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September 22, 2008 (603) 225-9374 (603) 630-2986 (cell) |
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CONCORD WILL HOST 16U NATIONAL EVENT IN AUGUST 2009 New Hampshire’s first-ever girls’ softball World Series is set to take place in Concord next year. A contract signing ceremony today at Doane Diamond at Memorial Field secured the major national sporting event, which will take place August 7-15, 2009. Governor John Lynch was joined by Concord Mayor James Bouley in welcoming the announcement for both its significance and economic impact to New Hampshire. “New Hampshire has a great tradition of hosting major sporting events and the 16U Babe Ruth Softball World Series will certainly add to that history,” Governor Lynch said at the signing ceremony. “As a big softball fan, I look forward to attending some games and greeting teams and their supporters from across the country to the Granite State. The event will also showcase to our visitors all that Concord and New Hampshire have to offer.” National Babe Ruth Softball Commissioner Rob Connor said recent history has shown that hosting a World Series has a local economic impact of well over $1 million dollars, with more than 1,000 hotel room nights alone. “We have been committed to bringing a World Series to New Hampshire because of the many Babe Ruth Softball leagues in the state. My trip here earlier this summer that included a meeting with the Governor convinced me it was time to make it happen,” Connor said. Eight Regional Champions will join the New Hampshire State Champion and the host team from Concord in the 16U Babe Ruth Softball World Series in a week of high-level competition that will feature both pool play and a double elimination format. Players for the visiting teams will stay with “host families”. “We are very excited about bringing the 16U World Series to Concord,” said tournament chairman Bob LaChapelle.“ New Hampshire and Concord teams have done very well in state, regional and national tournaments in recent years, and this is a great opportunity for them to play on a national stage in front of home crowds. ”
Back Row: James Bouley, Mayor, Concord, NH; James Charland, Asst New England Regional Commissioner, Softball, and NH Softball UIC; Russ Monbleau, past NH State Commissioner, current New England BR Softball League Recruiter; Governor John Lynch, The Great State of New Hampshire. |
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Host President: Stadium: Seating capacity: 2,000
Babe Ruth World Series |
Concord, New Hampshire is a city rich in sports,
cultural and political tradition. Its neighborhoods and
Main Street reflect almost 270 years of history.
The Capital of the State that boasts the First-in-the-
Nation Presidential Primary, Concord was the home
of Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United
States. The State House built in 1819 is the oldest
state capitol building in which the legislative branches
still meet in their original chambers.
From its beginnings, Concord’s central location along
the banks of the Merrimack River made it a hub for
inland trade and commerce. One of the city’s bestknown
industries was carriage manufacturing, and
here world famous Concord coaches were built
throughout the 19th century. Furniture making and
granite quarrying were also major local industries.
The granite for the Library of Congress in
Washington, D.C. came from nearby Rattlesnake Hill,
which to this day remains a major granite quarry.
Today Concord is a city of 43,000 people that’s been
recognized nationally for its quality of life, represented
by its economic vitality, public and private schools,
health care facilities, civic involvement, and low
crime rate.
Near the crossroads of Interstates 93 and 89, Concord is a commercial, government and tourism destination in the Merrimack Valley Region. It’s conveniently located within an hour of New Hampshire’s Seacoast, White Mountains and Lakes Regions, and a little more than an hour from Boston. Concord institutions include Franklin Pierce Law School (NH’s only law school), St. Paul’s School (a private preparatory school), New Hampshire Technical Institute (a two-year community college), the Capitol Center for the Arts, the Museum of New Hampshire History, and Red River Theatres (independent cinema). |
At the beginning of the 20th century, baseball was Concord’s as well as the nation’s pastime. The local Concord team competed with other communities in games across the state. In 1909, a new league was established made up of teams representing different Concord neighborhoods. Under the league rules, games would begin after supper and conclude at sunset. Thus, Concord’s Sunset League, America’s oldest after-supper league, was born. The league is still active a century later. Major sports figures who have called Concord home include professional baseball players Red Rolfe, Joe Lefebvre and Bob Tewksbury, Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Mounsey (women’s ice hockey), and professional basketball player Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs). Concord was also the home of teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe. She is memorialized at the Christa McAulliffe Planetarium, the nation’s most technologically sophisticated planetarium. While this is New Hampshire’s first-ever Softball World Series, Concord did play host to the Babe Ruth Baseball 13U World Series in 1994 and the Senior Babe Ruth 18U Baseball World Series in 2000. The site of that event, Doane Diamond at Memorial Field, served as the home of the Concord Quarry Dogs of the New England Collegiate Baseball League between 2001 and 2007. Doane Diamond is being converted to a softball field for the 16U World Series in 2009. Concord’s strong tradition in girls softball is evidenced by recent all star successes that have included three 14U Babe Ruth New Hampshire State Titles, two 14U New England Regional Championships and two 14U National Invitation Tournament Titles in the past five years. |
Newspapers: The Union Leader Laconia Citizen Radio Stations: WTPL Radio Television Stations: ConcordTV |
