South Shore CVA partners annual National Softball Association World Series week with opening night skills competition

Softball players from all across the country have taken Crown Point by storm, as the National Softball Association (NSA) World Series week got started on Tuesday, July 14. This event is sponsored in partnership with the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (CVA), and the opening day featured the annual skills competition.

Jimmy Nelson, director of sports for the South Shore CVA, considers this week to be one of the highlights of the summer in Northwest Indiana.

“Multiple nights this week, you’ll see thousands of people for this one event in town,” Nelson said. “At the same time, they’re going to visit restaurants. They’re going to use food trucks and other vendors at the opening ceremonies. They’re going to see all the attractions in this area immediately, such as the beach, the mall, or the waterpark. We’ve got 135 teams registered this week, and everybody loves to make a vacation out of it – the players, coaches, and the families.”

Not only does this week help out the South Shore CVA and the Crown Point community, but it has put the Region in the spotlight through this booming economic event.

“The economy is boosted all week long for this, estimating between $7 and $12 million for economic impact,” Nelson said. “We’ve been doing this for many years, since the early 2000s, and we hope to keep this relationship going strong. We’re here to continue building upon it, and we’re thankful for the NSA and all the families who come out to support it.”

What makes the skills competition so special is more than just the kick off to a fun week; it also builds connections between the players and coaches. Bill Horton, president and CEO of the NSA, enjoys watching the teams compete across various competitions.

“This is where they all get to just have fun. The skills competition is always a great opportunity for the girls to win, but also letting loose and involved in some other things if they split their team up enough,” Horton said. “We’ve got the pin swap, we’ve got the DJ – it makes for a fun day for everybody coming in.”

Horton noted that the partnership between the NSA, South Shore CVA, and the City of Crown Point has been a long one – a connection that would be impossible to generate these results without.

“Our partnerships with these Crown Point facilities have been strong with the NSA throughout the years. I still remember the first few years we started here in Northwest Indiana, and now it’s even better with these fields at the Crown Point Sportsplex. The relationship with this community, along with the South Shore CVA group, has made this a success for the past several years,” Horton said.

Opening day was reserved for primarily the skills competition, while the week has a slate of action for the days to come. Pool play games start on Wednesday, July 15. On Thursday, July 16, games continue and the NSA World Series Opening Night parade takes place to lead into the highlight of the week: bracket games. By the time of the parade, the bracket will be set for teams to play out the tournament throughout the weekend from July 17-19.

“We have U8 through U18 playing here all week long at our four different locations in Crown Point, Schererville, Dyer, and La Porte,” Nelson said. “Regardless of the level, you’re going to have great competition all week long. The girls are excited, I’m fired up, and we’re all ready to play some ball.”

To stay updated on the latest news, scores and scheduling information with the rest of the NSA World Series week, you can visit nsafastpitchworldseries.com. For more information on the South Shore CVA, you can visit southshorecva.com.