As September arrives, that means it’s time for the annual First Responders Cup girls fastpitch softball tournament in Arlington.
This year’s 22-team and multi-age group event, which began in 2002 and now hosted by Marymount University, is scheduled for Sept. 7 and 8. Games will be played at Barcroft and Jeanie Dean parks in Arlington. Opening ceremonies, involving all teams and many others, are early Sept. 7 at Barcroft Park at 7:30 a.m. Games begin by 8:30 a.m. Championship contests are all at Barcroft Park the afternoon of Sept. 8.
The age groups are 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-under.
Of the teams entered, three are from Arlington – the 12-under Arlington Sage, the 16-under Arlington Impact Gold and the 18-under Arlington Impact Gold. The 16-under Impact Gold are the defending champion of that age group.
Other local teams entered are the 18-under McLean Magic, the 14-under Great Falls Sharks, Northern Virginia’s 16-under Tri-State Thunder, and multiple Virginia Glory teams.
The Marymount women’s softball team will host a skills clinic as part of the event on Sept. 6 at Barcroft from players age 8 through 12 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The tournament began on Sept. 11, 2002, to honor the heroism of the Arlington fire and police, who were the first emergency crews at the Pentagon following the deadly terror attack that morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Proceeds raised from the tournament are donated to the Pentagon Disaster Relief Charities.
The names of the tournament-championship teams each year are inscribed on the First Responders Cup, which is displayed at Arlington’s Central Library.
Arlington County and the Arlington Girls Softball Association are sponsors of the tournament.
