Ballparks of America Summer Season Kicks-off

The Summer Baseball gets underway this week at Ballparks of America.

The full release from Ballparks is below: 
From coast to coast, teams will be traveling to the heart of the Ozarks to compete in unforgettable tournaments all summer long. Ballparks of America is set to host 252 teams from Memorial Day to Labor Day in its premier 11 summer tournaments. 

With its five 2/3-scale replica fields, Major League-style Team Suites, full-service restaurant, newly opened ice cream shop, The Sweet Spot, and 
so much more, the Ballparks of America campus offers teams more than just a baseball tournament experience. 

Teams will travel in from 32 states over the summer, including California, New York, Texas, and Louisiana. They will all experience a week full of baseball and get the chance to enjoy the best of Branson at the same time. Teams playing in weeklong tournaments arrive on Friday for 
a Media Day and Opening Ceremonies, which includes professional photography, a parade around St. Louis Stadium, and an interactive show by Buckets N Boards. A Family Feast for players, coaches and families will be held prior to Opening Ceremonies for teams to spend 
some quality time together after spending the day traveling. 

The baseball starts Saturday with pool play games spanning the weekend and heading into Tuesday. The beginning of the tournament is also a host to skills competitions – ranging from Around the Horn Plus to Turnin’ 2 – and a fan-favorite Home Run Derby on Tuesday night. With a second Family Feast held during the competition, fans, teams, and families can cheer on their favorite player and watch them compete for the title of Derby Champion. 

While baseball is the focus of any tournament, Ballparks of America encourages all its visitors to explore Branson during their off day on Wednesday. Ballparks of America partners with Branson’s greatest attractions, including Silver Dollar City, The Tracks Family Fun Parks, and the 
Titanic Museum, so families and players can experience the Branson area and all it has to offer. Thursday is Championship Day. Teams compete in single-elimination bracket play until a champion is crowned. The top two teams are awarded Ballparks of America rings to end a successful week. 

In addition to the summer tournaments, Ballparks will also host two exciting events in August. The fan-favorite Cal Ripken Major70 World Series returns to Branson Aug. 4-13. Teams from all over the world and several U.S. teams will compete for the title of World Champion. The Tradition – a first-of-its-kind father-son event – will also be held the last two weekends of August. This unique event where fathers and their sons – or athletes and their favorite adult – will have an opportunity to create lifelong memories while playing America’s favorite game. 

Below is the list of 11 summer tournaments Ballparks of America will be hosting, including two 4-day tournaments that run as a condensed version of the weeklong tournaments:
• Memorial Day Classic – May 27-30
• Summer Kickoff – June 3-9
• Boys of Summer – June 10-16
• Father’s Day Classic – June 17-23
• Gold Glove Classic – June 24-30
• Stars & Stripes Showdown – July 1-7
• KaPau Plummet Klassic – July 15-21 
• Time Traveler Showdown – July 22-28 
• Missouri Heat Classic – July 29-Aug. 1 
• Call Your Shots Classic – Aug. 12-18 

For more information on any of the upcoming events at Ballparks of America, teams can visit ballparksofamerica.com.