THE inaugural Tamworth Top Gun Tournament for U15 softballers has attracted far-reaching interest.
Teams from Tweed Heads, Lismore, Orange and Manly will all be converging on the Riverside Softball Complex the weekend after this to compete for the Tamworth Top Gun Perpetual Trophy.
Tamworth Softball Association president Richard Webb said it was a good start to what is planned to be an ongoing annual event.
“With the U15 State Championships in Lismore at the end of November, it is an ideal warm-up event for the participating teams,” Webb said.
“And with the Manly Warringah Association sending a team, it will give the country teams a chance to measure up against a strong metropolitan team.”
Webb said the Tamworth Association had entered its U15 representative team and local club, United, had entered a development squad of U13 and U15 players.
“It’ll be a great opportunity for both teams to develop their games without the pressure of a regional or state championship,” he said.
The tournament had received great support from Softball NSW, who are keen to see it grow to be a major regional event.
Regional NSW does not have any significant softball events for this age group and the state body and Tamworth Softball Association, with the support of Tamworth Regional Council, are keen to make the Top Gun Tournament the peak event, Webb said.
“I guess you could say we hope it takes off,” he said.