Softball Throws Fast Pitch to Economy
Manchester proud to host tourneys from across the region

Amy George of Manchesters Midget League pitches the ball during a softball game at Dave King Park. Thanks to its outstanding facilities, Manchester has become a mecca for softball tournaments.

"Tournaments in Manchester are very popular. We usually have to turn teams away."

These words of warning come courtesy of Bonnie Gamble, who, as director of the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department, knows plenty well how popular softball has become in this area over the past several years. Not only does Coffee County field impressive talent on the softball fields in girls ages 6-19, but it has also earned quite a reputation for hosting top-notch tournaments.

"For one thing, were centrally located between two major cities Nashville and Chattanooga," explains Terry Floyd, president of the Coffee County Fast Pitch Association and assistant softball coach at Coffee County Central High. Our fields are just two or three miles off the interstate, and weve got plenty of motels and restaurants in the area."

Manchester also has a couple of nice facilities to host tournaments, Dave King Park and Fred Deadman Park. Recent improvements have been made at Dave King, with two new concession stands and a fourth field being added.

Of course, out-of-town teams mean out-of-town money. In the first and second weekends in June, for instance, Coffee County is home to 98 slow-pitch and fast-pitch teams playing in tourneys.

You have to figure each team has 10 to 12 players, and many of those players parents are coming here, says Gamble, who has been parks and recreation director the last four years.

"They have to spend the night, and they have to eat, so yes, theyre bringing a boost to the economy."

Slow-pitch softball has been around for several years, but its the fast-pitch version the kind thats being played by high school and college teams that has really taken off in the last four or five years. The Coffee County Fast Pitch Association was established six years ago as part of the state chapter of the National Softball Association, and it has been an excellent feeder program for the high school team.

"The juniors and seniors we had on this years [Coffee County High] team began playing fast-pitch when the association started," says Floyd. "I think that has had a lot to do with our success."

Central High has been to the state high school tournament the last two years, finishing third in 1999 and fourth in 2000. Two of last seasons players senior Rachel Hamby and junior Danielle Catalano were named to The Tennessean newspapers All-Midstate Class AAA softball team.

Floyd is Jeff Breedens assistant, who has been Coffee Countys head softball coach for the last 10 years. His first season was the only losing record hes posted.

by John McBryde
Photo by David Mudd