1,000 Seniors Rush Bases At Roseville Park For Annual Softball Tournament

ROSEVILLE (CBS13) - Senior softball players from all over the country competed in Roseville in a six day tournament expected to bring big bucks to the area.

The 10th Annual California Cup is one of the largest senior tournaments in the state; and it almost didn't happen because of the major fire that ravaged Maidu Park just a few weeks ago.

"We were afraid we'd have to cancel part of this tournament," Senior Softball USA CEO Terry Hennessy said.

Fortunately, firefighters were able to save the fields by stopping the flames in time.

"That it didn't touch these fields, and we were able to play was really a boom for us," said Hennessy.

One-thousand-five-hundred people comprised 60 teams to compete over six days.

The tournament is estimated to bring in $750,000 into Roseville.

"That's money coming into the economy. So the ripple effect on that is anywhere from one and half to three times that amount," said Hennessy.

The timing couldn't be better. With the summer sizzle subsiding, senior players welcomed the cooler temperatures.

"We just thought it was going to be a cooker," player Mitch Glazner said. "We get down here, there is a nice cool breeze. It was almost like cold cause I didn't bring pants to wear, just shorts."

The California Cup is a qualifier for the Senior Softball Tournament of Champions, which will be in held Florida in February.

The tournament runs through July 10.