(PITTSBURGH, PA) – The Texas metropolis of Dallas/Fort Worth will host the 28th annual Gay Softball World Series (GSWS) Aug. 15-21. The weeklong tournament will crown the champions in seven divisions of softball play that make up the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA).

Representing San Diego’s America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) in the series this year will be: Moby Dick’s Last Call in the Women’s Competitive division, Aberration in the Women’s Alternative division, Happy Hour in the Women’s Recreation division, Bourbon Street Crush in the Open A division and Moby Dick’s Trojans and Viejas Fire in the Open C division.

The Sheraton Dallas Brookhollow will serve as the host hotel for Series 2004. The NAGAAA Summer Meetings – the “official business” of gay softball – take place Aug. 14-15 in the host hotel. Among the business items to be discussed is a new long-term corporate sponsor for the GSWS.

Opening ceremonies for the series take place Monday, Aug. 16, at Lea Park in Dallas. The games begin the following day and continue all week at various softball complexes in the area. A closing ceremonies “block party” takes place Saturday, Aug. 21, in the Cedar Springs area. Some of the major sponsors for Series 2004 include Bud Lite and Front Runner Specialties; Worldview Travel is the official travel agency for Series 2004.

In addition to the games, many off-field events are scheduled for the week of tournament play, including the Miss & Mr. NAGAAA pageant at the Round Up Saloon. One of the major highlights is the annual talent show and celebrity T-shirt auction held at the host hotel in the Champagne Room. This year’s show will be on Thursday, Aug. 19, starting at 8:00 p.m.; Jim “Bubba D. Licious” Marks will host the show. Softball players perform all acts during the talent show portion, and autographed T-shirts will be auctioned in between the acts. New this year are special door prizes; all proceeds benefit AIDS Services of Dallas, which offers meals, medical attention and living arrangements for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The hosts for the 28th Annual GSWS are the Pegasus Slowpitch Softball Association and the North Texas Women’s Sports Association.

For a complete schedule with times and locations, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the Series 2004 website.

- Compiled from a press release