Archive for Friday, June 8, 2007
Triple Crown season underway
World Series set for mid-July
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Triple Crown tournaments
Triple Crown baseball and softball tournaments kicked off Thursday.
Alyssa Quintana throws a pitch during the opening day of a Triple Crown tournament at the Ski Town Fields in Steamboat Springs on Thursday morning. Triple Crown tournaments will continue into August.
Steamboat Springs — At 8 a.m. Thursday, the first pitch of a game between two girls fastpitch softball teams from Denver launched the beginning of what has become a Steamboat summer staple.
It was the first pitch of the Triple Crown season in Steamboat Springs. This summer, Steamboat plays host to eight tournaments - six of which are youth baseball tournaments - during a two-month stretch.
The other two tournaments are the fastpitch softball tournament that began Thursday and runs through Sunday and a slowpitch softball tournament set for the end of June and the beginning of July.
Last year, the four sessions of the Triple Crown World Series brought more than 350 teams from 28 states to Steamboat. It was the largest showing Triple Crown had ever had in Steamboat.
Former Meeker resident Dave King formed Triple Crown. In 1983, King looked to coordinate a "triple crown" of three softball tournaments between Breckenridge, Vail and Steamboat, and he created what has become an international sports event organization that franchises local tournaments across the country. Triple Crown Sports is based in Fort Collins.
Teams must first qualify for Triple Crown regional tournaments before being selected to play in destination national championships such as the ones that take place in Steamboat.
Of the 4,000 teams participating in regional and local qualifying tournaments nationwide, only a small percentage of premier teams are selected for national series play.
The World Series sessions - beginning in mid-July - will be played on fields across Steamboat, Oak Creek, Hayden and Craig. National champions will be decided in three different age groups - 10-and-under, 13-and-under and 15-and-under.
Play for the World Series sessions begin Tuesdays with a parade of teams and a skills competition. Pool play is used to determine playoff seeding.
Playoff rounds usually begin Friday, with consolation and championship games Sunday at the Howelsen Hill fields. Last year's championship games were televised on Altitude Sports & Entertainment on a tape delay.
For more information about Triple Crown, visit www.triplecrownsports.com.
Comments
kielbasa (Matthew Stoddard) says...
So, are kingsrde and musknosumpin so well off that they don't need summer tourism for their jobs or businesses that they might own? Are they happy enough to work just the winter and hope that covers expenses for the rest of the year like 20-ish years ago?
If so, do you think all residents around here are in the same " 'Boat?"
Personally, I have no problem with Triple Crown. They keep me working thru the summer and I greatly appreciate it.
June 10, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kingsride (anonymous) says...
ahhh summer in utopia springs. Cool mountain breezes, Camping, hiking, fishing, picnics..dump trucks and TRIPLE CROWN!
June 8, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OnTheBusGus (anonymous) says...
Yes, why is real estate so expensive, again? LOL
June 8, 2007 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kingsride (anonymous) says...
Do you suppose we could hope for a couple back to back real winters to thin out the herd and clean up the campsite?
June 8, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kielbasa (Matthew Stoddard) says...
Mus- I can name just as many locals who are the exact same way. Comparing them to the winter crowd isn't fair, also. Most tourists do not rent vehicles up here in the winter, so it doens't tend to increase traffic. That's the first thing we all see in the summer since it happens in conjuction with dump trucks coming through town, and that sets our mood off to a bad start. In the winter, when I was hosting at a restaurant, I'd see local & tourist act in line the way you describe, but it's not the majority. It seems like it is because I figure a lot of people are like me in a certain aspect: the horrible things are always easier to recall because it's such a strong incident.
Also, the Chamber will give you the normal talking points about how much tax revenue...blah, blah, blah. Working in the resort industry for over 15yrs, I've seen each summer getting better and better as far as assessing damages, etc., attributed to Triple Crown. I would even go as far as to say that from all I see (and I've seen a lot working condo/hotel desks in 15yrs) is that is a small amount that spoil it for the majority...just like last summer's Rainbow Gathering.
Don't get me wrong: I have no problem if Triple Crown leaves as long as something else keeps me working year-round with no discernable transistion lag like we are still experiencing during Labor Day weekend. Just not a movie festival. Too unoriginal; it's been done to death.
June 10, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kingsride (anonymous) says...
No Matt, Im not that well off. But then Im not really money motivated. I guess you have not noticed the decline in the quality of life here...
June 11, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kielbasa (Matthew Stoddard) says...
I wouldn't attribute any decline to Triple Crown, at least. I'd attribute it to the City not having a property tax in place as a guaranteed funding source for the general fund. Let sales tax take care of all the other little perks in town.
If Triple Crown went away very suddenly, you'd see a significant tax revenue decrease during the summer. That's less money going to necessary things and making the consultation fees stand out as a larger percentage!
June 11, 2007 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stillinsteamboat (anonymous) says...
Speaking from personal experience in the service industry,I'd say the ballplayers are amoung the rudest of all guests that come here.
July 3, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JLKM (anonymous) says...
Let's see....we have gotten rid of the "Cutter's", the Vintage Motorcycle and Car races, there has been talk about cutting out the Balloon Rodeo, etc. etc. Sure, let's get rid of Triple Crown also. Why would our community need any additional revenue? If we keep cutting out these "groups" (who bring in how much $$ to our town?) then maybe we can begin to filter out some of the unwanted families and business owners too. We really should get this "group of individuals" (who have been very outspoken in regards to how Triple Crown needs to be wiped out of Steamboat) together so they can make their personal list of organizations, businesses and individuals who needs to be blacklisted from Steamboat. Why not bring in the "String Cheese" or whatever they are called and other groups such as theirs so we have more access to drugs and God knows what else. They were a very positive influence on the kids who reside in Steamboat. It would be a great time to purchase too since our drug enforcement has lost funding.....not as many officers out and about to bust anyone. Plus, our kids would be able to have easier access for purchasing too. Or how about bringing in those biker dudes......Hell's Angels. They were a really, really fun group to have in town. If I remember correctly, our bails bondsmen made some cash during that time and even our jail was able to house a few.....provided room and board and some meals. I can't believe the mentality of people we have living in our community. Who in fact only live here a portion of the time or just moved here a few years ago.....and probably retired either in the last few years or 15 years ago. These individuals don't have to work because they do have extra cash floating around due to whatever. Good for them. But of course, because of who they are and because they understand and know Steamboat better than anyone, they should be able to dictate to the hard working citizens (who many have been born and raised or have resided in SBS for at least 20 years) who should and can be allowed to "come in" to Steamboat. Anywhere you go, anywhere you live, you will run in to rude and snobby people who have absolutely no manners or consideration for others. It really saddens me that we have so many, who behave in this same manner but consider themselves to be above everyone else, living in our town. Leave Triple Crown alone. They bring money in to our community that we need. And, if this group really bugs you that much, go find another community to retire and reside in. I am sure other towns and communities have open seats on their City Council and positions open where your snobby and ridiculous opinions would be welcomed.
July 2, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kielbasa (Matthew Stoddard) says...
Stillinsteamboat- From this forum, I'd say it was the locals, personally. I've been working lodging/travel in this town since 1991 and I'll just have to disagree with your assessment, from what I've seen.
I've dealt with Triple Crown during the summer, ski vacationers in the winter, hunters in the fall, etc. All have bad apples, but none stand out any more than the others to me. On this side (and from working in more local related businesses in the past) everyone has something to bitch about, whether we feel it's deserved or not.
While kingsride answered my question on whether being well off enough to be comfortable with Triple Crown (in essense, all our summer tourism) gone, kingsride said he/she wasn't money motivated. Well, I wouldn't say I'm money motivated, but considering this is my profession, I'm interested in working year-round in my chosen profession. I've lived in Steamboat for almost 30yrs now. I remember what it was like with no year-round work unless you were a doctor or a lawyer. I don't see a need to go backward to that way of life.
July 3, 2007 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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