BY GENE NARDI
Last weekend, 60 teams gathered at parks in Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth — including RPB’s Seminole Palms Park — to participate in the Florida Half Century Softball Association’s annual tournament series.
The association supports several leagues throughout the state in the over 50, over 60 and over 70 age divisions. The organization has been around for more than 25 years and continues to grow each year. It provides competitive play for softball players around the state.
Teams from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale competed in the two-day event.
“This is the third year holding the tournament in this area,” Tournament Director John Kurtz said. “Last year, we had 50 teams, and this year we have 60, and it’s growing.”
The organization is a nonprofit and partners with county-run recreation facilities across the state.
Okeeheelee, Seminole Palms and John Prince parks were the venues for the games.
Teams are rated and placed in brackets based on their rating. They are required to play in their age group. Players can play down, in the younger age group, but not play up in the older.
There are plans for the tournament to return to the area due to its success in Palm Beach County.
For more information on the Florida Half Century Softball Association, visit www.fhcsoftball.org.
ABOVE: The Sunshine Boys second baseman fields the ball and makes the throw for the Pompano Beach team in the over 60 division.
