Amateur Softball Association hosted annual state tournament over weekend
Tan lines, friends and the dirt between their toes — it was a typical day at the ballpark.
The Michigan Amateur Softball Association held its annual state tournament in Mount Pleasant at CMU's intramural fields this past weekend where it welcomed 102 teams.
“I love this sport," said Katie Howard, a 17-year-old Drillers outfielder from Jehnsen Lake. "I love the atmosphere when you’re here, and that when you’re on the field all of your worries are gone and nothing else matters."
The state tournament welcomes teams from across the state of Michigan to participate, while the first-, second- and third-place teams are offered a spot in the national tournament.
The tournament is broken up into four age groups with some being broken up into two levels. The age groups are 12 and under, 14 and under A and B, 16 and under A and B and 18 and under.
“This tournament offers better competition for the girls," Shepherd resident Bill Albaugh said. "There are more teams here and more travel elite teams so this tournament only makes each girl better."
Howard said playing better teams makes each individual player better.
That way, she said, no matter win or lose, you're still getting something out of it.
Kaye Bouck, director of the Mount Pleasant Girls Softball Association, helped organize the tournament.
Bouck ran to each field to drop off extra balls, made sure every game ran smoothly and occasionally did some bookwork in the middle of it all.
“She does so much for this tournament, but not only the tournament, (also) for girls around this area,” Albaugh said. “She is willing to help anyone who needs the help. She does a ton."
Bouck has been active in softball her whole life, and started coaching her oldest daughter at the age of 10.
Though Albaugh said Bouck did a lot of work to put the tournament together, she would not take all the credit.
"I don’t do any of the organization of the tournament," she said. "The City of Mount Pleasant, Mount Pleasant Parks and Recreation and MASA does all that. I'm just the assistant director."
Bouck also spends her time working with the recreational league in Mount Pleasant.
