There are many unique aspects to the 2012 Boys Softball World Series that is coming to Catoosa County next month, but one stands out above all others: any team can enter the tournament.
While their chances to take home a championship trophy might be sliver-thin, this is a three-day slow pitch event where the nation's best will not only play amongst themselves but will take on any and all challengers.
"It is a unique event that draws teams from all over the country," said Chris Simpson, head of the county's recreation department. "This is an annual vacation for a lot of these teams and their supporters."
This year's event already has more than 50 entries from seven states and will feature the very best boy softball players from those areas.
The dates for the tournament are July 12-14, with most games scheduled at Jack Mattox Recreation Park, though some of the first-round games will take place at Camp Jordan in East Ridge.
"We have seven fields, but only three can accommodate the older age groups," Simpson said. "The majority of the tournament is being held here at the Jack Mattox and all the championship games are scheduled here."
Slow pitch is what families informally play at picnics and is the heart of church and industrial league softball.
As the name implies, the sport differs from fast pitch primarily in how the ball is put into play. In fast pitch, pitchers reign with blazing, flat deliveries and strikeouts are the rule rather than the exception. In slow pitch, the ball is tossed with an arc and defensive play by fielders is of paramount importance.
"Opportunities to hit a slow pitch softball are a lot greater than for fastpitch or baseball," Simpson said. "Outfielders have to be on their toes."
The Boys World Series has age divisions beginning as young as 10, with age brackets in two-year increments up to teams whose players are 20-year-olds.
"This is a fun but competitive sport," said Marvin "Stump" Martin, head of the East Ridge Recreation Department. "With today's equipment you will see some really long balls, some speed and strong defensive play - this is a bunch of boys playing softball instead of baseball. These are kids that excel in other sports."
As an example of some who have played softball, Martin recalled times during his youth when nearly every athlete, regardless of their primary sport, played in some kind of softball league. A former athlete and coach himself, as well as a veteran of sports journalism, Martin recalled playing softball in his younger years and cited a lengthy list of players who were scholarship athletes in college including some, like Rick Honeycutt, who played professional baseball and others who currently coach at area schools.
"You'll see very athletic kids," he said.
Some of the individual players and teams have reputations of being the best of the best in their chosen sport, according to Mike Mason, tournament director for this Southern Softball Association of America World Series.
"A special attraction of this unique tournament is having several Amish and Mennonite teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana participate," he said. "These teams are perennial champions in the sport."
Not only will the "simple people" be present in large numbers, so too will teams from the Cajun country of Louisiana.
"These are some of the best boys softball players in the country," Mason said. "Games will be outstanding, especially in the upper age brackets where the guys have played longer and developed their skills.
"We cordially invite baseball teams from the area to join us," Mason added. "A lot of the teams entered also play baseball and are successful in both."
Anyone interested in boys slow pitch softball in general or this tournament in particular can contact Mason by calling either 931-761-5878 or 542-8697 or by visiting www.boysworldseries.com online.