Different year, same result.  The James Madison Dukes defeated the Pitt Panthers by a score of 8-3, to repeat as CAN Softball Champions in 2009.  Despite missing 2008 tournament MVP, Chris Cochran, for much of the tournament, JMU rolled through the field defeating Georgia, Texas A&M, North Carolina and Indiana in the first weekend of play followed by victories over local rivals Virginia and Maryland in the semis and finals of the winner's bracket before their championship win over Pitt.  This is JMU's third overall tournament championship, the most of any CAN school.  While the tournament belonged to JMU, Pitt pulled off an impressive run on the final day just to get to the championship game - reeling off 5 wins over the tournament's top 10 seeds (Florida, Villanova, Auburn, Virginia, and Maryland).  Be sure to check out some great photos from the final day of tournament action here thanks to our Media Sponsor, On Tap Magazine.

Off the field, attendees of the softball tournament were asked to bring non-perishable food items to benefit DC Central Kitchen’s (DCCK) Healthy Returns Program Snack Drive. Healthy Returns Brings health meals and snacks to agencies serving low-income children and at-risk youth throughout the Washington, DC area.  In all, CAN donated 10,092 units of healthy snack food for DC children.  Pitt notched the top spot and team gift certificate by donating over 1,800 units of food.  Thanks to everyone's efforts, DCCK Healthy Returns program will be able to run without overhear for quite some time.

As we've been touting all season, this year marked CAN's first attempt to raise revenue through tournament sponsorships.  Thanks to the following sponsors, CAN was able to raise $4,000 in revenue which has been set aside for the newly created CAN Scholarship Fund.  This award will offer financial assistance to students planning to attend CAN member schools.

Glacéau Vitaminwater · OnTap Magazine · Hook & Ladder Brewing Co. · Union Mortgage Group · Billy Kinberg of National City · NORPress Photo & Printing Services · Dick’s Sporting Goods · Summit Marketing · BlackFinn American Saloon · Panera Bread · National Press Club

In addition to our sponsorship efforts, the Communications Committee put forth a tremendous amount of work to generate media coverage for this year's softball tournament, including the post-tournament press release available here.  Their hard work paid off as the following media outlets provided coverage.

DC Metromix

PR Newswire: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-24-2009/0005065914&EDATE=

The Baltimore Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/p-379553~Thirteenth_Annual_Capital_Alumni_Network_Softball_Tournament_Hosting_Record_Number.html

Final Softball Tournament Bracket:

2009 Softball Tournament.xls

The Capital Alumni Network would like to thank the following sponsors of the 2009 CAN Softball Tournament: