Windmills don’t normally dot the landscape of McAllen, but for four days this July, they will be in full swing when pitchers take the mound at the 2022 PONY Softball International World Series Travel Select Tournament – College Showcase.
That’s a mighty long name, but this is a mighty big deal.
“We will have teams from Mexico, possibly Australia, Louisiana, New Mexico, San Diego and across Texas,” said Debbie Falcon, the PONY’s south zone division director for softball.
Organizers are expecting more than 120 teams and over 3,000 attendees for a tournament to run July 20-24. The event includes a college showcase.
“Last year, 15 college coaches showed up,” Falcon said. “This resulted in college scholarships being awarded to softball players they scouted.”
A Multi-Site Event
There will be four separate showcases of batting, catching, fielding and pitching. Following will be a question-and-answer session with the coaches. The IWS kicks off with opening ceremonies on July 20 at 3 p.m. Following that evening, international teams will play in exhibition games, as will athletes in the McAllen Champions League, designed for youth with special needs. Official tournament games begin at 8 a.m. July 21.
“All teams are guaranteed at least five games,” Falcon said.
Three “pool” games, per team, will result in team seeding for bracket play in the double-elimination tournament. The IWS includes teams from 6U to 18U. All events are open to the public. Games take place at the McAllen Youth Baseball Complex on 29th and Auburn, the Municipal Softball Complex on Bicentennial and Tamarack, and the Westside Softball Complex on South Ware Road.
“The cost for tickets will be under $10, and we will have weekly wristbands available,” said Boys & Girls Club of McAllen CEO Dalinda Alcantar-Gonzalez.
Revenues will benefit the organization. (More information will be available closer to the event. Tournament details are on PONY’s website at south.pony.org under “Tournaments.”)
Falcon is thrilled that Rio Sports will provide the official live streaming.
“We haven’t been able to get the softball games broadcast before,” she said. “Many thanks to Rio Sports for stepping up and taking this on.”
Building A Relationship
McAllen solidified its reputation as a sports-tourism destination when residents passed a $15-million bond issue in 2013. This allowed for the creation of the 12-field complex on 29th and also the conversion of Municipal’s baseball fields to softball fields.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department awarded the City of McAllen a 2015 Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant for the complex on 29th. (McAllen also boasts a bevy of soccer fields.)
Alex Arevalo, interim director of Visit McAllen, said Boys & Girls Club of McAllen led the effort to host the IWS. There certainly is a reason for that, Gonzalez-Alcantar said.
“We have had a relationship with PONY softball for over 20 years, and we’ve always been one of the larger PONY programs in the state,” she said.
PONY is an acronym for Protect Our Nation’s Youth.
“Our mission is the same,” she said ” We know athletics saves kids.”
Making McAllen A Destination
Gonalez-Alcantar also gave much of the credit to Jorge Leal. The club’s former athletic director now works for the City of McAllen.
“He is to be commended for building our softball and baseball programs and for fostering the relationship with PONY,” she said.
Falcon confirmed that the relationship with communities invested in PONY plays an integral role when the organization looks for host cities.
“When we approach a city, they have so many questions and concerns,” she said. “From the time we contacted McAllen, though, it has all been so positive and refreshing.”
That positivity is indeed citywide.
“The City of McAllen is excited about this opportunity to not only showcase our facilities but also the talent we have here,” said Denny Meline, Parks and Recreation director for the City of McAllen. “PONY is such a prestigious organization; we are grateful to be hosting this important event.”
Economic Benefits
Arevalo of Visit McAllen lauded the economic impact the event will obviously have.
“Our conservative estimate is a little over $1.3 million,” she said. “We look at the mean average of hotel room nights and the average amount each attendee will spend, including meals, gasoline, and retail and leisure spending.”
Arevalo said a successful tournament will certainly bring future opportunities.
“For the bigger picture,” she said, “we look at what this event will bring down the line. A successful event often leads to other sports associations looking at the city, trusting both the community and its resources.”
Alcantar-Gonzalez, of the Boys & Girls Club, said this economic impact also affects relationships.
“As a nonprofit, we are always looking to our business community for help, donations, and support,” she said. “These relationships need to be reciprocated, so why not create opportunities that also provide a significant economic impact?”