Chattanooga's Frost Falcons ASA 18-U Gold Fastpitch Softball Team are in the center of this photo taken during the opening ceremony in Broken Arrow Okla. Click to enlarge all our photos.
Chattanooga's Frost Falcons ASA 18-U Gold Fastpitch Softball Team are the only ASA 18-U Gold Fastpitch Softball Team from Tennessee that qualified for the Fastpitch Softball Junior Olympics, ASA 18-U Gold Nationals.
The tournament is being held in Broken Arrow Okla.
Opening ceremonies were Monday and the tournament continues through Sunday.
The Frost Falcon qualified for the Junior Olympics when they claimed the Amateur Softball Association Region 4 title.
According to head coach, William "Porky" McKinney, "The ASA 18-U Gold Nationals is the most elite softball tournament in the country and only the best teams earn a berth."
Falcon players are Savannah Cosper, Katie Dyer, Ericka Frederick, Hillary Hammond, Sherry Hicks, Tootie Johnson, Christi Jordan, Summer Nesmith, Katie Phillips, Katie Rockwell, and Leslie Vess.
The Frost Falcon coaching staff is also comprised of assistants Carl Nesmith, Dennis Cosper and Elbert Williams.
The ASA youth program, also known as the Junior Olympic program, is among the nation's largest youth sports organization. It is the single fastest growing program in the ASA, and has had membership growth every year since its inception in 1974.
Over 300 ASA 18-U Gold teams participate in ASA 18-U Gold softball nationwide.
Qualifying for ASA National Championships begin at the local level with league championships, state championships and eventually national qualifiers. Each competitor must earn their berth into an ASA national through a network of qualifying tournaments conducted throughout the season, the champion goes home as the unchallenged best team in the nation for their respected division each year.
Only 68 teams qualified for the ASA 18-U Gold Nationals this year.