by CJ Malinowskicjm@digitalsports.com(Look below for video hightlights)Club sports require numerous things: money, time, skill, dedication and, most of all, the ability to travel. And there was no greater exhibit of these qualities this weekend than the 2008 USSSA Mid-Atlantic Championships at the Ripken Complex in Aberdeen, Md.
Fourteen teams made the trip to Aberdeen to compete with the best of the best in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Teams traveled from five states up and down the east-coast: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
With teams traveling the distance, it asks the question, “Why?”
“The draw is the quality of play and to claim the title,” said tournament site director Jim Mullen. “Some of these teams are nationally recognized, and the better teams want to play other better quality teams.
“The overall concept of the tournament is the quality of teams in the Mid-Atlantic region, declaring a true region champion as opposed to a local title.”
Tournament champion Midway Orange Crush was glad to make the trip. Going a perfect 3-0 in pool play, the Crush went into the championship bracket as the number two seed, and upset the number one seeded Shamrocks, 2-1, in the championship final.
“Last week we were down in Virginia Beach, sectionals were home in the Wilmington area, and early August we will be going to York, Pennsylvania,” commented Mike Tony, father to a Midway Player. “We have a tournament almost every weekend.”
The Virginia based Shamrocks have also done their share of traveling. Head coach Tom Sims explained the cross-country traveling the girls do to face the nation’s top talent.
“Last weekend we were in Colorado. We’ve done PA, North Carolina and we are going down to Disney for the USSSA tournament in two weeks.
“That’s the whole goal. To get them exposed to new things instead of just the local. That’s why we like to travel, and the parents know it. They’re in it for that reason, to see teams from places like Texas and Oklahoma.”
But the traveling doesn’t just come together. There takes a great deal of planning, timing, and family sacrifice to make things work around the travel schedule.
Travel teams force parents to take off work, plan their personal and family schedules around tournaments, games and fundraisers. Vacations are often postponed, cancelled or never attempted due to rainouts, rescheduling or even conflicting team schedules.
“We vacation after the nationals in August,” explained Tony. “While you’re doing it, it is a bit hectic, but you have to resign yourself to that’s the way it is going to be.”
“It’s all planning,” said Sims. “It was tough in the spring with some of the girls playing high school ball and injuries.
“You sit there and try to map it out with who all is available and how many can make it. You just have to make that commitment.”
But Mullen explained the reason all the sacrifices are worth it; getting the girls to college. According to Mullen, top colleges take to club tournaments to see the most elite players and decide on whom to recruit.
So though it can be tough, tiring and down-right miserable, club softball girls will continue to travel, sacrifice and put off vacations, in hopes of working towards furthering their education.
Happy trails.
