Category: DC2 Dashboard Articles

We’re excited to announce this year’s convention theme — DirectConnect! DirectConnect promotes innovation and encourages partnerships that drive growth and propel business strategies forward. We’re excited for you to experience all that’s in store.

GENERAL EVENT INFORMATION:

Event Dates: November 13-16, 2023
Event Location: Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa — Fort Myers, FL.

MAIN EVENT ITINERARY CHANGES FOR 2023:
Sunday 11/12 : Arrivals
Monday 11/13 : Check-in, opening day festivities and sessions begin
Tuesday 11/14 : Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Wednesday 11/15: Exhibitor Night
Thursday 11/16 : Director Appreciation Party
Friday 11/17 : Departures

More info regarding agendas and registration coming soon!

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Reminder that rooms are now available to book at the Convention hotel – Marriott Sanibel Resort.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2023

USSSA Is Now an Official Sponsor of The Miracle League’s 2023 All-Star Weekend, November 3-5 in Palm Beach County

In addition to sponsoring All-Star Weekend, USSSA will host Miracle League Night in August during a professional women’s fastpitch softball game at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.  

VIERA, FLA. — The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), the No. 1 multi-sport association in the country, is honored and excited to partner with The Miracle League of Palm Beach County, which has been helping children and adults with special needs participate in baseball for almost two decades. 

USSSA will be an official sponsor of The Miracle League’s fifth annual All-Star Weekend, which will take place for the first time ever in Palm Beach County, November 3-5. All-Star Weekend is expected to attract more than 150 players, 200 volunteers, and 50 directors from 25 cities in 20 different states and two countries. 

USSSA’s sponsorship will allow for a free live stream of all All-Star Weekend games, and the association will provide promotional support and a fundraising campaign. Visit www.mlpbc.com to learn about the Palm Beach County league and for more information on All-Star Weekend as it becomes available. 

The new partnership between USSSA and The Miracle League also includes a “Miracle League Night” that USSSA will host on August 1 at its Space Coast Complex during a Women’s Professional Fastpitch game between the USSSA Pride and the Smash It Sports Vipers. During Miracle League Night, Pride players will wear custom-made Miracle League-themed jerseys courtesy of New Balance. The game-worn jerseys will be available at auction, with all proceeds benefiting The Miracle League of Palm Beach County. Tickets can be purchased at usssapride.com.  

“USSSA is committed to supporting the Miracle League of Palm Beach County and the pinnacle event, the All-Star Games in any way possible with the resources we have available,” said USSSA CEO Donny DeDonatis III.  “We couldn’t be more excited to link arms with some of USSSA’s largest partners to provide additional support in enhancing this once-in-a-lifetime experience for these athletes and their families.”

Julia Kadel, Executive Director of the Miracle League of Palm Beach County: “Partnering with USSSA is a major WIN for the Miracle League. Their involvement has already proven to be more beneficial than anything we could have hoped for. We are looking forward to doing great things with USSSA as we gear up for All-Star weekend and beyond.”

Anyone willing to donate to The Miracle League All Star Game can do so by visiting https://square.link/u/lCnSENwh. 

For more information on USSSA, visit USSSA.com. To learn more about The Miracle League of Palm Beach County, visit MLPBC.com

###

About The Miracle League

The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children and adults with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. Since the main barriers arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other devices while helping to prevent injuries. Each player is also assigned a “buddy” who helps them navigate the game and enhance the experience. The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Ga., in April 2000. Word spread, and by 2005, fields had opened in South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Illinois, California and other states, including the opening of the Palm Beach County Florida field. There are presently 350-plus Miracle League organizations across North America, including Puerto Rico and Canada, while serving more than 450,000 children and adults. For more information on the national office, visit miracleleague.com. 

The 2024 Baseball and Fastpitch season is now open.

Managers can register/create teams for the new season, register for 2024 events and purchase team insurance through their manager accounts on usssa.com

More than 650 teams from 28 states, including Alaska, will gather and compete over three days at over 20 ballparks, with current and former USSSA Pride professional players in attendance.

VIERA, Fla.. — The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), the No. 1 multi-sport association in the country, is proud to organize and host the third annual Road to the Show, its largest youth fastpitch event, June 2 through 5 in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. 

The weekend will draw more than 650 teams from 28 states — including Alaska — to play and compete over three days in 8U through 18U fastpitch. Road to the Show coincides with the NCAA Women’s College World Series weekend, bringing together pinnacle events in both youth fastpitch and college softball. 

“Road to the Show has become a premier event for USSSA Fastpitch, growing into the largest single-weekend tournament in our history,” said Ryan Highfill, National Director of USSSA Fastpitch. “We are thrilled to see this event, centered around the Women’s College World Series, continue to grow and we look forward to supporting it for many years to come.”

Added William Whitmire, USSSA Co-State Director, Oklahoma: “It takes a village to pull off this event, and we couldn’t do it without the support from USSSA and all the State Directors and UICs who assist. We use over 70 fields and have over 200 umpires for Road to the Show. The Women’s College World Series is an important event for the Oklahoma City area and our sport, and we are glad to do our part to help support it by running this youth tournament alongside it.”

Road to the Show weekend kicks off Friday, June 2, with a player party, the final tryout of the year for the All American Games, and a skills competition. Fastpitch games in a pool-play format take place Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, with Championship games on Monday, June 5. The weekend also will include appearances from current and former USSSA Pride professional players Haley Cruse (USSSA Fastpitch ambassador), Delaney Spaulding, Ali Aguilar, Shelby Pendley, and Abbey Cheek. 

Registration, schedule, venue information, and more are available at the event page on Oklahoma USSSA Fastpitch’s website: https://okfastpitch.usssa.com/event/road-to-the-show-wcws-no-stay-to-play-5gg-2/.

USSSA Announces the Appointment of Samantha (Sam) Lichtner as the Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey Fastpitch State Director.

A former player and graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s, Sam is a registered nurse by trade.  Sam has played softball since the age of 5 at multiple levels, including recreation, competitive travel and Division I college softball. She has coached the game and served as a director and an umpire for USSSA as she worked her way through college.

“Sam brings a lot of energy to the organization, as well as experience within all the facets of our game and its administration,” says Ryan Highfill, USSSA National Director of Fastpitch.  “She will easily hit the ground running and add youthful energy and perspective to our team!”

Sam and her family reside in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Her father Erich and two sisters will be joining her program team in this new venture. The entire family has spent decades involved in the administration of youth fastpitch softball in the northeast and will continue to work together to promote the  development of the game in the region.

“I am excited and honored to be selected as the steward of the USSSA  Eastern PA and NJ fastpitch program,” says Sam Lichtner.  “We look forward to picking up where our predecessor has left off, and continuing to deliver the highest quality of customer service, communication and experiences we can offer our participants.”

“The USSSA program in East Pennsylvania and New Jersey is strong and Sam has some big shoes to fill.” Said Andy Wisk, USSSA National Fastpitch Committee Chairman.  “There is no doubt that her energy, passion and professionalism will continue to fuel that machine and push the program to new heights.  She is going to be a great addition to USSSA!”

Update regarding slowpitch bats that were temporarily suspended in March.
*This is effective immediately until further notice.

Juno Athletics:
JUNO bat models listed below that have UTH-43 markings on the handle are allowed for USSSA and GSL Tournament and League play. The previous temporary suspension has been lifted. 

Directors,

Our IT team needs another day to wrap up the system maintenance that was being performed this week.

The system (DC, DC2 and usssa.com) will be down for a brief time between 5:00am – 6:00am EST, Monday 5/15.

We appreciate your understanding and patience.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2023

USSSA Slowpitch Expands Into Europe Through New Partnership With 360 Softball 

USSSA-sanctioned leagues and tournaments are set to start in European countries in 2024, giving the softball community opportunities to play slowpitch across Europe and North America.  

VIERA, Fla. — The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), the No. 1 multi-sport association in the country, today announced a partnership with 360 Softball Europe to bring USSSA Slowpitch to European countries beginning in 2024. 

The new partnership will offer greater opportunities for the softball community to play in USSSA-sanctioned Slowpitch leagues and tournaments throughout Europe and North America. 

Marc Stein, president of 360 Softball Europe who has successfully operated the European Slowpitch Softball Championships (ESSC) and other premier softball events with his team, takes on the role of USSSA Director of Slowpitch, Europe. 

“The partnership with USSSA is an important step for the development of slowpitch,” Stein said. “It opens up new opportunities for players in Europe and in the United States. USSSA entering the European market is exactly what we need for growth and expansion within the sport, and we look forward to a great future together.”

Added Sean Melvin, USSSA National Director of Slowpitch: “This is another giant step in the right direction of having a true USSSA World Tournament. This is something we’ve been working on for a long time, and we’re excited about the opportunities this will present for USSSA Slowpitch on an international level.” 

More details about USSSA Slowpitch’s European program will be released over the coming months. For more information on USSSA Slowpitch visit USSSA.com/slowpitch. More information on 360 Softball can be found at softballeurope.com.