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[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=49037.55

The NSA World Series gets under way with pool play 9 a.m. Monday at Patriot Park in Michigan City and Kesling Park in LaPorte.

Today in Gary, opening ceremonies will be held for the event at the U.S. Steel Yard, home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats. The RailCats play at 2 p.m., and opening ceremonies for the World Series are expected to get underway at about 5:30 p.m.

Michigan City and LaPorte will host the 10-and-under portion of the tournament, with bracket play expected to begin Wednesday. The championship game will be played Friday.

Anyone wishing to attend should arrive early. Michigan City Parks and Recreation Director Jeremy Kienitz said the plan is to play all games before dark. He said 73 teams are expected to compete, arriving from 13 states and Canada.

"It's being called a softball tournament, but in essence it's more of an event," Kienitz said. "The economic impact will speak for itself. We're just honored they're coming to our facility and our city.

"Hopefully we can entice them to come back for future tournaments."
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[Southsider2k12]

It has been busy around town, and I have seen a bunch of NSA t-shirts around. I am glad to see this is working for MC.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=31248.1

Softball Tourney Already Boosting MC's Economy

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - One day into the NSA Girls Fastpitch ( Softball World Series, LaPorte County tourism officials have already seen an economic impact from the thousands of people in town for the tournament.

"I've been talking to some people and they've said there's a great increase in revenue from this already," tourism board President Doug Waters said Tuesday. "We're all getting what we need from this."

Tourism officials expect thousands of people to come into LaPorte County for the softball tournament, which is being played in LaPorte, Porter and Lake counties this week.

They also expect those people to spend millions of dollars at local shops, restaurants and hotels, as well as other attractions like Blue Chip Casino and the Washington Park Zoo.

Kevin McGinnis, manager at McGinnis Pub, 227 W. Seventh St., said his restaurant saw an influx of tourists on the first official day of the week-long event.

"We had about 20 people in here Monday in the late morning. It looked like it was a team and their parents," McGinnis said. "We're definitely seeing an influx of people coming in, even in just the first day."

Maureen Mellon, marketing director for the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the tournament will likely inject a good deal of money into the community, which was a key reason in attracting it to LaPorte County.

Tuesday's pin swap was slated to be the largest gathering of the tournament week. It serves as a chance for every girl participating to meet girls from other teams and other states and swap lapel pins from their respective homes.

Players and their families attending the swap will likely venture from the park to other areas of Michigan City to eat, shop and possibly sleep.

"I know the restaurants are a big hit already," Mellen said Tuesday. "We want everything to go well, but if it rains later this week, that means there will be a lot more shopping and eating."

And that, Mellen said, will be good for a county that "worked hard" to make sure the tournament goes off without a hitch.

"I'm amazed at the number of people in the community who said 'What can I do?'" Mellen said. "The community really came together on this."

Contact reporter Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com