The Western National Championships will help bring more attention – and more players -- to the game, where camaraderie and fun are just as important as the score. Photo courtesy of Placer Valley Tourism

PLACER VALLEY, CA (MPG) - Clutch hits, defensive gems and game-winning rallies will highlight the Senior Softball-USA Western National Championships from Tuesday (July 28) through Sunday (Aug. 2) in Placer Valley and Sacramento County, bringing almost 5,000 athletes and fans -- and generating more than $3 million to the local economy.

About 130 slow-pitch teams – from Alaska and Hawaii to Texas, including more than 40 from the Sacramento region – will participate in the six-day tournament, with the top teams advancing to the World Championships this fall. 

The high-profile tournament features men’s teams with 40- to 85-year-old-and-up players, and women’s teams in 40- to 60-and-up divisions. 

The older men’s teams – 65- to 85-year-old players – will play 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at Foskett Regional Park in Lincoln and the Sacramento Softball Complex. 

Games for younger players are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday at those two parks plus Maidu Regional Park in Roseville and Hal Bartholomew Sports Park in Elk Grove.

There are no admission fees to watch the games.

The Western National Championships, one of the nation’s largest senior slow-pitch softball tournaments, features some of the best teams and players west of the Mississippi River. 

“It’s a very competitive tournament,” said Executive Director and co-owner of Senior Softball-USA, Fran Dowell.

Many of the teams practice at least once a week, participate in more than 15 tournaments per year, and each player spends thousands of dollars on travel to tournaments. 

“We have a lot of respect for the game,” said Dowell.

When many older folks are slowing down, these senior softball players are smashing home runs and making slick-fielding plays on the diamond.

“It’s pretty amazing that you have guys this old playing competitive softball,” said baseball-turned-softball player Dan Norton, coach and player for the Sacramento Islanders. The team plays in the 75-and-up division. “People come out and watch, and they’re always very impressed with the level of play.”

The Western National Championships, one of the nation’s largest senior slow-pitch softball tournaments, features some of the best teams and players west of the Mississippi River. Photo courtesy of Placer Valley Tourism 

Many of the oldest players, those in their 70s and 80s, have been playing for decades, turning hard-hit ground balls into double plays in the field and smashing line drives between outfielders for extra-base hits. The almost year-round schedule keeps players active and in shape.

“Fans are amazed, especially as the age group goes up,” said Gayle Collins, who recently stopped playing softball after six decades to focus on overseeing tournaments and umpiring.

The Western National Championships is a big hit with players – and the Placer Valley economy. Players, family members, fans and umpires will fill hotel rooms, enjoy meals and shop in local stores.

“The tournament has a huge economic impact,” said Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism, and @the Grounds, home of the Roebbelen Center. “You will see senior softball players all over the community during the week.”

Placer Valley Tourism has been bringing the senior softball tournament to the region for almost 15 years. A friendly community and well-maintained softball diamonds help with recruitment.

Northern California, and the Sacramento region specifically, is considered a hot bed for softball, a sport that has returned to pre-Covid era participation and gained about 400,000 45-and-older players from 2023 to 2024, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. 

The Western National Championships will help bring more attention – and more players -- to the game, where camaraderie and fun are just as important as the score. And that never gets old.

“It’s more than a tournament. It’s more than just winning and losing,” said Norton, whose 19 teammates and their wives and girlfriends spend a lot of time together during the season. “It’s like a second family, a social thing.”