The 29th annual Gay Softball World Series “Fun in the Sun” comes to San Diego Aug. 14-20, bringing over 180 teams comprised of players in 39 softball leagues from 35 cities across the U.S. into America’s Finest City. The North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association (NAGAAA) will also hold their summer meetings here.

“San Diego left its mark as being one of the best Gay World Series in 1997. We expect Series 2005 to be the best in NAGAAA’s 29 year history,” said Stacey Hayashi, America’s Finest City Softball League’s Women’s Division commissioner and Series 2005 tournament director.

Any surplus generated by the Gay Softball World Series is donated to local charities. San Diego non-profit organizations Christie’s Place and the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) San Diego have been designated as the beneficiaries of Series 2005.

“San Diego offers a lot of what is important to a Series – a solid host league, dependable weather and a fantastic city to visit when not at the fields,” said John Skoubis, Series 2005 director of sponsorship and communications. “I’d say the ideal climate and strong local league make San Diego a perfect Series host.”

Player registration takes place on Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Series’ host hotel, the Marriott Hotel and Marina in the Embarcadero. Opening ceremonies, sponsored by Viejas Casino, commence at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, at Embarcadero Park.

Series games are spread throughout San Diego County, and all start promptly at 8:00 a.m., as competing teams in all divisions vie for the top spots to go into the championship on Saturday, Aug. 20.

The Open Division has the A, B, C and D divisions. The Women’s Division consists of the Competitive, Alternative and Recreational divisions. Games will take place at Poway Sportsplex, Hourglass Community Park, Robb Athletic Field and Kit Carson Community Park. All games are free to the public, except at Poway Sportsplex, which charges a $2.50 entrance fee to those not playing in the game.

A total of 16 teams from the AFCSL qualified for the Series this year. Frenz Design, which led the Open A/B Division with a 14-7 record, will compete in the A Division. The B Division features SeanCody.com, which finished the regular season with a 17-4 record, and Coastline Diegans, which has a 15-6 overall record.

The C Division features Hamburger Mary’s, which led the C Division with a 19-2 record, and the Viejas Bling-Bling, which finished in second place with a 17-4 record. The D Division has the Bourbon Street Gamecocks (13-7) competing along with the Live and Let Live Alano Club/Gay & Lesbian Times (11-9).

In the Women’s Division, Fit 2B Tyed (17-2), South Bark (15-5), Aberration (13-7) and On the Run (7-13) are all gunning for the Alternative Division championship. In the Recreation Division, Powerhouse 2, which led AFCSL’s C Rec I Division with a 14-2 record, will compete for the championship. Ono Sushi Sib Tech (13-2), Clean Sweep (12-4), Happy Hour (10-6) and the So Cal Scorpions (9-7) round out the teams also competing for the Recreation Division title.

All teams are guaranteed to play at least five games – three games in round-robin play and a minimum of two games in the double elimination segment. Teams will play five to 12 games during the week and will be seeded according to their level of performance after round-robin competition.

Poway Sportsplex is located at 12349 McIvers Ct. in Poway; Hourglass Community Park is located at 10440 Black Mountain Rd. in San Diego; Robb Athletic Field is located at 2525 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach; and Kit Carson Community Park is located at 3333 Bear Valley Pkwy.

For more information about the Gay Softball World Series or the America’s Finest City Softball League, visit this article online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for

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