Ever-growing Southern Warrior Classic softball tournament a warm getaway for out-of-state teams
The annual Southern Warrior Classic softball tournament will begin Thursday, and as usual, teams from several states will be competing in the event.
There will be 60 teams playing in the tournament, which is hosted by Riverdale, from Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, Indiana, Alabama and Kentucky.
"When I got here we had 20-something schools," said Riverdale coach Christi Bingham, who built up the schedule based on contacts from her years of coaching. "A lot of northern teams need places to go and get out of the weather. We were looking for the better teams. Coaches would tell other coaches, and it grew from that."
Heavy slates of games will be played Thursday through Saturday with games also being played Sunday through Wednesday of next week.
Games will be played at Riverdale, Blackman, Stewarts Creek, Smyrna and Oakland High Schools, as well as Murfreesboro's Barfield Park, McKnight Park and SportsCom,
Most area teams are playing in the tournament, including the host Lady Warriors, Blackman, Oakland, Smyrna, Stewarts Creek, La Vergne, Central Magnet and Siegel, although the defending state runner-up Lady Stars aren't playing until Tuesday.
Barbara Wolke, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the Southern Warrior Classic, as well as next week's Warrior Spring Classic baseball tournament, are huge factors in the ever-growing tourism dollars generated in the county.
"They do have a big impact," said Wolke. "Hotels (county-wide) are close to filling."
Wolke said overall tourism revenue reached $316 million in 2015 (the last figures generated), which was $9 million up from the previous year. She said the numbers were expected to be even higher for 2016 and this year is off to another good start.
"Those two events (Riverdale tournaments) are huge for us," she said. "Sports plays a huge part in that."
Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.
Southern Warrior Classic Softball Tournament
Thursday schedule
At Stewarts Creek
Lexington at Stewarts Creek, Noon
Lincoln Co. at Stewarts Creek, 4 p.m.
At Blackman
La Vergne vs. Southwestern Ind., 6 p.m.
La Vergne vs. Marshall Co., 8 p.m.
At Riverdale
South Elgin, Ill., vs. Riverdale, Noon
Baylor vs. Riverdale, 2 p.m.
At Smyrna
Smyrna vs. Bolton, 2 p.m.
Riverdale vs. BGA, 6 p.m.
Carl Sandburg, Ill, vs. Smyrna, 8 p.m.