ASA women's major championship to return in 2008

The Amateur Softball Association Women's Major National Championship Fast Pitch Softball Tournament will return to Amherst in two years.

The tournament, to be held Aug. 6-10, 2008, was awarded to Metro Buffalo at the ASA annual meeting held last week in Colorado Springs, Colo. Amherst bested Auburn, Ala., Ft. Myers, Fla. and Broken Arrow, Okla. in the selection process.

The Women's Major tournament represents the highest level of ASA women's amateur softball competition in the United States. Amherst hosted the prestigious ASA event this past August. It was only the second time and first since 1984 that it had been held in Western New York. The tournament, played at the Amherst Girls' Softball complex at the Audubon Recreation Center, attracted 14 teams. The legendary Stratford Brakettes won its 27th national title since they began play in 1947.

"Following every major tournament, we rate the area and host and Buffalo Niagara earned 98.4 points out of 100," said Phil Augustino, ASA Junior Olympic Commissioner for Metro Buffalo. "ASA knows how well we run a tournament and that we know what we're doing."

Amherst has hosted several other ASA National Championship tournaments in recent years, including two ASA National Championships in the 23 and Under Division. It is hoped that the Women's Major and 23 and Under Division tournaments will be played in WNY on a regular basis in alternating years.

"The ASA looks at two criteria as most important in selecting a city and Buffalo met both - location and reputation," said Augustino. "Our location worked in our favor because we're close to many of the athletes and we have proven that we're an experienced and successful host of ASA events."

In addition, ASA selected Buffalo to host the 2007 National Under 10 Girls Fast Pitch National Qualifier; the 2007 National Under 12 Girls Fast Pitch National Qualifier; and the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Territory Meeting.

"We're thrilled that the Amateur Softball Association selected Buffalo to host these events," said Richard Geiger, President, Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Landing these events will bring 1,200 visitors and more than $450,000 in direct economic impact while further enhancing our standing in the amateur athletics community."

ASA Metro Buffalo Commissioner Edward Lindsey, an ASA National Hall of Fame member, led the Metro Buffalo delegation. He was accompanied to Colorado Springs by Augustino, Metro Buffalo ASA player representative Bob Nowak, and Kristin Wood of the Buffalo-Niagara Conven- tion and Visitors' Bureau.

A new marketing strategy rejuvenated Buffalo's relationship with ASA in 2001. In 2003, partnering with Metro Buffalo ASA, the CVB landed the first ASA tournament since 1984. Since that time, the team has successfully hosted 12 tournaments and more than 10,000 athletes, coaches, family and friends. The events account for 6,600 hotel room nights and $3.5 million in local economic impact.

Amherst Girls Softball will be the host organization for the Women's Major tournament. It has served as the host organization for many ASA, high school and college championship tournaments over the years. In addition to previous ASA national championships, Amherst Girls Softball also annually hosts the Aunt Rosie's International Girls' Fast Pitch Tournament, which has grown to become the biggest ASA girls' softball tournament in the northeastern United States and one of the ten largest such tournaments.