First Responders Cup Tournament

A wonderful weekend was concluded with the crowning of First Responder Cup Champions. Congratulations to all. Check out the great photo collage prepared by Greg Hudson of the First Responders Cup Committee.  On to the 17th Annual First Responders Cup on September 8 and 9, 2018.  Here are some videos from the tournament. For a complete list of previous First Responders Cup Tournament Champions please refer to Honor Roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOQI4NXzMcY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrBmAPwhwHM

Now to the list of this year's champs.

12 and Under:

Champions: Lady Lightning Gold Uprising

2nd Place: Arlington Sage

14 and Under:

Champions: Fielders Choice '04

2nd Place: Va Glory

16 and Under:

Champions: VA Legacy Elite

2nd Place: Vienna Stars Premier

18 and Under:

Champions: Ashburn Shooting Stars - McCarty

2nd Place: Loudoun Storm

We are pleased to announce that the Residence Inn of Ballston (Arlington) is offering a special discounted room rate for all teams and fans attending the First Responders Cup this year.

Where:

Residence Inn Ballston

650 North Quincy Street

Arlington, Virginia 22203

telephone: (703) 310-1999 ext. 7003

Contact: Amberle Bryant

Room Rate:  $129 Discounted Rate

Amenities:  Free WiFi with Free Hot Breakfast.

The First Responders Cup Tournament Committee announced their first round of charitable donations.

• The Arlington County Fire Department Benevolent Fund - $2,000
• The United Service Organizations (USO) - $2,000
• The Wounded Warrior Project - Wintergreen Adaptive Sports - $1,000
• The Arlington County Police Department Friends and Family Fund - $2,000
  

What a great tournament with an incedible spirit and sportsmanship from all of the teams!  Even through the unfortunate weather on Saturday, Sunday was some of the best tournament play we have seen in many years. 

For the past several years the Tournament Comittee puts together a video retrospective on the weekend's events to capture the spirit of this tournament.  This year's video is to the song: Fight Song by Rachel Platten. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdpHLb7eock

Here is a series of sixty nine amazing photographs of the tournament

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jbm-hh/albums/72157658287270010

by Jim Goodwin, editor of U.S. Army Photo and shared by the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the Home of the 3rd Army's Old Guard.

12 U Champions Vienna Stars '03

14 U Champions - Vienna Stars '01

16U Champions - VA Glory Premier - Seidel

18U Champions - VA Glory Gold Premier

12U

Vienna Stars '03 defeated the Arlington Sage

14U

Vienna Stars '01 defeated the Vienna Stars Futures

16U

VA Glory - Seidel defeated the Richmond Diamonds ( 9 innings)

18U

VA Glory Gold Premier defeated Fauquier Freeze

Inclement Weather Procedures

14th Annual First Responders Cup

The Tournament Committee and the Umpires’ goal is to provide for the safety of the players and spectators when Negative Playing Conditions, such as inclement weather conditions arise and to insure that games can be played in a manner which is not unreasonably impacted by the Negative Playing Conditions.

Prior to the start of a game, the Umpires shall be responsible for judging whether the weather conditions, the conditions of the ground and field and other playing conditions which affect safety and manner of play, will permit the game to be played safely and in a reasonable and appropriate manner. If the Tournament Committee is confronted with Negative Playing Conditions prior to the beginning of the game, the Tournament Committee will have the authority to postpone or cancel the game.

After the game begins, and until the game ends, the Umpires have the authority to determine whether the game can be played safely and in a manner which is not substantially impacted by the Negative Playing Conditions.

Saturday Pool Games which are suspended, if a game is suspended for Negative Playing Conditions, it will resume at the point of interruption (if there is time remaining), there will not be an extension of time. No new inning will be started after 1 hr 15 minutes. The game will be terminated at 1 hr 30 minutes. If the game is terminated the score will revert to the last completed inning.

Saturday Pool Games which are cancelled, for purposes of seeding each pool will be calculated on each team in the pool playing the same number of games. The calculation will start with game 1. EXAMPLE: In Pool A – Team A plays 3 games, Team B plays 3 games, but because of Negative Playing Conditions Team C and Team D could only play 2 games. Thus the seeding for the Championship Brackets will ONLY be based on the first two games each team played.

Sunday Championship Bracket Games, Field conditions will be assessed as early as possible on Sunday to determine playing conditions. If the full Sunday Schedule of games cannot be played the following will be used by the Tournament Committee as guidelines to determine Sunday Championship play.

1. Delay Starting Times - If possible push back game times up to 2 hours before cancellation.

2. Game Time limits - no new inning will be started after 1 hr. The game will be terminated at 1 hr 15 minutes. If the game is terminated the score will revert to the last completed inning. (NOTE: Subject to time-of-day and weather and field conditions the goal will be to have no time limits for the 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U championship games).

3. Cancel games - If games are canceled the following will apply:

12U – Higher seeded team will advance

14U – Higher seeded team will advance

16U - Higher seeded team will advance – if equal pool seeding a coin flip may apply

18U - Higher seeded team will advance

Depending on the availability of Fields - the goal will be to play the semi-finals and/or finals of each division.

     Thank you to all the teams that applied. Regrettably we had more teams apply than we had field space to provide for. 

  
Making the final decision as to teams was a difficult one, we thank everyone who expressed interest in playing.

Video Clips from the tournament now Available Click here to view

12 and Under - Vienna Stars 2002

14 and Under - Loudoun Storm 14U

18 and Under Silver - Vienna Stars 16U

18 and Under Gold - Glory Gold