TEXARKANA - The Hope, Ark., Watermelon Festival softball tournament is moving to Texarkana.
The ArkLaTex Melon Tournament will be held at Grady Wallace and Karrh Park in Texarkana, Texas, and at Pondexter Sports Complex in Texarkana, Ark.
"Because of the situation that we are in with the coronavirus pandemic, Hope, Ark., shut down the Watermelon Festival," Ross Cowling, Sports League Manager for the City of Texarkana, Texas, said. "USA Softball was looking for another location, and Walker Clark called me and asked if it could be moved to Texarkana.
"These teams come from all over the region. They come from the four-states area, Mississippi and Tennessee. The ages of the players range from 18-55."
There are many divisions including men's division, women's division and church division. The men and women's divisions are split into A, B, C and D.
"The City of Hope, Ark., decided that the festival wasn't going to be conducive because it felt like people would not come out. The decision was made to cancel the softball too. The City of Hope was in a panic to find another place to host the softball tournament."
The tournament is a double-elimination style tournament. There are expected to be over 100 teams participating. The ArkLaTex Melon Tournament is slated for Aug. 7-9.