April 2, 2009 - Strong start for sports The Sports Commission along with the Cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were proud to be the home of over 13 sports events early in 2009. A few highlights of those events include: The first soccer tournament of the year, the Island Cup Soccer Tournament was a huge success. Over 20 boys and girls teams from Alabama and Oklahoma high schools competed for three days at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Grissom High School Girls became the 2009 champions and Huntsville High School Boys became the 2009 champions. Softball and baseball scored homeruns along Alabama’s Gulf Coast in March. Gulf Shores High School played host to the Nike Gulf Coast Classic baseball and softball tournaments. Over 80 teams from across the Southeast traveled to the beach for a few days of competition, fun and sun. Both events created activity for area accommodations and restaurants with more than 3,500 room nights reported during the tournaments.   Upcoming Events Orange Beach Soccer Classic April 17-19, 2009 Eight top collegiate teams visit Orange Beach for the Orange Beach Soccer Classic. Teams from the University of Alabama, LSU, and Auburn are a few you will see on the field at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Games begin Friday evening at 7pm with the final game scheduled for 2:30 pm on Sunday April 19, 2009. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children. “We are excited to have these outstanding universities visit Orange Beach” said Danny Martin, Park Superintendent for the City of Orange Beach “and wish to invite one and all to come and experience some of the most prolific soccer contests in the southeast.” EVP Professional Volleyball Hits the Beach Saturday May 16, 2009 Gulf Shores is the second stop on the EVP Tour arriving at the Gulf Shores’ Main Public Beach on May 16, 2009. Professional volleyball teams will compete for the $10,000 purse on Saturday, May 16 while the amateurs hit the courts on Sunday, May 17. The Hangout kicks off the festivities on Friday night with EVP Tour exhibitions starting at 6:00 p.m. in addition to hosting the welcome party that kicks off at 7:00 p.m. All EVP-related festivities are open to the public free of charge. Head to the Hangout on Saturday to watch as 300 professional athletes with 24 teams compete in high-energy games that are free to the public. Volleyball action begins at 7:30 a.m. and will conclude at 5pm. with an awards party scheduled from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Gulf Shore’s newest beachside restaurant – The Hangout. Visit the EVP Tour website for more information on this event. For a full list of spring sporting events taking place along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, visit the Sports Commission website.   In the News Ribbon cutting at Gulf Shores new Softball Complex On March 6, 2009 city officials along with the Park and Recreation staff of Gulf Shores joined the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce for the ribbon cutting at the new Gulf Shores Softball Complex. As soon as the ribbon was cut,  Karen Collins, the head softball coach for Gulf Shores High School, threw the first pitch and the games began. The complex boasts 5 softball fields, each with crimson stone infields and Bermuda grass outfields. There are two batting cages and four common areas with covered pavilions for relaxing between games. A 4,900 square foot press box and concession stand are located on the center of the fields. Check out Alabama Live  al.com is Alabama’s top website for news, weather, sports and entertainment with over 1.1 million unique visitors a month. In addition to news from The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and Press-Register, al.com also has an exclusive partnership with the AHSAA to stream live championship events state-wide. Visitors are encouraged to share comments, videos and photos all for free. Meet me at the Hangout- located at the “T” in Gulf Shores The Hangout is a 2.5 acre family fun restaurant with the best live entertainment on the Gulf Coast. They offer daily specials serving only fresh caught seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. Seating can accommodate the smallest to the largest parties, with seating for over 300 guests in the main dining room. The Hangout offers a priceless view of the Gulf of Mexico from the South porch. The Hangout is family friendly and welcomes kids of all ages at all times. We will see you soon at the Hangout, its where 59 ends and the fun begins. Brett/Robinson-a proud sponsor of the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission Brett/Robinson offers a wide selection of properties along the Gulf Coast including the new flagship property Phoenix West that overlooks the beautiful gulf waters. This new property features a popular beach front lazy river and zero entry pool. Visit Brett/Robinson properties and see for yourself why they are the premier vacation and real estate company. Call 1-800-221-0258 or visit their website for more information. For questions and concerns about this email, please contact Sarah Hicks. You are receiving this email due to your relationship with the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission. This email request was sent to: archive_email@informz.net. Your email address has not been shared. Click here to unsubscribe from all Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission mailings.

800-982-8562 or sports@gulfshores.com / AlabamaBeachSports.com © Copyright 2009 Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission. All rights reserved.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission would like to thank our annual sponsors: Diamond Level   Platinum Level   Silver Level Bronze Level Bronze Level Andrews Institute Beach Express Cosmo's Restaurant     Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn Express Lester's Restaurant     Live Bait Original Oyster House The Wharf