First Responders Cup Tournament

The first event to commemorate the response of the Arlington Community to the September 11th, 2001 tragedy will be the ninth annual First Responders Cup Tournament.

At 7:30 AM Saturday, September 11th, the Third Army's Old Guard Ceremonial Fife and Drum Brigade will lead thirty eight of the very best youth fastpitch softball teams in the region in a parade of  teams.  The opening ceremonies will be highlighted by remarks from leaders of the Community, the Arlington Fire and Police First Responders and other notable individuals.

Games will begin shortly thereafter to determine who which team will have their names placed on the prestigous First Responders Cup.

This event will be held at the Barcroft Sports Complex, Wakefield High School and the Jennie Dean Field complex in Arlington and is free to the public.

 We are please to note the field is set for the ninth annual First Responders Cup, should a team unexpectedly withdraw, we will immediately post here the availablity of the berth and accept applications for berth on a first come basis for the Age Group from which there is an opening.

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 Teams that wish to register in case of such an opening are welcome to do so and they will be placed on the waiting list in the order in which the complete the registration process.

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We will be playing Early Start Games on Friday Evening. For those teams who are interested in starting early and spreading out their game appearances in Saturday's pool play please consider accepting our invitation for Friday Evening Games. Schedule of Ceremonies and Games has been determined and posted.  Individual team schedules will be posted soon.

Opening Ceremonies:

Britt McHenry, Sports Reporter for  WJLA Television, Channel 7 in Washington DC, pictured below.

has to be our opening ceremony speaker. She will be joined for the Parade of the Teams by the 3rd Army's Old Guard Ceremonial Fife and Drum Corps.  General Robyn Swan of United States Army has agreed to award the winners trophies for each of the Tournament Bracket Championships.

1. Do you have to be ASA registered to play? No
2. Will you be playing by ASA game rules? Yes
3. Will you follow the new pitching distance rules? Yes, 12U and 14U will pitch from 40 feet, 16U and 18U will pitch from 43 feet.
4. Will you abide by ASA age eligibility rules? Yes
5. Will there be a Silver and Gold Brackets for the 14 and 16 levels? Yes, at the 12 u and 18 u brackets there is only one level of competition.
6. Do we have to play on Friday Evening? Only if you can make it? Let us know if you can.
7. What happens if it Rains there is a  postponement? It depends, if its Friday, no problem, if its Saturday, we will play it out as best we can, if its Sunday, see you next year. Then again, we have had hurricances and with stood them in previous years, we have a great crew and with your patience we will make it happen.
8. What is the Sportsmanship Award? At the end of each game, your team will be asked to decide who is the most valuable player on the opposing team during the game and present them with a game medal.
9. What is the Frank Bradley Sportsmanship Award?  Each year we award team medals to the teams that espouse the most striking examples of hard play, good sportsmanship and love of the game. This award is in honor of the leader of our field crews Frank Bradley, umpire, field crew supervisor, athelete and good friend of fastpitch softball.
10. Do we have to go the Opening Ceremony? No, but that ceremony is what this is all about, anyone who has gotten up and atttended is struck by the significance.  If you do nothing else we urge you to get your team to the fields at sunrise on Saturday morning to march on the field led by the Third Army's Old Guard, it is truly special.
11. Where does the money raised go? First Responders Charities. The last few years we have donated over ten thousand dollars to the Fisher House who provide housing for families of disabled veterans returning from the the Middle East.  We have assisted the Ladies Auxillary of the Third Army's Old Guard. This year we will again provide for these and other charities.
12. When will we know the schedule? As soon as possible after all the teams that have registered complete the registration process.  Hopefully, soon after September 1 as we can.
13. Where can I find maps to the fields? Check out the Locations Tab on this web site.
14. Where do I send the registration fees? First Responders Cup, 5105 North 27th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22207.

The First Responders Cup Committee announced its donations for the 2009 Tournament.

Thanks to teams, players and fans who have contributed to this wonderful event, we were able to make donations in the total of sixty five hundred dollars to the Fisher House and the Ladies Association of the Old Guard. These donations now mean that the tournament has been able to raise over $30,000 in donations for First Responder related Charities.

This is why we do this tournament each year and why it is much more than just a softball tournament.

The 2010 ( 9th Annual ) First Responders Cup Tournament on September 10th, 11th and 12th in Arlington Virginia.

Indicate Your Team's Early Interest by Completing the

On-Line Registration Form

Please Note: We are considering expanding the tournament to include an 18 and Under Bracket, but we need to determine if there is sufficient interest.

8th Annual Tournament Results!

Congratulations to the Champions and all the Teams, Fans and Supporters of the First Responders Cup, it was a fantastic tournament. Thirty One teams playing the very best fastpitch softball.

The 2009 Champions

Gold Division

12U - Champion: Loudoun Storm

14U - Champion: Vienna Stars

16U - Champion: Shamrocks

Silver Division

14U - Maryland Stars

16U - Ashburn Shooting Stars Gold

A special thank you goes to the Washington-Lee High School Faspitch team who voluntered countless hours to do the scoreboards and to Brigadier General Rob Swan of the United States Army for his remarks at the closing awards ceremonies.  General Swan below presenting trophies to Champions and Runners Up.

Frank Bradley Awards for Exemplary Sportsmanship

( Frank Bradley is second from the right in the above photo )

16U Gold - North Carolina Challengers

16U Silver - Arlington Sage

14U Gold - Northern Virginia Blaze

14U Silver - Baseliners

12U Silver - Baseliners