USSSA East and the Northeast Fastpitch League Announce Partnership on Select Events
The Alliance Fastpitch is excited to announce a partnership between the Northeast Fastpitch League (NEFL) and USSSA East that will include the addition of key USSSA Events into the NEFL schedule. Existing tournaments produced by USSSA East in both Maryland and Delaware will become NEFL events where Alliance registered teams can earn points and Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS) berths in the 2022 Season.
The Alliance Fastpitch, formed in the summer of 2020, has established eight regional leagues, including the NEFL, where teams accrue points through existing tournaments and compete to earn a berth through their League to the AFCS, the culminating National Championship event for teams in the 10U to 18U divisions. The Alliance was built to help level the playing field across the country where teams have to earn their way to Championship play and members have equal access to the best resources off the field.
Below is an in-progress list of USSSA Fall Tournaments in Delaware and Maryland where teams can earn Alliance Rating Points and AFCS berths in the 2022 Season.
- March 26/27 23rd Annual Kickoff Klassic; Central Maryland (non-qualifier)
- April 23/24 Crabtown Crackdown; Central Maryland (10U/12U/14U qualifier)
- May 21/22 Black Eyed Susan; Central Maryland & Salisbury (non-qualifier)
- June 17-19 Ocean City Blast at the Beach; Ocean City (10U/12U/14U qualifier)
Adam Dorman, commissioner of the NEFL, had this to say about the league’s partnership with USSSA East: “With the expansion of the NEFL to include Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia, one of the first things we wanted to do was bring USSSA East on board. Their events are not only some of the biggest in the region, but also the best run. We are looking forward to being able to provide all their teams the benefits of Alliance Fastpitch.”
“We are thrilled to align select events in Delaware and Maryland with the Alliance and NEFL”, says Andy Wisk, Program Operations Director for USSSA East. “We strive to improve the experience and opportunities for teams at all levels of play in our region and the Alliance and its partners have created pathways for teams and individual athletes to further build upon their experience in the sport.”
Alliance and NEFL Membership:
All 10U to 18U teams in the Maryland and Delaware region can register to be a part of the Northeast Fastpitch League (NEFL). In addition, individual athletes and coaches can register to become annual members of the Alliance Fastpitch which provides key benefits including team insurance, exclusive access and discounts to Alliance partners, inclusion in the Alliance and NEFL Player Recognition Program, a national network and resources, and an opportunity to earn a berth to the AFCS. For more information on all Member Benefits of the Alliance Fastpitch at the team, coach and athlete level, please visit our website.
“The Alliance Fastpitch was built upon the core values of purposeful play and collaboration in the industry,” said Alliance Fastpitch Executive Director Jami Lobpries. “We are excited about this partnership with USSSA East, one of the leaders in event production in the eastern part of the country, as it will help in our mission to level the playing field and provide more athletes and teams with access to our network and resources.”
About the Alliance Fastpitch
The Alliance Fastpitch is a cohesive network of regional softball leagues, teams, coaches, athletes and parents. Founded in the Summer of 2020, the Alliance Fastpitch had over 1000 teams in its first season and over 12,000 individual members including coaches and athletes.
The Alliance’s regional Member Leagues include the Pacific Coast Fastpitch League, Heart of America Fastpitch League, Northeast Fastpitch League, Rocky Mountain Fastpitch League, Southeastern Fastpitch League, Texas Fastpitch League, Northwest Fastpitch League, and the Atlantic Coast Fastpitch League. These regional Member Leagues provide a purpose of play to existing events with a structured point and ranking system, regional League championships, and a true national championship series, the Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series (AFCS). Berths in championship events must be earned, with every team starting at the same level each season. The Alliance has partnered with the top event providers (USA Softball, USSSA, Triple Crown Sports) to host these events throughout the country.
About USSSA East
USSSA East serves as the USSSA Delaware and Maryland State Office for Fastpitch Softball and Baseball. They produce and partner with multiple hosts and regional directors to execute more than 60 annual events with more than 4,000 teams participating. These events include state, regional and national championships as well individual-based all-state games. USSSA East strives to offer all ages and levels of play as frequently as possible to create opportunities for all participants to experience and grow in the game while creating lasting family memories on and off the field.