Club Event Preview: Atlanta Legacy Showcase Raises the Bar Again

The Atlanta Legacy Showcase is set for July 7 through July 10, 2022, and—going into its 14^th year of featuring top teams from around the nation traveling to the Peach State for elite-level travel ball competition—Tournament Founder and Director Will Tomasello of Legacy Event Management says the new year will feature some “significant changes.”

“We have garnered significant financial support from our vendors and wanted to pass that along to our teams by rewarding the champions in our top events a cash prize,” Tomasello explains.  “The 2022 event will offer cash awards totaling $45,000. This is the largest prize award money granted to club level softball teams to date.”

Prize Awards go to the Division Champion for each of the following formats:

• $10,000 – The Legacy Elite Invitational (14U, 16U, 18U), Friday through Sunday with five guaranteed games into single elimination.  (By Invitation Only)
• $5,000 – The Legacy Select Championship, our newest format, (14U, 16U, 18U), Thursday through Sunday with six guaranteed games into single elimination.   This event was added because of the great success of the 2021 Invitational.  (Chosen by committee, the field of teams is larger & offers an additional game)

“We are pleased to continue to offer our Showcase Event  (16U, 18U), Thursday through Sunday with six guaranteed games into single elimination,” the Director adds.

With record breaking number of registrations for 2022, Legacy assembled a Selection Committee consisting of elite coaches from premier clubs to assist in the reviewing of applications, resumes and college coach letters of recommendation.

“As one of the top recruiting events in the country, we have a responsibility to thoroughly review and evaluate these teams to ensure their playing the best competition to showcase their talents,” Tomasello explains.  “Having these coaches, who have first-hand knowledge of a lot of these teams, assist in the process is extremely helpful in the selection of teams.”

Currently, the list of elite coaches who have agreed to participate includes:

• Jose Tunon – Georgia Academy Power
• Michael Harris – Atlanta Vipers
• Jason Gusaeff – Georgia Impact
• John Corn – Lady Lightning Gold
• John Legere – EC Bullets
• Rocky Thompson – Birmingham Thunderbolts
• Jimmy Hutchins – Fury Platinum
• David Handler – Tampa Mustangs
• Rachel Coleman – Stars National
• Pat Moyer – TN Fury
• Doug Lenos – Ohio Hawks
• Dana Fusetti – Carolina Elite

Another reason the Atlanta Legacy Showcase has become so popular is because of where it falls in the Showcase/Tournament season.  It is the last premier event before teams go to Nationals.  Teams choose the Legacy because it brings in teams nationwide who play in and at all levels of club softball, be it, PGF, Alliance, Triple Crown, USSSA or USA Softball tournaments or showcases.

“Since our inception, for example, The Legacy has long been a supporter of ASA/USA softball,” Tomasello says. “As such, we are the last of the independent showcases that is ASA sanctioned and, regardless of each team or club’s affiliation, we accept qualified teams with valid insurance.”

The cross-country participation has earned the Atlanta Legacy events a positive title usually reserved in political references.

“In essence, we have become the ‘Switzerland of Competition Softball,’” the Tournament Director laughs. “Our goal has always been to host a highly competitive event for teams and provide  college coaches with a true Southern hospitality experience.”

Historically, the Atlanta Legacy Showcase will host over 300 colleges and universities annually from around the country in all divisions to recruit at its events.

This year, Tomasello and his team also secured an official partnership with Athletes Go Live in which the Atlanta Legacy Showcase will be able to provide:

• live streaming of all games of the three events on all fields,
• tournament leader boards and All-Tournament teams throughout the event,
• A live production team and broadcasters for the championship games.

For more information, go to 2022 Atlanta Legacy Events website by clicking HERE.

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball