2020 USSSA Challenge Cup tournament preview!
2020 USSSA Challenge Cup
January 24-26
Viera, Florida
Tournament Preview
2020 USSSA Challenge Cup Brackets and Team Lists
The 2020 USSSA Challenge Cup in its second year features 75 teams playing across 7 divisions (State vs State). In its inaugural season (2019) they had 24 teams and the growth and creation of this event is the brainchild of tournament director Strojan Kennison. They will play at Viera, Florida's Space Coast Complex with its all turf fields and features a men's Major division which has 8 teams including one team from Canada! The Major Division starts at noon eastern time on Friday and ends up late Saturday night. Last year Team Florida beat Team Northern California in the championship. On the women's side there are also 8 teams in the Major Division led by a stacked team Washington.
There is a list of rules at the bottom of this tournament preview.
Check out the livestream at USSSALive.com (I believe its pay per view)
I will also have the SoftballCenter.com chat room open during the event
Link to some of the rosters – You can also go to the bracket and click on each team to see rosters.
2020 Challenge Cup Major Division Poll Results:
Team Florida with its long list of Major rated players received 68% of the poll votes
Space Coast Stadium and Complex (Stadium is 335-365-385-365-335)
5800 Stadium Parkway
Melbourne, FL 32940
The White Quad fields have 325 foot fences
Weekend Weather
Cooler but nice forecast with some chance of precipitation.
The Major Team Rosters!
Past tournament results
2019 Challenge Cup
2019 Challenge Cup Tournament Report 2019 Results Link
Rules and Communications
Coaches,
Welcome to the 2020 USSSA Challenge Cup! The information below should assist you with your questions about batting practice, entrance fees, and bat testing.
BATTING PRACTICE
We will be offering Batting Practice on a first email basis for $50 Cash Only prior to taking the field. Once you have been provided a batting practice time, you are responsible for the $50 cash payment even if you no show.
THERE IS NO BATTING CAGES & HITTING AT NEAR BY PARKS IS PROHIBITED BY THE BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE.
Here is the file for time slots: https://docs.google.com/…/1-ytGg-R96SP8kiisQ9bhW3rdES…/edit…
We only have these times slots available. We must clear the park at 9:30 AM, Friday morning because gates open at 10:00 AM.
If you would like one of these time slots, please email: strojan.kennison@gmail.com
Please provide the following:
Team Name:
Level of Play:
Contact Person:
Email:
Phone Number:
Please use the Google Document attached to confirm your batting practice time. Once you have selected a time, we will not be able to move your team. So please make sure you’re confident with your choice.
GATE FEE
There is a $6.00 per day gate fee for all individuals entering the USSSA Space Coast Complex. Everyone will be provided a bracelet that must be worn on your wrist. There is no exceptions to this rule. Age Six (6) and under are free. We will not have online gate purchasing.
There is no outside food or drink allowed.
A personal water bottle is allowed.
Coolers are only allowed for Ice & Towels.
BAT TESTING
All Bats will be tested and bucketed beginning Friday in all divisions below:
Men’s Major
Women's Major
Men’s C
Women’s C
Women’s D
The Men’s D & Men’s E teams MUST be tested and a special sticker placed on the bat prior to use for all games Friday and Saturday. ALL TEAMS that make it to Sunday will have bats tested and bucketed.
We will have bat testing stations located at the Red Tower, White Tower, and Stadium. Please follow these steps:
Have your bat tested in the location of your first game 60 minutes prior to the Start Time.
No Bat will be tested within the 30 minute window of your scheduled game time – UNLESS MANAGER HAS NOTIFIED THE TD.
Your bat must have a USSSA Thumbprint and must be visible
Your bat must pass the 220 Compression
Your bat can not have spray on the barrel
Your bat can not have any cracks
Your team can test up to 25 bats, the first 20 bats go into the bucket
We will store the bats overnight, do not remove your bat from the bucket and take it home. Your team will not be allowed to add to the bucket.
Thank you for supporting the USSSA Challenge Cup and good luck to everyone!
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USSSA Challenge Cup Team Photos
10:30PM Friday Night – January 24th
Space Coast Stadium 1st Base Side above dugout towards Right Field.
This will take place immediately before the Florida vs NC/SC/GA Game.
We request is that everyone wears their State Jersey.
If you could all take individual team photos and post them to our @usssaslowpitch Facebook and Instagram Pages, we would appreciate your help.
You will be able to follow all of the action on www.usssalive.com with over 20 hours of Full Broadcasts and Live-streams on all fields with up to date scoring!
Our broadcast teams will be working alongside USSSA Reporter Savanna Collins! You will see them going Live on Facebook, showing off there expertise in the Broadcast Booth, and hear them over the Stadium Public Address System!
Take a moment to follow our broadcasters at:
Savanna Collins @savvyco
Jesse Rhino Garces Jr. @Rhino_the_rep
Pat Rip Riporti @Rip_3
Tim Jones @bobby_frapps
Please tag @usssaslowpitch on Instagram!
We look forward to seeing you all in Viera!!
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THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE: http://www.usssa.com/slowpitch/event_gameCenter/…
STANDARD GAME TIMES / START OF PLAY
• No Time Limits – Unless weather causes the tournament to be delayed or shortened.
• We will play 5 Inning Games IF we have weather issues.
• All teams must be prepared to play 30 minutes prior to their scheduled game time.
• Lineups must be turned in 45 minutes prior to your scheduled game time to the Scorekeeper Tower.
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to: field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather
COIN FLIP
• There will always be a double coin flip to determine home team throughout the tournament until the championship game.
• Championship Game: The undefeated team has the choice of home or visitor.
TEAM JUMPING
• There will be no team jumping at the same tournament
• Athletes can only play on one (1) team (Major, C, D or E), one (1) Military and (1) Senior team.
• Men can’t play in the women’s divisions.
• Women can’t play in the men’s divisions.
PLAYING RULES http://usssa.com/docs/2020/USSSA_SPRB_20_121919_rev.pdf
HOMERUNS PER GAME
• Major Men – 16, excess is a DBO
• Men’s B – 8, excess is a DBO
• Men’s C – 5, excess is a DBO
• Men’s D – 3, excess is a IEO
• Men’s E – 1, excess is a IEO
• Major Women – Unlimited
• Women’s C – 3, excess is a DBO
• Women’s D – 1, excess is a IEO
RUN RULE
• Men’s Major, B, & C
25 After 3
20 After 4
15 After 5
Men’s D & E, Women’s Major, C, & D
20 After 3
15 After 4
10 After 5
SCORE KEEPING
• The Score Keeper Booth will be the official score.
• Line-ups – including starters and bench players must be on the line-up.
SHORTHANDED RULES
• All teams must have 9 players to start the game
• The 10th Spot is an out in the line-up each time that position comes to bat
EXTRA HITTER(s) E.H. (Major Divisions only can bat 11)
• Teams can bat up to 12 player and finish the game with same amount.
• You will take an out for any player in the line-up that you drop or is injured and can't continue.
• Teams must announce how many they are batting at the coaches meeting.
COURTESY RUNNERS
• MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS – In the spirit of the USSSA Challenge Cup, the Men’s & Women’s Major division will use the CUSSSA Courtesy Runner Rule. All other divisions will use the USSSA Courtesy Runner Rule.
PITCHING RULES
• The pitcher must toe the rubber in ALL divisions of play AND the pitcher must establish contact with the rubber for 1 second prior to the pitch.
• Pitchers have 5 seconds to release the ball after presenting
• 3 Ball – 2 Strike Count with NO COURTESY FOUL.
• USSSA Pitching Rules
• A caught foul ball on the 2nd strike is a live ball. The play is not dead, and runners can try and advance.
• At the start of a game or when a pitcher relieves another pitcher, not more than one minute may be used to deliver not more than (3) practice pitches to the catcher or some other teammate.
BASES
• Base distances of 75 feet are standard for Stadium Fields.
• Base distances of 70 feet are standard for fields 325' or smaller.
DUGOUT RULES
• All players must stay in dugout or in an out of play area.
– We allow (2) on deck hitters to be out of the dugout.
• No outside alcohol and/or smoking/vaping of any kind is allowed at the complex.
POOR SPORTSMANSHIP WILL NOT BE TOLERATED
• NO “F” bombs
• NO throwing the bat
• NO taunting
• NO loud or vulgar music inside the parks
(any violations to these rules could result in immediate ejection from the game and/or the tournament)
FORFEITS
POOL PLAY – Forfeits during pool play games will be scored as a 10-0 game in all games.
BRACKET PLAY – Any forfeit in bracket play will be scored as a 7-0 game in all divisions
DISPUTES OR PROBLEMS
Only managers can talk to the umpire or the director regarding issues during a game. If a manager is unsure on a ruling from the on-field umpire, please ask the umpire for the tournament director or UIC immediately. Don’t wait until the game ends because it will be too late to possibly fix the situation. (TD’S Decision is Final)
INJURED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME
If a player gets injured and needs to come out of the game, all of their subsequent at bats will be considered outs if the team does not have a substitute.
EJECTED PLAYERS COMING OUT OF THE GAME
When a player is ejected from the game, all of their subsequent at bats will be considered outs if the team does not have a substitute.
RE-ENTRY
There is no penalty for unannounced re-entry or substitutions.
EQUIPMENT RULES
WE WILL BE USING THE OFFICIAL USSSA DUDLEY BALL
– USSSA WILL SUPPLY ALL SOFTBALLS
– ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING OR PLACING TOURNAMENT BALLS IN BAG WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.
– THE SECOND OFFENSE OF THIS ACTION TO THE SAME TEAM WILL RESULT IN THE TEAM BEING EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.
BAT GUIDELINES
• All bats must have USSSA THUMBPRINT
• Bats will be compression tested.
• USSSA Umpires or Directors reserve the right to remove any bat we feel is altered, damaged, or made to enhance ball/bat performance. We will take the bat for that game and return it upon the end of the game with the mutual understanding it will not be used for the remainder of the tournament. If the bat is caught being used a second time, the player using the bat at that time will be ejected from the tournament and will be asked to leave the park/complex. If a player refuses to give up the bat for the remainder of the game, he/she will be removed from the tournament and park/complex as well.
FOOTWEAR Metal spikes of any kind are prohibited in USSSA play.
PARK RULES http://usssaspacecoast.com/a-z-complex-policies/
UPON ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT
YOU, AS THE MANAGER, AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND OUR ABOVE RULES, POLICIES, DETAILS, AND GUIDELINES AND THAT YOU AGREE TO MAKE SURE TO FORWARD ALL THIS SAME INFORMATION TO YOUR TEAM SO THEY ARE AWARE AS WELL
• The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to: field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather
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