There’s so much going on in sports right now: the Dodgers won the World Series two weeks ago today, those in the NFL and college football worlds are getting ready for the playoffs and the college basketball and NBA seasons are up and running now, too.

In fastpitch softball, the big focus this weekend (Friday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024) will be on the Sunshine State as the prestigious Clearwater Fall Classic.

It will be held at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Fla. for the 18U and 16U divisions and at the Pinellas Park fields about 15 minutes away for the dozen 14U squads and run by Jim Barsalona of Team NJ, who has been successful event direct and club coach himself for decades.

In total, 83 teams from 24 states will compete representing every region in the country including the West Coach, which will see orgs from as far away as California and Washington make the trek to play the best of the best in each of the three age divisions.

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Previous Articles on the Clearwater Fall Classic:

• ICYMI: Next Week’s Clearwater Fall Classic, Threatened Last Month By Hurricane Milton, Is On (& Looking Strong)! Nov. 9, 2024
• Club Event Preview: Looking Ahead to Next Month’s Clearwater Fall Classic… A Q&A with Event Director Jim Barsalona (Oct. 30, 2024)
• Breaking News: Top Travel Ball Event, Clearwater Fall Classic, Is On After Hurricane Milton Scare (Oct. 11, 2024)
• Hurricane Milton: Hitting Florida Later Wednesday… How Will It Impact Softball & Life Overall in the Sunshine State? Oct. 9, 2024

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Bob Turner, the head coach of the Top Gun National 18U and 16 teams, says he’s looking forward to what should be a great weekend of softball.

“Jim (Barsalona) does a tremendous job of identifying and bringing the best teams in the country together for an outstanding weekend of high-level competition,” he begins.

“For us, it’s one final opportunity for the Fall to grow as a team against other elite programs, while providing high level exposure for any uncommitted players.”

The level of competition is top notch, the number of college coaches in attendance will be high and it’s Florida just weeks before Thanksgiving, so you know it’s going to be warmer than in most parts of the country—another nice drawing card.

“We like the weather in November,” John Corn, head of the Lady Lightning Gold program, agrees, “and usually there is a strong college coach turnout.”

Greg Dickel, head of the Iowa Premier, also highlights the successful formula of top players drawing college coaches from top programs.

“We are looking forward to our weekend in Clearwater,” he says. “The competition is always top notch, which, in turn, draws a large amount of college coaches.  Jim B. does an excellent job with the format and it’s always a productive weekend.”

Getting seen by recruiters is key as is getting an advanced look at who will be the players to watch and the teams to beat heading into the 2025 travel ball season.

“This tournament is amazing,” says Dena Tyson–Slye, who will direct 18U and 16U Corona Angels team at the Fall Classic, “because we get to play—in my opinion—the top pitching in the nation and we get to see it earlier—not just for the first time at nationals. I’m a big believer that, to be the best, you must play the best!”

Line Drive Softball’s Brentt and Shannon Eads will be at the event for each day of competition, Friday through Sunday and will recap the action with video interviews of top players, too.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball

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More Comments from Top Club Coaches About The Clearwater Fall Classic:

“There are a couple reasons we come and, first, it’s the hospitality and environment created by Jim Barsalona. He always wants the teams to enjoy their experience and does what he can to help make that enjoyable

Second are the teams we get to play and work with. There are always games at a high level against programs and coaches who take their job seriously and help develop some of the game’s top players.

The weather doesn’t hurt either!”

– Mike Stith, OC Batbusters

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“Strykers Fastpitch has been coming to this event for many years and the atmosphere and competition is always top-notch.

The pools set up always bring a great number of college coaches and you get to see where you match up ending the Fall season. We highly recommend the event!”

– Charlie Esparza, Strykers Fastpitch

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“At the Clearwater Fall Classic, you get great competition in a beautiful setting… it’s a grand slam of an event! We can’t wait!”

— Suzy Willemssen, Virginia Glory National

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“We have attended the Clearwater event for the last five years. The competition is off the charts, you get to play the best of PGF and Alliance teams all in one place!”

– Steve Appel, Arizona Rising

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“Chaos has been attending this event since it was started a few years ago.  Jim Barsalona does a great job running high-level events and we knew this would quickly become a great national event!

The competition as well as the college coaches in attendance make it a must do for our program!”

– Joe Spina, PA Chaos Gold

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“The Clearwater Fall Classic offers the perfect balance of top-tier competition and exceptional exposure.

It brings together the best players, while also attracting a very high number of college coaches, making it a premier fall event for athletes looking to showcase their skills on a national stage.”

– Dave Lotti, Rhode Island Thunder

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“The Clearwater Invitational has become the national event which the best college coaches and programs in the country use to evaluate their team’s talents, strengths and weaknesses leading into summer championship play.

The event is a special one and every coach in the country wants a seat at the table. The talent is phenomenal, the coaching is elite and Jim (Barsalona) truly has built the Fall’s most sought-after elite event. The college coach representation reflects this success.”

– Mike Wallace, Firecrackers – Wallace

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“We love playing this event. It is the top recruiting event for Power 4 schools in the Fall.”

– Warren Wolf, Ohio Outlaws

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2024 Clearwater Fall Classic Teams

18U (37 teams)

• AL Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier Rocky
• AZ Arizona Rising Appel
• CA OC Batbusters Stith
• CA OC Batbusters Stith Black
• CA Corona Angels Tyson
• CA Corona Angels Slye
• CA FC Select Rico-Brashear
• CA Firecrackers Wallace
• FL Tampa Mustangs Rene
• GA Georgia Impact 08 Taylor
• GA Impact Premier Caymol
• GA Athletics Gold Tamborra-Freeman
• GA Georgia EC Bullets Schnute
• KY Louisville Lady Sluggers-Wathen
• KS Select Fastpitch Jones
• MO Top Gun National Turner
• NC Lady Lightning Gold DPS-Corn
• MA Polar Crush Gold McElroy
• NJ Batbusters Fry
• NJ Gators Premier Biasi-Coroneos
• NJ SJ Mystics Gold Dorman
• NJ Pride Gold Stern
• OH Ohio Outlaws Wolf-Accord
• PA Chaos Gold Spina
• PA Team Pennsylvania Hall
• RI Rhode Island Thunder Lotti
• SC Carolina Elite Genovese
• TN Tennessee Mojo Ramsey-Fisher
• TX Texas Glory Gold Shelton
• TX Strykers National Esparza
• TX Texas Impact Gold KC
• VA Virginia Glory National Willemssen
• VA Virginia Glory National Mertz
• VA Williamsburg Starz National Bunn
• VA Virginia Unity Johnson-Ricks
• WA Washington ai Bandits Breer
• WA Washington Ladyhawks Miller-Simpson

16U (34 teams)

• AL Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier Thompson
• AL Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier Alford-Rocky
• AZ Arizona Rising Appel-Hamel
• CA Breakers Labs 09 Keusch
• CA Firecrackers Select Brashear
• CA Corona Angels Slye
• CA Corona Angels Howard
• FL Tampa Mustangs Rene-Pynes
• FL Unity Amsler-Johnson
• GA Impact Premier Cayol
• GA Georgia Athletics Gold Tamborra
• GA Georgia Impact Premier O’Neal
• GA EC Bullets Schnute-Bilz
• IA Iowa Premier Fastpitch Dickel
• IN Indiana Magic Gold Bennett-Goddard
• KS Aces Fastpitch Taylor
• KS Select Fastpitch Jones
• KY Louisville Lady Sluggers Huecker-Norwood
• MI Turin2 Softball Pezz-King
• MO Top Gun National Turner
• NC Lady Lightning Elite Gold Corn
• NC Mojo-Sherrill
• NY Empire State Huskies Nt’l Porcelli
• NY Team Long Island Select Angel
• OH Ohio Outlaws Wolf-Leggins
• OK Oklahoma Athletics Madden-Davis
• TN Fury Platinum X Hutchins
• RI Rhode Island Thunder National Lotti
• TX Texas Glory Gold Shelton
• TX Strykers National Esparza
• TX Texas Impact Gold Jazz
• TX Texas Impact Gold Vaughn-Jazz
• VA Virginia Unity Johnson
• WA Washington ai Bandits Breer

14U (12 teams)

• AL Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier Brashears
• AZ Arizona Rising Appel-Kobasew
• CA OC Batbusters K Stith – 1
• CA OC Batbusters K Stith – 2
• GA Athletics Gold Tamborra-Vallery
• RI Rhode Island Thunder Lotti
• OH Outlaws Wolf-Homan
• TX Texas Impact Gold National
• TX Strykers National Esparza 2k10
• VA Virginia Unity Johnson
• FL Clearwater Bullets Schultheis
• FL Santa Fe Inferno Humphrey

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States Represented (Team Locations):

Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington