World Wiffle® Ball Championship to Return to Midlothian for 41st Annual Tournament

Midlothian, Ill. – The World Wiffle® Ball Championship will make its return to Memorial Park in Midlothian this September 19 and 20. In its 41^st year, the World Wiffle® Ball Championship is the longest running Wiffle® Ball tournament in the world.

In 1980, the tournament originated in Mishawaka, Indiana and later called Skokie, Illinois home for several years before settling in the Chicago Southland region, where the game has a large following. Wiffle® Ball is played with plastic bats and Wiffle® balls on miniature fields. Teams consist of five players and can be made up of players of all ages.

Each participating team is guaranteed to play four preliminary games with qualifying teams advancing to a single-elimination tournament. Last year, nearly 60 teams from 12 different states competed in the tournament, with the World Championship title going to the Cult West Warriors out of South Bend, Indiana after eight innings.

“We are looking forward to welcoming back the World Wiffle® Ball Championship to the Chicago Southland area. This tournament is always a fun opportunity for both players and fans,” said Jim Garrett, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This year, the World Wiffle® Ball Championship has partnered with Oddball, a new platform that will feature live streams and interviews with players around the country. This also serves as an opportunity to re-introduce the game to adults who haven’t played Wiffle® Ball since they were children.

“We are thrilled to bring the Championship back to Midlothian this year. We hope to provide everyone who plays with a fun, safe environment to get back in touch with their inner child, have some laughs and maybe get those competitive juices flowing,” said Mike Baniak, Commissioner of the World Wiffle® Ball Championship. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Chicago Southland CVB, Midlothian Park District and, now, the Oddball platform which all give us the opportunity to help grow the game we love both in Chicagoland and nationwide.”

The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination management and marketing organization for Chicago’s 60 south and southwest suburbs. The CVB markets the Chicago Southland region as a meetings and conventions, group tours, sports and leisure event destination. For more information, go to VisitChicagoSouthland.com.

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Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau
Katie Arvia - Communications Manager
2304 173rd Street, Lansing, IL 60438
Phone: 708-895-8200 Fax: 708-895-8288 Toll-free: 888-895-8233
[email protected] VisitChicagoSouthland.com