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Baseball, Softball Tourneys Generate $4 Million

Tallahassee tourism promoters are hoping to score big on a series of state, regional and national baseball and softball tournaments. The events are projected to draw 9,000 visitors.

Brian Hickey, senior sports sales manager for Visit Tallahassee, says the ripple effect will be felt.

“Overall, the total is about 9 thousand visitors to our community that are going to bring about 4 million dollars in direct spending. That’s $4 million new dollars to our community.”

The lineup of tournaments includes the ASA Black World Championships, U.S. Fast-Pitch Sunshine State, Black Softball Circuit Super National, and ASA Dizzy Dean Gold Star Elite.

The money is a big deal for Leon County, the competition is a big deal for the players, Hickey says.

“It’s the end of the road. It’s where they get the rings or the big trophies. It’s what they’ve been competing for all year.”

The events take place mostly in June at the James Messer Complex and the Florida State University Rec-Plex.

A Miami native, former WFSU reporter Jim Ash is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience, most of it in print. He has been a member of the Florida Capital Press Corps since 1992.