The D-Competitive Division is also down to 8 teams with the HOU Sons of Pitches taking on the DAL Dive in the first winners bracket semifinal. The NOLA Hot Mess Express will meet the HOU Divers in the other semifinal. Check the Diamond Dish twitter page @softballdish for live inning by inning updates on that game.

Check for score updates on Twitter @softballdish !

2:00 pm – And then there were four! The 2014 Texas Shootout is down to 4 remaining teams in both the C and D Divisions.

In the C Division, DAL Woody’s Wreckin’ Crew is the only team left in the winners bracket as they are waiting for a team to come out of the losers bracket to challenge them for the title. The AUS Power are in the losers bracket final awaiting the winner of the OKC Ramage and the AUS Outlaws.

In the D Division, the HOU Divers await a challenger from the losers bracket in the championship game. NOLA Hot Mess will meet the AUS Pride in just a few minutes to earn the right to play tr DAL Dive in the losers bracket final.

Championship games are slated for 4 pm and 5 pm for C and D respectively. We’ll have the updates!

7:00 pm  –  Champions have been crowned in the 2014 Texas Shootout.  Here are the final trophy teams for this year’s tournament:

C Division

1st Place – DAL Woody’s Wreckin’ Crew

2nd Place – TUL Oklahoma Rampage

3rd Place – AUS ATX Power

D Division – Competitive 

1st Place – HOU Divers

2nd Place – DAL Dive

3rd Place – NOLA Hot Mess

D Division – Recreational

1st Place – AUS Los Tigres

2nd Place – AUS Brass House Ball’rz

3rd Place – AUS Sofa King Good

 

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Monthly League Spotlight: Tulsa Metro Softball League

Posted on May 1, 2014 by misterdish

 

 TMSL

 

May 2014 League Spotlight: Tulsa Metro Softball League

 

Brad Sullivan has been there from the beginning with the Tulsa Metro Softball League and the beginning wasn’t that long ago for this newer league addition to the NAGAAA family.  “We started with 2 or 3 teams.  We did all of our own field maintenance – chalking, staking bases, pulling weeds out of the infield and raking,” said Sullivan, 2nd year commissioner.

Brad Sullivan, TMSL Commissioner

Brad Sullivan, TMSL Commissioner

Even though Tulsa is a “young” league when compared to other leagues around the country, the TMSL has made its mark since joining NAGAAA in 2011.  The league has grown steadily since its inception in 2009 and came close to having a Gay Softball World Series champion in just its second year of eligibility in 2012 as the Tulsa Razors took 2nd place in the D Division.

 While the league’s competitiveness on a regional and national level has been stellar, Sullivan realizes that competition is just a part of what the TMSL has to offer its membership, “TMSL gives people an opportunity to do something they may have only thought about doing.  They may have never picked up a glove, a bat, or ball, but by coming out they find a safe and supportive, judgment free zone.”

 As always, ratings are a hot topic around all NAGAAA leagues as some players are bracing for the rating guidelines changes in 2015.  Sullivan told the DD that he thinks these changes are a step in the right direction.  “Since attending NAGAAA meetings I have felt like a change has needed to occur, the problem is finding the answer and getting everyone on board,” said the commissioner.  The DD gathered that the Tulsa commissioner was open to revisiting this issue even if some players are up in arms with the current changes that will be implemented next season.  If any players are frustrated about finding a workable solution for everyone, Sullivan wants them to know that it’s not for a lack of trying, “this is a subject that everyone has an opinion on, but in the end I think the men and women who sit around the table at the meetings are trying to do what is best for their organizations.”

With the 2014 Gay Softball World Series to be played in Dallas later this year, just 256 miles to the South of Tulsa, Sullivan realizes that this year’s GSWS could be a big one for his league.  “I am very excited about the GSWS in Dallas.  It is close enough for players and fans in Tulsa to come down and watch to get that World Series experience.  I always love when players get their first big tournament experience, because then they get fired up and start planning for the next one,” said Sullivan.  The DD also got the Tulsa head man on the record about the dreaded consolation bracket that NAGAAA instituted at last year’s GSWS in Washington, DC.  The unpopular consolation bracket is making an exit after just one GSWS to make way for the previous schedule with 4 pool play games followed by the double elimination tournament.  “The consolation bracket was something new, and we gave it a shot, but feedback from the players leaned more in favor of the old way.  At least we tried something new.  I think we have to be open to new ideas and willing to try them to grow,” stated Sullivan.

While Tulsa is one of the smallest leagues by membership in NAGAAA, its commissioner doesn’t feel like it is a disadvantage from a national perspective.  Sullivan thinks, “it’s tough for the smaller cities, but I do feel that if Tulsa or any smaller league had an issue that would be a detriment to their league and participation in NAGAAA, we could go to anyone in the organization and sit down with them to try and find a solution.”

The Tulsa Metro Softball League is a program of Oklahomans for Equality.  Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) seeks equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals and families through advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.

The DD would like to thank Tulsa Commissioner, Brad Sullivan for sharing his opinions and information about the TMSL.  Check back in June for the next installment of the DD’s Monthly League Spotlight!

TULSA METRO SOFTBALL LEAGUE – BY THE NUMBERS:

League Founded:                             2009

Joined NAGAAA:                            2011

Membership:                                   D Division (8), C Division (2)

Regular Season:                              March 30 – June 22

Venue for League:                          Carl Smith Sports Complex, 17120 E 21st St, Tulsa, OK

Best Team Finish @ GSWS:         Tulsa Razors, 2nd Place D Division, 2012

Season Player Cost:                        $70 per player

League Sponsors:                            Oklahomans for Equality, Tulsa Eagle, New Age                                                                             Renegades & Club 209.

Host Tournament:                          Tulsa Up All Night – Easter Weekend

C Division (4 teams), D Division (6 teams)

2014 Tulsa Up All Night Tournament Results:

C Division – 1st Place – Oklahoma Rampage, 2nd Place – Houston #BFNC, 3rd Place – OKC Swallows

D Division – 1st Place – TUL Twisters, 2nd Place – TUL Zealers, 3rd Place – KC Bolt

League Website:              http://www.tulsametrosoftball.com

 Current Standings:          D Division – as of 4/27/2014

                                               TUL Twisters                      6 – 1

                                               T-Town Zealers                  5 – 2

                                               TUL Screaming Eagles      4 – 2

                                               Lady Red Feathers            4 – 3

                                               U-Haulerz                            2 – 4

                                                Metros                                 1 – 3

                                                TUL Titans                         1 – 6

                                                Fusion                                  0 – 8

                                                C Division – as of 4/27/2014

                                               TUL Shock                           4 – 0

                                              Oklahoma Rampage           3 – 1

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2014 Texas Shootout – Pool Play Schedule Released

Posted on April 28, 2014 by misterdish

Texas Shootout – Pool Play & Tournament Info Released

  • Pool Play for C & D-Competitive divisions starts at 8 am on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014
  • Pool Play for D-Recreational starts at Noon
  • All games will be played at the Krieg Softball Complex just off of downtown Austin
  • Teams Breakdown: C Division (26 teams), D-Competitive (30 teams), D-Rec (7 teams)

Keep checking back with the DD as we road trip it to Austin, TX for live coverage of the Texas Shootout.  We’ll have as many score and standings updates as we can post throughout the tournament all the way to Championship Sunday!

**REVISED SCHEDULE**

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