Press Releases

Wheelchair Softball World Series returns to Crestwood and Ozinga Field August 3rd - 5th!

 

The Village of Crestwood and the Windy City ThunderBolts are honored to host the 2023 Wheelchair Softball World Series on the grounds of Ozinga Field.  20 teams from 17 states and three countries will compete for the biggest prize in wheelchair softball.  The tournament runs from Thursday, August 3rd through Saturday, August 5th and will be held in the blacktop lots surrounding Crestwood's Ozinga Field.

USA Wheelchair Softball, the official governing body for competitive wheelchair softball, has held national championships since 1976.  Today USA Wheelchair Softball governs over 40 teams in the United States in conjunction with Major League Baseball and welcomes wheelchair softball teams from around the world to it's premier championship.  Wheelchair softball was born in the Midwest by a few individuals with spinal cord injuries and lower extremity impairments who still wanted to enjoy America's greatest pastime.  They play the game in an easily maneuverable wheelchair played on blacktop parking lots for fast and competitive action.

Wheelchair softball is an exciting and challenging summer sport that enables men, women, boys & girls with a mobility impairment to competitively play an adapted version of "America's Pastime."  To learn more visit the USA Wheelchair Softball Facebook page HERE.

This event is FREE to attend!  Here is what you need to know...

- The 2023 Wheelchair Softball World Series begins on Thursday, August 3rd and will conclude with the finals on Saturday, August 5th.  This event is open to the public and is FREE to attend.

- The competition will NOT be inside the stadium it-self, but will be held on the blacktop parking lots surrounding Ozinga Field.  Three diamonds will be built across Kenton Avenue in the West lot and two diamonds will be located on the Northeast side of the property.

- Food trucks will be present in the West lot for both competitors and spectators. All food and beverage sales will be in the West lot across Kenton Avenue from the stadium.  No food/drink sales will be sold inside the stadium.

- Parking is available in the Northwest lot located West of the Biela Center (west of the small grass divider).  Parking spaces between the Biela Center and the stadium are reserved for Biela Center patrons ONLY.  Please be respectful of those that are visiting the Biela Center.  The stadium it-self will still be utilized for amature baseball during the Wheelchair Softball World Series.  Foul balls WILL reach the lots directly West and South of the stadium.  The Village of Crestwood and the Windy City ThunderBolts are not responsible for any damages to vehicles that surround the ballpark.

- Overflow parking, if needed, will be located on the Southwest corner of 141st Street and Kenton Avenue.  This is a grass lot and it is located across the street, directly West, of Caesar Park.

- Meet and support the competiters in person when the ThunderBolts take on the Joliet Slammers Thursday, August 4th at Ozinga Field.  The competition on Thursday will end early for the World Series celebration and the Wheelchair Softball Hall of Fame ceremonies.  You can get tickets to the game HERE!

- SCHEDULE OF EVENTS -

Wednesday, August 2nd: Workout Day and Rules Meetings

Thursday, August 3rd from 7 am - 3 pm:  World Series Day 1 (stadium lots)

Thursday, August 3rd at 6:00 pm: Hall of Fame Social at Ozinga Field Stadium during the ThunderBolts vs. Lake Erie baseball game

Friday, August 4th from 8 am - 8 pm:  World Series Day 2 (stadium lots)

Saturday, August 5th from 8 am - 4 pm:  World Series Final Day (stadium lots)

Saturday, August 6th at 4:00 pm:  Awards Ceremony and Social (stadium lots)

- INFORMATIONAL LINKS -

Official Tournament Headquarters of the 2023 Wheelchair Softball World Series

Official website of USA Wheelchair Softball

Official Rules of USA Wheelchair Softball

 



Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
February 2024
January 2024
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
September 2020
June 2020
April 2020
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
January 2018
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
November 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006