Local Sports

97 teams begin Chadwick Bay Softball Bash today

The largest single weekend softball tournament in Western New York, the Chadwick Bay Softball Bash returns to the area this weekend for its 5th annual installment.

This year’s edition will welcome 97 teams to the area from four states and Canada, conducted on fields across the region spanning from Dunkirk to Chautauqua Lake. Tournament titles will be awarded in five different age divisions from 10-18.

Wright Park in Dunkirk will again be the tournament epicenter with five fields running throughout the weekend. However, three fields of competition can be found at Dunkirk High School and Fredonia State University, while Fredonia Little League will again host two contests simultaneously all day each day. Other locations where spectators can find games throughout the weekend include Brocton Little League and High School and Chautauqua Lake High School.

"Once again the response and demand for this event has been beyond our wildest dreams," commented tournament organizer Kory Ahlstrom. "In year one we sold out a 16-team field in one division, this year we have expanded our "maximum" capacity multiple times and will welcome 97 teams and still have a waiting list of teams who want to play. We currently have over 1,100 girls rostered to play in this event. It’s amazing! The feedback we have gotten from the other teams is that they are excited to come to Northern Chautauqua County and spend the weekend on the lakeshore playing softball. We are excited and it should be fun. The support from the community has been tremendous, and I need to offer my sincere thanks to Dunkirk Little League, the City of Dunkirk and Dunkirk City School District, SUNY Fredonia, Silver Creek Central Schools, Brocton Schools, Brocton Little League and the Fredonia Little League for seeing the value this event provides to the community and for their partnership and hospitality all these organizations truly have stepped forward for the youth of the community for this event. Every hotel from Hamburg to Jamestown is packed and we are expecting the area to be jumping with visitors all weekend."

The public is encouraged to "swing" by and enjoy the event. In addition to exciting softball the tournament will feature full concessions and custom waterfront themed tournament logo apparel being produced and sold at the Little League Complex, Dunkirk High School and Fredonia Little League on Saturday and Sunday.

Games begin in earnest Friday at 5 p.m. with the host Chadwick Bay 14U team playing at 6:40 at the Stadium, the Chadwick Bay 12U team playing at 8:20 at the Dunkirk Little Complex and the Chadwick Bay 16U team playing at 8:20 at Dunkirk High School.

A complete schedule for the weekend can be found on the tournament website and app at https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Tournament.aspx?IDTournament=h20250910141501159f6e387d63c014b.