USA Softball is back in Virginia’s Championship City this week. Botetourt County and Salem will host teams, coaches, umpires and fans for the 2021 USA Softball GOLD National Championships through Saturday, July 24. The tournaments feature 64 teams from across the nation who will be competing in the 16-Under and 18-Under age divisions.
Participating teams earned a berth to the GOLD National Championship through a network of qualifying tournaments and through berths awarded by USA Softball’s Chief Executive Officer. This elite event for USA Softball will see 28 teams participate in the 16-Under division while 36 teams will fight their way through the 18-Under division. Both divisions will participate in pool play Monday and Tuesday before competing in double-elimination bracket play, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 21. The Championship contests will take place on Saturday, July 24, at 3 p.m. for both divisions with the “if-necessary” games slated for 5 p.m. that same day.
The week-long competition will be played across three locations, including the Arnold Burton Softball Complex and The James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem as well as the Botetourt Sports Complex. Games for the 16-Under division will be played primarily at Botetourt Sports Complex, while additional games will take place at Arnold Burton Softball Complex before capping the tournament at James Moyer Sports Complex. The 18-Under division will be played at Arnold Burton Softball Complex and James Moyer Sports Complex. Championship games for both divisions will take place at James Moyer Sports Complex on Saturday, July 24. Live stats and video coverage will be available all week long at USASoftball.com.
Created in 1994, the USA Softball GOLD National Championships garner a rich history with 27 18-Under Champions having been crowned over the years while seven 16-Under teams have walked away with a trophy since the division’s addition to the tournament in 2014. Making its first-ever appearance in Salem, the 2021 USA Softball GOLD Nationals will bring together the nation’s top talent for an exciting week of softball and competition.
