Last weekend, I experienced one of the state’s finest sporting events. I made the short trip down to Winchester to catch the Chronicle, the premier slow-pitch softball tournament in the Midstate.

If you’ve never been to the Chronicle, I recommend you make the trip at least once if you’re a sports fan. The games are always exciting and the trash talking coming from outside the gates is legendary. 

While I’ve been retired from all softball for the last two years, I gave up playing at the Chronicle way before that. I was completely psyched out in my first action when a guy only known as G-Rock faked me out of my cleats at the plate.

I’ve never been more frustrated on the field than at the Chronicle, nor have I ever had more fun off it.

I bring this up because just days ago, I had a Facebook memory pop up. It was from 2015 and said, “The Chronicle, one of the biggest softball tournaments in the state, had at least eight local teams in it as far as I can tell. (It’s) Only a matter of time before there’s a big local tournament on Edley Newman Field.”

Boy was I wrong. And I’m not sure why. 

I’ve long maintained that our fields at McMinnville Civic Center are some of the state’s best. I’ve seen plenty of clover parks from Memphis to Bristol and rarely do they rival the scenery we have locally. Our park is tailor-made to have people come in on Friday and stay until Sunday.

Before 2015, when I made that post, I could understand why the scenery wasn’t enough to lure teams to our area. The fields were kind of a mess.

But $200,000 later (that’s a few paved roads), our fields are pristine. When I talk to coaches, they all talk about how our fields are the best around.

So when will the big tournament happen? Who knows.

Darrell Austin has had success bringing 10-12 teams to town once or twice a month, a nice draw that can provide a nice little boost for local businesses. It’s a far cry from the 100s of teams that flock to Winchester once a year though.

I’m hopeful it can still happen. I know we don’t have the parks to field 100-team tournaments (RIP Fairgrounds Fields, your absence is still felt). However, a premier tournament with 15-20 of the best in the Southeast could still be had.

With the right amount of city cooperation, local business support, hotel availability (coming soon) and ingenuity, I think Edley Newman Field could be the right park for a Tournament of Champions.

My dream would be starting a tournament Friday night, playing through Sunday and then setting off fireworks right after the championship game as fans flock to watch softballs sail into the night sky. 

July 4 is on a Sunday in 2021. Let’s start planning now.