Elite athletes from across the country and around the world are competing in two softball tournaments in Clearwater at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.

  • Elite softball players from around the world compete in Clearwater
  • Players competing for the USA Softball Gold National Championship
  • More than 40 teams from over 20 countries to compete

More than 40 teams started battling for the USA Softball Gold National Championship on July 17.

"You’re really truly seeing the future generation of NCAA softball stars, so a lot of top talent here, you know everybody’s fighting it out trying to see who’s going to be the last two teams standing on Sunday when a champion’s crowned," Codi Warren, Communications Director with USA Softball, said.

Nikki Vanelli, 17, plays third base for her team, Rock from Pennsylvania, and said they are ready for what comes their way. 

"Be ready for the speed, be ready for the power, and be ready for anything that comes our way," Vanelli said. 

Allie Carroll, 17, who plays second base for the Santa Fe Inferno out of Gainesville, knows the competition is tough.

"We play each game like one at time knowing how good the teams are but in the big picture we want to win the whole thing because we know how exciting and how satisfying it would be to do that," Carroll said. 

A championship would mean a lot to Allie, especially this year.

"My grandma just recently passed away like a month ago and she was my biggest supporter, like every single tournament she wouldn't miss one game," said Carroll. "I know she’s watching over us wanting us to win this for her."

They are athletes who play with passion. 

The World Baseball Softball Confederation Jr. Women’s Softball World Championship runs July 24 - 30.

Teams from more than twenty countries will compete. Many of the teams will be competing for a spot in the 2020 Olympic Games.

"We’re very excited softball’s back in the 2020 games and events such as the Gold and the Junior Women’s World Championship, it gives them that chance to compete at you know such a high, high stake competition," Warren said. 

The two tournaments combined will score almost $10 million for the local economy.