​Pictured: Proceeding the Veteran's Tribute Showcase will be the men's softball Red White and Blue Challenge featuring veterans who've overcome great obstacles to compete on the playing field.

November 14-15, 2015: Veteran's Tribute Showcase

For Will Tomasello, the head of the Georgia Impact travel organization and one of the key figures in producing the Veteran’s Tribute Showcase that kicks off today and runs through Sunday, this event isn’t just another softball showcase.

It’s a personal tie-in to family members who served in the military and ultimately gave their lives defending our country.

“Veteran’s Day for us as a family is a very spiritual, holy day,” he begins. “My dad served in the Korean War and I had one uncle who was in World War II and three great uncles who served in World War I.”

“All of them gave their lives in military service and two died directly in combat and two died from complications from their service. I also have a nephew who served in Afghanistan so we felt a sense of duty to honor veterans like these.”

In its second year, that was the idea behind creating a softball event around the holiday.

“As we get older,” Tomasello continues, “we get more reflective and believe the least we can do is honor those who came before us and for us fastpitch fanatics we get to combine the sport we love with recognizing those who’ve do so much for us as a nation.”

The Veteran’s Tribute takes place in Woodstock, Canton and Marietta, Georgia and features 102 teams in the 16U and 14U age divisions. Last fall, the first-year of the Tribute, saw 84 teams compete.

Tomasello explains that the fall showcase came as a result of the great success of the summer Atlanta Legacy tournament.

“Coming into the Veteran’s Day weekend two years ago, several teams and coaches and approached us saying they liked the summer event and requested we do something similar in the fall.  This gave us a chance to pause and reflect on how great it would be to respect those who gave their lives up for their country.”

Already, before the first pitch has been thrown for the second year of the event, the response has been so great that the showcase— produced by Legacy Events out of Forest Park, Georgia—has had 18U coaches pleading to let them participate as well.  With that support, Legacy has agreed to add the oldest age group which will swell the number of participating teams to 190.

Another aspect of the Veteran’s Tribute that serves it well is timing.  It falls in nicely after two other premier South-based events—the Diamond 9 Sun Fall Classic and the Scenic City Fall Tournament.  

Plus, team’s from the Northern states are more than happy to leave the increasingly cold weather to play in Georgia while the temperatures are still playable.

High school ball in the Peach State is played in the fall, but at this point has concluded meaning local organizations as well as top East Coast programs ranging from Michigan and Illinois in the Midwest to Florida in the South can get in a last big tournament of the year.

“For Northern teams it’s already cold,” Tomasello adds, “but in the South we can still play in November and North squads really like the fact it’s still 48 to 61 degrees here this weekend.”

The list of participating team’s is a Who’s Who of many the best club teams the East Coast has to offer: from the Georgia Impact, Atlanta Vipers and East Cobb Bullets within the state borders to the Beverly Bandits (Illinois), Birmingham Thunderbolts (Alabama), Carolina Elite, Gold Coast Hurricanes (Florida), New Jersey Pride and Tennessee Fury Platinum from across state lines.

The level of competition—especially for a second-year event—is stellar and Tomasello says one another key to the Veteran Tribute’s success is good old fashioned Southern hospitality.

“This is a signature event because of the fact that much of the money raised is poured into hospitality for the college coaches—from cut fruit to specialty drinks, from vegan meals to enclosed heated tents, WiFi at the parks and even cell phone charging stations—it’s all about making sure the coaches are taken care of.”

As many as 150 college coaches are expected to attend and the games are even more valuable this weekend after rain cut short the competition last weekend in Tennessee.

They certainly will be treated well, no matter the weather, and it’s not just them Tomasello explains.

“We want the college coaches to feel appreciated, but we also take care of the umpires.  Both groups will get three meals a day. It’s become our thing, Legacy means Southern Hospitality and along with that you’re going to get some really good softball.”

But one of the most special aspects of the Veteran’s Tribute Showcase takes place Friday night well before the fastpitch games commence on Saturday.

Legacy Events has partnered with VETSports, a nationwide non-profit helping Veterans, to create an exhibition charity softball game at Hobgood Park in Woodstock Georgia called the Red White and Blue Challenge.

The contest will feature one team comprised of veterans such as Brian Taylor Urruela, an infantryman in the Army who lost his right leg in Iraq in 2011 when his vehicle was destroyed by two roadside bombs and his commander was killed.

He and veterans with similar challenges who’ve overcome hardships play together and build comraderie through softball.

“When we come together,” Urruela says, “everyone lets their guard down and we start to heal.  With each game, our bond grows.”

In the other dugout will be the Georgia Impact Legends, a 50-and-older men’s team that participates in tournaments across the country and is comprised of former elite men’s softball players, several who have made it to the sport’s Hall of Fame.

“The idea for the game is similar to Wounded Warriors,” Tomasello says, “as guys came together to help vets deal with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). We have men’s players coming from multiple states on their own dime to play and they all take it very seriously. The VETSports team has guys who are decorated veterans and Purple Heart winners coming into town to play.”

Impressively, the Veteran’s Tribute organizers are donating hotel rooms that would usually be comped for college coaches and VIPs to veterans attending this weekend’s festivities and games so they don’t incur higher expenses.

Tickets have also been donated to outside activities like the Georgia Aquarium.  

“Everyone in the community has gotten behind this thing,” marvels Tomasello.  

Tying it all together will be the inclusion of many of the girls’ fastpitch players prior to the exhibition game. During the presentation of colors, the outfield will be lined by the club athletes who have family members who’ve served in the military.

“These kids need to understand what it means and why Veteran’s Day is such an important day,” the event director believes. “We think by having them on the field with such heroes, it will tie it all together and make sure everyone understands this isn’t just about competitive softball, which it is, but it’s about so much more.”

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VETERAN’s TRIBUTE: TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR:

14U
 
1.    Sara Mosley (Georgia Impact-Stewart)
2.    Chandler Dennis (Georgia Impact-Stewart)
3.    Shelby Lowe (Alabama Twister)
4.    Maci Cunconan (Birmingham Thunderboltz Dorsett)
5.    Jordan Manning (Birmingham Thunderboltz Dorsett)
 
16U

1.   Cheyenne Lindsey (Frost Falcons)
2.   Kristen Green (Vipers- Moore)
3.   Kelsey Bennett (Atlanta Premier-Perkins)
4.   Aspen Goodwin (Southern Spirit)
5.   Katie Goldberg (Georgia Impact-Lewis)
6.   Montana Fouts (Beverly Bandits)
 
VETERAN’s TRIBUTE: TOP TEAMS TO WATCH FOR:
 
14U
 
1.    Beverly Bandits
2.    Atlanta Vipers-Jiles
3.    Birmingham Thunderbolts-Dorsett
4.    Georgia Impact-Stewart
5.    Florida Storm-Sacco
 
16U
 
1.    Georgia Impact National-Lewis
2.    Beverly Bandits
3.    Florida Fire-Watson
4.    Frost Falcons-Frost
5.    Tennessee Fury Platinum-Higdon