Jersey Softball Association Announces 2026 First Ball Tournament
- Jersey Softball
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Jersey Softball Association (JSA) is excited to welcome players back to the First Ball Tournament over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, taking place Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2026 at the Les Quennevais Softball Diamonds.
This year’s event brings together 14 teams—featuring a strong mix of local league players and returning UK visitors—and marks one of the biggest First Ball weekends to date. More than 160 players, families and supporters are expected to join the action.
New for 2026: The Softball Village
A major addition this year is the launch of the Softball Village, designed to give players and supporters a dedicated space to relax, recover and refuel between games. The Village is proudly sponsored by Hamptonne Farms and will feature:
myrecoverease.je and Aurora Sports Therapy offering recovery and treatment support
La Piscine Jersey and Jakes BBQ providing food and refreshments throughout the weekend
The JSA is encouraging all local players to make the most of this new hub, created to elevate the tournament experience both on and off the field.
Supporting Local Sport
The Association extends its thanks to the Les Quennevais Sports Centre grounds team, who have worked tirelessly to prepare the diamonds for the season’s first major event.
Tournament trophies, runner‑up awards and MVP prizes have been generously sponsored by Voisin’s Department Store, continuing their long-standing support of island sport.
Strengthened Officiating Team
Tournament Director Chris Halford highlighted the growth of the umpiring team, supported by funding from the Jersey Community Foundation via the Channel Islands Lottery. This investment has enabled more local BASU‑registered umpires to gain qualifications, strengthening officiating standards for both the tournament and the upcoming summer league.
A Weekend for the Whole Community
Games begin at 8am on both days, with three competition categories running across the weekend. Spectators are warmly invited to come along, enjoy the sport, and explore the new Softball Village.
The tournament will conclude with a celebration event at the newly refurbished function room at Tamba Bowl.
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