On August 10 Mechanicsville, Virginia beat Elberton Georgia 6-3 in the Southeastern Regional Tournament at David Jackson Park in Taylors. The game concluded a 5 day event that welcomed players, officials, parents, and friends from 7 neighboring states. The tournament generated an estimated $200,000 in tourism dollars for the Upstate and received rave reviews from first time visitors to Greenville.

“Our fine ball parks, Greenville’s hospitality and District 7’s commitment to hosting a top-rate event proved that Greenville County is the place to host tournaments year after year,” said Gene Smith, executive director of Greenville County Recreation District.

District 7 Little League Administrator Steve Johnson agrees. “Greenville is doing baseball and softball the right way, and new facilities like David Jackson Park, which attract more players and coaches to the league, were a major part of our success.” It takes a community that is devoted to our kids and committed to making a difference, and Greenville County had the vision to make that happen by passing the hospitality tax a few years ago and building these wonderful ballparks.”

Win or lose, the 4,400 players in Greenville County that play Little League ball are champions and share in this success story. District 7 Little League, comprised of eight leagues and 400 baseball and softball teams in Greenville County, has been knocking it out of the park all year.

Five teams in the District participated in 10 tournament events – eight regional tournaments hosted by Little League International and two Tournament of Champions – including the recent Big League World Series in Easley, S.C. and last week’s 2010 Junior League Southeastern Regional Tournament at David Jackson. This was the first time that Greenville County hosted this tournament.

“We sent five teams to represent not only District 7 and Greenville County, but the entire state of South Carolina in regional tournaments,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if there’s any other district that can make that claim. “

The Junior League baseball team for 13 and 14 year-old boys from Northwest Little League in Travelers Rest, won its first state championship this year and played at David Jackson last week.

“We were excited to get the chance to protect our home turf and play ball right here in Greenville in the regionals,” said team manager JJ Bynum. “Winning the state championship was a testament to the hard work these players put in this season, and it has really paid off.”

Other District 7 teams who participated in major tournaments includes an 11-12 girls softball team from Blue Ridge Little League who played in the softball regionals in Warner Robins, Georgia; the 15-16 Senior League baseball team from Northwood Little League who played in the Senior League Southern regional in Viera, Florida; a 16-18 year old Big League baseball team who played in the Big League World Series in Easley for the third time in the past four years; and a 9-10 girls softball team comprised of players from Blue Ridge Little League, Northwest Little League and Foothills Little League who competed in the Tournament of Champions.

“The boys and girls playing on these fields today are learning the discipline, teamwork and life lessons that will benefit them in the future, and I have no doubt that many of the kids playing ball today will be leaders right here in Greenville County one day, and that benefits our entire community like nothing else I know,” said Johnson.