Last Call took home the championship in the E-class division at the 2023 Herald Chronicle Softball Tournament. Kneeling, from left, are Hunter Neal, Logan Malone, Grant Kochevar, Alex Traynom, Cade Cooper and Caleb Lewis. Standing are Correy Gillies, Brad Mitchell, Derek Basinger, Rob Taylor, Mitchell Doyle, Jordan Price and Garrett Miller.
Last Call took home the championship in the E-class division at the 2023 Herald Chronicle Softball Tournament. Kneeling, from left, are Hunter Neal, Logan Malone, Grant Kochevar, Alex Traynom, Cade Cooper and Caleb Lewis. Standing are Correy Gillies, Brad Mitchell, Derek Basinger, Rob Taylor, Mitchell Doyle, Jordan Price and Garrett Miller.
The 42nd edition of the Herald Chronicle Softball Tournament is scheduled for May 31 through June 2 at the Winchester City Park as the event will look to match the record highs it set in 2023.
The Chronicle tournament hosted an event-record 80 teams in 2023 with Steven Lovvorn, the state adult program director for the Independent Sports Association, saying on May 13 that the field is expected to be filled at a similar level this year.
“I put it out there, and in two days, I had 60 teams signed up. Right now, I’ve got 72 on the board and a waiting list with about 14 on it now,” he said. “We’re going to fill back up to 80 easily.”
Lovvorn said that 80 is a reasonable maximum for the Chronicle tournament, and he is happy to be approaching that milestone for a second year in a row.
“When you reach a standard, you don’t want to come back from it, but it’s hard to go much further forward too. It’s a good problem to have,” he said.
The Herald Chronicle Softball Tournament raises money for the Franklin County High School girls basketball team with FCHS head girls basketball coach Darrell Jolley saying that the money will particularly benefit the team on various trips for the rest of the year in addition to helping with uniform and equipment needs.
“Especially this year, it’ll be huge because we’re going to four different camps this summer, plus we’re going to Pigeon Forge during Christmas to play,” Jolley said. “All of those funds raised will go toward the group for the girls and for those trips.”
Jolley, who has also been heavily involved with the Chronicle tournament over the years as Winchester’s recreation director, had said previously that the Chronicle has evolved into one of the biggest gathering places for softball players in the area.
“It’s just the talk of softball, being the best tournament in the state of Tennessee. It’s bigger than most state and world tournaments,” he had said. “We’ve had people get engaged at the Herald Chronicle. We’ve had people get married at the Herald Chronicle. It’s just a great scene of not just softball, but people visiting people.
“People that don’t play all the time always play in this tournament. I know a lot of people that I used to play with that have retired from playing, but they always play in this one, mainly just to see old friends.”
Lovvorn echoed Jolley’s sentiments regarding the importance of the Chronicle tournament on the softball calendar.
“It’s not just a tournament. It’s an event. People come and they’ll tell you, if they go 0-2, to hang out and watch the games and the camaraderie that goes on around those games is just something they don’t want to miss,” he said.
The tournament will feature six divisions with men’s recreational, E-class, D-class and open brackets as well as upper and lower ladies brackets.
For the second straight year, a portion of the games will be played at H.V. Griffin Park in Shelbyville on June 1. All potential elimination games and all games on May 31 and June 2 will be played in Winchester.
Players, parents and others involved with the FCHS girls basketball team will be volunteering their time to help make sure the event runs smoothly with Jolley saying that the parents have done a great job in the planning process.
“We’ve had a couple booster meetings, and parents are working on getting stuff donated,” he said, referring to stocking the concession stand for the tournament. “It’s a great group of parents. They show up for the meetings, they’ve worked hard in the past and they’re still doing the same, but for them to work and their kids to work so that we don’t have to pay out-of-pocket for any of the stuff we buy, it’s a big asset.”
There will be no parking or entrance fees for spectators, meaning anyone can drive in to catch the action throughout the weekend.
“If you like any softball and like to be out by the lake, come out and visit and get a barbecue sandwich, hamburger or cheeseburger,” Jolley said. “Just come out and enjoy the lake and some games. I’m sure you’ll find somebody you know to talk to.”
Teams wishing to still sign up for the tournament can do so by calling Lovvorn at 931-703-2019. Entry fees are $350 per team with an additional $45 fee if the team is not already sanctioned with the ISA.
