LOCAL SPORTS: Armstrong Force Travel Softball Team Set to Hold Tryouts This Weekend

by Jake DeLuca

Tryouts for the Armstrong Force Travel Softball team are to be held for girls age 10-16 at the Elderton – Plum Creek Recreational Field this Saturday and Sunday.

Brian Walker, who is a big reason travel softball is here in Armstrong County, has two daughters who played travel softball and are now currently playing at the collegiate level. Walker says that travel softball isn’t the only way for girls to get scouted to play college softball, but it basically is.

The travel league is significant to girls who want to play at a higher level, because the travel league plays by the same rules as college softball.

Brian Walker went on to explain the league and the tryouts.

“Our league is a girls travel fast-pitch softball league and we are called the Armstrong Force. Travel ball is broken down into different age groups; 10 and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under. Last season we had one 10 and under team, two 12 and under teams, a 14 and under, and a 16 and under team. We split time for tryouts; the 10 and 12 teams try out earlier in the day and the 14 and 16 teams tryout after that. “

Walker added, “It is all tournament play, some of them start on a Friday and most last through to Sunday. They play a round of games on Fridays and Saturdays with the elimination games starting Sunday where if you win you keep playing, but if you lose you go home.”

Brian Walker then went on to give details for the tryouts.

“We test them on fielding and base-running along with fly-balls and hitting. The tryout times are the same for both Saturday and Sunday. The tryout time for both the 10 and under and 12 and under girls is from 8:30-10:30 AM and the second session for that age group is 2:00-4:00 PM. The 14 and under and 16 and under are from 11:00 AM till 1:00 PM and the second session for them is from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. We require every player to attend at least two tryouts and it is a $10 fee. They can come to all four tryouts but that is up to them.”

The tryouts will be held at the Elderton – Plum Creek Recreational Field on Saturday August 6th and Sunday August 7th.