Copa Cup Challenge set to swing July 14-15

Softball will be the game of the month this July in Maricopa as the city holds the first-ever Copa Cup Challenge Softball Tournament.

The tournament, set for July 14-15 at Pacana Park, is looking for 12 teams to fill out this men’s slow pitch event, and there is a $225 entry fee. On Saturday, July 14, at 2 p.m. sluggers can pay $10 to enter the home run derby contest. The winner will receive a $100 gift card to the Sports Authority or Sports Chalet (winner’s choice).

Teams from all over Arizona are eligible to play in the tournament, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis. The tournament is limited to men’s C/D teams.

According to Marty McDonald, director of Parks, Recreation and Libraries for The City of Maricopa, since starting adult softball last fall, there were several requests to run tournaments. “This tournament will become our signature summer tournament, and we will add a coed division to it next year,” McDonald said.

McDonald mentioned that the following tournaments have been lined up for the remainder of this year and next: Founders Day Classic (Oct. 4-7), New Year’s Bat Buster (Jan. 3-6, 2008) and the Chili Pepper Shoot Out (weekend before Salsa Festival, April 17-20, 2008).

When asked if the city plans to potentially make the Copa Cup Challenge a long-term event, McDonald added, “We do. We’re looking to stabilize our tournaments until we can get a larger softball complex, however. We have been approached by a handful of folks in the community who want to host a benefit softball tournament, and we’ll work with them to find availability. Ultimately, we hope to get one or possibly two of these tournaments sanctioned so winning teams earn berths in state or even national tournaments.”

One tournament that McDonald said is currently being planned is the King of the County Tournament. This would pit eight teams from each city in Pinal County who would play in a local qualifier tournament. The top two teams from each tournament move on to face other teams from Pinal County. “It will be modeled after the NCAA Tournament in some aspect,” McDonald said. “We want to pit the top teams from Coolidge, Florence and Casa Grande against our best.”

For further information on the Copa Cup Challenge, call (520) 568-9098, ext. 204, or visit www.cityofmaricopa.net/softball.html.