The United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) is bringing its Eastern World Series back to Delmarva this summer. Over 4,500 players will soon be arriving for the three-legged series, which spans from July 15 to Aug. 1. The event draws almost 400 girls softball teams to the region, with players ranging in age from 10 to 18. Teams are traditionally drawn from 14 different states as well as Canada. The 2015 event will span three weeks, generating an estimated economic impact of $20 million and a hotel room night demand in excess of 12,000.
Wicomico County has hosted USSSA events for the last eight years, but growth in the size and scope of the World Series has sparked its expansion beyond County borders. The 2015 event will be billed under the Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance (MAASA), which was formed by the Town of Ocean City,
Wicomico and Worcester Counties in 2014. The formal sports-marketing partnership is the first of its kind in the nation, and it leverages the combined assets of each jurisdiction in order to attract, retain and build sports marketing events.
2015 USSSA World Series Dates:
Week 1: July 15-19, 10U Open, 10C, 12U Open, 12C
Week 2: July 21-26, 14U A, B & C
Week 3: July 27-Aug 1, 16U Open, 16UC, 18U Open, 18UC *’U’ abbreviation for Under.
The Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury, Md. provides the main fields of play for the series.
Other fields tentatively scheduled for use in Wicomico County include the East Wicomico Little League,
Eastside Youth Sports Complex, Fruitland Recreational Area, WinterPlace Park and Mason-Dixon Sports Complex. In Worcester County, games are scheduled for John Walter Smith Park, North Worcester Athletic Complex, Showell Recreation Complex and Stephen Decatur High/Middle School.
Tournament games are open to the public with no admission fee charged. For additional information on the USSSA World Series, please visit www.SalisburyChampionships.org. In accordance with USSSA National guidelines, schedules are not released until the start of the tournament. As they become available, information will be posted to the web site.
