Hackensack Selected To Host Youth Softball State Championship

HACKENSACK, NJ — Having first chartered little league teams five years ago, the city of Hackensack has been selected to host the New Jersey 8-10 year old softball state championship from July 21 through July 25 on its campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

“We couldn’t be more excited and proud to be hosting the tournament this year,” Jerry Reid, President of Baseball & Softball of Hackensack, said. “We’ve worked hard to grow our own softball offerings the past few years and this attention will only help us keep that going.”

Fans from all over the state will come to watch the final four teams, the section champions, compete in the tournament, the culmination of district and section tournaments that started in June with over 300 little league programs. The winner will earn a trip to the Little League East Regional Tournament in Pennsylvania, the news release said.

“With 300 leagues and 20 districts in the state, the opportunity to host a state final is quite rare,” Jeffrey Ware, the volunteer District Administrator for state District 6, which includes Hackensack, said. “We won’t get the opportunity to spotlight our enthusiasm for Little League softball like this again for many years to come.”

In the past year, Fairleigh Dickinson University and District 6 member leagues have worked together to promote youth baseball and softball, through free clinics for players and pre-season training for coaches provided by FDU players, the news release said.

"We have built a great relationship with District 6 this past year and look forward to continuing our partnership and getting out into local community to promote women's sports,” FDU Head Softball Coach Chris Foye said.

The state championship will begin with a welcome picnic honoring the players, their families and the local volunteers on July 21, the night before the games begin. There will be two games each on Friday and Saturday nights and a game on Sunday setting up the championship on Monday evening, the news release said.

"Thank you to all of our volunteer coaches, parents, and everyone involved in the Hackensack Little League program for what they do and their hard work in putting this together," Mayor John Labrosse said. "We look forward to a great tournament."