Set for Sept. 14-15 in Clearwater, Madiera Beach
The National Softball Association will present the 2019 Michele Smith Softball for Hearts fastpitch softball tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 and 15, with a college coaches’ panel, followed by a pre-tournament coaches’ dinner and Auction on Friday. The games will showcase 30 teams with players from 8 to 18 years of age for more than 30 college coaches and will give fans and participants an opportunity to meet Michele Smith in person for pictures and autographs. Games will be played at Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater and at the R.O.C. Softball complex in Madiera Beach.
Michele Smith has been ESPN‘s lead college softball color analyst since 1998. In 2012, Smith became the first woman to serve as commentator for a nationally televised Major League Baseball game. Smith is a USA Softball Hall of Fame honoree. She is a former collegiate All-American with the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, where she set numerous records during the years 1986–89.
She is also a double Olympic Softball gold medalist with the United States women’s national softball team, having played in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. She has been ESPN‘s lead college softball color analyst since 1998. In 2012, Smith became the first woman to serve as commentator for a nationally televised Major League Baseball game. Smith is a USA Softball Hall of Fame honoree. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Athletes for Hearts.
The Michele Smith College Showcase Tournament will be held September 16th through the 18th at the Eddie C Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater FL. A portion of the entry fees will be donated to the Softball for Hearts Charity to assist families with children in need of medical treatment specific to a heart condition, and to fund advancements in medical technology for the treatment of heart disease, with special heart conditions affecting children.