by Domico Rodriguez
29th Mt. Rushmore Classic Softball Tournament kicks off this weekend
Rapid City, S.D. — The Mt. Rushmore Classic started was started in 1996 when the Rapid City Flames wanted to raise funds to bring girls ASA fast-pitch softball and has grown into the region’s largest softball tournament. This weekend tournament director, Rick Denherder, and the tournament committee will welcome 130 teams to Rapid City. Although the tournament numbers are down this summer, the tournament should bring over $3 million of economic impact into the community making it one of the largest summer events hosted in Rapid City.
The tournament provides five divisions of competition, 10U through 18U, with the larges division being the 14U division which will host 31 teams at two separate complexes in Rapid City (Star of the West and Parkview softball complexes). What is most unique about this tournament is how few Rapid City teams participate in the event; the 14 U division has less than five Rapid City teams competing and less than 15 total teams competing in the tournament from Rapid City. This means more than 1700 athletes and their families will visit this weekend.
The home of the Mt. Rushmore Classic had been Parkview Softball complex and with the help of Vision Funds, the complex was expanded in 2011 and with the use of the Star of the West softball and the newly renovated Whitehead fields, 16 fields will be used to hold the 2026 event. The City of Rapid City has made significant investments to support the Mt. Rushmore Classic and other events that bring significant economic impact into our community but also bring a quality if life component to the citizens of our community.
The idea of starting this tournament as a fundraiser to grow the sport has paid off. Over 700 girls compete in softball annually and softball is now a sanctioned sport by the SDHSAA. Thank you Rick Denherder, the tournament committee and all the coaches, umpires and fans that have supported this event as we look to grow.
Go support these female athletes this weekend and continue to support all opportunities for kids in Rapid City.
Photo Courtesy of The Mt. Rushmore Classic Girls Fastpitch Tournament
Rapid City travel teams win championships competing in South Dakota
Rapid City, S.D. — Last weekend several Rapid City teams were able to win championship hardware in South Dakota rather than leaving the state!
The Sliders 9U team won the 9U division during last weekends Rushmore Shootout, way to show out at home!
Photos courtesy of Sliders Baseball
The U12 Rapid Rebels softball team took home gold in the Belle Fourche tournament.
Photo courtesy Rapid City Girls Junior Olympic Fastpitch Softball
The U16 Sliders softball team won the Gillette Razor City Showcase
Photo courtesy Rapid City Girls Junior Olympic Fastpitch Softball
The U12 Boys White Team won Scheels Rushmore Cup two weekends ago.
Photo courtesy of BH Rapids
Get to play with the best youth golfers in the US.
Rapid City, S.D. — As part of the AJGA event this September, the tournament will hold a Junior Am golf tournament where local golf fans will get paired with some of the best youth golfers in the United States. Former champions such as Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and Kelly Korda, all cut their teeth playing on the AJGA tour. Many of the athletes playing in the event in September are vying for college scholarships and looking to one day go pro.
Each team that registers for the Junior Am will play alongside an AJGA athlete and all the proceeds from the event will help support area high school golf programs.
For more information, please visit the QR code below and consider supporting the event and area golf programs while playing with the next generation of great golfers in Rapid City, at the best course in the state, The Golf Club at Red Rock.
Upcoming Events
- SDGA Boys & Girls Junior 16-18 Golf Championships – June 22 – 24 – Golf Club at Red Rock
- Steel Challenge Shooting event – June 26 – 27 – Pete Lien Shooting Complex
- Mt. Rushmore Classic Softball Tournament – June 26 – 28 – Parkview and Star of the West Softball Complex
- Midland Scientific Open Tennis Tournament – June 26 – 28 – Sioux Park Tennis Complex
- 51st Annual Firecracker Tournament – July 1-5 – Fitzgerald Stadium
