The longstanding First Responders Cup girls fastpitch softball tournament will be played Sept. 9 and 10 in Arlington on fields at Barcroft Park and Jennie Dean Park and include multiple teams.
In addition, a skills clinic put on by the tournament host Marymount University women’s softball team is on Friday, Sept. 8 at Barcroft Park from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for players in grades 8 through 12.
There will be 22 teams competing in the tournament at the 12-under, 14U, 16U and 18U age groups.
Some of the teams include the Arlington Sage and Arlington Impact, Tri-State Thunder NOVA, TNT Gold Delaware, Virginia Glory, Gold Coast Hurricanes, Shooting Stars, Maryland Integrity, Xplosion and Rock 12U.
The four championship games, if on schedule, will be Sunday on the four Barcroft Fields. The 12U final will be on Barcroft 1 at 12:30 p.m., the 14U final on Barcroft 2 at 2, the 16U final on Barcroft 3 at 2 and the 18U final on Barcroft 4 at 2.
Only the first day of last year’s tournament was played, because the second day was rained out, so there were no champions determined.
In 2021, the Arlington Impact won the 18U tournament, the Virginia Glory Norton the 14U title and the Maryland Integrity the 12U crown.
Over the years, many top high-school players from Arlington and throughout Northern Virginia have played on teams that have participated in the First Responders Cup.
The tournament began on Sept. 11, 2002, to honor the heroism of the Arlington fire and police who were the first at the Pentagon after the 2001 terror attack. Net proceeds raised from the tournament are donated to Pentagon Disaster Relief Charities.
The tournament champions from each age division have team names inscribed on the First Responders Cup, which is then returned for display in the Arlington County Library.
Arlington County and the Arlington Girls Softball Association also are sponsors of the tournament.
