Seven softball teams from the region will gather in Straughn High School to play in Straughn High School’s Annual Kirsten L. Dean Memorial Softball Tournament, which is scheduled for the 2nd of March, on Thursday through the weekend of March 4.

SHS hosts this tournament each year to honor Dean who was a softball and student for Straughn. Dean had been involved in a car crash in April 2004 , and later died due to injuries. In April 2004, the Lady Tiger softball program decided to pay tribute to Dean with a special tournament at the school. It was first introduced in the spring of 2005.

The 2023 tournament will start by playing a round-robin competition with two locations. Teams that are visiting and home will be determined by the flip of a coin. Alongside Straughn Six other teams will take part, which includes local team Florala as well as Red Level. Carroll-Ozark Highland Home, McKenzie as well as Zion Chapel complete the tournament field. The New champion is expected to be announced since the three-time champion Andalusia will not be taking part this year.

The schedule for round-robins on Thursday 2 March is as the following:

  • Straughn against. McKenzie, 4 p.m. at SHS
  • Straughn Vs. Carroll-Ozark, 5:15 p.m. on SHS

The schedule of the round-robin for the 3rd Friday of March is as the following:

  • Florala against. Zion Chapel, 4 p.m. at SHS
  • Red Level vs. Highland Home at Highland Home, p.m. in LBW
  • Red Level Vs. Zion Chapel, 5:30 p.m. at SHS
  • Highland Home Highland Home. Carroll-Ozark at 5:30 p.m. in LBW

The schedule of the round-robin for the 4th of March, Saturday, is as the following:

  • Florala vs. McKenzie, 8 a.m. at SHS

Single-elimination bracket play takes place on Saturday, following round-robin play. Teams will be seeded from 1 to 7 according to the following criteria, in order in order of overall record, head-to head run allowed, as well as runs recorded. The games in brackets will be played at SHS.

The team with the highest seed will be the home team in each single elimination game. The procedure is in the following order:

  • Game 1 – Number four seed vs. number five seed, 9:30 a.m.
  • Game 2 – No. 3 seed against. the sixth seed at 11 a.m.
  • Game 3: Number two seed Game 3 – Number two seed vs. the number seven seed. 12:30 p.m.
  • Game 4 – First seed against. Winner of Game 1 at 2 p.m.
  • Game 5 – Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 3:30 p.m.
  • Championship Game 5 winner will play. Winner of Game 4 5 p.m.

The entry fee is $10 per day. Passes for the tournament, valid for the entire 3 days are on sale at $15. For more details, call an office in the office of 334-222-2511.

The article Straughn softball team to host the annual KLD tournament from Thursday to Saturday appeared at The Andalusia Star-News.