CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR TEAM IS BEING EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
EIGHTH ANNUAL "EARLY BIRD" MEMORIAL FAST PITCH INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT!

WHERE & WHEN: Expressway Park, Cincinnati, Ohio - May 24-25, 2008. The tournament will begin at 8:00am, Saturday, May 24. All teams will be expected to be available to play at this time.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Monday - May 19, 2008 Limited openings due to format. Please register ASAP to guarantee your team a position. Fees must be paid by deadline.

ENTRY FEE: $325.00 Entry fee - A $30.00 USSSA registration fee must accompany the entry fee and registration form if your team is from Ohio and not presently sanctioned with USSSA as an A or B team. This includes all league teams presently classified C for the current season. Teams previously sanctioned must list USSSA sanction number and classification on entry blank. All out of state teams must sanction USSSA with their state director and list USSSA sanction number and classification on entry blank. All fees must be paid by certified check or money order. Make payable to: USSSA and mail to: Expressway Park, P.O. Box 402, Milford, Ohio 45150. No refunds will be given after registration deadline unless tournament is cancelled in it's entirety due to inclement weather (no games played).

FORMAT: Round Robin format with single elimination. All teams advance to an upper or lower division single elimination based on poole play records. All teams will play a minimum of 4 games weather permitting. Expressway Park and the Tournament Committee reserve the right to change format during inclement weather.

PAIRINGS: Managers please call (513) 831-4663 Wednesday, May 21 between 7-9pm. Remaining game times will be posted Thursday after 9pm on www.expresswaypark.com. Teams will be paired in even age groups (EX: 10U, 12U, 14U, & 16U) unless number of entries warrant single age group bracket (Min 8 per age group).

AWARDS: Each age group (upper and lower divisions) will compete for first and second place overall team awards, first and second place individual awards.

BERTHS & TRAVEL EXPENSE: Two A and two B World berths will be awarded in each age group. Combined age groups will be awarded four World Series berths in each age group (Ex: 14U Division with 13 and 14 year old teams will be awarded two 14U A World Series berths and two 14U B World Series berths and two 13U A World Series berths and two 13U B World Series berths). A Travel Expense fund of $10.00 per team entered will be equally divided between all first place teams in the upper divisions, provided they advance to the USSSA World Series. Travel expense will not be passed down if team does not advance.

ADMISSION: Admission during the tournament will be $3.00 per person per day. This charge includes everyone except rostered players, manager, and two coaches in UNIFORM and children 16 and under. Admission for Senior 62 and over will be $2.00 per day. Managers are responsible to inform their players and fans of admission policy prior to the tournament. NO refund of gate admission will be given for any reason including inclement weather.

ROSTER/WAIVER: The official USSSA "Early Bird" Memorial Fast Pitch tournament roster/waiver enclosed in this packet must be completed and mailed with entry fee as a condition of participation in the USSSA "Early Bird" Memorial Fast Pitch Invitational. No other roster may be submitted. Roster/waiver must be signed by parent or guardian, participant, manager, and USSSA state or area director and is limited to 20 players.

UMPIRES: 2 USSSA Fast Pitch certified umpires per game will be used for this event.

UNIFORM CODE: Teams are encouraged to wear identical uniforms. Caps are optional, however, when worn they must be alike. Uniform code will be non-protestable.

BALLS: USSSA approved Optic Yellow fast pitch softballs will be used for this event.

PLAYING FIELDS: Expressway Park in Milford on Route 50 at I-275 will host the USSSA "Early Bird" Memorial Fast Pitch National Invitational Tournament. Expressway Park is a full featured, five diamond complex with every possible feature. From the north or south, take I-275 east to the Hillsboro exit (exit #59b), go to Route 50 turn left at the light. The Expressway Park driveway entrance is approx. 1.5 miles on the left.

HOTELS: As a convenience, you may book your rooms directly through our website and receive the Expressway Park softball rate. Visit our website: www.expresswaypark.com and click on accommodations or if you contact Holiday Inn Eastgate direct be sure to ask for the Expressway Park Softball rate. Please contact Expressway Park at (513) 831-2273 for an up to date listing of hotels hosting this tournament. Please call all hotels at least 3 weeks in advance to ensure the best rates possible for your team.

CONDITIONS: The tournament committee reserves the right to change any game time, playing fields, or dates, or make any changes to conduct the tournament, including changing the tournament format if necessary. No refunds of entry fees will be given after tournament cutoff date. The tournament director, sponsor, and hosts assume all players are competing at their own risk and will not be liable for any accidents or injuries. Entry into the tournament constitutes agreement to these conditions.

PROTESTS: No protest fee for player eligibility or rule interpretations.

FOOD & DRINK: Ohio State Liquor laws & the Board of Health Regulation prohibit any food or beverage including sodas, bottled water, and sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc) from being brought onto park property, including the parking lot. Please do not attempt to bring food or drink into the Park. Water coolers are permitted but will be checked at the gate and must contain water only. Please NO bottled water or sports drinks permitted to be brought into the Park. The Park has a full-service concession area offering concession items at very competitive prices. Persons violating this policy will be ask to leave the Park for the remainder of the tournament.

MANAGERS: Please advise your players and spectators of our admission and food and drink policies. These are necessary for Expressway Park to continue to operate as one of the finest softball facilities in the Mid-West.
 

The Tournament Committee, Sponsors, and Expressway Park Look Forward to Your Visit with Us This Weekend, and if We Can Do Anything to Make Your Visit More Enjoyable, Please Do Not Hesitate To Ask.   Best wishes and may the best team win!