A ceremonial first pitch was held for the second annual Chadwick Bay Softball Bash at the Dunkirk Little League Complex. Pictured, from left, are: Mikaylee Baliya from Fredonia, who plays for Mel Ott 16U; Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas; Maria Dolce from Dunkirk, who plays for the Dunkirk 12U All-Stars; Kassidy Donisi from Dunkirk, who plays for Chadwick Bay Softball; Gary Haase, Dunkirk Little League president; and Aaliyah Morales from Dunkirk, who plays for Amherst Lightning 16U. Submitted photo

DUNKIRK — Even if you’re not in the lineup, there’s still plenty to enjoy this weekend when 40 girls fast-pitch softball teams take the fields in Dunkirk.

The three fields of the Dunkirk Little League Complex along with Prommenschenkel Stadium, and the School 7 softball field will host the lion’s share of the games with additional contests being decided on the turf and softball fields of the Dunkirk High School Athletic Complex.

Teams from all over New York and Pennsylvania will battle it out for the tournament championship over the course of the weekend as the city plays host to families from Syracuse to Wellsville to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between.

“This is an exciting event for the city of Dunkirk,” Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas said. “Last year Wright Park was alive with activity during the tournament and this year’s event will welcome over twice as many participants to Dunkirk. Last spring Kory (Ahlstrom) pitched me an idea to showcase the top-notch sports and recreation facilities available in the city and have those families patronize hotels, shops, stores and restaurants of the city. At last check every hotel in the area is nearly full. I’m hopeful some local residents will come on down and support the girls and enjoy the weekend as well and this becomes an annual fixture for the city. The park looks amazing, city staff have done a fantastic job I can’t wait to welcome our guests.”

The public is encouraged to “swing” by and enjoy the event. In addition to competitive softball, the tournament will feature full concessions and custom waterfront-themed tournament logo apparel being produced and sold at the Little League complex Saturday and Sunday. Also, the girls of the Dunkirk High School softball program will be conducting fundraisers to support their program.

“The feedback we have gotten from the other teams is that they are excited to come to Dunkirk and spend the weekend on the lakeshore playing softball,” said Ahlstrom, the tournament’s organizer. “We are excited and it should be fun. I need to offer my sincere thanks to Dunkirk Little League, the city of Dunkirk and Dunkirk City School District for their partnership and hospitality. All three organizations truly have stepped forward for the youth of the community for this event.”

The tournament begins at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Dunkirk Little League’s Ed Wisniewski Field where the 12U Lakeshore Eclipse–Garland will host an Amherst Lightning 12U team, which is comprised almost exclusively of young ladies from southern Chautauqua County and the Jamestown area. Also, at 6:45 p.m. on the Joe Karnes Memorial Field at the Little League Complex, the 14U Lake Shore Storm will take on the 14U USSSA Pride–Navy. The stadium will feature another Jamestown-based 14U Amherst Lightning team taking on the 14U Arcade Lady Cardinals. The night games on Thursday are scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. and have a distinctive local flair as the Dunkirk 12U All-Star team will compete against the 12U Lake Shore Storm–Hill, while at the stadium the 16U Arcade Lady Cardinals will take on the 16U Lake Shore Storm.

“The response for this event has been beyond our wildest dreams,” Ahlstrom said. “In year one we sold out a 16-team this field. This year we have expanded our maximum capacity three times and will welcome 40 teams in over three age groups, and still had a waiting list of teams who wanted to play.”

Friday the tournament is running in full swing with 6:45 p.m. games being conducted at all three fields of the Dunkirk Little League Complex, School 7 Field, Dunkirk High School field and the stadium. The 6:45 game at the stadium features a 16U Amherst Lightning team with girls from Dunkirk, Fredonia, Silver Creek, Falconer and the Jamestown area taking on the North Tonawanda Diamond Jaxx 16U. The 8:15 p.m. nightcap will feature the host Chadwick Bay Softball 16U team, comprised of girls from Dunkirk, Silver Creek, Fredonia and Brocton as they take on the Girard (Pa.) Lady Firecrackers under the lights at Prommenschenkel Stadium.

Games resume at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and continue all day with the final games beginning at 8:15 p.m. Sunday will find the 40 teams divided into two brackets at each age level for championship play beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the finals expected to begin at approximately 3 p.m. Over the course of the weekend, 94 games will be decided on the fields of Dunkirk.

For those seeking to support the local girls, the Dunkirk 12U All-Stars will compete at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at the Little League Complex, 10 a.m. Saturday at Dunkirk High School on the turf field, and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Dunkirk Little League Complex. The host Chadwick Bay Softball 16U will play Friday at 8:15 p.m., Saturday at 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. all at the stadium.

The full schedule can be found at https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=chadwickbaysoftball. The event is free for the public to attend.