Chattanooga was awarded the 2011 16-Under ASA/USA Girls Fastpitch National Championships at the Amateur Softball Association’s (ASA) Annual Council Meeting held in Reno, Nev.
This was Chattanooga’s second consecutive successful bid as the 2010 10-Under tournament was awarded just last year.
Chattanooga was bidding against nine other cities that included Normal, Ill., Sunnyvale, Calif., Marietta, Ga., and Tucson, Ariz.
Chattanooga representatives included Chattanooga ASA reps Kim Swafford and Fred Richardson, Greta Hayes from the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department, and Sports Committee President Scott Smith.
After being awarded the bid, Kim Swafford said, “This is so exciting to be awarded another tournament again this year. Chattanooga was a hotbed for ASA tournaments in the past and thanks to our new softball facilities that Mayor Littlefield has delivered, Chattanooga is now back on the map.”
The 16-Under Championships will be staged at Warner Park and the Summit of Softball and will bring approximately 160 teams and 300 college coaches to Chattanooga for an average stay of five nights. The Sports Committee estimates the economic impact will be in excess of $2,000,000 and should generate over 9,000 room nights.
Sports Committee President Scott Smith added, “We were awarded this bid because of great facilities, great local people working behind the scenes, and a great city that offers plenty for teams to enjoy.”