AFA East Valley National Qualifier

Hello Coaches-

We are getting excited for this weekend's AFA East Valley Qualifier event happening in Mesa and Phoenix, AZ!!!

Please make sure that you have a hard copy of your roster with signatures at check in before your first game (attached-please print) and proof of current team insurance. Copies of birth certificates should be on hand, always, in case of age verification/protest.

You must also have a 2023-2024 AFA team membership, which can be purchased online using this link:
https://afasoftball.com/shop/fastpitch-team-membership/
(if you don't know your coach ID, please use your cell phone number instead)
***your team membership number will be your "order number" on your emailed receipt***

Thank you in advance for your participation in this weekend's 44 team event! Best of luck to you all and safe travels :)

Stacey Stepek & AFA team

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AFA EAST VALLEY QUALIFIER FEBRUARY 24TH & 25TH 2024 schedule and brackets are now LIVE!

Saturday, February 24th 2024
10u: Legacy Park, Mesa AZ (turf fields)
12u: Monterey Park, Mesa AZ (dirt infields & grass outfields-molded cleats)
14u: Legacy Park, Mesa AZ (turf fields)

Sunday, February 25th 2024
10u: Monterey Park, Mesa AZ (dirt infields & grass outfields-molded cleats)
12u: Monterey Park, Mesa AZ (dirt infields & grass outfields-molded cleats)
14u: Desert West, Phoenix AZ (dirt infields & grass outfields-metal cleats OK)

Legacy gates and warm ups will begin at 7am for 8am first games
Monterey gates and warm ups will begin at 7:30am for 9am first games
Desert West gates and warm ups will begin at 6:30am for 8am first games

Check out the exposure site to view your team's schedule or download our app "WESTCOASTAFA” to view schedule/brackets/keep an eye on scores as they are recorded as your games wrap up this weekend!
https://softball.exposureevents.com/youth-softball-events

Please make sure that your team has paid the $45.00 membership fee to play AFA events. The AFA season runs August 1st-July 31st and is $45.00 per season. This fee goes directly to headquarters. If you have not already paid your sanctioning fee and been assigned your 4–6-digit number, please do so by clicking the link: https://fastpitch.afasoftball.com/get-involved/team-membership/

1. AFA games will be 1:20 no new inning on Saturday (can end in a tie); 1:30 no new inning Sunday (must have a winner)
2. Team listed first on the pool play schedule will be in the first base dugout
(unless game before already has next opponent in dugout-please take the open dugout)
3. Coin flip for home/away on Saturday
4. Sunday the higher seed will automatically be the home team and take the 3B dugout (if same seed-coin flip Sunday as well).
5. Lineup cards must be turned in at the plate meeting
6. POOL PLAY: you may bat your entire line up
7. BRACKET PLAY: You may bat 11, and play 12 (extra players will be listed on lineup card as “EP” and you may use DP/FLEX
8. Courtesy runner for pitcher/catcher must be the last batted out (Saturday) and Sunday the courtesy runner must be a sub on your lineup card
9. Coaches are allowed one mound visit per inning
10. High School pitching rules will be in effect
11. Rule rules will be as follows:
12 runs after 3 innings ; 10 runs after 4 innings ; 8 runs after 5 innings
12. In the case of a tie breaker during bracket play, LAST BATTED OUT is placed at 2B with no outs (International TB)
13. Illegal bat: Easton Ghost-Gold
-If your player steps onto the field with the 2018 Gold Ghost bat, both head coach and player ejection for one full game. Must exit the complex completely until the next game
-If this happens a second time, player and coach are both ejected for the ENTIRE TOURNAMENT
14. Head coaches-it is up to you to make sure that your spectators, fans, assistant coaches, and players are being good sports at all times. Any unruly behavior will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal. Umpires reserve the right to eject head coaches for player/fan behavior if not corrected.
15. A team may start a contest with 8 players, however, the empty spot on the lineup card will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the entire contest until they arrive
16. If there are no substitutes, and a player gets injured during game play and must be removed, they will take an out each time they come up to the plate for the rest of the contest
17. Please be ready to start up to 20 minutes early. We will get games started if blues are ready and fields are prepped and ready to go (be ready to start up to 20 minutes early if blues/fields are ready)
18. To keep the games moving along and maximizing game times, please no huddles on the field and please do not throw the ball around
19. Protests for AFA:
Head coach must bring $60.00 cash to home plate with both umpires where the game clock will be stopped, and umpires and director of the site will meet to discuss the protest. Money will be handed to the director of the site.
Umpires, UIC, and director will make the call on the protest. If the protesting coach is correct, the money goes back to the coach and the umpire will carry out the call. If the protesting coach is incorrect, the director keeps the money and the game will resume
20. Before first game, all teams must turn in their roster/liability waiver and show proof of up-to-date team insurance with their team’s name listed as insured. Please carry copies of birth certificates with you at all times as well. Please make sure that all possible players are listed on the lineup that is turned in on Saturday (even if they are only able to attend on Sunday).
***No players are allowed to hop from one team to another within the same event regardless of what age division they are playing in

*Concessions will be available both days
*Restrooms will be available on site
*Tournament t-shirts will be available in youth and adult sizes for $25.00 per short sleeve shirt and $35.00 per long sleeve shirt.
Payments will be accepted in the form of cash, Venmo, Zelle.
*Used tournament balls will be available for purchase for $40.00 per dozen-if enough inventory.
See main table to put your name on the list. First come, first serve.
*Homerun balls will be available for purchase at the table for $5.00 each.

Lucid Travel Link for Hotel Accommodations:
https://www.lucidtravel.com/afa-phoenix

***Parks will open at 6:30am for team and staff arrival and 7am warm ups
(warm up space at each site is not guaranteed-so please plan accordingly)

Thank you in advance for participating in our event!
Best of luck to you and your girls!
Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director (AZ)
630-335-6830

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Good Afternoon Coach-

You don't want to miss out on our next big event happening FEBRUARY 24TH & 25TH 2024!!!

This is another SOLD OUT event for AFA. Please submit payment to lock in ASAP. Registration does not guarantee a spot. The first to pay, will play!!!

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek
ZELLE to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
($755.00 per team)


***Looking for 1 more 10u team to round us out at 6 total for 10u
Top two finishers in 10u will qualify for Nationals in St. George, Utah!!!
June 12th-16th, 2024


UPDATE TO AGES AND LOCATIONS:
1OU: LEGACY PARK IN MESA ON SATURDAY; MONTEREY PARK IN MESA SUNDAY
12U: BOTH DAYS @ MONTEREY PARK (MESA, AZ)
14U: LEGACY PARK IN MESA ON SATURDAY; DESERT WEST IN PHOENIX SUNDAY


***12u & 14u will have two different brackets on Sunday based on the place you finish pool play
***AFA will be qualifying the top two finishers of 12u and 14u in each BRACKET for Sunday (4 total per age group!!!

10u TEAMS (6 teams max)
1. AZ Storm Premier-Babe**
2. CK Zona
3. Flagstaff Scrappers-Miller**
4. AZ Force 281**
5. Saguaro Sluggers
6. x

12u TEAMS (16 teams MAX)
1. Arizona Cats-Ramirez**
2. AZ Impact Pollock 2012s
3. Bat Rage 12u (NM)**
4. Boom Baby 12u-Wheeler**
5. Dirt Devils
6. L'il Saints 12u-Gil**
7. Marucci 12u-Campbell
8. Misfits 12u
9. Paladin**
10. Scrappers-Tullis**
11. Team Hustle-Weber**
12. Team Hustle-West**
13. West Valley Diamond Girls**
14. CK Zona
15. AZ Blaze-Richardson**
16. Athletics Mercado AZ-Mo
17. Vendetta-LaFlesch 12u**
18. AZ Impact Westside 12u

14u TEAMS (20 teams MAX)
1. Arizona Storm-Carroll**
2. AZ Blaze-Flores
3. AZ Impact North Valley
4. AZ Sting-Fleet**
5. HUSTLERS-PREMIER**
6. LEGIT-Tucson
7. L'il Saints 14u-Gil/Hyde**
8. New Level Crusaders (WA)**
9. Utah Freakz 10 (UT)**
10. Westsiderz
11. AZ Blaze-Waltenberg 14u**
12. AZ Dusters
13. Rogue FC-Choate 14u
14. Saguaro Sluggers 14u
15. Arizona Storm-Hill/Royer 14u**
16. Rogue FC-Martinez 14u**
17. AZ Deuces 14u**
18. Vendetta-White
19. Athletics Mercado 28/29
20. CK ZONA 14u
** denotes teams who have already paid to lock in**

For hotel information:
https://www.lucidtravel.com/afa-phoenix

To register for our event(s):
https://softball.exposureevents.com/213449/afa-east-valley-national-qualifier

For team membership:
https://afasoftball.com/shop/fastpitch-team-membership/
(Season runs September 1st 2023-August 31st 2024)

Thank you in advance! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Stacey Stepek & AFA team

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Coaches-

Don't miss out on AFA's 3rd SOLD OUT tournament of 2024!!!
First to pay, will play!!!

AFA East Valley Qualifier
February 24-25th 2024
***More fields being added-update coming soon***

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek
Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
$755.00 per team


10u TEAMS
1. AZ Storm Premier-Babe**
2. CK Zona
3. Flagstaff Scrappers-Miller**
4. Saguaro Sluggers

12u TEAMS
1. Arizona Cats-Ramirez
2. AZ Impact Pollock 2012s
3. Bat Rage 12u (NM)
4. Boom Baby 12u-Wheeler**
5. Dirt Devils
6. L'il Saints 12u-Gil
7. Marucci 12u-Campbell
8. Misfits 12u
9. Paladin**
10. Scrappers-Tullis
11. Team Hustle-Weber
12. Team Hustle-West
13. West Valley Diamond Girls
14. CK Zona
15. Vendetta-LaFlesch 12u
16. AZ Impact-Westside 12u

14u TEAMS
1. Arizona Storm-Carroll**
2. AZ Blaze
3. AZ Impact North Valley
4. AZ Sting-Fleet
5. HUSTLERS-PREMIER
6. LEGIT-Tucson
7. L'il Saints 14u-Gil/Hyde
8. New Level Crusaders (WA)**
9. Utah Freakz 10**
10. Westsiderz
11. AZ Dusters
12. Rogue FC-Choate
13. Saguaro Sluggers
14. Arizona Storm-Hill/Royer**
15. Rogue FC-Martinez**
16. AZ Deuces-Small**
17. Vendetta-White

Please reach out to Stacey Stepek with any questions/concerns/special requests.
Thank you!

Good Morning Coach-

You don't want to miss out on our next big event happening in Mesa, Arizona @ Monterey Park!!! This one will also be sold out, making this the 3rd in a row for 2024!!!
Register and pay now to ensure your spot in this competitive event!!!
Venmo @Stacey-Stepek ($755.00 per team)

10u TEAMS
1. AZ Storm Premier-Babe
2. CK Zona
3. Flagstaff Scrappers-Miller
4. x
5. x
6. x

12u TEAMS
1. Arizona Cats-Ramirez
2. AZ Impact Pollock 2012s
3. Bat Rage 12u (NM)
4. Boom Baby 12u-Wheeler
5. Dirt Devils
6. L'il Saints 12u-Gil
7. Marucci 12u-Campbell
8. Misfits 12u
9. Paladin**
10. Scrappers-Tullis
11. Team Hustle-Weber
12. Team Hustle-West
13. West Valley Diamond Girls
14. CK Zona
15. x
16. x

14u TEAMS
1. Arizona Storm-Carroll**
2. AZ Blaze
3. AZ Impact North Valley
4. AZ Sting-Fleet**
5. HUSTLERS-PREMIER
6. LEGIT-Tucson
7. L'il Saints 14u-Gil/Hyde
8. New Level Crusaders (WA)
9. Utah Freakz 10 (UT)**
10. Westsiderz
** denotes teams who have already paid to lock in**


For hotel information:
https://www.lucidtravel.com/afa-phoenix

To register for our event(s):
https://softball.exposureevents.com/213449/afa-east-valley-national-qualifier

For team membership:
https://afasoftball.com/shop/fastpitch-team-membership/
(Season runs September 1st 2023-August 31st 2024)

Stacey Stepek & AFA of Arizona team
630-335-6830

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