Post by Moon Seeker on Aug 11, 2009 13:51:53 GMT -5
By Chandler Myers
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009 9:18 AM CDT
Native Americans from around the country have made their way to Atmore and the Tribal grounds of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to participate in the annual NASA softball tournament at Poarch’s new baseball and softball fields.
The NASA tournament has been held for about 25 years and is featuring a total of 31 teams with 18 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams.
The teams locations vary with participants coming from Mississippi, Miami, New York and west of New Orleans.
Poarch has a total of four teams in the tournament with three men’s teams and one women’s team representing the host tribe.
Tim Ramer, director of guest services for PCI Gaming, is a player-coach for one of the Poarch teams, and said in an interview Wednesday that the tournament alway has a large gathering and plays all day.
“NASA is a huge Native American tournament that is played every year,” Ramer said. “We are starting Friday at 8 a.m. and will play up until about midnight, and then we will come back Saturday and start at 9 a.m. and play until we have a winner.”
With the tournament changing venues every year, Poarch usually gets to host it every four years.
Ramer said the Tribe is excited about hosting the tournament this year.
“We are excited and honored to be hosting the tournament this year,” Ramer said. “It usually comes to Poarch every four years, so we always make it the best we can.”
Historically, Poarch has had a lot of success and tradition in the tournament with one team consistently winning the championship.
Ramer said last year two teams finished towards the top, and added that in the late 80s a team made a habit of winning the tournament each year.
“In last year’s tournament we had two teams finish in the Top 5,” Ramer said. “But we have had teams finish first in it with a team winning the championship and doing in on a stretch from the late 1980s through the early 90s.”
With so many people making their way to the area for the tournament, the economy could see a boost from its participants and fans.
Ramer said that hotel rooms are going to be hard to find for anyone traveling through the area, and added that this could really give the area a jumpstart.
“This should be a good boost for the local economy,” Ramer said. “All of the hotels in the area are booked up, and businesses should get a boost from the visitors.”
There is no charge of admission to get into the tournament and concessions and T-Shirts will be sold at the event.
www.atmoreadvance.com/articles/2009/08/10/sports/sports2.txt
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009 9:18 AM CDT
Native Americans from around the country have made their way to Atmore and the Tribal grounds of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to participate in the annual NASA softball tournament at Poarch’s new baseball and softball fields.
The NASA tournament has been held for about 25 years and is featuring a total of 31 teams with 18 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams.
The teams locations vary with participants coming from Mississippi, Miami, New York and west of New Orleans.
Poarch has a total of four teams in the tournament with three men’s teams and one women’s team representing the host tribe.
Tim Ramer, director of guest services for PCI Gaming, is a player-coach for one of the Poarch teams, and said in an interview Wednesday that the tournament alway has a large gathering and plays all day.
“NASA is a huge Native American tournament that is played every year,” Ramer said. “We are starting Friday at 8 a.m. and will play up until about midnight, and then we will come back Saturday and start at 9 a.m. and play until we have a winner.”
With the tournament changing venues every year, Poarch usually gets to host it every four years.
Ramer said the Tribe is excited about hosting the tournament this year.
“We are excited and honored to be hosting the tournament this year,” Ramer said. “It usually comes to Poarch every four years, so we always make it the best we can.”
Historically, Poarch has had a lot of success and tradition in the tournament with one team consistently winning the championship.
Ramer said last year two teams finished towards the top, and added that in the late 80s a team made a habit of winning the tournament each year.
“In last year’s tournament we had two teams finish in the Top 5,” Ramer said. “But we have had teams finish first in it with a team winning the championship and doing in on a stretch from the late 1980s through the early 90s.”
With so many people making their way to the area for the tournament, the economy could see a boost from its participants and fans.
Ramer said that hotel rooms are going to be hard to find for anyone traveling through the area, and added that this could really give the area a jumpstart.
“This should be a good boost for the local economy,” Ramer said. “All of the hotels in the area are booked up, and businesses should get a boost from the visitors.”
There is no charge of admission to get into the tournament and concessions and T-Shirts will be sold at the event.
www.atmoreadvance.com/articles/2009/08/10/sports/sports2.txt