June 4, 2015 - The International Softball Congress is pleased to announce that Grand Rapids, Michigan will be the host site for the 2017 ISC Men’s Fastball World Tournament.

 

The tournament will be played at the recently completed Art Van Sports Complex in Grand Rapids from August 11^th  to 20th, 2017. Host committee West Michigan Sports Commission will be utilizing six of the eight available diamonds for the tournament.

 

“We are very excited about bringing the ISC World Tournament to a new site and to a purpose-built softball complex,” said ISC Executive Director Larry Fisher. “We are very confident that the fans and the teams will agree that Art Van Complex is a world-class facility.” Grand Rapids will be the third city in Michigan to host the ISC World Tournament, following Saginaw in 1981 and Midland in 2010 and 2012.

 

Mike Guswiler, President of the West Michigan Sports Commission, said his group is “looking forward to the event and plan to prepare for a special and memorable tournament for the participants,” adding that “hosting the International Softball Congress World Tournament in 2017 is an honor given the history of this tournament and exceeds all our expectations of the level and quality of softball we had hoped to attract.”

 

“We’re excited about partnering with the ISC and running a great event,” enthused Bryan Baar, Art Van Sports Complex Manager. “This high quality event will bring over 60 teams to the Grand Rapids area, allowing us to show off West Michigan to teams from all over the country and Canada.”

 

The West Michigan Sports Commission, along with community leaders, built the Art Van Sports Complex for the purpose of attracting and hosting various baseball and softball tournaments. Art Van (Furniture  and Mattress Retail Outlet)  is headquartered in Warren, Michigan and provided significant funding for the project.

 

The Art Van Complex celebrated its grand opening on August 1, 2014, with over 750 people in attendance to see David Van Elslander, senior vice president, Art Van Furniture and president, Art Van PureSleep, throw out the first pitch. In 2015, the first full season of scheduled events, 24 out of 27 weekends are already booked. 

 

As a hub for West Michigan, Grand Rapids is the premier destination for big city excitement and natural splendor. Located on the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids is a year ‘round playground offering sporting events and outdoor activity for all ages.

 

Grand Rapids offers numerous recreational sporting opportunities; boating and canoeing, rock climbing, biking, skateboarding, golfing, hiking, hunting and fishing. While in West Michigan you are always located within six miles from a lake, river or stream where you can fish for trout, salmon or steelhead. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy any of 50 golf courses all located within an hour drive..

 

The annual ISC World Tournament features the best 48 men’s fastball club teams and players from around the globe. In addition to the ISC World Tournament, teams will also compete in the ISC II championship bracket as well as the 50+ Legends and U21 Youth divisions.

 

The  ISC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting men’s and youth fastpitch softball and is on the web at www.iscfastpitch.com

 

For more information contact

 

Larry Fisher

ISC Executive Director

Findlay, Ohio

iscfastpitch@gmail.com

 

or

 

Joe Todd

ISC VP Communications

Ingersoll, Ontario

ftode739@rogers.com

 

 

 

Future ISC World Tournaments