No event in fastpitch today is bigger in size than THE Spring Games, a well-orchestrated month-long run of college teams competing at the D1, D2, D3 and NAIA levels in Central Florida from late February (Feb. 27) through late March (March 28).

Think of that: a month’s worth of softball games in Florida weather!

Much of the nation certainly wishes it could be here… and I certainly am too–although I’m bummed to be missing my son Ashton’s first varsity tennis match!

This year’s edition of the Games features over 1,200 games being played at six complexes in cities such as Kissimmee, Clermont and Winter Haven.

There are quality teams, too; iseven of those D3 schools ranked in the NFCA Coach’s Top 25 published yesterday have, or will be playing, at THE Spring Games.

I flew in from the Boise, Idaho airport yesterday via Denver and then to the Orlando airport, got a rental car and drove to my air-bed-and-breakfast where my wonderful wife, Shannon, will join me Friday and we’ll be together through next week to watch some great softball!

Personal note: I’ve known Shannon about a year—we were married Sept. 27, 2024– and this is the 11^th softball event she’s accompanied me to in addition to the NFCA Convention!

Event Director Alison Strange and her strong support team are not only having the games run at a high level, many of them are being live-streamed for the fans across the country via Fastpitch Network, which has pay-to-watch packages ranging from $19.99 to $99.99, depending on much you want to watch (as I’ve always told my kids: “It’s good to have options.”)

This being Florida, you will get the weather occasionally—like there was a weather delay today because of lightning and rain—but the storm quickly passed, and action picked up again.

The quality of play is excellent, and several people listed the game between D3 schools Trine—ranked No. 9 in this week’s NFCA D3 Coaches Poll) and St. Mary’s MN, as one of the best of the day.

Check out this play in the game which saw Trine trail 2-0 in the 1st inning but rallied to tie the game in the 7^th inning and eventually win it.

CHAOS!!! Bottom of 7th #rally for @TrineAthletics @CoachD_TUSB

3-3 pic.twitter.com/BKxgVOYgzx

— 🥎 🌴 THE Spring Games 🌴 🥎 (@THESpringGames) March 5, 2025

Today, I met Lynne Nemeth, the Umpire Coordinator, who has 89 umps she’s working with on staff throughout the whole event.

“What’s it like,” I asked her, “to be responsible for that many officials working so many games?

“It’s exciting, it’s stressful—it’s all that!” Lynne responded.

“Fortunately, we have a lot of capable officials who take their job seriously and it makes it much easier. We have UIC’s (Umpires in Chief) at each complex, something new for this year, and it makes it a lot less stressful because they take of things at their complexes.”

Tomorrow (Thursday, March 6, 2025), I’ll be at Legends Way in Clermont, Fla. to watch some strong D2 play and then try to make it to the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven to catch strong D3 competition including several nationally ranked teams, such as the aforementioned Trine, Wilmington (D2) and many others.

If you see me or are looking for me, I won’t be hard to miss—I’ll be wearing a “Line Drive Softball” shirt so if you’re there and see me, please come up and say “hello.”

And, if we haven’t met, please introduce yourself!

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball
Email:Brentt.Eads@LineDriveMedia.com