Over 50 teams will compete in San Diego this weekend for the 22nd annual Autumn Classic softball tournament, which takes place Friday, Oct. 7, to Sunday, Oct. 9, at various locations throughout San Diego County. The tournament is part of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association’s series of national tournaments, and is one of the last on the schedule for 2005. San Diego’s America’s Finest City Softball League has entered 15 teams in the Open Division and eight teams in the Women’s Division.

Teams will play a two-game round-robin followed by a double-elimination bracket in Open Division play. Teams will be placed in pools from a blind draw and will be seeded in a double-elimination bracket based upon their win/loss record in round-robin. The competition will play within three levels: B, C and D.

The Women’s Division format will be determined and based on number of teams in each division. No teams will be eliminated on the first day. Competition will be divided into two levels, the Alternative Division and the Rec Division.

The Autumn Classic will be utilizing three softball fields in the San Diego area: the Poway SportsPlex, Hourglass Park in Mira Mesa and Kit Carson Park in Escondido.

Last year, four San Diego teams brought home trophies from the Open Division tournament. Hamburger Mary’s took first place in the Division 3 tournament, Interactive Male finished second in Division 4, and the Bourbon Street Gamecocks and Alano Club/Gay & Lesbian Times took second and third place, respectively, in Division 5.

Several San Diego teams dominated the Women’s Division in last year’s tournament. Current Gay Softball World Series champion Fit 2B Tyed captured the Alternative Division championship, and Aberration was the runner-up. Happy Hour won the Rec Division championship, and the San Diego Slammers got the second place trophy.

“America’s Finest City Softball League is proud to host the 22nd Annual Autumn Classic tournament,” said Martin Cherrier, Autumn Classic tournament co-director. “This year’s turnout for the Autumn Classic has been better than expected since our city just hosted the Gay Softball World Series less than two month ago. We expect great competition for this year’s tournament.”

This year’s host hotel will be The Handlery Hotel, located at 909 Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley. Player registration takes place on Friday in the Balboa room from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

For more information about the Autumn Classic, visit http://www.autumnclassic.org.