Konstantin Vengerowsky/Clarendon Citizen - Turbeville Recreation Department Director Ike Ard has been preparing for two years for the 2012 State Softball Championship Tournament in three divisions. The tournament will be held July 13-19.
T’ville to host state tournament
The Town of Turbeville will host the 2012 State Softball Championship Tournament for three divisions, July 13-19, at the Smith Field Recreation Complex off Gamble Road.
A total of 24 teams, including 390 coaches and players will be in Turbeville for the tourney. Three local teams will participate.
The three divisions playing will include Dixie Ponytails Traditional (ages 12 and under), Dixie Ponytails X-Play (ages 12 and under) and Dixie Debs (ages 18 and under). There are six teams in the Ponytails Traditional division, 10 teams in the Ponytails X-Play and eight teams in the Dixie Debs division. Clarendon County’s Ponytails Traditional team as well as Turbeville’s Ponytails X-Play and Turbeville’s Debs teams will play.
The tournament will start with a welcome banquet for players and coaches on Friday, July 13 at 6 p.m. Turbeville Mayor Dwayne Howell will give the welcome followed by a speech by Beverly Smith, University of South Carolina Head Softball Coach. East Clarendon High School Booster Club will be selling hamburgers and hot dogs outside the school.
The tournament is being funded through aSouth Carolina DepartmentofParks, Recreationand Tourism PARD grant as well as The Town of Turbeville. Ike Ard, Turbeville Recreation Department director, said that the town has three regulation-size fields and one backup field.
Ard said that he and his staff have done numerous renovations to get the fields ready for competition. The refurbishing included adding a dirt “turface” on all four fields, replacing the fencing on two of the fields, and adding and or remodeling existing bleachers.
Howell said that this tournament could have an economic impact not only Turbeville but Clarendon County as whole, as many of the teams’ players, coaches and fans will be lodging and dining in Turbeville and Manning.
Clarendon and Turbeville’s teams begin play on July 14 at Smith Field Recreation Complex. Clarendon County’s Dixie Ponytails Traditional team start play at 7:30 p.m. Turbeville’s Debs start play at 7:30 p.m., and Turbeville’s Dixie X-Play Ponytails start play at 8 p.m.
