TC’s International Challenge primed for debut at Colorado 4th of July event

There’s a fresh twist on Triple Crown’s Colorado 4th of July fastpitch tournament that might be a world of difference for some athletes.

The International Challenge (which was set to go in 2020 before the pandemic) will take place June 25-27 at the Christopher Complex in Westminster, CO., with 23 teams from 18 countries represented. All the action will be scored and streamed by AthletesGoLive; teams get a minimum of four games, with pool play leading to a single-elim championship bracket.

Rosters for the teams were released last week; it’s a chance for softball athletes to honor their family’s heritage and nationality in a fresh arena of competition. College coaches who are in town early for the Colorado 4th of July tournament (June 27-July 4) will be able to recruit at the event, while directors at multiple international softball organizations will do some scouting and may run a national-team tryout camp on Monday, June 28.

Plans are also coming together for an all-World Game involving International Challenge players; it would take place on one of the Festival Nights (June 30 or July 1). Four countries will have two teams at the event – Canada, Israel, Mexico and the United States.

“One of the biggest reasons I took this idea to Triple Crown was that it would allow some quality players to play for their country, but who never could otherwise because of political issues,” said International Challenge director Manny Travieso. “And on the other side, you can get players seen by certain countries who actually could play for those national teams. We have nine players with Israel who will play on their 19u team that’s headed to Prague (Czech Republic). The names are out there, and national teams noticed.

“Countries that don’t have the resources to run a (national team) tryout have a chance to see one here in the USA, and this is just a little bit more than a travel team experience, which is very powerful.”

To see the rosters for teams in the event, click here:
International Challenge - Triple Crown Fastpitch