Hunter Memorial Park enters its second season following an eight million dollar renovation and has quickly become one of the top venues for recreation and travel-ball tournaments in West Georgia.

Last year, In addition to the Spring and Fall youth baseball league, Hunter Park hosted over 15 travel ball tournaments, a Dizzy Dean District tournament and over 100 “Perfect Game” match-ups.

Being able to offer ten fields is a big factor for a travel ball promoter. There were over 125 teams in the largest tournament last year and it was finished in five days.

The events are great for local businesses in the community but it takes a toll on the fields. According to Bennett Oliver, Parks Director, “Our staff does a great job over the winter months insuring the fields will be ready for the spring”.

The staff over seeded all of the fields with sports rye grass this past Fall. This will help with the amount of wear and tear the Bermuda grass receives in the early part of the year with youth baseball already starting practice while the Bermuda is still dormant.

“The Mayor and City Council are committed to keeping the ball fields in top shape. They approve funds in the budget for sodding and yearly chemical treatments to insure that Hunter Park remains one of the top athletic complexes in Georgia,” added City of Douglasville Parks Supervisor Bobby Willingham.

The first travel ball tournament of the season is scheduled for March 2 while Opening Day for Hunter Park Youth Baseball is set for Saturday, March 9.

The 2013 schedule for Hunter Memorial Park follows:

March 2-3: The 2nd Annual USSSA Under Armor Classic. This Global World Series Qualifier will be the first event of the year for travel ball teams from Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. It is also a Georgia All-State Showcase Qualifier. For more information contact Jimmy Clay at 770-875-5819.

March 5: Opening Day for the Harvester Christian Academy Varsity softball team. The Lady Hawks will play home games on March 5, 7, 12, 18, April 5, and 18 . All games are scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

March 9: Opening Day for Hunter Park Youth Baseball. Over 23 teams from Hunter Park, ages 3-14 will compete on a county schedule traveling to Bill Arp, Boundary Waters, Fairplay and the new Lithia Springs Park, as well as playing eight home games at Hunter Park to compete in a 16-game season.

March 11: Opening Day for Heirway Christian School High School baseball team at Webb Field. The Eagles will play their home games on March 11, 25, April 11, 16 and 18. Contact Heirway for game times.

March 12: Opening Day for the Harvester Christian Academy High School baseball team. The Hawks will play their home games on March 12, 26, 28, 29, April 16, 19 and May 13. Games times are at 5:00 p.m. Contact Harvester Christian Academy for more information.

March 16-17: USTSA St Patrick’s Day Classic will be held at Hunter Park. This annual travel ball tournament will showcase teams ages 9-15. This is a USTSA World Series Qualifier which will be held at Hunter Park in July. Championships team will receive gold championship rings. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

March 30-31: USTSA will host the 2013 Spring Training Classic. This travel ball tournament is open to ages 8-14. This is a USTSA World Series Qualifier. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

April 13-14: USSSA will host the 2013 Spring Classic at Hunter Memorial Park. This USSSA World Series Qualifier is open to travel ball team’s ages 7-15. For more information contact Jimmy Clay at 770-875-5819.

April 27-28: USTSA Spring Training Championships II. This is a World Series Qualifier which will be held at Hunter Park in July 2013. Open to ages 8-14. All championship teams will receive USTSA gold championship rings. Runner-Up teams will receive silver rings. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

May 4-5: Blue Diamond Sports Presents "Cinco de Mayo Wood Bat Challenge" at Hunter Park. This is a USSSA World Series Qualifier for ages 8U AAA to 18U AAA. Each player on the Champion team will receive a Bones Bat (Javy Lopez Bat) for a total of 14 bats per Champion. For more information contact Jimmy Clay at 770-875-5819.

May 25-26: USTSA will be hosting the 2013 Memorial Day Championship at Hunter Memorial Park. This tournament will be open to travel ball teams ages 8-15. This will be a USTSA World Series Qualifier. Championship teams will receive USTSA gold rings; runner-up teams will receive silver rings. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

May 29-June 2: Hunter Park will be hosting the 2013 Southeastern All-Star Championship. This tournament will be held for the following age groups: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. This tournament is also open to All-Star teams only. The tourney will play by Dizzy Dean rules, but is open to any All-Star team (Dizzy Dean, USSSA, Pony, Dixie Youth, Little League, etc.). For information call Taj Zimmerman at 770-855-9842.

June 8-9: The 2013 USSSA State Warm Up. This travel ball tournament is also a USSSA World Series Qualifier open to ages 8UAAA to 16UAAA. Each player on Champion team will receive a gold champion ring and second place team will receive a silver runner-up ring. For more information contact Jimmy Clay at 770-875-5819.

June 13-16: American Legion Local Post 145 will host the annual POW/MIA baseball tournament at Hunter Memorial Park. Teams from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee will battle it out for four days on Historic Webb Field. The annual POW/MIA ceremony will be held on Friday night at Webb Field. For more information contact Gary Yates at 770-318-7991.

June 15-16: Hunter Park will host a 2013 Dizzy Dean District Tournament. This tournament will match up local All-Star teams from Hunter Park, Douglas County as well as surrounding leagues to compete for a berth in the 2013 Dizzy Dean State Tournament.

June 15: The City of Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department will host the Georgia Games annual Fishing Derby at Hunter Park on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This free event is open to all ages. Medals will award in five different age groups. For more information contact Hunter Park at 770-920-3007.

June 21-22: USSSA will host the 2013 USSSA State Championship at Hunter Park. Over 50 teams from the State of Georgia ages 8-15 will compete to qualify for the USSSA World Series. For more information call Jimmy Clay at 770-875-5819.

June 28-30: USTSA will hold the 2013 Georgia State at Hunter Park. Over 50 teams ages 8-18 teams from Georgia will compete for a chance to play in the USTSA World Series. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

June 29: The City of Douglasville Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual Horseshoe Tournament at Jessie Davis Park. The event is open to Men and Women of all ages. Awards will be given for singles and doubles winners. For more information contact Charles Thomas at 678-449-3056.

July 11-14: USTSA will hold the 2013 USTSA Southeast Regional at Hunter Memorial Park. Over 50 teams ages 8-15 from the Southeast U.S. will compete over five days for a bid to the USTSA World Series Championship. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

July 25-28: USTSA will hold the 2013 USTSA World Series at Hunter Memorial Park. Over 70 teams ages 8-18 from the U.S. will compete over five days for USTSA World Series Crown. For more information contact Tommy Chase at 678-602-8205.

Hunter Park has once again been selected as a site for one of the premier baseball event organizers in the United States. The Perfect Game USA has chosen Douglasville to host several tournaments in 2013. Tournaments currently scheduled are June 28-July 4, July 5-July 11, and July 12-18. All games will be played at Historic Webb Field. These tournaments will showcase 14 and older athletes from all 50 states and metro Atlanta. For more information contact Taylor McCollough at 1-319-298-2923. For more information on upcoming events visit The City of Douglasville/Recreation Department website at ci.douglasville.ga.us or contact Meiko Bercich at 678-449-3072.