The Miss Florida Mid-Season Softball Tournament, hosted in partnership by Miss Sarasota Softball, Visit Sarasota County and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources returns to Sarasota March 31 through April 2, 2023 for the first time since 2016. More than 100 girls’ recreational softball league teams from around the state, ages 4 through 17, will compete at Sarasota’s Miss Sarasota Softball Complex, 17th Street Park and Fruitville Park, with admission free for spectators. The annual, mid-season tournament serves to generate excitement and support for recreational softball, which empowers young women in communities all around Florida. All participating teams fall under the umbrella of the Miss Florida Softball organization; local leagues include Miss Sarasota Softball, Miss Venice, Miss North Port, Miss Englewood, Miss Palma Sola and Miss Manatee. Funds raised over the weekend will go toward preserving and expanding recreational softball programs both locally and throughout the state for young women. This year marks the first time Sarasota has hosted Miss Florida’s annual statewide, mid-season tournament since 2016, and it comes as the county moves forward with plans to expand the 17th Street Park, the area’s first softball facility, built over 40 years ago. Phase I of the expansion, which broke ground late last year, will feature eight new youth and women’s softball fields and four artificial turf multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football. The first phase, valued at $46 million, is expected be completed in 2025. Future phases will include three adult softball fields, a community event lawn, a destination playground and a destination playground.For more information, visit www.misssarasotasoftball.org.