City and County of Broomfield Public Information Office
One DesCombes Drive · Broomfield, CO 80020 · (303) 438-6308

Media Release

Release Date: June 20, 2002

Lea Opitz
Broomfield Recreation Center
(303) 464-5523

Rosann Doran
Public Information Officer
303.438.6308

Colorado Fireworks Softball Tournament
opens in Broomfield

The 2002 Class A Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tournament will be in Broomfield from June 29 to July 3, featuring 54 teams of girls 14 and under, and 15 teams of girls 12 and under competing.

The tournament brings out the best teams in the country, and about 3,450 people to Broomfield. Practice games begin June 28 during the day, with a coaches’ meeting at the Recreation Center at 5 p.m.

The Colorado Fireworks Tournament is a national caliber tournament that has operated for 30 years. Once a local tourney, it has grown into one of the best invitational tournaments in the country, according to its organizers.

The tournament begins with pool play followed by double elimination brackets. The winning team in each age group earns the title of 2002 Fireworks Champion, and can advance to the American Fastpitch Association nationals.

Originating in the City of Arvada and operated as the Colorado Firecracker for 17 years, the event changed its name to Colorado Fireworks about 11 years ago. Along the way, the tournament has attracted top teams from around the nation, as well as over 300 college coaches to scout the talent. Many teams use the tournament as a recruiting tool.

Broomfield has hosted the under 12 and 14 year age groups for 13 years, while the under 16 and 18 divisions are played in Aurora.

Teams playing include:

Under 14 – Hotshots from Tempe, Ariz.; Surrey Storm '87 from Delta, British Columbia; and

Fire and Ice from Elk Grove, Calif.

From Colorado, playing are: Buckaroos 14 Blue from Fort Collins; Colorado Cardinals from Arvada; Colorado Cardinals Elite from Littleton; Colorado Springs Lightning from Colorado Springs; Colorado Comets from Littleton; Colorado Pony Express from Highlands Ranch; Colorado Commotion from Broomfield; Colorado Quicksilver from Colorado Springs; Lady Warriors from Louisville; and BC Bullets from Lakewood.

Teams from Florida include: Sarasota Heat from Sarasota; West Pines Diamond Dusters from Pembroke Pines; and Clearwater Lady Bombers from Clearwater. Teams from Georgia are Shiloh Titans from Lithonia, and East Cobb Bullets from Canton. From Illinois are the Oak Park Windmills from Oak Park, and from Indiana are the Indiana Magic from Rochester.

From Kansas are: KC Pride from Overland Park and Game Time USA from Tecumseh. Additional teams are: Omaha Quakes Red from Papillion, Neb.; Hudson Valley Express from Wappinger, NY; and Lady Thunder from Liberty Township, Ohio.

From Oklahoma, teams are: Impact from Owasso; Oklahoma Jammers from Oklahoma City; OKC Illusion from Oklahoma City; and US Angels from Edmond. From Oregon, playing are: Silver Bullets from Newberg; Oregon Breeze from Aloha; Hermiston Hornets from Hermiston; and Oregon Lil' Saints from Sandy.

From Tennesee are: Nashville Nighthawks from Brentwood; West Tennessee Diamonds from McKenzie.

Teams from Texas include: Austin Attitude from Austin; Texas Intruders from Houston; Texas Sting/Gold from Houston; Lethal Weapon from La Porte; Texas Glory Gold from McKinney; The Tomboys from Mansfield; TCB 14's from Houston; Hit Away Blue from Humble; Cy-Fair Diamonds from Cypress; and Missouri City Magic Nine from Missouri City, Tex.

Also playing from Washington state are Team Blaze from Moses Lake; Tri City Spirit from Richland; N.W. Buzz from Sammamish; Diamond Force from Kirkland; Sudden Impact from Federal Way; Dragin' Magic from Montesano; Pro Caliber Crushers from Battleground; and Vancouver Ford from Vancouver, Wash.

Under 12 – From Colorado: Comets from Denver; Blue Buckaroo’s from Fort Collins; Sweet Cleats from Lakewood; Velocity from Englewood. Also playing are: Indiana Magic from Tennyson, Ind.; and Aces from Leawood, Kans.

From Oklahoma, teams are: Team Havoc from Tulsa; Oklahoma Dynasty from Broken Arrow; and Crush from Broken Arrow. West Tennessee Diamonds are playing from Mckenzie, Tennessee.

From Texas, teams are: Hit Away from Houston; TCB 12's from Houston; Gulf Coast Explosion from Sweeny; Texas Glory from McKinney; and Texas Sox from Mesquite.