WAUSAU – The local Wisconsin USA Softball Association, Wausau Area Softball Association and supporting partner, Wausau Central Wisconsin Sports Authority, were recognized with the James Farrell Award of Excellence for merit in conducting USA National Softball Championship tournaments, the Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau announced in June.
To earn the James Farrell Award of Excellence, cities must do an outstanding job of hosting a USA National Championship Tournament. The host city must receive an overall rating of 100 percent from the USA Representative, Umpire-In-Chief and National Office.
Wausau hosted the USA Softball Adult Modified Pitch tournament Labor Day weekend of 2017, consisting of 19 teams from around the country, with the winning team coming from Wakefield, Massachusetts. In 2018, two national champions were crowned for the 12U Class A and 10U Class B Northern National Girl’s Fast Pitch Softball tournament at the Sunnyvale Softball complex. A combined total of 23 teams vied for the titles in July 2018, with the Wisconsin Lightning from Salem, Wisconsin, taking the 12U title and KC Dirt Devils from Kansas City, Missouri, winning the 10U championship. Wausau has now received four James Farrell awards.
Photo courtesy Wausau/Central Wisconsin Convention & Visitors Bureau. Pictured with the 2017 and 2018 James Farrell awards are Scott Liegl, senior event administrator, Wausau Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau, from left, Kevin Meier, tournament director, Al Waldvogel, state umpire in chief, and Dick Barrett, executive director, Wausau Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
