MLive.com Blog
Geoff Mott | The Saginaw News
MIDLAND — Fastpitch softball enthusiasts from around the globe will be watching the 63rd annual International Softball Congress World Tournament when play starts Friday at Midland’s Emerson Park.
“We began audio streaming games over the Internet in 2001 and added video streaming in 2005,†ISC Executive Director Ken Hackmeister said.
“We’ve had an outstanding response to it, particularly overseas. We take e-mails from viewers and listeners and it’s amazing to see how they come from the different corners of the world. New Zealand, Argentina, Europe, Australia … they are from everywhere.
“Midland will get a tremendous amount of exposure worldwide.â€
Hotels in Midland are full and spilling over into the Great Lakes Bay Region to accommodate 48 teams from all over North America. Midland is just the second Michigan city to host the ISC tournament — the first was Saginaw in 1981.
The tournament, a double-elimination format that includes the ISC II tournament for teams quickly eliminated, wraps up with championship games on Aug. 21. The inaugural Legends Tournament and ISC 19-under World Tournament also will take place in Midland.
“Midland is the perfect place to host a tournament like this,†said Kyle Beane, co-host of the tournament committee who’ll play in his 16th ISC World Tournament. “I know the Explorers will do well in front of the hometown crowd.
“There’s always been good support here. The actual number has dwindled as the sport has fallen out of the amateur sporting eye, but we sold 300 tournament passes before it started. Compared to other hosts, that’s a good number. Other tournaments haven’t sold a third of that.â€
Action will be aplenty in Midland all week, including times when six softball games will be going at the same time. Two separate free clinics are available to boys up to 18 years old, a Special Olympics and ISC exhibition game takes place Wednesday night and fans can meet stars from yesteryear at the ISC Hall of Fame breakfast Sunday.
