Blacktown to host re-scheduled Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball events
Blacktown International Sportspark will host the Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball tournaments for both the inaugural Men’s and the third iteration of the Women’s as Softball Australia announces revised dates for the events.
After exploring many options and alternatives, Softball Australia has chosen to re-schedule the Men’s and Women’s Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball tournaments and cancel the Australia Pacific Cup for 2021.
The revised dates are:
Women’s Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball – 9-11 April
Men’s Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball – 23-25 April
The events were initially scheduled from 5-14 March at Blacktown International Sportspark with seven days of competition to be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo.
However, given border restrictions imposed both domestically and internationally, the events have been forced to a new timeslot whilst the Australia Pacific Cup will not go ahead due to quarantine requirements for visiting nations into Sydney for the foreseeable future.
The cancellation of the Australia Pacific Cup has led to the Men’s Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball becoming a three-day event, meaning six days of the fast and exciting format will be beamed across the country live via FOX SPORTS Australia and Kayo Sports.
“We’re obviously bitterly disappointed to be cancelling the Australia Pacific Cup which is usually an important event for the Travelodge Aussie Spirit preparations, particularly in an Olympic year,” said David Pryles, Chief Executive Officer at Softball Australia.
“A number of countries qualified for Tokyo had expressed an interest in competing at Blacktown again in 2021, however the restrictions still in place made it incredibly difficult to secure the necessary accommodation and travel options for quarantine requirements.
“We’ll of course work towards resuming the Australia Pacific Cup in 2022.”
While disappointed not to be broadcasting international softball ahead of an important year, Pryles said the Summer Slam events will have an added excitement level given it is the only elite competition taking place in Australia for the first half of 2021.
“The Summer Slam this year will take on a whole new meaning as it’s the only competition our Travelodge Aussie Spirit squad will have in Australia before a final team is selected for Tokyo.
“That means it’s the final chance to impress selectors, while it is a different format to traditional softball, the high-pressure scenarios it throws up will certainly be watched closely by our High-Performance team.
“We are thrilled that the Men now have the same opportunity of competing in such an exciting format broadcast live across Australia, so it all points to some really exciting softball ahead.
“We’re excited to be returning to Blacktown and working with Softball NSW to deliver another two exciting editions of the Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball, albeit in the Autumn!”
The inaugural Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball took place in 2019 and was won by the Fury, led by Travelodge Aussie Spirit pitcher Kaia Parnaby.
In 2020, two-time Olympian and current Travelodge Aussie Spirit captain Stacey Porter led the Panthers to victory.
This year will be the first time the innovative tournament conducts an Open Men’s competition which will also feature the same six teams as the women’s tournament, the Fury, Panthers, Bandits, Emeralds, Lightning and Riot, made up of some of the best softball talent in the country.
For more information on the Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball format, visit softball.org.au.
Tickets are now available for the Women’s and Men’s Summer Slam – Fully Loaded Softball via Humanitix.