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May 27, 2009
Hebron Lakewood, the defending Division III state champions, enters
the regional tournament with a 26-4 record.
Softball
Swinging into Gear for State Tournament
For the second
straight year, Akron’s Firestone Stadium will play host to the OHSAA
state softball tournament.
Built in 1925,
Firestone Stadium was renovated in 1999 and has a seating capacity
of 2,500 fans in the main grandstands. Considered the premier venue
for softball in the state of Ohio, Firestone Stadium is also the
home park of the Akron Racers, who play in the National Pro
Fastpitch league.
This season marks
the 32nd state softball tournament, and Roxanne Price, the OHSAA
assistant commissioner who oversees the sport, talked more about the
stadium and what to expect from next week’s tournaments.
Q: What are
your thoughts about Firestone Stadium and the support from the Akron
community for the softball tournament?
A: The
support from Akron is tremendous. They are providing us use of the
facility at no cost, and many of the tournament personnel are
volunteers. It’s the best facility in the state of Ohio and we’re
pleased to host the tournament at Firestone Stadium.
Q: What is
your favorite part about the tournament?
A: The fact
that you get to watch four games each day is great. You also get to
see the best athletes in the state in any sport, and you see how
excited they are to play in a venue like Firestone Stadium.
Q:
SportsTime Ohio will televise all four championship games and
OhioHSsports.com is covering both the semifinals and finals. How
important is it for the sport to have that type of exposure?
A: It’s
great for the athletes, the fans, the member schools and the OHSAA
to have this coverage. We want our athletes recognized, with the
caveat being not over-glamorized to the levels of college or
professional sports. But this is a good and exciting opportunity.
Q: Is there
anything that fans should be aware of leading up to the tournament
this week?
A:
Fans can purchase an all-tournament pass for $35 at Firestone
Stadium. Also, be sure to check the schedule because the divisions
rotate each year. This year, Division I plays first, followed by
Divisions IV, III and II.
### ohsaa.org ###
Contact Scott Miles,
contact: smiles@ohsaa.org |
