COMMISSIONER’S LETTER

NAGAAA COMISSIONER WELCOME

Welcome Players, Coaches and Fans Players, Coaches, and Fans –Welcome to Kansas City for the 2019 NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series (GSWS). It will become known for one thing – it will become known as a World Series of many firsts:

• Introduction of the new E Division • A new 28-point player rating system • Our first year for players to register online before arriving at the World Series • We will Livestream broadcast the Championship Saturday games • A record number of teams competing; over 200!!

Our motto this year is “Come To Play” – and we’re not kidding!

Over the next week, we have more than 3,500 participants hitting and throwing more than 1,300 softballs and playing more than 850 softball games, umpired by more than 70 professionals on 21 fields.

We couldn’t make this week happen without a tournament staff of more than 50 people – all of them volunteers – as well as an army of other volunteers from the Kansas City area supporting player registration, replenishing water in the dugouts, and so many other duties.

I first want to thank Kansas City for opening its arms so wide for the World Series. Scott Switzer, Terri Goddard and their leadership team have put together a great lineup of events for all of you to enjoy. I also want to thank my colleagues on the NAGAAA Board, a dedicated team working year-round organizing the biggest tournament of its kind.

And we couldn’t make this tournament happen without the support of our national and host city sponsors!

What makes the GSWS different is that it’s more than just the competition – it’s a celebration of our community. Perhaps the dominant part of the GSWS is its representation of our diverse cross-section of the LGBTQ+ community, including our valued allies.

NAGAAA honors our history – and we cheer each year for the hundreds of first-time participants and commemorate them with a medal acknowledging their accomplishment qualifying for the World Series. This year we’re inducting eight new inductees into the NAGAAA Hall of Fame.

Our softball community is a place where people from all different walks of life share in the celebration of our community – and the excellence of our athletic performance.

Let’s make it a great week, and we’ll see you at the fields. Come to Play!

PUBLISHER/CEO Eric Carlyle, SDLT eric@competesportsdiversity.com GSWS 2019 ISSUE

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT connie@competesportsdiversity.com

OPERATIONS VICE PRESIDENT Jared Garduno, SDLT jared@competesportsdiversity.com

This special Player’s Guide issue of Compete Magazine was created in partnership with GSWS. If your organization produces or hosts a run, tournament, sports festival, awards ceremony or other type of event, please contact Compete today to find out how we can partner to produce a high-quality issue unique to your organization and its special events. Send us an email at publications@competesportsdiversity.com

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