Thanks for any interest you have in the 2011 SC BANDITS 16U HOT TIME SHOWCASE CLASSIC. We look forward to seeing you in 2011 at the EIGHTH ANNUAL 16U HOT TIME SHOWCASE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT.

The 16U HOT TIME SHOWCASE CLASSIC in 2011 will be held in Florence, South Carolina. We currently have the FOUR (4) fields ready to play in July 2011 at Greenwood Park. Other fields may be used if necessary.

However, we will need to limit the number of teams in the 16U age group currently to approximately 48 teams total. Therefore, you are encouraged to enter early or as soon as possible or as soon as you receive your invitation, to ensure you will be entered in to the tournament in 2011.

In order to try and protect the format of the tournament and also to try to protect teams from traveling 500 to 800 miles and playing someone from their hometown, we may find it necessary to limit the number of teams from one state that can enter the tournament.

I will not select which teams get to enter and who is rejected. The Tournament Registration procedure will remain on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. There will be NO VERBAL OR WRITTEN RESERVATIONS or HOLD A CHECK for a tournament spot. ONLY WHEN YOUR ENTRY FORM AND CHECK FOR $600.00 IS RECEIVED, DEPOSITED, AND CLEARS THE BANK; AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE FIRST TEAMS TO SEND IN YOUR ENTRY FROM AND ENTRY FEE BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT IS FILLED UP WILL YOU BE GUARANTEED A SPOT IN THE TOURNAMENT. In all other cases you will be put on a waiting list or your ENTRY fee returned.

IF YOU CANCEL OR WITHDRAW ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE TOURNAMENT AND YOU HAVE A RESERVED SPOT; YOU WILL BE REFUNDED ONE-HALF OF THE TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEE; IF YOU WITHDRAW BEFORE MARCH 1, 2011 YOUR TOTAL TOURNAMENT FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE IF YOU CANCEL OR WITHDRAW FROM THE TOURNAMENT AFTER MARCH 1, 2011 (NOEXCEPTIONS AND NO SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED).

The game playing format in 2011 will be as follows: YOU MUST BE READY TO PLAY THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 14, 2011.

 

Several years ago, we had a little confusion. I think it has now been cleared up. If you are to play on Thursday; you are saying that you will be ready to start playing at 8:00 AM Thursday morning, if scheduled. If you cannot play on Thursday, please do not sign up for the tournament. The PENALTY for NOT SHOWING UP FOR or FORFEITING A SCHEDULED POOL OR ELIMINATION GAMES IS THAT: YOU WILL NOT BE INVITED BACK TO THE TOURNAMENT AGAIN and YOU MAY BE ASKED TO LEAVE THIS TOURNAMENT. I am sorry but due to the size of the tournament and the complexity of the scheduling WE CAN NO LONGER GUARANTEE ANY PARTICULAR TEAM THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PLAY ON THURSDAY MORNING AND ONLY HAVE LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON GAME TIMES.

Your tournament schedule will be available to you at least two to three weeks before the tournament so that you can modify your travel plans, if necessary, in order to meet your scheduled game times. The pairings for the Single Elimination Tournament will be done by blind draw Two (2) to Four (4) weeks before the tournament starts.

One exception to the Blind Draw for the Single Elimination Tournament pairings on Saturday morning is that two teams from the same state, if at all possible, will not be allowed to play each other in the first game of the Single Elimination Tournament. We will TRY to avoid someone traveling 500 miles to play someone from their own hometown or home state in the first round in pool play.

We had many EXCEPTIONALLY good and positive compliments from the players, team coaches, and college coaches after the 2010 tournament about the atmosphere, the great competition, and the college exposure format of the Tournament. Everyone seemed to have fun and enjoy the stiff competition. Another positive is that a great number of girls were seen by college coaches at this tournament. As per the college coaches request, in order to cut down on travel and the use of limited recruiting days, we are combining the 16U and 18U Hot Time Classic Showcase Tournaments.

We think the teams and the college coaches attending in 2011, will again appreciate the level of competition and the different styles of the teams that will be involved in the tournament.

Because of the unique extended number of games for each team; the format of this Tournament and the limited number of playing fields, even with the great new facilities, unfortunately, we must limit the number of teams that we can accommodate in this tournament.

FIRST STEP, we will extend an invitation to those teams that participated in last year's 2010 SC BANDITS 16U Hot Time Showcase Tournament. Those teams that played in the 2009 16U Hot Time Classic Tournament will have THIRTY (30) DAYS from the date their invitation to respond and send in their 2011 Tournament Reservation Fee of $600.00, and thereby guarantee themselves a spot in the 2011 SC BANDITS 16U HOT TIME SHOWCASE CLASSIC.

THIRD and lastly, after steps one and two above, we will advertise and use other sources, and send out flyers to the general FastPitch population until we have a full Tournament field of approximately 48 to 54 teams and four to six teams on a waiting list.

If the Entry fee is not received with seven (7) days of receipt of the Entry Form, a team will NOT have a reserved spot.

We truly want this Tournament and your stay with us to be a very positive and enjoyable experience. We look forward to hearing from you in the very near future. If you need additional information, or have any questions; please call or write.