'Rumble' attracts 38 softball teams
Apparently, the "Rumble on the River" has made some noise.
The youth softball tournament hosted by Burrell FastPitch has nearly doubled in size from its inaugural year.
Last summer, 22 youth softball teams converged on area fields for the tournament, which is affiliated with the National Softball Association.
This Friday through Sunday, 38 teams in five age groups will compete.
Pennsylvania and three other states -- Michigan, New York and West Virginia -- will be represented.
It appears the tournament is developing into a mainstay.
"We're locked in for the Fourth of July weekend every year (for the immediate future)," said Burrell FastPitch president Brian Eshbaugh, who will coach the Pittsburgh Predators 18-Under team in the tournament.
The tournament certainly appeals to local players and coaches, who log many travel hours driving to tournaments during the summer.
Vipers 18-U coach Mark Cosentino has a daughter, Chelsy, who plays for Kiski Area, and he owns a business in Lower Burrell.
"My daughter has been involved in travel softball since she was 9 years old," Cosentino said. "We've had to travel everywhere. In the last three weeks, we've been to Philadelphia, Toledo and Youngstown. It's great to have a tournament close to us."
The tournament will serve as one of the NSA World Series qualifiers, which are held at numerous locations throughout the summer. The top two finishers in each age group of the "Rumble on the River" qualify for the World Series tournament.
The local tournament added a 10-U division this year. Only three teams are registered to play, but organizers hope participation will increase like it has in the other divisions.
The 18-U division has nine teams consisting mainly of top high school players, including some who are headed to college on scholarship.
The 14-U division is the largest with 12 teams.
The "Rumble on the River" will use eight fields -- three at Wolf Pack Park, one at Bon Air Elementary and one at Elks Field in Lower Burrell, and three at the Natrona Heights complex.
Games will be played from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The NSA-sanctioned tournament was awarded to Burrell FastPitch last year after two fields were added and other improvements were made to Wolf Pack Park.
Additional Information:
Participating teams
18-Under -- Amherst (N.Y.) Lightning, Dubois Extreme, Evolution DiLanardo, Power Gaurrich, Power Polley, Pittsburgh Predators, Pride Dimpel, St. Clair Shores (Mich.) Vipers, and Vipers Orange.
16-U -- Evolution Dolan, Evolution Wright, Furies, Metro Express, Norwin Nightros, Power Geraud, Pittsburgh Predators, and Velocity.
14-U -- Dream Softball, Evolution Butler, Furies, Marshal County (W.Va.) Stealers, Metro Express, Monroeville Gators, Power Uzelac, Power Crivello, Shaler Heat, Valley Control, Vipers East, and West Point Gems.
12-U -- Alle-West Hurricane, Diamond Stars, Evolution Keating, Furies, Metro Express, and Spirit 12 Achille.
10-U -- Burrell FastPitch, Power Dobson, and Freedom.
