The softball invasion of Aurora and Colorado is over, as more than 1,000 fastpitch teams from all corners of the country in several age groups have departed after the end of Triple Crown Sports’ Colorado 4th of July event.
Competition in age groups 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U took place at several venues around Aurora, including the Aurora Sports Park, Arapahoe Little League Complex, Olympic Park, Horseshoe Park and others, as well as Denver, Westminster, Erie and several other places.
In just over a week, the tournament saw more than 1,100 teams compete in 4,000-plus contests that were overseen by more than 500 umpires. Many of the elite teams in the country had rosters filled with future Division I prospects, while the tournament also provided plenty of exposure for players as more than 500 college coaches of various levels were in attendance.
Championship games were played July 2 with some teams finishing up just ahead of flights home as some contests ran longer than expected, like the 14U Power Pool National final between the OC Batbusters White Hudson team and the Impact Gold 2K9 National.
Colorado’s severe weather definitely had an impact, as some games were wiped out by rain, lightning and hail, while contests were held from early morning to late night.
— Sports Editor Courtney Oakes