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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Wicomico to host USSSA softball tourney

SALISBURY -- In recent years, Wicomico County has experienced an increase in sports tourism, and moving forward, county officials are working to continue the trend.
During a luncheon Tuesday, County Executive Rick Pollitt announced the United States Specialty Sports Association plans to host the fast-pitch world series in the county this year.
"This event dwarfs everything we've done, whether it's the poodle show or other athletic events," Pollitt said. "This event by itself is estimated to have a regional impact of some $12 million -- in Wicomico County alone we are thinking close to a $6 million impact for our businesses and our community."
The large number of players, coaches and family members who will travel to Wicomico County for the competition is expected to well surpass the number of hotel rooms available. Pollitt told the audience that will also mean a tourism boost for neighboring counties, such as Sussex and Worcester.
Bill Dowell, vice president of the USSSA, said the organization has selected Wicomico because of the organization's past experiences as well as the caliber of athletic facilities. To accommodate the large number of teams expected, Dowell said the competition will utilize all facilities in and around Salisbury, as well as parks in Fruitland, Willards and possibly Delmar.
"We don't know exactly the total number of teams at this point; we won't know that until in the spring, but we anticipate about a couple hundred," Dowell said. "The USSSA will host several world series this year, and we are happy to report this year there will only be two other venues that will have larger events than we are going to bring to this county."
Those larger tournaments are scheduled to take place in Kansas City, Mo., and Orlando, Fla.
Stephanie Willey, a member of the Tourism Board, said while the board has been working to secure and promote sports tourism, locally created events such as Pork In the Park, the Autumn Wine Festival and the Good Beer Festival have continued to grow and attract visitors to the area as well.
"Pork In the Park is in its ninth year now and its the largest sanctioned barbecue (event) by the Kansas City Barbecue Festival on the East Coast and third in the nation," Willey said.
She added that initiatives being taken by the Tourism Board and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism to modernize facilities throughout the county are expected to keep long-standing events popular while luring new events such as the fast-pitch world series.
"We are going to continue to drive revenue into the county through initiatives that will include continuing to modernize the (Wicomico Youth &) Civic Center, we are going to continue to modernize our athletic fields, grow our signature events and continue to try to get more overnight visitors in from Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia," Willey said

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