For a fifth straight year, the Owensboro Catholic League hosted the Kentucky Special Olympics Softball League tournament. Alongside six teams from Owensboro, 17 total teams competed, signifying the start of the season, including Bowling Green, Marshall County, Murray, and Christian County. Despite a rain and lightning delay, it was a successful start to the season.
“Minus the weather, today went really well,” Competition Manager and one of the coaches, Jeff Johnson, said. “We had one team show up late, but other than that, the competition was strong. It’s no different than any other tournament. Teams come here, they want to compete and do well, and the matchups have been great.”
Five years ago, the tournament started small and grew to a career high 17 teams.
“Courtney French, who attends St. Pius, spoke with Michael Murphy about trying to do a tournament out here because you can get qualifying games in for State,” Johnson said. “This being such a centralized location, they just put this together. It started out kind of small and just built over the years.”
Teams started practicing in May, and the start to their season was delayed due to rain and the blistering heat index. The season stretches to September, when the State Tournament begins in Owensboro at Jack Fisher Park.
The youngest age an athlete can join is eight, and there is no age maximum – instead the rosters are broken up by different skill levels – B, 1A, 2A, and 3A. Despite being based in Owensboro, the local teams are open for whoever wants to join as long as they fit the different skill levels.
The Kentucky Special Olympics is yearlong, with different sports, including flag football and bowling, coming up in the fall.
“We love putting this on,” Owensboro Catholic League property leader Rodney Hawes said. “It’s one of the biggest and greatest days for us, as far as helping the community and seeing the smiling faces on the kids.”
