A major new softball tournament for slowpitch and fastpitch players over 35 years of age will take place from October 19-26 this year on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
The Golden Oldies Softball Festival, which has combined with the former Vintage Softball Carnival, will feature slowpitch competition for co-ed, men's and women's teams and fastpitch competition for women's and men's teams.
The Golden Oldies Sports organisation runs a range of “Masters” sports events in rugby, cricket, hockey and netball, and is now adding softball to its stable.
Competition details
Age brackets will be 35+, 45+ and 55+ for fastpitch and 35+, 45+, 55+ and 65+ for slowpitch in four competition categories: competitive, semi-competitive, once-were-competitive and social.
Games will be played at three different softball parks on Oahu, but will only be played on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the Festival week, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing and socialising.
All teams are guaranteed eight games lasting 90 minutes (if necessary), and will play at all three Festival ballparks – Central Oahu Regional Park, Sand Island and Koko Head – during the course of competition. The Director of the Golden Oldies Softball Festival will be Hawaii ASA State Commissioner Don Meinel and all games will be run according to ISF regulations, which means co-ed slowpitch teams will be 5:5 and the pitching arc will be 6-12 feet.
Each team will play two games on the first day of the tournament in its nominated category so that organisers can ensure teams are evenly matched, and will also play two games on Finals Day, October 25, to determine winners and final placings.
Parties and entries
There will be an official Opening Party on the evening of Saturday, October 19 at the Waikiki Shell Beer Garden and a Grand Finale on Saturday, October 26 at Germaine’s Luau, where prizes and awards will be presented.
So far, entries have come from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States – including teams from Hawaii. Individual players looking to play in the tournament can be matched with teams that need to enhance their squads.
Teams and players will fly into Honolulu and packages at various hotels on Oahu, in different price ranges, can be seen on this link.
For more information or to enter, contact dee@goldenoldiessoftball.com.