The always-anticipated Chance Crawford Benefit Softball Tournament is back this weekend with 189 teams from 10 states competing on fields throughout Virginia’s Blue Ridge region. The Botetourt Sports Complex will again serve as the home base for the charitable tournament while the final stages of renovation are completed at the Moyer Complex in Salem.
The tournament begins Friday, April 19, and runs through Sunday. This year’s games will be played on various diamonds in the cities of Salem and Roanoke and the counties of Bedford, Roanoke, and Botetourt. Contests are scheduled for the Botetourt Sports Complex and fields at the Salem Civic Center, Arnold R. Burton, Whispering Pines, Wasena Park, Huff Lane, Norwich Field, Bedford Moose Lodge, and Oakey Field.
This year’s event will feature the following divisions: Men’s Upper, Men’s D, Men’s E, Men’s Recreation, Men’s 40-plus, Women’s Division and Coed.
“I am humbled that we are able to generate this kind of participation after more than 40 years,” said Chance Crawford, the tournament’s namesake. “So many wonderful people who work in Salem and live in the community have dedicated themselves to making this tournament a first-class event each year.”
In the tournament’s four decades of existence, organizers have taken in nearly $1 million, and put that money right back into the community. Individuals with health problems, as well as deserving college students who need financial assistance have benefitted immensely. These funds are also used to help support youth sports throughout the greater Roanoke Valley.
In addition, the tournament provides a welcome boost to the local economy. In 2023, just under 3,000 players, coaches, umpires, and officials spent 1,732 total nights in hotel rooms in the valley. Hotels and motels in Salem, Roanoke and Botetourt County and Roanoke County benefited, with participants staying in over 38 different hotels, 4 homes and a campground.
The Chance Crawford Softball Tournament began in the spring of 1981 to help a young Salem High School quarterback, Chance Crawford, who suffered a spinal cord injury during one of his football games. The purpose of the original event was to raise money to help Chance and his family with the expenses of his education, physical therapy, and other medical needs due to his injury.
After Chance graduated from college, he was elected Clerk of Court for the City of Salem and the Chance Crawford Tournament Committee decided to continue the tournament in his honor but use the proceeds from the tournament to help those in need in the community with their own medical and education expenses.
“I will forever be grateful for what was done for me and continues to be done for so many others,” said Crawford. “I know the good Lord has been there every step of the way.”
For more information, call Salem Parks and Recreation at (540) 375-3057 or contact the Tournament Director Scott Scharnus at sscharnus@salemva.gov. You can also visit the Chance Crawford Tournament website at www.salemchampionships.com and check out the tourney on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chancecrawfordsoftballtournament
