This is Brentt Eads of Extra Inning Softball.
In June, the Alex Wilcox Classic will take place in Florida and will include some of the top teams in the 16U and 18U age groups.
This event will always hold a special place in my heart because I got to cover, know and follow the June tourney’s namesake–Alex Wilcox–when she was a standout Extra Elite 100 player first for the Birmingham Thunderbolts and then went on to play for Mississippi State before passing away way too early to the awful disease that is Ovarian Cancer.
Click HERE to read one of the many articles we did previously to honor this wonderful young athlete who touched so many with her play on the field and her wonderful demeanor, personality and charm off of it.
And here are the details on this wonderful event in her honor…
- Event Title: 2023 Alex Wilcox Classic
- Event Location: Sanford, Florida
- Age Divisions: 16U and 18U
- Dates: June 22-24, 2023
- Event URL: Alex Wilcox Classic (click on link)
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Extra Inning Softball caught up with Event Director Becky Massave to learn more about the Classic… here’s what she had to say.
How long has the Alex Wilcox Classic been run?
We’re entering our 5th year.
You have a wonderful athlete being honored in Alex Wilcox… what is the goal of the event held in her name?
We continue our support of the Geauxteal Foundation and the Mississippi State Endowment Scholarship in honor of Alex. Our mission is to bring awareness of Ovarian cancer
Can you share with us the history and origin of the event?
The Alex Wilcox Classic started five years ago following the death of Alex from Ovarian Cancer. With the family’s approval, we wanted to honor her commitment to the sport of softball.
Additionally, around the same time, we saw Lindsey Leftwich with LSU wearing a Geauxteal Foundation t-shirt and, in talking with her and learning more about the impact Ovarian Cancer has on women of all ages, we realized we have the perfect platform to reach hundreds of young girls to bring awareness to this horrible disease.
We partnered with Jay Roberson, the T-Bolts 5-Star Classic and Jeremy Higdon with Scenic City to start the first annual Alex Wilcox Classic.
In your opinion, what makes the Alex Wilcox Classic such a coveted event to compete in for teams, players and coaches?
In keeping with our upscale hospitality for college coaches, we bring Legacy events to South Florida. All attending college coaches receive complementary catered meals, shaded reserved seating at every field, complementary snacks and beverages as well as on-site charging stations, and amenities such as sunscreen, bug spray, aspirin and more.
Our line up of teams provide excellent competition at all levels. We will draw teams from all over the southeast, not just Florida.
We have partnered with Seminole County at Soldiers Creek Complex which hosts six fields. The park staff is outstanding in field preparation and, in the event we get weather, they are immediately getting the fields ready for play. It is Florida, so if or when there are pop-up storms, we’ve had little to no delays in taking the fields following.
What is the format of the tournament and the prizes for those who finish on top?
We’ve adjusted the format to just be 16U and 18U with a four-game guarantee into single elimination. The prize money in each division is $5,000 for 1st place, $2500 for 2nd and complementary entry into the Veterans Tribute Showcase for 3rd place.
Who are some of the top teams to watch for this year?
In our 18U division, some top teams to watch include Georgia Impact Janney/Lewis; Team NC – Shook; Florida Power Black Kaser. In 16U teams of note are the Hotshots National – Neleman; Rock Gold Waye-Manetta and Intensity National KOD/Bodell.
What are some fun things to do in the area during that weekend when not on the fields?
We are literally in Disney’s backyard so we offer all of our attending teams discounted tickets to the parks. We are also 45 minutes to the beach.
Finally, what else would you like to say about the Alex Wilcox Classic that makes it unique?
We are proud that we have been able to sustain this event with quality teams and college coach attendance, even through the pandemic. The showcase community is getting flooded with events for teams to choose from. The Alex Wilcox Classic will always be a draw because of the teams and college coaches that attend.
