The table is set for South Florida’s premiere national gay softball tournament held over Thanksgiving weekend.
The 31st annual Hurricane Showdown begins Friday, Nov. 28, and concludes Sunday, Nov. 30.
Close to 60 teams from around the nation are scheduled to compete for championships in three divisions. In addition to our local South Florida Amateur Athletic Association teams, cities and associations being represented include Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Mid-Atlantic, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Southern New England, Tampa, Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C.
“I look forward to hosting all the teams from across the country,” Showdown Tournament Director Josh Yeager said. “It is truly special seeing all the players and fans come spend the holiday weekend here playing a game they love.”
Games will be played at Mills Pond Park and Tradewinds Park all weekend with some games being featured at Brian Piccolo Park on Saturday. All three championship games will be held at Mills Pond Park on Sunday afternoon. Games are free to watch, but Tradewinds and Piccolo parks charge a vehicle fee to enter. You can follow all the action by downloading Tourney Machine on your mobile devices.
The parties get started early with the local/early bird registration at the Alibi Monkey Bar on Wednesday, Nov. 28. There will also be registration at LIT Bar on Thanksgiving night.
Games will be played Friday at Mills Pond Park from 5 p.m.-10 p.m., with the afterparty at LIT Bar. LIT Bar will also close its parking lot and host the Glo Party and feature “Wicked” on the outdoor large screen on Saturday night after games have concluded. The Alibi will host the Closing Ceremony on Sunday night starting at 5 p.m.
“I love finishing our year off with Hurricane Showdown including Friday night’s Under The Lights, my favorite night of the year!” SFAAA Commissioner Rocky Bowell said. “No other league tournament does it. There is no other feeling like it!”
The Hurricane Showdown caps a remarkable 2025 for SFAAA, which saw the league petition and land a historical marker at the site of the first game in Oakland Park, hold an exhibit at the local Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library featuring the 30-year history of the league, and captured one championship and two runners-up trophies among five medaling teams at the Gay Softball World Series in Houston. SFAAA was also named Association of the Year by the national body International Pride Softball while the Hurricane Showdown was a finalist for Tournament of the Year.
“This year has been like no other year,” Bowell said.
The SFAAA will take December off before resuming play in January with its Thursday Night Lights league followed by the start of its 32nd year with spring season in February.
Tim Martin is a retired sportswriter. He has served as SFAAA Chairman and is currently the SFAAA Hall of Fame Chair and Hurricane Showdown Social Committee Chair.
