All-American Women's Baseball Classic, international croquet put Sarasota County in spotlight
The second annual All-American Women's Baseball Classic tournament spotlighting the nation's top women's baseball players will be held on Nov. 17-19 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
Hosted by American Girls Baseball, an affiliate of the All-American Girl's Professional Baseball League Players Association, and Visit Sarasota County, the event features 52 elite female baseball players from across the country, including many from the USA Baseball's 2023 Women's National Team. The coaches include former major leaguers John Frascatore and Dick Drago.
"My time to play may be over, but American Girls Baseball is here to start a new era for modern-day female baseball players," said Sue Zipay, founder and president of American Girls Baseball. "We aim to provide new opportunities to train, participate, and compete in the game of baseball at every level, including high school, college, and professional. Having played for the Rockford Peaches in 1953 and 1954, I've been on a mission to create a professional baseball league for girls and women who want to have a future in this sport."
The tournament's teams are paying homage to the legacy of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League by adopting the names of its original four teams from 1943 to 1954: the Rockford Peaches, South Bend Blue Sox, Racine Belles, and Kenosha Comets.
There also will be a free skills clinic conducted by the tournament players for girls up to 16 years old on Nov. 20. Register for a free spot at form.jotform.com/232133430358953.
For tickets to the All-American Women's Baseball Classic, visit mlb.com/orioles/spring-training/all-american-womens-baseball-classic. Sponsors for the tournament include Sarasota Ford and Wrigley Media Group. Sponsorships are still available by visiting americangirlsbaseball.org.
American Girls Baseball was created in 2019 to benefit female baseball players who want to have a choice between softball and baseball and provide them with opportunities to train, participate, and compete. Visit americangirlsbaseball.org for more information.
International croquet event
The Sarasota County Croquet Club and the United States Croquet Association, in partnership with Visit Sarasota County, is hosting the prestigious Solomon Trophy this week at Wellfield Park, 1400 Lucaya Ave., in Venice.
The triennial event features the best croquet players from the United States against Great Britain on the newly improved facilities at the Sarasota County Croquet Club. The competition runs Nov. 8-12. The Solomon Trophy event, held every three years under international game rules, begins Nov. 9. Admission is free.
The Sarasota Croquet Club, founded 25 years ago, has evolved into a flourishing community with 250 members and seven full-sized croquet courts. The selection of Sarasota as the event's host location underscores the club's commitment to maintaining a world class playing surface. Visit sarasotacountycroquet.com.
"We are thrilled to host the prestigious Solomon Trophy in Sarasota," said John Goldener, president of the Sarasota County Croquet Club. "It's a testament to our commitment to the sport and our continuous efforts to provide the best facilities for our members and guests. This is not the backyard croquet that you remember. We invite everyone to come and witness the skill of the players who compete at the international level.”
For information, visit tinyurl.com/b334emxb or croquetamerica.com. The tournament also will be streamed live on YouTube at youtube.com/@rdilleyuscacroquet5319.
Submissions by Mia Kurecki
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Women's Baseball Classic, international croquet come to Sarasota County
