Several area softball teams in and around Cherokee County have had their share of regional traveling the past few years.
From Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills to Huntsville’s Metro Kiwanis Sports Complex and, more recently, to Tuscaloosa’s Bowers Park, area school busses have put on the regional mileage.
This year, Cherokee County area softball teams appeared to catch a break in regional travel. Oxford’s Choccolocco Park was supposed to host them for this year’s East Central Regional May 12-15.
But that was before the Alabama High School Athletic Association had an about face on Wednesday morning.
The organization’s Central Board approved Choccolocco Park as the site for this year’s state softball tournament May 18-22. Montgomery’s Lagoon Park, the state tournament host since 1986, is now the East Central Regional site.
Cherokee County area schools will now have to travel approximately 150 miles to their regional destination. That travel time dips down to approximately 50 miles if area softball teams are fortunate to make it to this year’s state tournament.
County softball coaches had mixed feelings upon hearing the news.
“I’m excited about the state tournament being held in Oxford, but I’m disappointed our regional will be moved to Montgomery,” Gaylesville coach Steve Baker said.
“With the movement of the regional tournament, I can’t say that I’m real pleased with the travel distance compared to others,” Cedar Bluff coach Garrett Crane said. “However, at that point in the season, we are playing bonus ball with being in the regional. We will be excited to play in a regional wherever it is. In the same breath, we will play in a state tournament wherever that is, as well.
“Sure, I would prefer for travel to not be as far so that we provide more community support, but at the end of the day, the regional and state tournament is bonus ball that is earned, and we will step between the lines wherever that may be.”
Crane’s Lady Tigers, along with Cherokee County High School, played in a tournament at Choccolocco Park last weekend. Several other area teams have also played at the complex.
Choccolocco Park has hosted the 2017 Dixie Youth Baseball World Series, the 2018 Dixie Youth Rookie State Baseball Tournament. Its Signature Softball Field has hosted the Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship from 2016-19.
The park is scheduled to host the National Junior College Fast-Pitch National Championships May 25-29 and the Southern Athletic Association Collegiate Conference championships April 21-25.
“It’s a beautiful park with plenty of space and fields to get the games needed in order to make this move a huge success,” Cherokee County coach Brad Weaver said. “Moving it closer to home will give families and fans a better chance to support the great game of softball.”
Spring Garden coach Ann Welsh said she was surprised by Wednesday’s news. She likes the idea of playing the state tournament in Oxford, particularly the use of its Signature Field as the site of the state championship game.
“It makes it a little extra special,” she said.
However, Welsh also said she was looking forward to the possibility of playing the regional tournament at Choccolocco Park.
“We have been a part of every regional site there is in North Alabama, so getting to play in Oxford was like home,” Welsh said. “I guess that just gives us some incentive to make it to state now.”
Weaver agreed with Welsh.
“Playing in Montgomery could potentially hurt our fan turnout during regionals, with it being so far away from home,” he said. “However, I do think that it will motivate our girls to be on top of their game, knowing that we have the chance to make it back to Oxford for the state tournament, where more family and friends can support them in person.”
