Spring is officially here and outdoor softball season is as well. Both youth and adult softball seasons are either underway or about to take off in the next couple of weeks.
We are fortunate to have two great softball complexes here in Rochester. McQuillan Softball Complex has seven quality fields with a great softball atmosphere. Also the Rochester Youth Softball Complex has five outstanding youth fastpitch fields that continue to be developed and improved. Both complexes are home not only to local leagues during the week but also many tournaments throughout the spring and summer seasons.
Facility upkeep and maintenance is continuous, in order to maintain our great complexes.
We will be hosting two different fastpitch national tournaments at McQuillan in the next few months. First is the NJCAA Softball National Tournament, which is May 19-21. Minnesota will be represented with two teams, as the best eight teams in the nation compete over the three-day tournament for the national championship.
Our second national tournament is the ASA Northern National Fastpitch Championship for ages 10A, 10B and 18B. We are expecting 60-plus youth teams and their families from the Midwest over the four-day tournament.
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Improvements and updates need to continue in order for McQuillan to be a desired complex for state/regional and national tournaments. In 2008, the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission installed 200-foot temporary fencing on all seven fields at McQuillan, to be used for large fastpitch tournaments. Last spring Rochester Softball Association (RSA) completed a 40-foot by 80-foot covered, open-air pavilion and headquarters area at McQuillan.
The fields continue to be maintained daily by Park and Rec to keep them in the best possible condition.
At the Rochester Youth Softball Complex, work is already underway this spring on pouring dugout footings for the construction of dugouts on all five fields. There is hope that they will be built by fall.
Other local tournaments are also held at both facilities, both adult and youth. Athletes and teams continue to enjoy playing at our great facilities, as we continue to host local, state, regional and national events.
