×

Chadwick Bay Softball Bash Tournament begins tonight

Emma Ahlstrom (Dunkirk High School) of the Chadwick Bay Fury, left, and Carilene Sliwa (NCCS) of the Lakeshore Eclipse, right, are joined by Dunkirk’s Mayor Wilfred Rosas for the ceremonial first pitch of the tournament in Wright Park. Submitted Photo

Even if you’re not in the lineup, there’s still plenty to enjoy this weekend when 16-14U girls fastpitch softball teams hit the bases in Wright Park for the Inaugural Chadwick Bay Softball Bash Tournament starting tonight.

The Dunkirk Little League Complex along with Prommenschenkel Stadium, and School 7 softball field will host the lion’s share of the games with additional contests held at the Dunkirk High School Athletic Complex. Teams from throughout Western New York and Northeast Pennsylvania will battle it out for the tournament championship over the course of the weekend.

“This is a great event for the City of Dunkirk,” Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas said. “When Kory brought this to my attention I gave it my and the administration’s wholehearted support. We are expecting over 1,000 visitors to the area this weekend, and see it as an opportunity to showcase the top-notch sports and recreation facilities available in the city and have those families patronize shops, stores and restaurants of the city. Hopefully, some local residents will come on down and support the girls and enjoy the weekend as well.”

Action begins at 6:15 p.m. today at Prommenschenkel Stadium where the Lakeshore Storm will take on Grand Island. At 6:30 p.m., the Dunkirk Little Complex will host an Amherst Lightning team, which is comprised exclusively of young ladies from Southern Chautauqua County and the Jamestown area, as they take on Clarence. Also at 6:30 p.m., at Dunkirk High School, the Lakeview Lightning will take on the Erie (Pennsylvania) Frost, while at 6:45 p.m. North Tonawanda (Witt) will take on the Amherst Thunder at the School 7 Field.

Tonight’s game will come to a close at 8 when the host Chadwick Bay Fury, which is composed of girls from Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Fredonia, and Brocton, take on the Hamburg Lady Dawgs under the lights at Prommenschenkel Stadium.

“The response for this event has been beyond our wildest dreams,” tournament organizer Kory Ahlstrom commented. “We have had a full field for months with several teams turned away. The feedback we have gotten from the other teams is that they are excited to come to Dunkirk and spend the weekend on the lake shore playing softball. We are excited and it should be fun.”

Games resume Saturday morning at 9 a.m. and continue all day with the final game beginning at 7:45 p.m. On Sunday, the 16 teams will be divided into two brackets for championship play, beginning at 9 a.m. with the finals expected to begin at approximately 3 p.m.

The full schedule can be found at https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=fury14u and the event is free for the public to attend.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today