The Nevada Amateur Softball Association and the city of Sparks are hosting the Amateur Softball Association Men’s “E” Slow Pitch National Championship-West this weekend at Golden Eagle Regional Park. Approximately 36 teams from all over the Western United States have qualified to compete in the event.

“This is the first adult softball national championship held in our area in the past 20 years,” said Tony Pehle, Sparks sports supervisor and Nevada ASA state commissioner. "We are proud to be hosting this event at one of the best sports complexes in the country.”

Opening ceremonies will be today at 6:30 p.m. Tournament hours are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the national governing body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 83 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 240,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com.