Connect Sports, Chattanooga Sports, a division of Chattanooga Tourism Co., and Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors have teamed up with The Alliance Fastpitch to host the inaugural Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals. Tim Morgan with Chattanooga Sports says, “Our collaborative team approach convinced The Alliance Fastpitch that we have the venues, the resources, and the local technical expertise to produce this new event.” Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals will be hosted in Chattanooga for a minimum of 5 years, but all parties involved are in favor of a much longer relationship. 85 teams from 24 states will descend upon the Scenic City for this 5 day event. National Champions will be crowned in the 14U, 16U, and 18U age divisions, with championship games set for Sunday, July 31. 10U and 12U divisions will be added in 2023. Multiple college programs will attend with the intent to recruit potential student athletes.
According to Chattanooga Sports, this nearly weeklong event is set to have an estimated economic impact of 3.2 million dollars.
A unique component of the AFON is its incorporation of 2 exhibition games with a professional softball team, the Florida Vibe, and a collegiate all star team, Team Alliance. Exhibition Game 1 will be part of the AFON Opening Ceremonies Tuesday night and Game 2 will be Wednesday evening, featuring a charity homerun derby prior to the game. These games will feature recent NCAA National Champions, All Americans, All Conference players and more. Local standouts include Jana Johns from Calhoun, Rachel Gibson of Heritage High School, and Baylor School grad Sophie Piskos.
The goal for this event is to exceed 200 attending teams in 2023 and add an additional 100 teams each year after. The partnership between The Alliance Fastpitch, Connect Sports, Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors, and Chattanooga Sports continues to expand. Numerous additional Alliance events in Chattanooga are being discussed and considered.
About Connect Sports
A Chattanooga based event management company focused on driving sports tourism by hosting softball collegiate showcases throughout the southeast. Connect Sports connects the athlete with their potential future while connecting communities to the economic benefits of hosting softball events. Connect Sports is owned and operated by lifetime Chattanooga residents Jill and Jeremy Higdon. For more information, please visit: www.connectsports-events.com
Connect Sports Contacts:
Jill Higdon
jillchigdon@connectsportsevents.com
(423) 504-5970
Jen Carden
jencarden@connectsportsevents.com
(423)710-4949
Jill C Higdon
Executive Director, Connect Sports, LLC
