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Easton Winter Nationals Bounds into Big League
Nov 13, 2006 Easton Winter Nationals Bounds into Big League Fort Myers' Tourney Hits 139 Team Mark in 2006 Fort Myers, Florida – The Easton Winter Nationals blossomed last year into one of the largest senior tournaments in the country – and this year, organizers are expecting an even larger turnout. "The tournament increased to 139 teams in 2006 from 89 teams in 2005," said Fran Dowell, National Tournament Director. "And this year – for the first time – we are promoting it to teams west of the Mississippi River". "The growth of the tournament is a testament to the collaboration of ISA, the Florida Half Century Club and Senior Softball-USA", said Dowell. The tournament will be held November 9 to November 15, in Lee and Collier County. Easton, the title sponsor, and Senior Softball-USA provide an excellent prize package – including the rings specially designed by Josten's for the event. In addition, the local organizing committee has been instrumental in making sure players and their families feel more than welcome in the beautiful Fort Myers/Naples area. "The Winter Nationals have grown to be a vital part of Lee County's annual sports event calendar," said Jeff Mielke, executive director of the Lee County Sports Authority. "We can't emphasize enough how proud we are to be a partner with Senior Softball USA," he said. "The Winter Nationals have quickly grown into a large, impressive annual event that generates millions of dollars of economic impact for Lee County, Florida." "We encourage players and their families to take a few extra days and enjoy our relaxing beach community," Mielke added. The collaboration has been so successful that Senior Softball-USA has signed a five-year agreement to continue to bring the Winter Nationals to Fort Myers. While the very thought of playing during the winter months is chilling to most athletes, they'll warm up to the idea when they arrive in Fort Myers. The fields are always in pristine condition and this year more fields available. Lee County will partner with Collier County for this event to utilize the recently completed North Collier Regional Park. This facility will add an additional five lighted fields to the venue inventory. Outside the diamonds, players find will Fort Myers is a thriving city that boasts many entertainment options, history and nature. It serves as a gateway to a stretch of islands known for the pristine white-sand beaches.
A complete schedule can be viewed at www.seniorsoftball.com. Questions regarding this event should be directed to the Lee County Sports Authority at 344-5201 or Dave Dowell event director at 919-529-7511 |