How does a community provide temporary quarters for over 500 visitors?
Easily, if it’s the resort community of Cape May County.
That’s what this county does best—provide the comforts of home to the thousands who visit every year.
Frank Dougherty, Middle Township Baseball Commissioner, found himself faced with just such a problem recently, and he hopes the problem reappears next year—and for subsequent years.
Dougherty organized the Northeast Regional Senior Softball Championships this past Sept. 26-28, where 32 teams from 10 states (Massachusetts to Florida) participated. The games were played over the three-day event at Middle Township’s Sports Complex, Avalon, and County Park.
“The tournament was affiliated with Senior Softball USA,” he explained. “The players ranged in age from 50 through 80.”
The tournament is broken down into divisions by age, each spanning five years, such as 50-55, 56-60, 61-65, etc., with a champion winning each division.
“This is very big out west and in the sunbelt states,” Dougherty said. “This is the first time a tournament was held in the east on such a scale.”
When Dougherty first got the idea to host the tournament, he contacted Senior Softball USA in California and convinced them to come take a look at Cape May County as a possible site for one of their tournaments.
“I took the executive directors through Cape May and Wildwood,” he said. “I showed them the area and they liked what they saw. The Victorian buildings in Cape May and the boardwalk in Wildwood were very different from what they were used to seeing.
“These tournaments go on all through the year. The venues are chosen based on the quality of their softball fields, and the locale having something for families to do.”
Middle Township scored high in both areas.
“These tournaments bring families into the area for a long weekend,” he said, “so they have a great economic impact on the community.”
The weekend of Sept. 26, if you remember, was when the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna hit New Jersey.
“It rained all that weekend,” Dougherty recalled. “The Middle Township ground crew worked tirelessly, and we got all the games in.”
Dougherty, who has been associated with Middle Township baseball for 40 years, is trying to arrange a girls’ fast-pitch softball tournament and co-ed adult softball. The problem, he advised, is finding enough decent playing fields.
“This weekend (late Oct.), there are 300 teams playing a tournament in Phoenix, Arizona,” he said. “That has a huge impact economically on the community. We would need a lot more high-quality fields here to do that, but the return would be worth the investment.”
Next year’s Cape May tournament is scheduled for Sept. 25-27, and Dougherty does expect more teams—as many as 60 to 75.
Anyone wishing more information can contact Dougherty through the Recreation Center at 609-465-8743.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
