For the third year in a row, the City of Las Cruces is hosting the prestigious Global World Series Youth Baseball Tournament sanctioned by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). The event will be held July 3-6 at Apodaca Park, 801 E. Madrid, Harty, 1840 E. Hadley, MAAG, 1500 E. Hadley and Paz, 1874 E. Hadley. More than 90 teams and approximately 1,300 players are participating from New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. It’s the best of the best, with some of the most talented athletes from the Southwest vying for the coveted World Series Rings. These pre-qualified teams are competing in seven age divisions ranging from 8-13, and each team will play a minimum of six games during the five-day event. The tournament kicks-off with opening ceremonies on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5:30 p.m. at Apodaca Sports Complex. Las Cruces City Councilor Miguel Silva will take the mound for the ceremonial first pitch to be followed by the Parade of Teams. Activities move over to the MAAG Park Complex at 7 p.m. for the Team Social and Skills Competition. Teams compete in the Round the Horn, Accuracy Throw, and Base Running competition. Parents also get their shot at the lime-light with a Parent Base Running competition. The opening ceremonies is capped off with a Home Run Derby and a foot-long, hot-dog eating contest. The event is important to the City and organizers are rolling out the red carpet, or in this case the white chalk lines, to make sure everyone attending this event has a memorable experience. “We want to showcase the city, its facilities, and most importantly, we want to ensure a great experience for the teams and their families,” said Vic Favley, West Texas/New Mexico State Director for USSSA. “We are pleased to host this event for the third consecutive year, and Las Cruces is a great city to celebrate one of our nation’s greatest past times, baseball. It’s also ‘cream on the apple pie’ when you get to do it on the 4th of July weekend.” The fee for spectators to attend is $8 per day for individuals 12 and older, and $20 per person for a tournament pass. Children under 5 years get in free. This event coincides with the City’s 4th of July celebrations, and patrons can enjoy those festivities as well as the spectacular fireworks display. Las Cruces is one of 11 sites selected by USSSA to host this colossal sporting event. The other regional tournament sites include Gulf Shores, Alabama, Kansas City, Missouri, Destin, Florida, Dripping Springs, Texas, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Des Moines Iowa, Denver, Colorado, West Covina, California and Spartanburg, South Carolina. For more information contact Vic Falvey, West Texas/NM State Director for USSSA at (915) 203-0499 or Edward Carnathan, Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sports Sales Manager at (575)-644-5653.
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