It’s back and bigger and better than ever.

This weekend the Chadwick Bay Softball Bash returns to northern Chautauqua County as visitors from across the northeast will sweep into the area. This year’s event welcomes over 80 teams and 1,000 girls participating on 15 softball diamonds across the region and is widely accepted as the biggest single weekend softball event in Western New York.

The Dunkirk Little League Complex along with the fields of Wright Park will act as the base of events for the weekend, with other contests will be conducted at Silver Creek High School, Fredonia Little League, Fredonia State University, Brocton Little League, Brocton High School and Russell Joy Park. The facilities of the region will host teams from 10 years of age to 18 who will converge on the region from across New York state, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Ontario, Canada.

“This event has grown beyond our wildest dreams,” said Kory Ahlstrom, tournament director. “It truly is a regional affair and it couldn’t be pulled off without many partners from local school districts, to the City of Dunkirk, and Village of Fredonia, to Fredonia State University to three separate Little Leagues, Dunkirk, Fredonia and Brocton, umpires, volunteers and so many others, each group solely interested in helping provide an event for the youth of the community.”

The event begins tonight with games being conducted in Wright Park and at Silver Creek High School. The Fredonia Fury 12U team will get the event going with a 5:15 p.m. contest at the Dunkirk Little League Complex, followed by a 6:55 p.m. game featuring the Fredonia Fury 14U team, while at “The Stadium” the host Chadwick Bay 16U team will compete against the Rome Spirit at 6:40 p.m. and the Chadwick Bay 18U team Takes on Cardinal Fastpitch from Arcade at 8:20 p.m.

Friday evening, the tournament will be in full swing with games being contested at fields across the region. The Wright Park area will be alive with activity as a very special ceremonial first pitch will be conducted at 6 p.m. at the Dunkirk Little Complex honoring a local hero. On the softball field the Chadwick Bay 12U-Pink team will play the North Tonawanda Diamond Jaxx at 6:20 p.m. and the nightcap will feature the 12U Chadwick Bay-Blue team taking on the 12U Fredonia Fury squad. Across the park at the Stadium at 5 p.m., the Chadwick Bay 16U team will face the Eden Raiders, at 6:40 p.m. the Brantford Bobcats 16U will take on the West Seneca Magic and at 8:20 p.m., the Chadwick Bay 18U team will face the Rochester Lightning.

The community is encouraged to swing by Friday night for all the activities to support the local girls and throughout the weekend at all the complexes.

“The Chadwick Bay program has girls from nine local school districts participating and three Fredonia Fury teams are competing representing the entire local area,” Ahlstrom said. “Contrast that with teams from Ohio, Pennsylvania, across New York and as far away as London, Ontario Canada, it’s quite an event. Hotels are full from Hamburg to Jamestown with visiting softball families and local restaurants and shops will be buzzing with activity. We can’t wait, it’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Games resume at 8 a.m. Saturday and continue all day with the final game beginning at 7:45 p.m. Sunday will find the teams divided into brackets for championship play beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the finals expected to begin at approximately 3 p.m.

The full schedule can be found at https://tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/Tournament.aspx?IDTournament=h202409290234115306731e2a96f9342. The event is free for the public to attend.