Staff Photo by Allison KwesellLarry Zehnder, City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Administrator, talks to a crowd of softball supporters during the grand opening of the Summit of Softball Complex on Friday.
The year 2010 marked the first full year for the city-owned Summit of Softball Complex. As beneficial as it was, the Parks & Recreation Department is expecting greater things in 2011.
There had not been any city-run adult slowpitch leagues in six years before the Summit was built. This year 34 men’s, women’s and co-ed teams played in summer leagues and that increased to 38 in the fall leagues.
This year there were 11 youth fastpitch tournaments held at the Summit, along with 10 adult slowpitch tournaments and three youth baseball tournaments. Among the Summit’s highlights was it was one of three local facilities to host games in the National Softball Association’s Eastern B World Series youth fastpitch tournament.
According to a formula used by the Greater Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee, the Summit’s 18 tournaments that had at least 20 teams brought an estimated $3.9 million to the local economy.
Next year, from the last week of February through October, the city has already lined up 12 youth fastpitch, 11 adult slowpitch and five youth baseball tournaments.