(Marinscope: When you absolutely, 100% want Marin news.)
This weekend, July 7 – 9, Marin will witness the return of the Marin Summer Slam Girls Fastpitch Softball tournament after a nine-year hiatus. Twenty-five Bay Area girls fastpitch softball teams (seven to twelve years old) from Sonoma through Morgan Hill will play on Marin County dirt at Memorial Park in San Anselmo and at Redwood High School in Larkspur. Five Marin Tremors travel ball teams will compete in the tournament. The recently refurbished Memorial Park will serve as the Tournament Hub, with the newly renovated “Hit like a Girl” themed snack shack providing food and beverages to all of the players, fans, and families.
The Summer Slam’s first pitch will be thrown by Cal Bears pitcher and Archie William’s softball alum, Sona Halajian in the Friday 4:30 p.m. game featuring Marin Tremors Black vs Oakland Vipers Green at Memorial Field 1 (by the snack shack). This is extra special for the Tremors Black players who met Sona on the Cal field last spring after a game and have become her biggest fans. Sona often gives back to San Anselmo softball offering pitching clinics to aspiring pitchers and acting as both a role model and a pitching coach (pics below).
The reboot of the Summer Slam is momentous on multiple levels. Stephen Pringle, a long-tenured Board Member of San Anselmo Softball and former Marin Girls Softball board member, whose kids grew up in the program, has been wanting to bring this tournament back for years, and the renovation of the fields at Memorial Park this past winter, along with a re-energized Board and volunteer base has allowed this dream to become a reality.
The Slam is a culmination of hard work and dedication from many committed volunteers, including tournament co-Director, Darcy Bell (San Anselmo Softball and Marin Girls Softball Board Member), “I’ve spent the last year enjoying my daughter’s tournaments all over the Bay, and loved the idea of making this happen in our backyard. The softball community in Marin is special–with incredible athletes and supportive families, with views of Mount Tam in the background, great food choices, and impressive softball facilities. This is a big day for Marin Girls Softball and the Marin Tremors.”
Everything is coming full circle with the return of the Summer Slam. Kassidy Stetler, Cal State University, Monterey Bay Pitcher and Tremors/Tam High alum played in the Summer Slam in 2012 as a 10-year-old (coached by her father, Saor Stetler) and returns to the tournament this year as the Head Coach of the Marin Tremors Black team (10 and 11-year-olds), now sharing coaching duties with her dad.
Kassidy shared, “I’m excited to return to Summer Slam as a coach and mentor for these young girls. I have gotten so much from my softball experience so I am glad to be able to help the next generation. Being able to share it with my dad makes it even more special since he’s been with me through my whole softball journey.”
Tournament Details
- Teams will play three games each in pool play to inform their seeding for Sunday’s championship games (single elimination for 8U and 10U and double elimination for 12U)
- The game schedule can be found here: https://www.tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Tournament.aspx?IDTournament=h2023032916513643444fca0714d634e
- Attendees at Redwood High School will enjoy Ponchos Taco Truck and Lobos Ice Cream truck, and attendees at Memorial are encouraged to visit the many amazing restaurants next door at Red Hill Shopping Center, including The Hub Burgers, Pizzalina, Swirl Frozen Yogurt, and Red Hill Bakery–Go local!
- Games run from 4 p.m. Friday thru to approximately 6 pm Sunday. Trophies will be given out to Gold and Silver winners by tournament Directors after each championship game on Sunday.
- The highly sought-after “bow lady” who creates custom softball bows, jewelry, and more, and Fine Designs custom shirt printing will be on-site at Memorial Saturday and Sunday.
ABOUT MARIN TREMORS
Marin Tremors is the competitive travel ball and summer club program for Marin Girls Softball. Marin Tremors is open to all registered Marin Girls Softball players and field teams from 8U to 14U.
MGS Tremors hosts teams with players that range from the elite to the developing player.
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