AFA Field of Screams-National Qualifier Rancho-Hess 16u

Good Morning Coaches & Admin-

AFA Field of Screams is a Halloween costume contest event (if your team wishes to participate).

The costume contest will start Saturday morning and go all day. It is a optional if the team wants to wear them while they are playing. Sunday is also optional.

Before your first game Saturday, please have the girls arrive 30 minutes before warm ups to enter into the contest and have their photo taken at the Director's table at their respective sites.

Costume contest must follow the event rules:
1. Players must have their number on the back of their shirts/costumes
2. Costume cannot interfere with them running, sliding, batting or playing defense
3. All teams will be sent the photos of the teams participating so that each team can submit an online vote for the winner of the event. Winner will receive new team uniforms (up to 15 per team)

If you have any tournament balances please get those paid before midnight tonight 10/23/25.
***If you have a rain out credit from a previous AFA (Stepek) event, your balance due is $151.00 for this weekend.

If you have not played in an AFA event yet this season, please be sure to get your membership online
(Season runs September 1st 2025-August 31st 2026).
https://afasoftball.com/get-involved/team-membership/

Attachment

AFA Field of Screams- 4 GAME GUARANTEE National Qualifier
October 25th & 26th 2025
McQueen Park-Gilbert, AZ
Monterey/Brady Park - Mesa, AZ
Fiesta Park-Mesa, AZ
(top two teams in each division will qualify for 2026 Nationals in St. George Utah on June 9th-14th 2026)

Thank you all for your patience while I was re-doing our schedule for this weekend. A couple of late drop outs and a complete schedule re-do has caused a bit of a delay.

***The 14u team who has graciously agreed to play a 4th pool play game on Saturday due to a late drop and schedule re-do, thank you!
You will drop your worst score on Saturday for Sunday seedings***

***A HUGE thank you in advance to the 4 teams in 14u who will play one game at Fiesta Park, Mesa & then travel to play 2 @ McQueen Park to finish your evening there***

Schedule and brackets are now LIVE!!!
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/247358/afa-field-of-screams-national-qualifier

Please make sure that your team has paid your membership fee to play AFA events. The AFA season runs September 1st-August 31st and is $55.00 per season. YOU MUST HAVE THIS BEFORE YOU HIT THE DIRT.
***You will need this prior to check in one hour before your first pool play game on Saturday. 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/

(questions on AFA membership-please contact our national director, Glen Messick at 818-389-3467)

One Hour before first game:
-Team must turn in their PRINTED & SIGNED roster/liability waiver (attached)
-Team must 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 in case of protest
-AFA Membership must be valid and for this season running September 1st-August 31st ($55.00 per team, per season)

***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

***Please make sure that your team brings their own First Aide Kit & Ice for team injuries & emergencies***

National Qualifier Tournament Rules
(High School Federation w/ Arizona AFA Modifications):
1. AFA games will be 1:30 no new inning Saturday (can end in tie) & 1:30 no new inning on 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 recorded 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. x
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 RECORDED 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. Coaches: it’s recommended that you carry a first aid kit and ice packs. ● Sportsmanship is a must. Ejected players and coaches may need to sit the following game. Final decision will be made by the UIC. There will be zero tolerance of harassment of umpires by fans.

● Adverse Weather: The American Fastpitch Tournament could be played in adverse weather conditions. The format may be changed and may include lesser time limits or fewer innings to complete the tournament. Coaches and players accept these conditions when entering the tournament.

*Restrooms will be available on site
*Concessions will be open @ McQueen Park both days near director's table
*Concessions will be available Saturday @ Monterey Park 9am-2pm Saturday
*Concessions @ Fiesta-pending
*Tournament t-shirts will be available in adult sizes - $25.00 per shirt
*Cool towels will be for sale for $5.00 each
*Viper Sunglasses will be for sale for $25.00 each
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.

***Fields will open at 6:30am @ McQueen Park for 7:30am start both days & 8am at all Mesa fields for 9am game starts

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

Site Director for the Weekend @ Monterey(Brady) Park:
Anna McCray 480-824-8486

Site Director for the Weekend @ McQueen Park:
Daniel Rubio 480-593-3582

Site Director for the Weekend @ Fiesta Park:
Rhoe Yancey 480-643-0483

Tournament UIC/Assigner:
Marcus Jones 240-746-5848

Attachment

Good Morning Coaches & Admin-

AFA Field of Screams is a Halloween costume contest event (if your team wishes to participate).

The costume contest will start Saturday morning and go all day. It is a optional if the team wants to wear them while they are playing. Sunday is also optional.

Before your first game Saturday, please have the girls arrive 30 minutes before warm ups to enter into the contest and have their photo taken at the Director's table at their respective sites. Costume contest must follow the event rules:

1. Players must have their number on the back of their shirts/costumes
2. Costume cannot interfere with them running, sliding, batting or playing defense
3. All teams will be sent the photos of the teams participating so that each team can submit an online vote for the winner of the event. Winner will receive new team uniforms (up to 15 per team)

***Tournament schedule will be posted today by 5pm as soon as all cities have confirmed the schedules, field prep schedules, and event arrival kickoff time/gates
***We have done our best to accommodate all special requests, and are just waiting to make schedule live at this time

If you have any tournament balances, they are due by the end of business day tomorrow 10/22. If you have a rain out credit from a previous AFA (Stepek) event, your balance due is $151.00 for this weekend. If you have not played in an AFA event yet this season, please be sure to get your membership online
(Season runs September 1st 2025-August 31st 2026).
https://afasoftball.com/get-involved/team-membership/

Printable roster/waiver form is attached as well! Please have a hard copy to turn in to the table when you check in! Wishing everyone a very fun and successful event this weekend!

Stacey Stepek
AFA State Director of Arizona
630-335-6830

Attachment

Good Afternoon Coaches-

Payments are now due for next weekends AFA Field of Screams - National Qualifier event!!!

Venmo @Stacey-Stepek
or
Zelle to sstepek.azafa@gmail.com (S&G United, LLC)
***Please include team name, age, and event title in the subject line
$755.00 per team

We encourage everyone to come out in your team's best Halloween costumes for Saturday, October 25th for those who would like to participate in the costume competition!!!

***Please make sure that if you are competing for the prize, that your team stops by the main table before your first game to get a photo taken with full team/coaches to input your team into the contest!!!


Thank you in advance! We are looking forward to this amazing event!
Stacey Stepek & AFA Team